HBD Patrick!

Happy happy day to you! Here's hoping this next year brings lots of lovely things into your life!!

Tall big bro and I in front of his tall, tall workplace a few years ago.

Remember when I said he's generous? Well,for various reasons my salary is stuck here for the moment, so he's spending his bday buying me a plane ticket! Thanks big brother!!

It's National Siblings Day!

What to say? I have the best siblings! We're all so different and unique and bring different things to our family to make a whole.

Patrick: the engineer. gets really excited about dorky things. ubersmart. the generous one. makes us laugh like crazy. 

Gus: the linguist. the social butterfly. laid-back. enjoys the good things. guitarist # 1. unfailingly cheerful.

Thomas: the geo-genius. the quiet one. guitarist # 2. the workhorse of the family. always steady. the gamer.

Isabel: the piano virtuoso. naturally-good-at-everything-but-you-somehow-can't-hate-her-for-it. the leggy one. master of efficiency. future best teacher ever.

Maria: the philosopher. the writer. the singer-pianist-organist. thoughtful. helpful. the (other) steady one.

Tessie: the artist. the teenager. the (other) one who gets really excited about dorky things. the guarder of colors. Dr. Doolittle.

We really are a patchwork of talents and passions and beauty! I love you and miss you all—just because I'm far doesn't mean I don't think about you every single day. See you this summer!!

Six years with Othman!

Six years is a long time! I just did the math (O had to help me of course, haha) and realized we've been together for 23% of my life! But he's only been with me for 20% of his life... does that mean I love him more?

This picture was taken only a couple weeks after March 25th, 2010. So much has happened since then; it's crazy to look at our young and hopeful faces and know what was in store for them. Miles of smiles, lots of tears, gajillions of cuddles more than a few adventures...

and six years of love! 

So thankful for you lovey!

Happy 1st!

Today is the first birthday of the sweetest little boy I know!

Exactly a year ago Othman and I visited Jessica, Ahmed and hours-old Noor in the hospital.

A lot changes in a year!! Even those little hand and nails have grown a lot!

 

Happy first birthday Noor, I feel so privileged to be your surrogate auntie. And happy first full year of motherhood to your mommy, who is such a wonderful friend!! 

Happy Birthday Mom!!

I hope your day is as lovely as a cold, snowy day can be for a Brazilian, but more importantly I hope the year ahead brings you lots of love and joy!

Thanks for being a wonderful mother and example. Cheers to you!

Happy birthday Thomas!

Hey lil brother, remember when you were this small??

Well I know it's hard to believe...

  

But you're all grown up now!

Happy 22nd!!

2015 in review

A lot of people had a crappy 2015, at least that's what my Facebook newsfeed and the news in general seem to show. I, however, was not one of those people.

photo

I started 2015 with a much-needed and much-appreciated job change. I developed career opportunities and got some interesting new experiences as the spring went on. Othman and I also got to travel around Morocco a bit to some pretty inspiring places.

In the summer, I spent a wonderful two months with my family in their new home. It was truly a wonderful summer, full of close and extended family, sunshine, walks, beauty, celebrations, and joy.

Upon my return to Casablanca I got the job opportunity of a lifetime and started working at an international school, where I have been so fulfilled and happy. The difference in my personal life is huge, and my home sees a happier me much more often nowadays.

2015 was a year of portrait photography for me. I was able to experiment and explore with lots of different subjects and settings, and loved every minute.

Painting was another theme throughout the year, as I focused on trying out new techniques and subjects while developing my skills.

Othman and I gained new friends who we now can't imagine life in Casablanca without.

Though we're back in Casa as of yesterday, we ended the year in France, and had a holiday filled with family, children, and smiles.

Throughout the year I was able to rely on my caring, patient, and attentive husband for all the support I needed. 

It was a year full of changes, full of love, and full of life. Here's hoping that 2016 brings ever more of each of those.

Tessie turns 15!

It's this beautiful girl's birthday today!

Tess-bo-bess can you really have been born 15 years ago already?? You're still supposed to be my tiny, little, adorable sister who would show off her new reading skills by reading books to me over Skype! That little cutie (who-knew-she-was-cute, let's be honest here) who would contribute the most adorable drawings in my college care packages! You're growing up fast Tessie, but I guess you're doing it pretty well. I'm especially happy your freshman year of highschool has been so great for you so far! Band season, choir concerts and a musical and we're not even at Christmas yet! Congrats on being superhuman. Speaking of super, let's remember those glorious days of summer and a certain DC vs Marvel feud:

Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, and happy that you get to have almost everyone home to celebrate with you! Hope the year to come brings you all sorts of beautiful surprises. We love you lil sis!

Happy Birthday Pap!

Today my big brother turns 28! We live on different continents and so we can't have joint birthday parties anymore like we did when we were little,but at least I can celebrate here! 

At home Patrick is a silly, fun presence, always goofing around and getting his siblings to do the same!

Dec 2014, South Dakota

He was even able to start a music-less dance parties in my in-laws' backyard.

Aug 2014, Casablanca

He's also super generous, like when he took Isa and me out to probably the fanciest restaurant either of us poor lil sisters have even been to!

July 2014, Chicago

He and I have shared the best of friends.

August 2013, South Dakota, with friends Emily and Sarah

And we even went to the same university, sharing sibling lunches, a car, care packages, and of course always giving each other a hard time.

April 2009, Notre Dame

When we were all younger and would go on trips to Brazil, my dad and Patrick would often join us later, having to attend school and work. The day they arrived was always one of the best.

December 2006, Rio de Janeiro 

He has always been the leader we all follow!

July 1997, Indiana

And it's thanks to him and all the other boys I was surrounded by as a kid that I am as tough as I am now. 

1994, Texas, with cousins John Michael and Jacob

We don't see each other often, but when we do, we always have a wonderful time together, usually as he talks my ear off explaining something to me that I probably never knew existed. But it's fun.

Maybe 1995, Kansas

Thanks big bro for being such a good one! Here's hoping that year 28 brings you lots of happiness!