Halloween 2012

This Halloween was a blast!  Jaime was really into getting dressed this year and just understood the whole concept.

We stayed home this year, met up with the neighbours and hit our humble block of houses, meeting the neighbours at the same time.  Here are some of the pics form the evening.  Some are extremely blurry, think I need a new camera ;-)

My ghost man, dad's make up attempt all wiped off

Redo of the face paint, this time "I do it myself mom, I don't need your help"

Proud of his work...

The result: a clown ghost
He really wanted the red cheeks so he amended his costume slightly

And the evening begins

The ghost clown, dragon and firefighter

Full of exciting

Meet up with the neighbourhood kids

Trick or treat

Eventually he lost the wig but he did manage to bite into a glow stick and hurl up glow in the dark vomit which landed all over his costume.  From then on we knew exactly where he was, we just followed the glowing dots.

Home invasions from all different directions all while singing "trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something nice to eat" just imagine a group of 10 4 year olds running to your front door chanting..scary isnt it???

Jack-o-lantern

Home sweet Home...checking out his loot!

Happy 8th Anniversary

8 years today, October 31, the day Ili and I dedicated our lives to each other for the rest of our lives.  Boy has it been a ride!  Together we have worked through events in our lives that many people just read in stories or watch on TV, but together we did it.  Together forever!

To many more years together, happily ever after!

Frankenstorm aka Hurricane Sandy

We did it, we survived Hurricane Sandy! Another check for our bucket list.

Well the Hurricane did not hit us to badly, actually all we got was some strong winds and rain.  I went to work Monday morning while Ili and Jaime stayed home chilling.  School was cancelled, both Monday and Tuesday so besides my Monday Morning work stunt, we got to enjoy a really long weekend, good quality family time. with a little wind and rain ;-)

For anyone who didn't know Hurricane Sandy was the largest Atlantic hurricane in diameter on record, with winds spanning 1,100 miles (1,800 km)....the size of South Africa!  She started from a tropical wave on 22 October, upgraded to a hurricane hit Jamaica, Cuba and finally New Jersey on Monday.  New Jersey and New York experienced severe damage costing the states millions of Dollars.  Millions of people lost power and are still out of power.  New England (where we stay), was hit with the high wind and rain.  Some of our coastal towns experienced major flooding, but as far as I could tell nothing to crazy.

What did we do about Sandy?

Well we watched alot of news, update after update: the projections, the action, the post hurricane action.

In between the updates we, built puzzles, practiced our cutting, letters and played dominoes.

 

We baked:

They Chelsea buns/cinnamon rolls

And FINALLY got to my filing and cleaning/unpacking the study/dumping ground.  Thank you Sandy!

I think it was the Best Monday we've had in a long time!

Survive a Hurricane √

Preparing for Hurricane Sandy

With a pending Hurricane, preparations need to be made.  Now note, this is our very first Hurricane, so we have no idea what to expect and how severe, severe is.  The news was broadcasting high winds, rain and loss of power.  The areas around the coast are to prepare for coastal flooding.  On the news lists of what should be on your "survival kit" were broadcast over and over again.  Basically there was alot of hype around this mysterious Sandy.

 

So this is how we prepared:

 

The quantity of leaves before

Ili putting silicon on the basement door to prevent flooding in the basement

Jaime and I, enjoying the quiet roads

Other than a quick shop for necessities like water, milk, coke (yes Ili put coke on the "survival list") we brought all the outside furniture in, made sure all loose garden items are securely tied and we waited, waited in anticipation.

Handy Jaime

Helping Dad at home has become a big thing for Mr Jaime. 

 

The project at hand:  building the shelving

 

Annual visit to the Opthamologist

Friday early morning the Jardim family headed North to Boston Children's Hospital to see the Opthamologist.  This visit is part of Jaime's cranio annual checkups.  Basically the do a regular eye exam to test his vision, exactly like we do on an annual basis.  They do various other tests and exercises to test the muscles around the eye, the eye movement and its synchronisation.

Jaime did really well during the test, acted like such a big boy, not needing mom or dad to sit with him.  He followed all the directions and just lapped up the good feed back he received.

Sitting like a king on his throne

Looking to the right while trying not to turn his head
(hence his hands on his chin)

Doing one of the muscle exercises

Just being my Jaime

The doctor was very happy with Jaime's vision and eye muscle movement.  Said that we need not do anything further besides see her again in one year. 

Again I am hugely relieved and thankful that Jaime's surgery almost 4 years ago was a huge success and continues to be one! 

Jaime Jaime Jaime

Quick update points in the life of Mr Jaime

"Dum dim dum dum dum Afro circus Afro circus poka dot"
Madagascar 3

The amount of kisses wrappers found in bed after Jaime went to "sleep"

Another night time event:

Going to bed dressed like this

Then changing clothes to something like this....

Amazing!  Wish getting dressed in the mornings was this simple and included less of "I can't do it"!

33 weeks

33 weeks and going strong!  This week I had a gynae visit, scan, and non stress test.

 

My gynae visit was on Monday, a quick easy visit.  Dr is happy with my belly growth, blood pressure, protein levels, blood levels, and weight.  He managed to answer all my annoying questions with a little sense of humour too which was cool.  I  managed to wangle another week before having to book Jellybeans birthday.  This he found very humorous after I rambled on about my issues etc etc etc, but stated very sternly "one week", we'll see at the next visit....

 

On Wednesday I had my level 2 ultra sound.  This was by far the best part of the week.  I was on my own so I could confirm certain things without certain people knowing *wink* *wink* but best of all the technician was really easy going so she showed me every little detail.  

 

JB is still lying head down, back to the right, bum right at the top (reason for my discomfort in the rib region when bending over), legs to the left and arms to the left in front of JB's face.

 

JB now is estimated to weight 5 pounds (2.3kg)...this is a big big kid!  Here are the updated scans:

  

Can you see in the first scan JB's face is stuck right up close to the placenta, no matter how much we jabbed and twisted JB was not moving!  I can see it, I'm going to have that kid that needs its blankie till the age of 5, and wont sleep without it across its face!  The 3 D pic was a difficult one to get due to this reason, but at least we can imagine JB's button nose and perfect lips ;-)

Thursday was the non stress test.  Again JB was in a sleep zone, this time I know, understand and expect it, so no mild heart attacks to report on.  This time after a couple of jabs, apple juice we got what we needed in the allotted 20 minutes. 

7 weeks to go..cant wait to meet our Jelly bean!

Me and my boyz:

Saving my herbs

Now that "Fall" has officially arrived, we welcome the cold, frost, coloured leaves, falling leaves, and a general slow death of our garden.  Now already we have had a few drops in temperature and frost I think twice, and my herbs are still outside.  Lucky for me I planted them underneath the hugest tree so they were well protected, but I need to bring them in. 

 

Our huge tree and underneath my herb garden

 

Can you spot the parsley, basil and thyme in between the leaves and weeds???

My new potted garden

I have 3 lemon verbinia's but could only save one (due to the lack of pots).  The lemon verbinia makes a really good herbal tea for those who dont know.  We hope to cover the other 2 and see how they survive (crossing fingers).  You cant see it but closest to us is the gooseberry bush which is not doing to well, but I hope we can revive it!

The visiting Madrinha

This week has been a busy week, but what made it different was we had another SA accent running around, Yvette came to visit on route home.  Jaime was very excited that his Madrinha came to visit however he asked me frequently where Tiago was, and once he understood that Tiago didn't come he then moved onto asking when he can go to Africa so he can stay with Tiago. Oi, I was running out of convincing reasons! 

 

So what happens when we have an SA visitor:

 

Photos: Yvette and the 3 boys

3 boys and a tubby

A fire pit

Whats a relaxing evening outside next to the fire without the technology???

Smores of course!

More pics: the ladies, including the chicken!

 

 The other fun and exciting event, a chicken test.  Apparently (according to Laura & Yvette) once you lay the chicken on a pregnant belly if it clucks twice its a girl and if it poops its a boy.

The Conclusion:  the test was inconclusive, it clucked once and eyed me out the rest of the time.  Lucky we were not depending on this test, although I think L&Y were kinda hoping for a clue tee hee 

 

 

Girls Friday Night Dinner

Friday night... girls night! 

                                                                        Beth, Rene, Laura, Yvette and myself spent the evening at a place called "Not your average Joe's" filled with a delicious dinner, lots of conversation and giggles!   

...and we cannot forget the desserts!

From left to right: creme brulee cheese cake, peanut butter something, strawberry shortcake and dark chocolate molten cake yum yum yum and yum some more!

We don't do it to often, that is leave the kids behind and just have some girl chat but when we do we really have a great time!  Thanks Laura for organizing, and thanks Peter for watching the kids, WWF and all!