Independence Day/Labor Day weekend

So I know this diverts from my normal pattern but too much has happened this weekend to add it to the week ahead.
Saturday (September 5)-
I woke up today at 8 because I needed to pack to go to the sítio, or country house. Around 10:30, the car was finally packed and everyone was ready to go. But we weren't going to the country house yet, first we were going downtown to eat pastel. We parked in a lot, next to a sex shop hahaha, and walked to the market. The best place to eat pastel in the market is Sonya's. It was packed there, all the chairs were full and people were standing and eating. There were many options, same as the French have crepes there were sweet and savory. I opted for a shrimp pastel even though I was told there was lots of onions. My host dad had ground beef and everyone else got cheese. The trick with pastel is you have to bite the edges and then blow in shell to blow out the steam and cool off the pastry. Then we wandered around the market looking at all the different stalls. There is a couple fishing stores, one with your everyday necessary objects, one with spices, one with herbs, and many cafés. Then we continued through the main square with all the street vendors, selling cellphone cases, dvds, shirts, etc. Then it was time to go to the country house. We drove north by Pai's first school and the poorer parts of town. Then we were in the mountains. At a small shop we stopped for the last time and then continued to the river and lake where we would start climbing on the dirt road. After Álvaro opened the gate we were bumping along the dirt road and then below was the house. We had to get everything out, then people started arriving. I played Rummkub, one of the many games we will play this weekend. Lunch was feijoada, a typical brasilian dish of black beans and pork meat, rice and creamy mashed potatoes. Then everyone went out to help clean the pool and wash the deck. The pH of the water was not good enough to swim and it was also cold. So we played more Rummkub and the kids fished in the lake. My host dad played guitar and everyone joined in and sang. Marie painted my nails in Brasilian colors. It took forever! But they are really cool. :) We had dinner too, baked potatoes or hot dogs. I had a baked potato and a half with some ground beef sauce with tomatoes and bread. Then we started playing card games. Marie and I were teaching each other our card games. Everyone slowly filed to bed and Marie, Aninha and I were the last ones in our room that included Vó.
Sunday (September 6)-
Today was cold and rainy so everyone kept close to the house, except for Álvaro who wanted to fish. I had some toast for breakfast with some local jam that was the best yet. We played more Rummkub, of course. Then more people arrived, Aninha's friend Gabi and her tia and tio. We played a game in the boys room, Gato mia. The lights are turned off and everyone hides and one person closes their eyes and has to find someone. When they do, they say "Gato mia" and the person has to meow and the seeker has to guess who it is. It was fun but it got hot in the little room. We played Trivial Pursuit again and again I won. :) I went to join Álvaro and his fishing habit by the pool and soon joined in. I caught one fish. Then it started raining so we headed back to the house. Gamão (backgammon) had been brought out as well as Rummkub and Truco (a typical brasilian card game) Then we had lunch of stuffed fish, Dourado (fish) and more fish. It was also excellent. When it got darker a fire was started a marshmellows were brought out. I swear I never stopped eating this day. We roasted marshmellows, everyone learning from me for once. I went to sit in a bench near the fire. João and Álvaro then came to join me and João put his arm around me It was the first time I really felt like João liked me a lot too. I am going to be so sad to leave this family. Then we played more Gato mia, more intense because there was more kids and it was dark so we couldn't see the seeker. People hid under the bed, in the dresser and behind the beds. Then we stopped to have some dinner and were going to play a game in the whole farm. That didn't happen but we played mancala and more card games with my host dad singing in the background. I went to do some fishing again, but this time I was unsuccessful. I ate more, meranges, chocolate pastry, cake, bread, cookies, fried mandioca... Then everyone else slowly went to bed and Marie, Mãe, Tio Roldofo and I played another card game. Tia Cynthia helped me. We didn't finish because it got really late, but mãe and I were 100 points short of winning for real. Then all of us went to bed.
Monday (September 6)-
I slept really late because of being up late the last few nights. When I woke up half the clan had gone on a hike because it was a really nice day. I ate a kiwi, being full from yesterday, and then everyone was going swimming. Pai, João, Álvaro, Rico, Roldofo, Tia Cynthia and others had come back from their hike and everyone put on their suits. The little boys enjoyed the pool while the rest of us suntanned or just talked. Marie, Aninha and I braved the cold water for like 5 minutes before lunch, and that was all the swimming I did. For lunch we BBQ'd meat, sausage, ribs, cheese and garlic bread, our usual, plus tomatoes and onions. We enjoyed the sun as long as we could. Then we started cleaning up the house. Marie and I sat in the hammocks eating grapes and then went with Vo to pick some Brasilian fruit from the trees to eat. Then Tia Nani, Tio Roldofo, Rico and Vó left. Marie, Aninha, João and I ate chocolate ice cream. Us kids played more games outside, tag, who could throw their shoes the farthest, etc. I broke my havainas while running away from João during tag but Marie did me one better when got her shoe stuck in the tree and pai had to climb it to get it out. So we gave up the games and sat and talked until everyone was ready to leave. The sun had set and it was time to head back to the real world. We drove the windy roads behind Tio, Tia Cynthia, Marie, Tutu and Aninha. When we got back I unpacked and we ate homemade pastel. I ate all three with turkey and mustard. Then I uploaded some pictures and mãe talked to Mima and we just kept relaxing from the weekend.
Some pictures are on Facebook! I didn't put all 300 up. :) Read from me again on Friday.