Our family gets to live in Brasil which is really awesome

But our family lives which also means things happen

life happens

chores happen

work happens

Here's a few of those bits and pieces of our life

Who knew a Poinsettia was a tree?  I just always thought they were those small beautiful bushes that I bought on Black Friday for $.99 and gave them out at Christmas as gifts

It is "winter" in Brasil so this plant is on track for blooming time

Little one helping fix the table leg that came loose

Little one cleaning off her artwork from the walls

A beautiful reflection in our home that my S caught on camera for me

Bike rides with the little and Rob and sometimes just Mom

College fairs, what the heck!  How are we here??

Practicing her knife skills, trying to keep the practicing to the cutting board

Experiencing Brazilian birthday parties.  This one was held at an mini amusement park, rented out for the birthday's girls school class!  My $10 Amazon gift doesn't quite hold up to these standards.

One of our regular bike route stops, the train gas station

Gorgeous sunset

Church day selfie

Lunch one day, inspiration from my sister...it was a "dippers" lunch

We pulled out the peanut butter, almond butter, ranch dressing and hummus and found what ever we could to dip into these things

Practicing basketball skills with Dad

Gwen has been having a difficult time at school drop off.  I made her a sticker chart and for each day of drop off without tears equaled a sticker.  Ice cream treat once the chart was filled!

A special night for the youth girls that I teach each week.  This particular night we talked about temples around the world

A view of tennis practice...baby doll for Gwen, water for Jo and I and my Portuguese homework keeping me busy

Lunch date with Dad, it's awesome having Rob's office just 10 minutes from home

My awesome babysitters planned a special dinner for J&G including dress-ups and wands

Sick baby, fought a fever and vomit and refusing to drink for 3 days

It was so nice when she was finally on the mend

The one benefit of having the airport in our backyard was the free airshow a few weeks ago

Celebrating Brasilia's Independence Day

Big girls got to play the national anthem and little girl was able to perform a few musical numbers

It's a tuba

My one man band is at it again...

she now play the alto sax, tenor sax, base sax, trombone and TUBA, not all at the same time of course

The benefits of being at a small school...

the band really is not great so it doesn't take her long to catch up with the songs they are playing

It's also really funny to hear her practicing

Brasilia Ice Park

A few weeks ago for Family night we took our family to an Ice Park

It was a temporary ice park set up during the "winter" months

It ran from Julyish to September

Every time we drove by we laughed at the "Winter" Ice Park

Brazilians don't know winter

The kids had a great time skating around the rink

I had a great time watching the Brazilians skate around the rink

Gwen had an awesome time being pushed in a little car around the rink as the driver took her on loops, spins and "going really fast" as she said

Safety was a priority; helmets with a hair net, elbow pads, knee pads and skate monitors that would skate around the rink helping you up when you fell

Which is funny

We've had experiences where safety is low, low, low like the time Rob and I went to test drive a car with Gwen and the salesman asked why we were loading the car seat into the car

They weren't taking any chances on this night

Vox Mundi

I was privileged this past year to sing with a choir, Vox Mundi

A unique choir, we are all members of an embassy but embassies from all over the world

We sang songs it at least 5 different languages and celebrated the finish of the season with a performance at the German embassy 

I would not consider myself a singer but after joining my church choir when we lived in Maryland I realized that I enjoy singing with groups

This was a wonderful way to make friends, learn new things and develop a talent

Can't wait for the next season to start

School Days

It's back to school as of a few weeks ago

All of my children are in school for at least part of the day

It's strange and quiet and nice

Of course I miss them but school offers a great routine and chance to see friends again and motivate and work hard

My little one preparing for her big day, preschool at an Portuguese school

She'll be the best little speaker out of all of us

These two entering as sophomores 

Working hard, early morning seminary, after school sports

They are busy

Little One

After a little celebration in the Amazon we returned home and properly celebrated G's birthday

Our little three year old is full of spunk, personality and joy

I guess we shouldn't expect any less being the baby with 4 older sister's

We celebrated the evening with her dinner request: homemade mac and cheese, pickled beans she pulled from the cupboard and chocolate strawberry cupcakes

We love you little Gwennie