This weekend definitely did not go as planned. It was our 11th year wedding anniversary on Saturday and Father’s day on Sunday. I had planned a small family get together on Saturday night to celebrate our anniversary, but the day before both our babies fell sick. They have a stomach virus along with a heavy cough! Not good. They were battling this virus all week and Friday they just got the worst part of it. They slept most of the day. On Saturday they were feeling a little better, enough where I could take them to the butcher shop to stock up on some much needed grilling goods for the summer.  After packing away our groceries we went to, as my girls call it “Japan”. We had lunch at the Japanese market, Mitsuwa with my niece Chelsea and her visiting friend from England, Alex. This market is like literally stepping into a mini Japan. Everything is in Japanese. They have local shops like, the book store, bakery, clothing and house items, grocery store and the best looking food court in Edgewater, NJ. The girls enjoyed trying new foods and Japanese soda pop. One of the most unique things about their food court is all the dishes prepared are on display in a glass encased wall. The dishes are made of a realistic acrylic replica of exactly what you will order!!! The display looks so real. Now that’s what I call, “What you see is what you get!” 

Chose a dish and order

Alex and Chelsea

tiny cookies

Last Monday I celebrated the birthday of a woman who is such a significant part not only in my life but to my family as well, my sister-in-law, Sao. She displays the perfect example of unconditional patience and love towards me. The moment I entered the family she was there with open arms and has been ever since. Sharing all my good times and hard times, loving our girls as if they were her own, and believe me when I say “like her own”. There is nothing she won’t do for them and I thank God for placing her in my life. She’s not your average Portuguese sister-in-law. Her style is very raw, straight forward and no B S. She is super smart and very practical. Perfection is not in her vocabulary, instead its “comfortable”. That’s her in a nut shell: comfortable. She doesn’t make you feel small, she doesn’t judge, she simply makes you feel comfortable. I think that is a rare gift that not many people possess. We don’t hug, kiss or get too emotional (note: not your typical Portuguese) but we’ve established a lifelong bond, and that is something I will always treasure.  Happy Birthday Sao!!!

We celebrated her birthday by going to the city to see Evita on Broadway starting Ricky Martin. We were 5 seats away from smelling him!!! He is such an amazing dancer and he’s role in the play was 

magnificent

 

Projects in full force...

It’s been a super busy week this week. My mom flew in from Portugal last Monday and flew back home this Wednesday. During her stay Ruth and I planned for her to do something different everyday like shopping, going to the movies, watching a show and spending much needed quality time with us and the kids. Besides all the outing we are still in full force with our back yard projects before the sweltering heat of summer kicks in. We finish planting the flowers beds and our veggie garden. The playhouse is also almost finished. We have installed the siding, gutters and front rail. Rui even custom made little shutters for the windows. There is still much to do. We still need to finish the inside of the playhouse and design the garden that will surround the house. I’m thinking about using different size stones to incase the different scrubs and junipers I plan to get. We’ll have to see what’s  available in the nearby nurseries.  

 

 

Thyme, Rosemary, Basil, Eggplant, Poblano peppers, Dill, Parsely, Bell Peppers, Red Vine Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Baby green Squash, Burpee Lettuce and a few strawberries that grew back from last year.

 

 

The custom shutters Rui made for the windows.

 

 

 

We (and I mean Rui) Built the gate and shutters in 4 hrs. Its such a great feeling to draw something you design on paper (and have your husband built it) and see it come to life.

 

Jamaican Criters......

Here are some pictures of the sea life we saw while we were snorkeling along the corals.

You would be surprised how fast these sea urchins move!!!

Yes, these are alive and look so Prehistoric....they are soft and squishy like a slug.

Hundreds of sea urchins under the crystal clear sea waters.....I was so amazed.

thank God for Rui, because I would have NEVER picked this thing up to take this pic... I looks so creepy like a blood worm.

Can you see it?? A soft shell crab covered in what looked like fur....So beautiful

A sea conch......one word.....amazing

one of hundreds of fish that swim up to you to see if you have any bread crumbs.....

I found a perfect intact sea urchin shell under a rock and brought in my hand all the way back to the U.S so it would'nt break. These shells are so, so fragile.

I miss this place.......