Darndest

Yesterday morning we went to buy fruit from the fruit guy in our neighborhood. While we were there, we met a neighbor, an older woman probably in her 80s. I was really surprised that she said hello and talked with me in English. She had lived in the US while her husband went to college in Minnesota, and some of her children lived there now. So we chatted and then went on with our shopping.
"Mommy, that lady is REALLY OLD," I heard a certain 4-year-old announce when she had walked away. "I think she needs me to help her stand up and walk."
I glanced back at the lady (who appeared not to have heard), and she was stooped over writing a check on the table. I assured Penny she probably didn't need our help right now.
One thing about living overseas is that those embarrassing announcements in English have a higher possibility of not being understood. Yesterday I was just hoping they hadn't been heard.

I took the kids outside to play in the grass outside our apartment. Our neighbors came out with their little son, and Penny immediately switched to Portuguese.
Now before you're all impressed, let me clarify that Penny knows about 5 words of Portuguese. But she was using them. She insisted on calling me, "Mamae," explaining that, "This way our neighbors will understand me!"
She also likes pointing to William and telling people, "Um bebe! Um bebe!"
There's not a lot of Portuguese to use, but I am thrilled that she uses what she has.

Last night I had a Zumba class until 9:00. Then once I got to bed, William decided to wake up, for the first of many times during the night. It was a rough morning!
At one point I was back in my room, making my bed, and Penny comes to tell me, "Mom, I think you should take a nap."
"Why?"
"Because the baby woke you up during the night."
Aww, how sweet. "But really, why do you want me to take a nap?"
"So I can play.... games with my sister."
"Games on the iPad?"
"............ yes......."
And so I got a 30-minute nap this morning.