Wow... It has been one busy weekend! Yesterday I took a "mental day off" from work -- and the baby actually let me sleep in a little bit. It was nice. My kids asked me the night previous if I was going to go to work the next day, and I told them that I was. Well, my intentions were good, but the bed was too soft and warm, and I couldn't resist sleeping in. My kids woke up hours later, and were truly very happy to see me there still wearing my red pajamas in the living room, shouting at the TV as I sat there watching the World Cup game, France against Portugal. Portugal, of course was robbed---over a stupid penalty... Urrrrggh.... It was sad; but at least Portugal weren't balling their eyes out like England did when they lost.. Booohhhoooo! I hope Italy wins the World Cup now--GO ITALIA!!!!
Anyhoo, all and all it was a nice 4th of July weekend.. (Pictures to come soon...)
Every 1st weekend of the month of July is the weekend of the Portuguese festival in my hometown. Where I come from, there are only two official parades in the year that runs down downtown Santa Cruz; the Gay Pride Parade in June, and the Portuguese Parade in July...that's it.. There is a marching band, and of course the Star Bangled Banner is always played alongside the Portugal's anthem. It really is a beautiful thing. So I spent my Sunday celebrating my Portuguese/American roots with my family and ate the traditional "sopa e carne" meal which was started first by the queen of Portugal, Queen and Saint Isabella/Elizabeth, who turned bread into roses.. It was also my Dad's birthday, that day, and I knew if he were still alive, he would be right there eating sopas alongside of us--but he was there in spirit of course. If you want to read more about the Feast of the Holy Spirit celebration we Portuguese people come to love, click here: http://www.tulane.edu/~latinlib/espirito.html & here to learn of our Patron Queen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_of_Portugal
The following Monday, I came to work which was pretty much a "nothing" day, because only a few of us were crazy to not to take the day off... Tuesday, we had a small barbecue, and went out in search of our favorite place to watch fireworks; downtown San Jose, across from Discovery Park. It was quite an adventure, since we got out too late and didn't make it until after the highway was closed. All major highways and streets going downtown were blocked, so we ended up going through the back streets, often running into little neighborhood street parties displaying their own illegal firework display.
We finally made it to downtown, and although we couldn't get our usual spot, we got a spot pretty close--not bad for making it right before the fireworks display. Of course Nicholas was a little scared when the display starting going, but I gave him a cookie, and it calmed him down. It was a beautiful night, and despite the 1 hour wait in the parking lot afterwards, it was a nice family outing...
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