After a Rough Couple of Months we Enjoy a Much-Deserved Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
It's been four months since I've written a post. It's hard to believe, given there was a time, not so long ago, in 2020, when I wrote...
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Spreadsheetmom
Motherhood Honestly
by Jana Lieblich
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Jana
Aug 30, 20225 min read
Our First Week Back to School is Tinged with Tragedy, Causing me to Take Stock of my Blessings.
When the kids returned to school last Wednesday, everything seemed run-of-the-mill. The days leading up to the first day of school were...
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Jana
Aug 25, 20223 min read
Catherine and Graham's Absolutely Smashing, Jolly Good, 10th Birthday Weekend Celebration.
My babies turned ten last weekend. It's almost impossible to comprehend. Where did the time go, is all I can ask. I remember the hot...
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Jana
Aug 19, 20223 min read
We bid a Bittersweet Farewell to Summer and Single Digit Birthdays, in Paradise.
Where is it 75 degrees and breezy 365 days a year? Carlsbad, California (North San Diego Country), that's where! That may be a slight...
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Jana
Aug 13, 20224 min read
There is Life (and Summer fun) After an Out-of-This-World European Vacation.
Let's face it, it's a bit hard to top three weeks in Portugal. Coming home from any vacation is always a bit of a let down, but coming...
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Jana
Jul 17, 20222 min read
A Poolside Revelation: Teaching my Kids Sign Language!
On Saturday morning we were out at the pool swimming, in the backyard. The kids were in the pool and I was attempting to read my book. ...
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Jana
Jul 9, 20223 min read
We bid Portugal a Fond Farewell as our Three-Week Adventure Comes to a Quiet Close.
After three weeks, we began to feel like we lived in Portugal, which was quite nice, I admit. We had become acclimated to so many...
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Jana
Jul 8, 20222 min read
Our Last day in Porto. So Very sad to Leave....
Our last day in Porto was a bit sad, but we kept ourselves busy, checking things off on our to-do list that had not yet been checked. ...
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Jana
Jul 5, 20223 min read
A Morning of Light Rain and Shopping, Followed by Lots of of Wonderful Family Time!
The day started with a little light rain and shopping. It was lovely to have some summer rain, since this is something that we never...
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Jana
Jul 4, 20223 min read
A Day Trip to the Douro River Valley filled with Wine, Food, and More Wine!
My cousin Sara booked this special day trip, months ago, to the Douro River Valley. We were so excited to go and also relieved that...
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Jana
Jul 2, 20222 min read
Garin Finally Gets a Reprieve from House Arrest, in the Form of a Much-Needed day in the Country.
Feeling badly that Garin had been cooped in the house for so long, yesterday, Pedro, my late-cousin Sylvia's husband, suggested that we...
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Jana
Jun 30, 20223 min read
Garin Stays at Home, Convalescing, but plans Another Perfect day for us to Enjoy in Porto!
With the help of my cousin Sara, who made a lot of wonderful suggestions, Garin planned a great day for us today. He mapped out the...
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Jana
Jun 30, 20225 min read
As Garin Contracts Covid in Portugal, we do our Best to Keep Calm and Carry on.
The morning we were leaving Lagos, Garin tested positive for Covid. He had not been feeling 100% for a few days, but a home test, a few...
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Jana
Jun 28, 20222 min read
Algarve Beach Connoisseurs. It's a Tough job, but Someone has to do it. It may as Well be us!
With the weather finally improving in the Algarve, we spent our last three days pursuing the best beaches we could find. However, that...
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Jana
Jun 28, 20221 min read
Toothless in Portugal! Miles Loses his two Front Teeth, on two Consecutive Days.
Miles lost the first tooth in Lisbon and then the next day, when we arrived to the Algarve, he lost the second one. What are the chances?...
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Jana
Jun 27, 20222 min read
A Speed Boat Trip Through Ocean Grottos, pet Crabs and a Beach to end all Beaches. Lagos Perfection!
I awoke (early) to this stunning sunrise view out of our apartment window. Back to Padaria Central for our favorite morning pastries....
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Jana
Jun 26, 20223 min read
Beach-Bound at Last and a Sardine Museum Thrown in to Round out the day!
With the weather starting to improve, we decided to try our luck at a beach today. The morning's forecast was still a bit iffy, so we...
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Jana
Jun 25, 20223 min read
With Uncooperative Weather to Contend With, we Headed to the "Other Edge of the World," Sagres.
Apparently there is some debate whether "the edge of world" (the most western most tip of Europe) is in Cabo da Roca, where we visited a...
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Jana
Jun 24, 20223 min read
Goodbye Lisbon, Hello Algarve! We Head South for the World-Famous Portuguese Beaches.
Leaving Lisbon was sad, especially since we had to cut our stay there short by a day or two when we were doing our planning, due to some...
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Jana
Jun 23, 20223 min read
We're off to Sintra and Cascais for the Day. Garin and I are glad to be Carefree!
Garin got a much-deserved day off from his tour guide duties. When planning our trip to Portugal, nearly six months, we planned to take a...
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Jana
Jun 22, 20222 min read
We Spend the day High Atop Lisbon in Picturesque Alfama.
Alfama is one of Lisbon's oldest areas, filled with steep streets and magnificent history. The area is charming - restaurants and shops...
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Jana
Jun 21, 20223 min read
Belem-bound, Home to a Monastery, Gilded Coaches and the Birthplace of the Famous Pasteis de Belem.
Today we visited Belem. Belem is a parish within the municipality of Lisbon, best known for landmarks that harken back to Portugal's...
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Jana
Jun 20, 20222 min read
On Day Two we Keep it Local, Touring the Baixa- Chiado Neighborhoods of Lisbon. Treasures Abound!
Garin planned this day out as impeccably as he did our first day. There were a lot of moving parts and he didn't miss a beat, other...
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Jana
Jun 18, 20223 min read
Except for Some Pesky jet lag, our First day in Lisbon Goes Much Better Than our Voyage Here.
Jet leg is not for the faint of heart. When planning this trip, I must say that traveling alone with four kids abroad and jet lag were...
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