After I got Alex down for his nap, I came back to get Ava to go upstairs. I got her all tucked in her bed, came downstairs to find her babies sitting by the gate, each with an ornament from the tree. That little girl is something else! :)
Thursday, December 22, 2011
If it's not Ava taking ornaments off the Christmas tree
it's her babies!!
After I got Alex down for his nap, I came back to get Ava to go upstairs. I got her all tucked in her bed, came downstairs to find her babies sitting by the gate, each with an ornament from the tree. That little girl is something else! :)
After I got Alex down for his nap, I came back to get Ava to go upstairs. I got her all tucked in her bed, came downstairs to find her babies sitting by the gate, each with an ornament from the tree. That little girl is something else! :)
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Goodbye Brazil, we hope to see you again soon!
After a wonderful two weeks in Brazil it was time to head back home. We had a pretty long trip ahead of us, but we were in great spirits! We were going straight from the beach to the airport, a two hour ride. Then we had to wait about 3 hours to depart - yes, at 2am, with 4 little ones under the age of 2 (Bobby & family were traveling back with us)! The kids once again hung in there, played at the airport, got their pj's on, and ready to board the flight.
We were on a slightly smaller plane on the way back, a 767 - we had a window, aisle, aisle seats reserved. This time we had a very obnoxious flight attendant who started picking on us from the get-go - a power struggle of sorts. She was very "curious" about the CARES harness seatbelt we had for Ava, that is a type of supplemental 5-point harness belt to attach to the seatbelt and seat to better secure a little one like Ava (mostly for take-off & landing). Ava had worn it on the way down, and we had no issues with it with the flight crew. This time, though, the flight attendant's first comment was "I've heard of these... I've never seen one in use, though". At about 4am, after we had already reached cruising altitude, had already been served "dinner", and Ava was already comfortably asleep, snuggled up in her seat, leaning over on Daddy, that same flight attendant noticed Ava had her arms outside the straps and was not really using the harness at that point. She came over and began to physically move Ava and told us that if we were going to use the harness, we needed to use it the "proper" way. Ava woke up to find this strange woman in her face, trying to get her arms back inside the seatbelt, and Ava completely freaked out! She started screaming crying, was very upset, and it took me switching seats with Daddy, handing sleeping Alex off to him, to get Ava to calm down (a good 15 minutes that also disturbed all the people around us). The flight attendant walked off when she saw what a mess she had created. At this point, Ava also realized her clothes were a little wet from her milk that had spilled, and she HATES being wet. It took me a little while to decipher what she was screaming about (I'm wet! I'm wet!!). So right there in the seat I quickly undressed her, changed her diaper, and worked on getting her back to sleep. About an hour later that flight attendant was walking by, kind of paused by us, and started to say something to me (though I couldn't hear her very well). I immediately thought she was getting on my case again about how Ava was laying down (we had removed the harness completely to get her off our case), so I told her "she is wearing her seatbelt, do NOT touch her". The woman must have felt bad, because what she wanted to do was to give Ava a blanket. She said the air conditioner was blowing right where Ava was and she didn't want her to get cold. I figured it was her way of apologizing, so I let her give me a blanket for Ava. For the rest of the flight she kind of went out of her way to be nicer, but I was still not letting her get too close to us.
The rest of the trip was fine. We got in and out of immigration just fine, even though here in the US we don't have the wonderful family priority lines Brazil does. They don't really care if you have exhausted little babies.
We got our things, stopped by Uncle Trey's office to pick up Daddy's laptop, and decided to go ahead and make the drive back home (another 4 hours) since the kids were already sleeping again in the car. We arrived home pretty tired after 24 hours of travel, but happy to be back in our home to get ready for Christmas. :)
We were on a slightly smaller plane on the way back, a 767 - we had a window, aisle, aisle seats reserved. This time we had a very obnoxious flight attendant who started picking on us from the get-go - a power struggle of sorts. She was very "curious" about the CARES harness seatbelt we had for Ava, that is a type of supplemental 5-point harness belt to attach to the seatbelt and seat to better secure a little one like Ava (mostly for take-off & landing). Ava had worn it on the way down, and we had no issues with it with the flight crew. This time, though, the flight attendant's first comment was "I've heard of these... I've never seen one in use, though". At about 4am, after we had already reached cruising altitude, had already been served "dinner", and Ava was already comfortably asleep, snuggled up in her seat, leaning over on Daddy, that same flight attendant noticed Ava had her arms outside the straps and was not really using the harness at that point. She came over and began to physically move Ava and told us that if we were going to use the harness, we needed to use it the "proper" way. Ava woke up to find this strange woman in her face, trying to get her arms back inside the seatbelt, and Ava completely freaked out! She started screaming crying, was very upset, and it took me switching seats with Daddy, handing sleeping Alex off to him, to get Ava to calm down (a good 15 minutes that also disturbed all the people around us). The flight attendant walked off when she saw what a mess she had created. At this point, Ava also realized her clothes were a little wet from her milk that had spilled, and she HATES being wet. It took me a little while to decipher what she was screaming about (I'm wet! I'm wet!!). So right there in the seat I quickly undressed her, changed her diaper, and worked on getting her back to sleep. About an hour later that flight attendant was walking by, kind of paused by us, and started to say something to me (though I couldn't hear her very well). I immediately thought she was getting on my case again about how Ava was laying down (we had removed the harness completely to get her off our case), so I told her "she is wearing her seatbelt, do NOT touch her". The woman must have felt bad, because what she wanted to do was to give Ava a blanket. She said the air conditioner was blowing right where Ava was and she didn't want her to get cold. I figured it was her way of apologizing, so I let her give me a blanket for Ava. For the rest of the flight she kind of went out of her way to be nicer, but I was still not letting her get too close to us.
Alex happy and wide awake at 2am! What a party animal! ;)
We got our things, stopped by Uncle Trey's office to pick up Daddy's laptop, and decided to go ahead and make the drive back home (another 4 hours) since the kids were already sleeping again in the car. We arrived home pretty tired after 24 hours of travel, but happy to be back in our home to get ready for Christmas. :)
Friday, December 16, 2011
Brazil - sun, sand, surf, and sorvete!!
We could not be more blessed and fortunate to get to spend a week at the beach, surrounded by family, in tia Stela & tio Paulo's incredible apartment, to just kick back and relax. For our kids to have their first beach experience be on a beach in Brazil is incredible - and they LOVED it!
They got to experience the sand, the surf, the sorvete (ice cream) sold right there on the beach, the fresh coconut, family, beautiful weather, and total rest and relaxation. Aside from chasing kids, we did get in some relaxation and the opportunity to disconnect for a little while.
This post is more easily explained in pictures... after all a picture is worth a 1000 words, right?
They got to experience the sand, the surf, the sorvete (ice cream) sold right there on the beach, the fresh coconut, family, beautiful weather, and total rest and relaxation. Aside from chasing kids, we did get in some relaxation and the opportunity to disconnect for a little while.
This post is more easily explained in pictures... after all a picture is worth a 1000 words, right?
Riviera de Sao Lourenco
Ava with Stephanie as she first feels the sand under her feet
To get a family picture is virtually impossible!
Ava in no time had found the little Brazilian soccer player in her
Even with SPF 55, Alex had plenty of tan lines in all his rolls :)
He LOVED the sun, sand, and surf
Splashing in the water after the waves would come was his favorite part
Ava loves her babies, even if they are real people and only a year younger - but Aiden wasn't complaining about getting more ice cream ;)
Vovo, Bridgette, Ava and their ice cream on the beach!
Boxes are toys too, right?
Vovo and Alex on our first trip to Brazil
Ava taking Voovoo for a walk on the beach in the evening
Alex was all about participating in everything...while he was awake that is!
Again, Ava taking care of her dolls :)
Thank you tia Stela and tio Paulo for the amazing vacation, for letting us bring so much bagunca into your lives for 2 weeks!!! 12 extra people is A LOT to handle!
Wish you were here!! :)
Walking off into the sunset...
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Brazil - the party
Finally, Christina and Voovoo arrived to complete the surprise! I still cannot believe all 12 of us made it down to Brazil - what a feat!!! We hadn't all been together since Labor Day, so it was pretty amazing we could all get together, in Brazil no less!
Saturday morning, Raquel took me, Daddy, and the kids to the hippie outdoor market to do a little souvenir shopping. Ava found a little necklace stand and had a ball trying everything on. She was so cute that the shop owners didn't even care, they just offered her more necklaces to try on. And why wouldn't they? She was a little pint-size model ;)
After the market, we went back to tia Stela's to get ready for the churrasco (BBQ). The grill master had arrived, the extra help was already in the kitchen helping to prepare the food, and Raquel, Vovo, and the rest of us were helping set up decorations to surprise tia Stela yet again. The whole family was able to come. It is amazing to think that they used to be 7 - Vovo Cida, Vovo Zizo, Anesia, Zizo, Suzana, Stela, and Rui. Now we are 40, spread across 4 generations, and everyone showed. We are a party without needing to invite anyone else! Of course the more the merrier, so we even got to see some second cousins, great aunts & uncles, and just more family. :) I am extremely blessed to have such an incredible family, a family I wouldn't trade for anything in this world.
The party was a blast!! The food was delicious, the weather couldn't have been better, and the company was just fantastic. To be able to celebrate tia Stela in that way was fabulous, since she truly deserves it. She does so much for everyone else, it is nice to be able to celebrate the wonderful person that she is.
We also celebrated Heather's birthday, and tia Stela had a special cake made for her too. What a great day!
Saturday morning, Raquel took me, Daddy, and the kids to the hippie outdoor market to do a little souvenir shopping. Ava found a little necklace stand and had a ball trying everything on. She was so cute that the shop owners didn't even care, they just offered her more necklaces to try on. And why wouldn't they? She was a little pint-size model ;)
After the market, we went back to tia Stela's to get ready for the churrasco (BBQ). The grill master had arrived, the extra help was already in the kitchen helping to prepare the food, and Raquel, Vovo, and the rest of us were helping set up decorations to surprise tia Stela yet again. The whole family was able to come. It is amazing to think that they used to be 7 - Vovo Cida, Vovo Zizo, Anesia, Zizo, Suzana, Stela, and Rui. Now we are 40, spread across 4 generations, and everyone showed. We are a party without needing to invite anyone else! Of course the more the merrier, so we even got to see some second cousins, great aunts & uncles, and just more family. :) I am extremely blessed to have such an incredible family, a family I wouldn't trade for anything in this world.
The party was a blast!! The food was delicious, the weather couldn't have been better, and the company was just fantastic. To be able to celebrate tia Stela in that way was fabulous, since she truly deserves it. She does so much for everyone else, it is nice to be able to celebrate the wonderful person that she is.
We also celebrated Heather's birthday, and tia Stela had a special cake made for her too. What a great day!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Brazil - the farm
I am so glad that we got the chance to go to the sitio while we were in Brazil! I had not gone to the sitio in probably 10 years, and I really wanted to have the opportunity to take Daddy and the kids to see where so many of my memories were made.
It was wonderful to see Vovo Cida there; to show the kids Maroto, the parrot; to show them horses, chickens, cows; to show them where I played as a kid; to relax on Vovo Cida's porch; to have lunch with all the family, cousins, aunts, uncles, in the dining room that also holds so many memories; to see my kids playing on the porch with my grandmother - it was so surreal, and so wonderful!
This trip just keeps getting better and better. I am so grateful for every moment, every opportunity, and the chance to experience this with my kids. I can't believe we pulled it off for all 12 of us to go to Brazil together, and thanks to Voovoo for contributing some extra funds for the trip to make it easier on all of us. The extra funds were an added blessing and much appreciated.
After seeing all the pictures I am amazed at how much we did, and even how much I missed!!
I seem to have had a sleeping child on me much of the time, because I saw all kinds of pictures with Ava and Daddy in it, but no recollection of being there myself! A little weird, but kind of fun to see all they did while Alex was napping ;)
It was wonderful to see Vovo Cida there; to show the kids Maroto, the parrot; to show them horses, chickens, cows; to show them where I played as a kid; to relax on Vovo Cida's porch; to have lunch with all the family, cousins, aunts, uncles, in the dining room that also holds so many memories; to see my kids playing on the porch with my grandmother - it was so surreal, and so wonderful!
This trip just keeps getting better and better. I am so grateful for every moment, every opportunity, and the chance to experience this with my kids. I can't believe we pulled it off for all 12 of us to go to Brazil together, and thanks to Voovoo for contributing some extra funds for the trip to make it easier on all of us. The extra funds were an added blessing and much appreciated.
After seeing all the pictures I am amazed at how much we did, and even how much I missed!!
I seem to have had a sleeping child on me much of the time, because I saw all kinds of pictures with Ava and Daddy in it, but no recollection of being there myself! A little weird, but kind of fun to see all they did while Alex was napping ;)
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Brazil - The arrival
I still cannot believe we pulled it off!!! Tia Stela is super hard to surprise, but we did it! We arrived at tia Stela's house, piled out of the car, with PARABENS written across the eight of us. Tia Stela was in shock, it didn't quite compute, all 8 of us standing there in her driveway.
Words cannot express how excited I was to be able to do this for her birthday - she has always been the most incredible aunt! She has always been so welcoming, so inclusive, so generous. She and tio Paulo came to my wedding, and even came all the way from Brazil just to surprise me for Ava's baptism! Tia Stela is like a second mother to me. I've spent countless vacations with her, and it just meant so much to be able to surprise her and to introduce her to Alex too.
We were a little tired and hungry, but in usual tia Stela fashion, a delicious meal was already ready to be served (even though she had no idea we were coming!). We all ate super well, took nice showers, and the kids got in a nap (after playing by the pool, of course).
Words cannot express how excited I was to be able to do this for her birthday - she has always been the most incredible aunt! She has always been so welcoming, so inclusive, so generous. She and tio Paulo came to my wedding, and even came all the way from Brazil just to surprise me for Ava's baptism! Tia Stela is like a second mother to me. I've spent countless vacations with her, and it just meant so much to be able to surprise her and to introduce her to Alex too.
We were a little tired and hungry, but in usual tia Stela fashion, a delicious meal was already ready to be served (even though she had no idea we were coming!). We all ate super well, took nice showers, and the kids got in a nap (after playing by the pool, of course).
Those first couple days we got to see a lot of family, go to Hipica, lounge by the pool, relax a little, and I even made it to the dentist!
Alex found the horses to be HILARIOUS!
Ice cream became a main food staple for the trip :)
Yes, we began introducing solid food for Alex quite differently than we did Ava ;)
The girls got purses as a gift - so apparently that's all they needed to go play
Amazing delicious fruits - our kiddos ate it up!
Ava quickly made herself at home, even cuddling up on the couch with tio Paulo to watch soccer :)
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