Brooklyn's Day, Bridal Teas and Birthdays

Aren't weekends supposed to be for relaxing?

Well, it never works out like that for me.

This weekend I:

• Had a Mother/Daughter evening with Brooklyn.

• Washed an entire weeks worth of dirty clothes.

• Baked for and attended a bridal tea.

• Went to dinner at a friend's house.

• Went to church twice, baked for a birthday party and shopped for Valentine's Day dinner supplies ---all on Sunday.

And I guess I'll spare you all the "little" details that fill a mother's day and always seem to be the most time consuming.

Bridal Tea:
Larissa is a precious young lady in her early twenties. She speaks English very well and has a way with children. When we first arrived in Portugal she was the only "friend" my children had. She would do a little Bible study with them in English in the small classroom during preaching time and after church would play hide and go seek outside the church. Counting in English of course. Now, almost a year later we're sending her off to New Zealand where she will be married in a few weeks. The bridal tea was a sad/happy time for me. Larissa helped my children (and me) adjust to our new environment and we will always be thankful to her for that.
Larissa and her niece, Sarah


The food table.


Praying for the Bride.


Ms. Dawne, our coworker, explaining the rules to a game.


Some of the food.


The grooms name in an acrostic.


I introduced them to cheesecake!


Sarah playing Peek-a-Boo.



Mother/Daughter Evening:
Friday night, after a quick pancake supper for the rest of the family, Brooklyn and I slipped away for a Mother/Daughter evening. There's only one store in Portugal that she's interested in and that's FNAC. Do you guys have these stores in America? It's a music store/book store/computer store all wrapped together surrounding a coffee shop. (I could spend hours there too...the coffee shop I mean)

Mom and Brooklyn

She went looking for a Mozart CD and the book Through the Looking Glass. She came home with the book, but no CD because the one she wanted wasn't there. At least it wasn't there for the right price I guess I should say.

You see, every Mother/Daughter day each girl gets 10 Euros (13 dollars) to spend as they wish. They may choose to carry their dear Mom out to eat, or eat at home and spend the money buying things instead. It's been interesting to see how each girl has chosen to spend their money. To watch them budget and try to get the most for their money.

• One has insisted that we eat out together, regardless of the cost.

• One didn't care what we did as long as I bought her a cheap toy so as to not "use up" all my money.

• One 'let' me eat at home, so she could eat out AND buy herself something.

• And one has been given a night out with Mom, only to give it to her sister who had not yet been given a turn. Thus making herself the last.

I'm learning a lot about their character, desires and their hearts. They are so precious in their different levels of maturity. Conversation has been a hoot as I have listened to each one specifically without interruptions. I recommend something similar for you Moms with more than 2.5 kids!


Mom and Brooklyn