Official Day 1 of Magical Mickey began at Epcot

My favorite park :)

Lining up for the que

Gwen was in Frozen magical fever riding the boat ride through Arendelle

Running from one country to another

I have a personal goal to hopefully visit all those countries in real life

I've been able to check a few off the list

Travel is contagious

Stopping for a pause in Italy's plaza

My little obsessed with the trains

I couldn't pull her away

She gets it from her Grandpa

   

There's even snowmen in Florida

The crew of kiddos, cousins ranging in age from 15-3

We were missing a few this trip

 

The Holman & Hauze crew enjoying a bit of pixie dust

We found these awesome soccer jersey's before leaving Brasil

They are for a team in Rio

Throughout the day we got a few cheers and applause from other guests

Sure made for easy spotting of kiddos throughout the park

Sunshine on my shoulder

 

It was super, super nice after experiencing snow, cold & inversion in Utah to land in sunny Florida

Rob has flown in Friday night with the younger three

Picked up the van rental in Miami, drove to Orlando

taken them all shopping to fill the house with food for the week

and then picked up the older two and I super, super early Sunday morning

We crashed for a few hours and then found a church service to attend

Funny enough we were able to meet up with one of Rob's best friends from Bountiful, UT

His family had recently moved to the Orlando area

and no visit to Orlando is complete without a walk around the temple grounds

It was a great start to our amazing Florida vacation

 

Adventures in Utah

A few months back Rob and I were discussing how we could get M&S their driver license before leaving for college

The time for college is still a few years off but there were so many pieces that needed to fall into place

We knew we were going to be in FL for Christmas and the ball starting rolling

 Somehow things fell into place and I was able to fly with M&S to Utah and then fly to FL for our R&R (rest & relaxation)

The girls have been hard at work the past few months studying for their drivers test

They technically won't be able to drive in Brasil until they are 18 but it will be nice to send to college with a license and have a few months before they graduate to utilize them as "uber" drivers

Ready to board our plane in Brasilia

It was surreal leaving the country

Enjoying our first "American" food at the airport

I was just really disappointed that Chick-fil-a didn't have their peppermint milkshakes in the airport, but the girlies enjoyed a bagel

After flying for 24+ hours we headed straight for the DMV after a quick pit stop at Café Rio

The girls passed their Driver Permit test, yippee!!

The next evening was gift exchanges with the Bonner cousins

These two are just cuties

 Girls night out with the Holman sisters and cousins

These girls are growing so quickly

It's so fun to see my girls join the fun and act like they haven't missed a beat

 In three short days we also visited two college campuses

That leaves three more to visit when we return in the summer

What trip to BYU is complete without mint brownies!

Catching up with friends and family at BYU & UVU 

 I was also thrilled to be in Utah the weekend of the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas concert

Rob was able to secure tickets for us to attend Friday evening

After parking, working our way through crowds and craziness I went to pick up my tickets at will call

Sadly there was a miscommunication and the tickets were for Saturday evening

I tried to plead my case with the doormen and there was no budging

I even used my, "but I've flown all the way from Brasil" sob story

Our option was going into a theater and watching the show on the big screen or go home

My girls wanted to just go home and I was being a bit stubborn and said we would stay

We had come all this way

I was disappointed and knew it would not be the same but just had to be there as my consultation prize

We sat down in comfy theater seats and the show began

It just wasn't the same

Two songs in our nice doorman came in and whispered in my ear, "do you still want to go in?"

"Yes", I almost shouted

He assured me the seats would be in the back

Sure enough as we rode escalator after escalator we were seated on the back row 

But it was magnificent and now I can say I've seen a show in the Conference Center

Link for the amazing organ solo that made the night!!
I Saw Three Ships, English Carol Arr. Richard Elliott & Matt Nickle

 My girls also got their Christmas wish...SNOW

Just a dusting but Snow

and then we were greeted by this at the airport

Thankfully we made it through in time for our flight to Florida and the sun

Thank you!

A big thank you to all that have made donations this past year to our little project

We have be so grateful to get to help 2 schools about an hour from our home

The students finished up the school year this past month

Thanks to many donations we were able to make kindergarten graduation bags for 35 students

Help pay for a 8th grade graduation dinner for our adopted kids 

Purchase and deliver 40 food kits for families in the area

What a blessing

At times we wonder if we are making a difference but the past month has been a blessing to see

In our office I have a quote hanging to remind our family our the blessings we enjoy and try to share with others

"In our society, especially in rural areas, the highest social status is a gringo.  Americans are considered wealthy and knowledgeable-which makes them important.  Sending volunteers to this neighborhood has an effect on the adults, the other people in the community, and the children.  Those children deserve to see something different than what they know.  They need to understand that another way of living is possible.  When all they've seen is that neighborhood, no once can blame them for not aspiring to something better.  But when they feel important, welcome and acknowledged by others-especially those they consider important-it enhances their self-esteem. And it's a reminder to other community members-who know the gringos are visiting Bajo de Meco-that these children exist and they need someone to give them better opportunities."

Tidbits

Wrapping up the month

A little look into what we were up to...

 Little one bringing home school papers and activities

She's a learning Portuguese, it's awesome! 

 Our candy supply straight from Miami Target

Rob brought home a giant stash so we could make graduation lei's for our 9th grade adoption class

My burrito baby

Getting in some Christmas spirit before leaving town 

Little one had a gift exchange at school

She was so excited to get a cupcake princess 

And just like that we packed our bags

Delivered a few cookies plates to our guards, neighbors and friends and hit the tarmac

More of our adventures to follow