Freire Newberry Family

Things I've made recently...

2012-02-15T02:06:00.000+01:00

This was our family activity after all the holidays and after everyone went home, but we got to share it with Teresa Diaz on her birthday, at least! The kids thought it was great, especially the gum drops.

Some scrumptious zucchini muffins I made for snacks and breakfasts. They make me feel better about snacking, after all, they're part vegetable, right?

Not everything I make is edible. I got this idea from Motherwear, only I wanted it in flannel to keep me warmer in winter and spring. I bought the fabric, and made the braid with strips I tore from a really old sheet, which was super soft. I really think the neck line "makes" the nightgown. I also plan on adding nursing openings when they become necessary.

I've already washed and worn it, and am really pleased with the results. I made it in an afternoon, using a large t-shirt as my guide. The pleats were harder to figure out than expected. FYI- you have to make the top, mainly in the neck, wider than the hem to have enough of a pleat to hide the nursing openings, something they (naturally) don't show or explain on the site. If you want to know more email me, ok?

The most amazing tasting Banana Cake I have ever made. That's why there is only a photo of the very last piece! I made it again to test the recipe, but I forgot the oven was still on, while I was putting the kids down for their naps. It survived, but was a bit drier, though still moist and delicious. Email if you'd like the recipe, ok?... maybe I'll put it on allrecipes.com.

Did I mention I love my silicone bundt pan? 'Cuz it's awesome.

Pan de leche, similar to brioche, was the recipe used here. I hadn't made it in a long time, and the cold makes me want to bake more. Also this is a slightly sweet bread that doesn't need eggs, and I was out after making two banana cakes.

The second time I tried to make a cinnamon swirl ring, and it turned out great!

The only downside is that it was hard to slice for the toaster (wedges instead of uniformly thick slices). I used 3-4 tablespoons brown sugar and one of cinnamon for the filling, spreading it all over the rolled out dough, like making cinnamon rolls, just a lot less sugar. Then I let it rise a really long time, more than two hours, 'cuz the house was cold, and I wanted it as fluffy as possible. Next time I'll try adding raisins... though that can get tricky, and sticky...

My last night (Monday, Feb 13) creation was my bouquet for Valentine's Day. I chose and arranged the flowers all by myself, and I like the result, or it wouldn't be photo-worthy. The best thing about it is that it will last until our little boy is born next month, and I can even take it to the hospital with me if I want! They don't let you have real flowers in your room, as they could trigger allergies. I really think it's worth it, especially if you buy your flowers in IKEA on a sale day. This bouquet cost as much as a fresh one would today, and will last as long as I like.

And I was tired of roses... though they do smell lovely.

The last thing I got out of my unfinished projects box was this shirt, which I made from a mini dress I bought last summer (with the idea of making it over). It was already empire-waist-ed, and had a mock turtleneck that buttoned in the back. Well, I cut off the neck, cut the dress at the empire waist, and sewed the neck onto the front. Oh, and finished the neckline again, with a double turned under edge.

Then I shortened the final product by cutting the top of the skirt part of the dress, leaving it at long shirt length. I also took it in on the sides, about a two inch seam at the bottom narrowing towards the top, making it less of a dress and more a loose shirt. I added elastic to the top front of this "skirt" part, to make it a nursing shirt like the one explained here. I then sewed the top to bottom at the sides, overlapping the front, and then sewing the back of the "skirt" to the top again.

I really like this design, actually, I bought two of these dresses, and already have one modified which I have used and lent, and is well loved. I had this one cut up and ready to go, but never finished it, til today!

So that's what I've been up to lately. Most are from the last week, all from this year.

Hugs to everyone!

YouTube videos from 2011

2012-02-01T11:55:00.000+01:00

If you are interested in seeing some fun, adorable, memorable, and endearing videos of our family from this past year, then check out my videos on youtube. They are public, and I don't think too many people besides family are going to be interested in them anyway.
This is my channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/rpnewbs?feature=mhee

I'll check the link later to make sure it works. If it doesn't the search rpnewbs' channel and you should be able to see my videos. Don't get confused, there are other videos with similar titles or tags, but you'll want to look for more videos by this user: rpnewbs. Ok?

Enjoy!

At the Supermarket last week

2012-01-28T02:22:00.001+01:00

So last week, once we finally got in the blissfully empty checkout line, I started to take things off the stroller to put on the belt and the lady who got in line behind me put her three items down first. Her daughter, who looked about my age, quickly pointed out the failure of order and her mom quickly apologized and that was that. The punch line came 5 minutes later, while I was getting out the bags I'd brought and trying to fill them and pay while keeping my third and fourth eyes on my two little ones.
The daughter: *She's already got two kids, I think.* ('whispered' to her mother over the noise of cash registers)
Just in time to confirm their theory Charles begins to wander further from our line, while Miriam stands patiently guarding the stroller in front of me.
Me(sharply): Charlie, come back here.
And he begins to wander back with a smile at me...
Daughter: *You see?*

Of course you can't type the tone in here, but it was something like surprised bewilderment. Not really negative or condescending, more, "how is she pregnant again already?!"

I laughed a little to myself, and made a mental note to share or record the story somehow, and this accomplishes both. Thanks to all the great moms I know and the inspiring blogs I've been reading I didn't feel the least bit slighted, but rather happy that my afternoon had gone so well, even with all the stores we'd been to and that it was almost dinnertime.
I know that the best time to enjoy living with my little cuties is right now, and I plan to enjoy it as much as possible.

Review and Renew

2012-01-26T17:07:00.000+01:00

Hello one and all.

I know I haven't posted anything in forever. I've mainly used Facebook as a means of communicating with family and friends abroad, and until I recently read some of my friends' blogs I hardly registered the existence of this one.

So, since I've been organizing photos recently it seemed like a good time to post an update.

I found a friends' facebk status update an interesting way to do this, we'll see how it turns out for me. Here are some photos to keep you entertained...

2011 top 10 Memories, in chronological order:

1. Friendship Festival (Festival de la Amistad) activity at church.

2. Charles started walking, stopped nursing and turned 1 year old in March.

3. Visiting Raquel Freire and family in Lille, France, and also a day in Paris via TGV.

4. BYU Students living with us for April & May and Chinese students in September

5. Miriam's 3rd birthday in July, celebrated in Hontoba, Guadalajara, Spain, also where we spent the majority of the month of August.

6. Finding out we'll be a family of five in 2012!

7. Miriam starting school, adapting, getting up early every weekday.

8. Rome for our 5th Anniversary: Colliseum, Roman Forum, Gelato, Gnocchi on Thursday, Pantheon, Via Appia Antica, and lots of public transit!

9. 26th Birthday and iPad

10. Freire Family Reunion in El Hito, Cuenca, Spain and holidays all together in Alcalá.

Stay tuned for future posts and recent updates. Hopefully my new tablet will help me keep in touch.

4th Anniversary

2010-11-05T00:44:00.001+01:00

Well, we've made it through four years. Two of them as students, two as parents, and all of them with hard work and plenty of fun.

We took some nice photos at the park by our house on that special anniversary, but of course not everyone in the family understood the significance of such and important date and so the photos are generally informal, off centered, or taken by Miriam, who really likes to take other people's pictures saying "uno, tres, dos, ya!"

Charles is the stand-out in this photo with his lighter hair and blue eyes, it's a good thing we know our genealogy, or we might've been wondering where such a fair child came from.

I've noticed that so many of my US friends, especially from my time as a youth in Ohio, have great blogs that they update regularly. I guess there's just not as much of blogging culture going on in Spain, but I've decided to give it another try. Right now both babies are napping, the perfect time to blog, as well as all the hundred other things I feel like I can't do while they're awake. Gotta go hang up some more laundry, before I forget again!

We'll be in the US, in Ohio, from November 20th through December 7th. We look forward to seeing all the good friends and family members who are expecting us, and even those who are dreading it... heheh... See you soon!

Springtime and Charlie

2010-07-12T13:09:00.001+02:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Why Kids Whine and How To Stop Them

2010-05-17T10:11:00.000+02:00

Why Kids Whine and How To Stop Them

24 years old

2009-12-21T21:44:00.000+01:00

We had a great weekend. My birthday was on Saturday, as well as the ward Christmas party. I got all dolled up, and thanked everyone for coming to celebrate with me ;)
Jorge bought me some pretty flowers while he took care of Miriam and I got relaxed getting my hair done. Then we went to my mom-in-law's house where she had made lunch (the midday meal in Spain is big) with my favorite dishes that she makes- pure solferino and empanada tri-color, and I made my favorite dessert- apple crisp. It was all delicious, but I ate so much (and it was later than usual) that I couldn't eat anything at the Christmas party! The party only started 2 and a half hours after we started eating, so I guess that makes sense... but I felt kinda silly just the same.
The next day at lunch we had a real cake, so that's when we put a candle on it and they sang to me again. It was neat that for once my birthday was important twice, instead of hardly noticed in the Christmas rush. We'll be sure to take some good photos this Christmas, now that Miriam realizes more what's going on. Hugs to everyone,
Happy Holidays

Babies

2009-11-10T13:10:00.000+01:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

2009-09-01T19:51:00.001+02:00

This video on YouTube is soooo cool.

Although it makes me sleepy.... yaaawn... ;)

Colgando en tus manos - Holding me in your hands

2009-07-31T17:58:00.000+02:00

Colgando en tus manos

This is a great duet, in Spanish, but you can look up the lyrics and translate them if your interested.

It's just a great song. Enjoy

PitterPatter of Little Feet

2009-06-12T00:56:00.000+02:00

Well, you can tell from the title that we have big news...

Miriam has taken her first steps!

You can see lots of photos in our Picasa albums.

Enjoy the blog!

UpLate Update

2009-06-09T01:30:00.000+02:00

Well, my little list has come to some use.

I did find out that it really just takes a loooong time for the Universities here to send you your diploma. I'm going to start calling regularly though, just so they don't forget.

I found out about studying Early Childhood Ed. at home, but the course I looked at doesn't start until December.

I found plane tickets and train tickets for all our trips, but hopefully we won't need to rent a car (one less expense). Everything is falling into place for our summer plans, though the rest of the year is still hazy.

I finally got my sewing projects started again. I have three of them 80% finished, and another two cut out, and another three or four short mending or adorning projects in the planning stage.

I've gotten better at keeping the house cleaner. Funny how children are so messy, requiring their parents to become neat freaks, so that you know (more or less) what the baby is getting into when she gets quiet.

We went to Asturias the end of May. A beautiful, but very fast trip. Check out the picasa site for photos.

Weekend Trip to Asturias

Last week was the family reunion for Jorge's Mother's relatives - los Garcia-Zarco. (Check picasa for photos coming soon)

The reunion luncheon was in Quismondo, Toledo, Spain. A nice, small (a little bit hick), wind-beaten town about an hour from Alcala, going around Madrid on the south side. We had good food provided by all and shared with all, especially the Empanada and Rosquillas made by Jorge's abuela Andrea. The Rosquillas were what everyone was really looking forward to, because nobody makes them like Andrea - she has the magic touch, and years of experience. Someday I'll try to make them, to keep the tradition going.

It's gotten all cold and rainy here in Alcala this week. You gotta be careful and cover your neck, or you could catch a cold for the rest of June - no fun at all.

As the Spaniards say

"No te quites el sayo hasta 40 de mayo" Don't take off your shawl until the 40th of May falls (I tried to make it rhyme somewhat)

Wish me luck with the job search

Last weekend

2009-05-16T00:38:00.001+02:00

Some photos from Aranjuez. You can check out more on Rachel's Picasa Albums.

NewBuddies in Aranjuez

2009-05-13T18:43:00.000+02:00

This past weekend we took a little trip to Aranjuez. There is a very nice castle there with an Island Garden. It was a great Saturday morning getaway for our little family and a few good friends.

Angel Matesanz and his wife Janeen gave us the idea, and the ride there and back. We also have good times playing cards or Catan with them on occasion.

The weather was just right. A little breezy and little warm - just enough to appreciate how cool it was inside the castle's stone walls. All the walls were covered with paper or huge tapestries, or padded with velvet. It felt very royal. The only thing I didn't like was that in most of the rooms the ceiling was painted too. With all the already ostentatious decoration, having the ceiling painted(or tiled or gilded) made me feel almost imprisoned in the art-I wanted to open a window. I was relieved when we came to rooms without decorated ceilings.

The most interesting room in the castle, to me at least, was the showcase of the royal wedding gowns. These are "modern" gowns, worn by the present queen and the two princesses of Spain, along with the dress of the Crown Princess - my personal favorite.

After a quick tour of the castle (it was already past 2p.m. when we entered) we headed out to look for lunch. Miriam and the two little boys who came with us were getting antsy for some food, so we found a place quickly, got them their lunches and ate tasty sandwiches. After that we headed back to Alcalá, and Jorge and Miriam and I fell asleep in the backseat.

Lots of walking+good food+continuous vibrations+concierto de Aranjuez= zzzzZZZzzzzZZzzzz

That afternoon we went out with Beatriz and her daughter Samira. It was really windy at the park, with a lot of dust in the wind too, so we decided to go to a sanwicherie with an indoor play yard. Miriam was the youngest baby there, but she had a great time crawling and pulling up on everything and everyone. I even sat her on a little rocking horse/teeter totter and she held on real tight (I made sure she stayed on straight) and had a great time going up and down. It seems crazy that someday soon she'll be doing that all by herself!

NewBeginning

2009-05-12T12:25:00.000+02:00

Well,

It's been ten months since I've finished my University studies and had an adorable baby girl.

There are lots of things on my to do list at this point, and I thought I'd post them, so that they become more official (although not totally binding).

1) I need to get my diploma from the University of Alcala. They make you jump through hoops, especially if you try to do something in a way other than what they tell you. Hopefully I'll get it soon.

2) I need to revise my CV/Resume and start looking for part-time jobs.

3) I'd like to keep studying

a) French

b) Early Childhood Education

c) Translation or Interpretation

4) We want to visit a lot of folks this summer, so I need to look for good prices on plane tickets and car rentals.

5) I have lots of sewing projects planned and thought about... though only a few are started.

Well, hopefully I'll get the most important/most urgent things done soon... like lunch for example!