Marci's Village

Glimpses of a weekend

The boy working on a project (captain's chest -- he's researching Hernando Cortez) for school

Maya and friend playing dolls

Lego building. Maya was building a house. Phillip joined her and it became a jail -- see all the security cameras?

Maya's Valentine's box is almost ready!

Playing Mancala with friend

A little project by mom

And... what is not in the pictures:

- a basketball game where Phillip's team lost (again!) but Phillip played well. Two free throws at the end of the game. Yeah!

- a boy who just wanted to play all weekend long and had a hard time budgeting his time to finish his school projects. He promised everything will get done by the deadline. I promised to trust his judgement. This parenting thing (i.e. allowing them to make their own decisions) is sometimes hard.

- Maya training hard at Gymnastics. I rarely have a chance to watch but was lucky enough arrive at the gym just in time to see the little peanut do six (!) back-hand springs in a row. She said she had to stop after the sixth because she felt "a little dizzy". Ha!

- Grandparents over for pizza and watching the football game. At least that's what the gentlemen did while we ladies (Maya included) talked, looked at pictures, and played hangman.

- Playing volleyball with the Brazilianmoms on Friday. A small park, a net, a tiny beachball, and a bunch of ladies laughing at their own performance. Oh, and a lot of food to make up for all the energy spent playing laughing.

An Egyptian party

Maya's little friend in school invited her for an egyptian-themed birthday party. Have you ever heard of Hatshepsut? Well, I hadn't either until these smart girls started learning about Egypt in school.

The party took place mostly under a beautifully set up white tent where the girls got their nails and make-up done, ate some delicious snacks and rice krispie treats, made jewelry, and giggled, of course!

Isn't this table set up just amazing?

The "cake".

Don't you just love the contrast of their shirts against the white background of the tent?

The mom (or moms) behind this amazing idea for a party are the creators of this blog. Check out the blog and "like" them on Facebook. You will be blown away by how creative, simple, and uplifting their ideas are.

This woman made me cry...

... a lot!

Her name is Patricia Polacco and she writes books for kids. Really moving and touching stories. This past Christmas a few of her books made it to our Christmas basket (we read a wrapped book each night the days of the Advent).

I want to record them here, so we can make sure they become part of our basket in the years to come. Here they are:

A beautiful story that interlaces Christianity and Judaism.

Kids love this one.

Now, this one. What can I tell you? Phillip said the teachers in third grade in both classrooms cried reading it. Phillip warned me I would too. It is without a doubt the most beautiful Christmas story I've ever read.

In the same style of books (but a different author), we found this treasure:

Also, we have just finished this heartwarming book which left us yearning for more stories about a childhood full of imaginative play, Nature, and celebrations.

This post is a little late but I really don't want to forget these titles the next time around. They are sitting comfortably on my Amazon cart and waiting to be purchased (maybe a few every month?). They are definitely worth it!

Glitters

I was paying for my groceries at the grocery store when I overheard the cashier talking about "last day of Glendale Glitters". (How luck am I to be there right at the right moment!). Instantly I thought that going to the event would be a fun way to enjoy the last little bit of holiday cheer with the kids.

Dear husband wanted to stay home and watch football (a "bad choice" according to Maya -- she cracks us up), so the three of us ventured into the cold night and enjoyed every little bit of it. Well... maybe Maya having to use a portable bathroom wasn't that enjoyable but we won't talk about that. Because it was the last night of the event, they had several huge hot air balloons to decorate the plaza. The kids enjoyed watching the ballons being worked on.  

The Oak Creek Band played some zydeco.

I felt like a little kid again (that doesn't take much!)

The highlight of the night. The three of us went on the ferris wheel together. Phillip and I were a little nervous. Maya? Of course not!

View from above

The slide was fun -- twice!

Another balloon

The last stop of the night -- a visit to Papa Ed's Icecream. We had been there before and loved it all over again. There is a lovely little garden right outside of the icecream shop. We are planning a trip during the day next time.

Blessings

I met Joy about ten years ago when I still worked at St. Joe's. Soon after I started as a new nurse, she left to take a job at Thunderbird (where I work now). When I transferred to Thunderbird we connected again and I was amazed to hear her stories of volunteering in different countries, including Brazil.

Well, last month Joy resigned her position as a Child Life Specialist Manager and started on her goal to help orphanaged and disadvantaged children around the world. I couldn't be more excited for her, especially because her first stop is... BRAZIL! As I write this she is probably sleeping for the first time in her new quarters at YWAM in Recife, Brazil, and starting to get used to her new life.

When I found out Joy was going to Brazil I jumped at the opportunity to teach her some Portuguese. We had three two-hour lessons, which helped me to get to know her and her mission a little better. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to do this. I can't wait to hear about her adventures helping youth at-risk and spreading hope to children who don't have much but will now have someone who truly cares what happens to them.

And... look at the beautiful basket Joy gave me at our last day together. I cannot believe that she knew exactly what would make my heart happy: a beautifully written thank you note, inspirational quotes (love, love, love these!), candles, lotions, stationary, tea, and tea cups. Thank you, new friend. I haven't taken the basket apart yet. I was waiting for your departure so I can think of you in Brazil every time hold any of those special items in my hands. God bless you, Joy.

I don't want to forget...

...how happy you were this morning because we fixed your hair all curly. Love you, Maya!

Zoo time

There is a smaller zoo on our side of town which includes an aquarium full of amazing animals. Last week we were able to squeeze one last outing during our Winter Break and finally made it to the famous Wildlife Zoo. We invited Maya's friend to come along and met up with two other families there. The weather was perfect.

A moray eel. Phillip had just finished doing a report on them. He was happy to see one live.

I don't think I had ever seen a shark this close.

Manta Rays

This picture is for you, Grammy Bennie. Lovely pink flamingos.

I couldn't decide which one was the cutest picture, so I had to post both.

Feeding girafes

Going on the lift

One more group picture

A condor. The wingspan was impressive!

 

One of Maya's favorites

Celebrating

Some of us Brazilianmoms were able to meet for a quick dinner celebration of December and January birthdays. Here are a few pictures from that pleasant evening we spent together. We missed all of our friends who could not be there. We have to plan it better next time.

Andrea graciously shared her fruit salad (huge!) with all of us.

Katia F. offered to take this picture and ended up not in the pictures at all. Sorry, Katia"s"... I felt a little camera lazy that day.

Andrea, Silvana, and Eidi


I can't wait to do it again! Thank you, ladies.

Happy New Year!

Somebody at work asked me yesterday if I had any New Year's resolutions this year. I said that I just wanted to continue "doing what I'm doing, enjoying life, enjoying my family, spending time together". What else could my heart desire? Oh, time with friends too... and to continue finding joy in my work as a nurse.

Basically, being content with what I have and finding happiness in the ordinary (which is not to so ordinary for many people suffering from poverty, disease, loss, and addictions).

(life is good when you can find matching outfits for you and daughter just so she feels special).

We spent New Year's with some friends from school who opened their house for a small celebration full of yummy food, kids, and fireworks. We didn't stay until midgnight but came home and had a little celebration at eleven o'clock. Next year I promised the kids we can stay up later since I won't have to work (I think).

Bruce and I have come a long way from the amazing and fun parties at the beaches in Brazil at New Year's. Life is still fun, though, and this new year brings the promise of many good things -- ordinarily great things!

Winter (not really!) Break

The weather is unbelievably warm (for winter) and we are all have a great time spending time together without feeling the rush of the holidays. Winter breaks in Arizona are the best!

We went to the Arizona Museum of Natural History last week to check out their amazing dinosaurs.

Phillip and Maya in a replica of an old jail

Panning for gold

Digging for dinosaur bones

The museum also has a great display on the telescope hubble and amazing pictures taken in outer space

After our visit to the museum and lunch, we walked downtown Mesa visiting stores full of handmade goods

Maya and I decided we want to learn to make cute hats

We also visited a couple of antique shops so I could show the kids some really old, ancient, antique stuff -- like victrolas, pirex dishes, LPs, and old wooden school desks (if you grew up in Brazil you know exactly what I'm talking about).

Other than a short trip to Mesa, we have been spending time doing the things we don't have time to do during the school year:

There are still a few days left of our break. It's been a very well-deserved and truly enjoyable time for us.