School Days and More

First off, some before and after pictures of Lyla and Hazel and their new 'do!

 In other news, today was a super exciting day that has been culminating for months.  The kids are back in school!  On one hand this brings a sense of relief, and on the other hand I definitely learned a lot about my kids and would not have changed this time of "home-schooling."  I am somewhat sad to relinquish the reins, but I know that for them to learn Portuguese this is the best option.  I will still be working on their English and probably explaining some of the homework they get, but this week we're relaxing from homeschooling as they settle into school there.  We debated about sending Lyla, but in the end she did go today.  Seth was the most nervous, he is quite the thinker.  Hazel declared for her it was all about the new friends she was going to make, and was very happy to hear she would also learn Spanish!  Lyla has been clingy the last few weeks and very "babyish,"  maybe a result of talking about school.... however today she pulled it together.  It was helpful that the kids had all met their teachers and we had taken the time to find out where their classrooms were and showed them when we registered.  They are all feeling a lot more confident with their Portuguese due to the neighbour kids.... it's time to let go a bit and see how they do!  Here's some pictures of their first day. 

It was probably helpful for Lyla that her teacher attends the same small church as us.  She sat right at her desk and I knew I had to take the picture and leave before she changed her mind!

Hazel's teacher seems like the "in-charge" type.  Hazel informed us they immediately had a speech on manners (please, sorry, thank you), and when someone knocked over another student's pencil case they had to say sorry and clean it all up.  Hazel also got to eat her apple in the class with her teacher because the teacher said she couldn't understand her... not really sure what that meant.

Seth picked the front seat to sit in... probably better for his understanding.  However, he told us at the end of the day the teacher had moved students around five times to figure out a good seating arrangement.  The teacher had also explained how Seth speaks English and that they should try speak to him a little slower and simpler.  Seth had met most of the kids the last two times we have been here, when we sent him to school one day a week or so.  At the end of the day Seth brought home some Portuguese homework for me... well it was for him but we worked on it together.  We had to read a one page story and answer questions.  I can see how this will help my Portuguese!

I couldn't resist peaking through the window and snapping a picture without her noticing!

The kids took the bus home.  We have to walk five minutes down the road to pick them up.

To conclude, here's a few pictures of Jonas.  Can't make a post without them!

The kids think Jonas is pretty much crawling... what I notice is his poor arms can't hold up his body weight!  They also like to pile every single baby toy that we brought all around him and call it "Babyland."

In a nine month sleeper today!  He can still fit the six months, but his feet are getting a little squishy in those.

Have a good night everyone!

(One of) Shaun's Project(s)

As everyone knows, coconut is the new miracle fruit.  We're jumping on the bandwagon here as we have four coconut trees in our yard.  Each tree can produce 100 coconuts a year and there are so many things you can do with a coconut.  Young coconuts are a bright green and inside is mostly what is called coconut water.  This is a clear liquid that is very sweet.  Brazilians love to drink the water and then scoop out the rubbery mushy meat on the inside of the young coconut and eat it.  As it gets a little older, the mushy stuff turns into what we North Americans think of as coconut:  the drier chewier meat that shreds for baking.  In the middle is still some coconut water that you can drink, but it is not as sweet.  When the coconut is really old there is not really any water left and the meat is tougher and dry.  If you are looking at making coconut oil, you want the medium old ones.  Here's a pile that Shaun took from the ground to work on this project.

You cut away the outside shell, called the casca, and you end up with the coconut that you see in the produce section in North America.

On the left the full coconut, on the right is what you are left with when you chop away the casca.

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Soak the coconut in water.

Sieve it.

Squish as much liquid out that you can get.

Put in fridge overnight.

Can you see the layer of cream separating from the water?

Once the cream is hardened from being in the fridge, you break off the chunks and place it in a frying pan.

Cook, simmering for at least an hour.

The oil starts separating from the cream, water boils off and the cream starts to brown.  You are eventually left with the clear oil and a small brownish pile of cream.

 

Put that through a cheesecloth and you are left with....

VOILA!  Pure virgin coconut oil, to use for everything from cold sores, sunburns, cooking, and digestion problems.

Shaun used 16 coconuts and it took around 6 hours to dehusk and scrape out, soak and squish.  Then overnight in the fridge,  then at least an hour for cooking, sieving. 

Time consuming... YES!

Worth the Work? Shaun thinks so!  He's planning to make another batch this coming week.