Epilogue: Snow Angels Who Love Fish

A year ago, we were in t-shirts, walking barefoot in the warm sand of our "backyard", staring out at the sparkling blue ocean, soaking up the sun's radiant goodness.

Today we are all bundled up, walking on the soft snow, staring up at the beautiful flakes falling lightly all around, soaking up goodness from our glittery snow angels and the kids' laughter as they dodge each other's snowballs. This is awesome too!

My oldest l'il angel

We have been back in Canada for four months. Our Sesimbra dream seems just that: a wonderful, special memory that makes us all smile. It's our own little secret that the 5 of us will forever fondly reminisce over. It is part of who we are now.

Fortunately, life here is good too! We have adjusted seamlessly to things back on this side of the pond.

Thanksgiving at our cousins' cottage

Our acrobat!

A winner of our gymnastics club's pumpkin carving contest

It's not the ocean, but swimming the Otonabee River works too

We went trick-or-treating this Halloween; our candy quarantined 72 hours

The highlights:

School: For the first time ever, all 3 kids are at the same school (parents do a happy dance). The older two are excited to be back with old friends and their beloved school staff. During the first few months, they spoke a unique (and adorable) Portuguese version of French. No one was concerned, and they are back on track. Catarina is loving Junior Kindergarten. It is a strange year: no carpet time, no shared toys, no singing. But luckily, she doesn't know any differently. She loves her L-L-Letters and N-N-Numbers, and speaks fondly of her classmates and teachers. 

Grade 2, JK, and Grade 5: school is fun!

We love the school bus.

Extra-curriculars: Peterborough has been lucky so far with a low COVID case count, so our kids can still enjoy in-person activities. 

Jonty is a self-motivated piano student, and can often be heard tinkling away on the keys. Lessons are next door: sweet commute! He is also in trampoline (ALL fun, he tells us) and in boys advanced gymnastics (more work than trampoline, apparently). He is a social, approachable kid, a welcome addition to the classroom and his circle of buddies (I have been told this by many). If he could, he would play video games with friends all the time!

For Jonty's 10th birthday, Mark souped up the treehouse for an afternoon of gaming.

Livin' the dream. Double digits is awesome.

Gabi is a diligent piano student, and a patient big sister, allowing her sister to sit beside her on the bench and sing along. She loves gymnastics and can often be found swinging upside down on our trapeze. Brownies is her jam: this year it is all outdoors (and virtual on bad weather days); she loves seeing her friends and leaders every week, and counts down the minutes until the meeting starts.

Want to attend my performance?

Catarina, like her siblings, is an agile and talented gymnast and races out the door Saturday mornings for class. She has been invited to move up a level, but we'll wait until she can handle an activity after a long day of school. She loves to color and make crafts, and is THE sweetest cuddle-er!

Our l'il artist

Work: Mark is back to full-time and I am working my usual four days a week. Working in Public Health during a pandemic means I have been very busy, but I love what I do and who I work with, so it has not been a difficult transition. Mark and I are both working from home. I go into the office one day a week--it's a nice change to get out of yoga pants, do my hair and actually interact LIVE with people.

Workday lunch date! Grilled octopus. That's my water glass, boss, honest.

Food: With so much time at home, we have been able to maintain our high gastronomic standards. Mark has mastered the fresh cheese recipe I had every day on my Portuguese balcony.  I have a few fresh bread recipes up my sleeve. Good thing as our kids don't love store bought bread: their palate got used to warm and fresh. We have also learned that Sobey's in town has a decent fish section, with fresh fish with heads, mussels and clams, beautiful frozen octopus, salted cod bits, and even frozen sardines (from Portugal)! It's not the same as buying in a busy market, where our fish monger was up at 5am to meet the fisherman right at the docks...but it will do! ;)

Bacalhau a Bras (cod fish dish): still our family favourite

Last Friday's lunch, sardines.
BBQing in the snow is NOT the same as on our sunny balcony with ocean view

We are staying put for Christmas this year--no epic Winnipeg family extravaganza. We are managing our disappointment by trying new things. For the first time ever, we partook in the Canadian tradition of walking into a field, picking a Christmas tree, and chopping it down ourselves. Another first: it will just be the 5 of us on Christmas morning. We are in deep discussions about how to make it special. Luckily, Mark's brother and sister live in Peterborough, so we won't be lonely!

We did it: a real Christmas tree!

Santa: we're in Peterborough this year

Gabi's nightly Christmas wish is for snow for the holidays. Let's hope it comes true so that we can enjoy tobogganing, skiing, skating and snow fort building! 

Snow really is magical.

Come on snow, arrive (and stay!) in time for Christmas

So, as we say good-bye to 2020, we recall all the good times this year, acknowledge that we have so much to be thankful for, and hope that in 2021 we can actually hang out with all of you! 

Our family and friends make our life brighter--thanks for being you.

FELIZ NATAL!