Brazilian BBQ

On Saturday, we made a last minute decision to go to a local park for a churrasco (Brazilian BBQ). It was a cloudy day but we had fun nonetheless. Unlike hamburgers and hot dogs, Brazilians always grill chicken or beef skewers. There is always rice and a salsa type salad to go with it. Here we are toasting rolls on top of the skewers. Something you'll never see at a park in the states............beautiful granite top BBQ and sink! Brazil is rich in these beautiful stones!

A photo of our very full picnic table.

James playing in the sand with his new bucket.

Our friends Vania and Kelly eating lunch with Miss Lilah!

Lilah and Marina sat swinging for the longest time. Lilah loved it!

Lilah LOVED watching the other children play in the sand. I know she was dying to get down and play but her mean mommy wouldn't let her. :)


James and Marina enjoy a snack right before we leave. My only contribution to the picnic was a big batch of brownies! My friends always leave me to bring the desserts. I can't even tell you how popular my chocolate cookies are! This is not something Brazilians make but thanks to American TV shows they are familiar with them. I try to bring them to every potluck, picnic, and/or house visit. It's so much fun for me to see the smiles..........and it's only cookies!

Iguacu Falls

Three weekends ago we had the opportunity to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World: The Iguacu Falls.

Rick decided last minute to accompany Edivanio to the city of Foz do Iguacu to help him buy some electronic equipment for the ministry office. This city is on the boarder of Paraguay where the prices are super cheap. After deciding to go, Rick then thought of taking me and the kids to enjoy a little weekend visiting a different region of Brazil.These little animals (not sure what they are, anyone have an idea?) lined the path down to the falls hoping to get some food from the passersby. As I started digging through the diaper bag to get my camera, these little creatures must have thought I was getting some food out because they rushed over to my side. Before I knew it, one of them reached up and tore open a grocery bag I had hanging on the stroller filled with snacks. They ran off with a juice box and a small bag of cookies. James started crying after he found out that it was his cookies they took.
This butterfly was special with it's "88" on it's wings. It's amazing how the Lord created his own little defense mechanism.........they look like big eyes to any of his predators!

It has been said that upon seeing Iguaçu, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed "Poor Niagara!" Would you believe that Iguacu has 275 falls?!

We enjoyed seeing and discovering all the crawlies along the way down to the falls. This guy was almost 6 inches long!

James had a blast. His least favorite part, however, was the "rain" from the waterfalls. The lookout points were so close that the mist, if you stood long enough, would leave you quite damp and sticky!

I couldn't believe that the pilot on our flight home circled the falls TWICE to give everyone on both sides of the plane a chance to see. I AM TALKING A COMMERCIAL JET!! It was totally unexpected and a nice treat. Double click this photo to see it better. Amazing!

Here is just a few seconds of God's amazing workmanship!

Lilah is Crawling!

Two days after I posted her combat crawl Lilah started crawling at our neighbor's house. Notice how she dissed the dolls and went after the purse............a girl after her mommy's heart! Hee, Hee!

The Ham

I thought that you would enjoy this one!

James hearts bugs

Let's just say I was traumatized after this event.

While You Were Out

Yes, just like the show! Our friends next door, Rosi and Edivanio, decided to surprise and paint their daughter's room over the weekend while they were away enjoying a slumber party at a friend's house. The other neighbors and I offered to make the bedspreads, pillow shams, and throw pillows for the girls but we only had 4 days!!!!Here is the before photo of Marina and Raissa's room.

I did most of the sewing while the others cut fabric, ironed, pinned and cared for James and Lilah.Debora stayed up working with me every night after I got James and Lilah to bed.

Ta-Da! The finished product! The girls LOVED it! Their reactions were priceless.

James' 1st Trip to the ER

My carelessness and James' naughtiness caused us to spend an afternoon at the Pronto Socorro (emergency room). I was sitting at the computer last week when James asked me for an apple. So I got up grabbed a plate, knife and apple and sat back down at the computer to do the cutting while I read. I gave him half and told him when he was finished, come back to me and I will cut the other half for you. Meanwhile, a lady from the church called asking to borrow a toy firetruck for a lesson she would give the children at the school where she teaches. She would be over in a few minutes so I jumped up to go find the toy truck before she arrived. Anyway, you know what happens next............................. I hear a scream in the other room and James runs toward me holding his bleeding hand. I remain calm but couldn't tell which hand the blood was coming from. Rick had the car, so our dear neighbor drove us to the hospital where Rick later met us.

He was just devastated at the sight of his own blood. Like father, like son! I'm just glad he didn't pass out.

James is getting ready to receive his stitches. Rick and I told him jokes and gave him candy to keep his mind off it.

After two shots to numb the area and two stitches, he didn't want to see any more of his favorite doctor Paulo. His face says it all.

After leaving the hospital we drove to the toy store for him to pick out a toy for being so brave. He loved it but I don't think he'll pick up another knife anytime soon. We go tomorrow to get the stitches removed. Pray that it will be uneventful. Blessings!

Church Easter Retreat and Other Photos

Our church held a retreat at a nearby farm during Easter weekend. Here James and his little friend Rebeca enjoy playing together.

Lilah stayed inside with the other small babies. Marcinho is closest in age to Lilah at just two months older.Despite the rain during most of the weekend, several of the kids spent most of their free time in the pool. Here we are celebrating the birthdays for the week with this giant cake. (Notice who is front and center waiting for a piece.) His lips were blue and trembling but he didn't care. The little guy loves the water!

After the retreat, our neighbor Debora delivered homemade chocolate eggs to the children that live on our floor. The kids were so excited to receive yet another egg! ( Note to self: make dentist appointments this week!)

A common occurrence: a horse "parked" in the median of the main road in our town.

James loves his bi-weekly swimming class. He is just learning to put his face under the water.

We had an American baby play date last week. My friends Stefani and Christy are both married to Brazilians and are more than likely here to stay. So, (left to right) Isabella, Emerson, Lilah and Gianna will make many memories together.

A special moment with daddy and his little girl.The girls are getting ready to go for our nightly walk after dinner. My neck has been bothering me lately ( problems that stem from a car accident in college) so Debora has been carrying Lilah these days. Lilah loves to bounce along, watch other walkers and cars pass and even sometimes falls asleep.

It was our little neighbor's Marina's birthday last week and we were invited to celebrate with a birthday breakfast. You will find it interesting that a typical breakfast consists of rolls called paozinhos that are usually eaten with cheese and lunch meat, cake (minus the icing), and coffee with milk. And of course fresh fruit, usually bananas, papaya, and a type of honeydew melon. We can buy cereal here, however there is only about 4 kinds: Cheerios, Fruit Loops, Frosted Flakes and something like chocolate shaped stars.

Lilah had bed head and the girls thought she looked like a parakeet! Not to mention, how funny she looked with a cheese bread hanging on her lip.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this photo of my babes. It seems to only happen once in a blue moon to get them both looking and smiling!

Uncle Mark is back in Brazil working for the month of April. He is planning on taking us to the beach this weekend. Fun times............it will be Lilah's first time to the beach.
There were 4 birthday parties last week for James' little friends. Here is a photo taken at Luanna's party. Notice James was the only boy invited!

Lilah and The Combat Crawl

Lilah has been crawling like this for the past two weeks and I think she will be up on her knees any day now. She is doing many new things since she turned 8 months. She can clap her hands, pull herself up to a stand, wave bye-bye (we say "tchau"), drink out of a cup by herself, and feed herself little pieces of food that I put on her tray. Still no teeth yet but oh so cute nonetheless!

Happy Ressurection Day!

I want to make sure that James and Lilah have the same American traditions that Rick and I had when we were children. So of course, I threw together an Easter egg hunt for the kids that live in our building. When luggage space was available, I brought down plastic eggs (can't buy them here) and my neighbor Debora and I made these baskets for the children. I filled the eggs with candy, homemade play dough, coins, and little toys. They were SO excited. Wouldn't you be too?!

I love this photo Rick captured of James running to meet his friends that just arrived.

We took the children to the Parque Cidade (city park) for a picnic and egg hunt. There were 5 families that participated.

Anyone who has two or more children know how impossible it is to take a photo with both kids looking and smiling at the same second. There were 4 of us waving chocolate candies and Lilah's binky behind the camera to get their attention!

James had so much fun. I love this sweet photo.

Here James and Lilah wait for their chocolate Easter eggs. The Brazilian tradition is to receive a chocolate egg which, depending on the size, has a little toy or candy inside.


Yay, we got our chocolate eggs!

James wasted no time digging into his egg.

"How do I eat this thing Mommy?"

I love this little face.

Easter