the Jardim Familia

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Sunday night dinner

Masterchef material I tell you!

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It’s been 5 months... almost 6 months here in the US and life has somewhat become ordinary. With all the yearend festive celebrations over we begin the year pretty standard... to an extent (always a but).

So here is where we're at:

1. Jaime is settling in better than ever. His little personality is shaping and growing every day. Eating, a once torturous time, is now an absolute pleasure. He tells us what he wants; he sits at the table, and best of all he eats! It’s fantastic! Along with the great eating, comes the growing. His quecas we brought from SA were once dangling round his waist, are now filled up by his little bum - to precious! Most of his clothes we brought have been put aside as they just don't fit!

2. His vocabulary is expanding on a day to day basis. Now we hear words like: although, except, instead. He tells us how to say words now, best of all he splits the words out in syllables and makes us repeat each syllable after him so we get it right.

3. When we left SA, with a list of things from the OT to work on. Naturally things have been a bit hectic to concentrate on any sort of list but with school and my kickboxing in the morning Mr Jaime's body strength as improved. He now stands on one leg for a few seconds (Good balance), can hop on one leg, does a perfect push up, attempting hand stands, speeds on his bike, his strikes and crosses achieve a perfect A+ with the virtual instructor.

4. Ili has started his computer course, started last Monday. He seems quite interested and keen to start dismantling my laptop....note my laptop not his! Hey, maybe he can kill the virus in it...??? Maybe. Well with his new tools (magnifying glass, twisors and flash light) he is bound to be a success!

5. Me, I start a very busy tax season soon. Unlike in SA where we get a full year to file ( Feb 2011 close is due for filing Feb 2012), here all companies file their Dec 2011 close on March 15th (unless they request a different date, which isn't often) a mere 3 months after year end and individuals on April 15. So the next couple of weeks are going to be stressful but I'm looking forward to it. hey I'm learning alot on a daily basis, plus these rich people and their technical lives are teaching me indirectly how to make money in this first world country.

6. We still are looking at houses. Ili scours the Internet on a daily basis comparing location, price, size, taxes, heating systems ai yai yai so much to think about! Basically every weekend for the past 2 months has been looking at a house or two, driving around the areas looking at neighbourhoods and facilities. We have found a few houses that we like, but each one has something we don’t like or will have to change or upgrade. It’s tiring. I hope the "one" that is meant for us will come through for us. Besides we really are not in a rush because we have this place till June. So plenty of time to wonder this sleepy part of Massachusetts.

7. With the pending house purchase we've been trying to save money so that when we move we'll be able to kit the house up with the basics. This has forced us to stay home more - now if you've ever been to the US you'll understand why I say we need to stay home. Ok let me explain. Here most stores, clothes, shoes, technology, food, are always on sale, giving out deals etc leaving just window shopping an impossible task to do. You thinking, ja ja, it’s really not that hard not to shop TRUST ME when things are going 50-60% off marked price you get very tempted! With the temperature as it is going to the playground or walk on the beach for more than 15minutes is difficult. So we stay home. We play lego, playdough, read, talk, laugh...just be! I love it!

8. The winter has been a mild one apparently, so it really hasn’t been a big event in our lives (ignoring my previous point lol). We have had one snow storm (as you notice all my posts) that came and went over one weekend and washed away in the rain on the Wednesday. Nothing to fun about that. So all that is left is this icy chill in the air and sunny skies. The chill, let me define it - it’s like walking out side mid July at 1am in the morning, all day. Once you get used it you can wear a sweater and a jacket and feel comfortable. Of course our shoes and jackets are slightly different to what we would wear back in SA!

9. Ili has become as excellent cook. His grilled chicken reminds us of home (his mom's chicken), his burgers remind us of Nandos, his butternut remind us of my mom's Sunday lunch. Every day is something new, always simple to create but great to consume and enjoy!

Mmmm thats all I can really think of on this sleepy Sunday Afternoon. I hope everyone is well, missing everyone lots!

Forward and onwards to February we will go..

I look just like ...

So the ultimate question... who's genes do I have...?

Ok ok lets take it a little tid bit closer....

The jury is deliberating...

Just cause the camera was out

Monday, January 23, 2012

Sledding - the first experience

Sunday Afternoon was spent at the Duarte's - sledding and Pancakes! We arrived a little after lunch time, Peter and Robby had already started working on the sledding slope. Just packing it in and building it for speed! Laura had made some yummy pancakes (banana, almond and chocolate chips) with a little butter and maple syrup, yum yum yum!

Time for the real deal....

Baby Josh ready for his first experience

And he is off! How is that face!

Robby decided sledding down on Mom was way more fun and alot more comfortable.

Jaime, pretty much walked around the garden in areas no one had walked before pulling the sled along. Think he was enjoying the sensation of his feet sinking in the snow.

Occasionally he would "join" us on the slopes

Time for Good idea:Bad idea

Good Idea: Ili making his first snow angel
Bad idea: falling backwards into the snow from the standing position - the snow is not that soft and fluffy and wont necessarily break the fall of a heavy weight