Vacation Time

We just got back today from our first official vacation here in Brazil. We took off right after the kids got out of school last week. We headed southwest from where we live. I found a quaint little fazenda "working farm" / bed and breakfast for us to go to for a few days. The pictures on the internet looked just like what I was looking for and it was exactly what I had pictured in my mind once we got there.

It took us about 6 hours to get there. We were in the middle of farms. It was very rural. On the first day, we arrived just in time for lunch. There was one other couple there, but they left after lunch. We immediately headed out for our first of many horse rides. Valgier, one of the farm workers, rounded up ponies for Isabella and Santiago. Jaime, Gabriel, Joaquin and I rode on horses.

We went to one of the pastures on the farm. It was breathtaking. It was full of horses and colts, sheep, and cows. The were all just roaming as we rode through. It was awesome!! The weather was a little cooler than what I had packed for, so we wore our jeans and sweatshirts. That night we were all tired. Jaime and I fell asleep by 8:30 pm. I think that our bodies really needed the rest. It helped that we were all sleeping in one room. This house we stayed in was quite old and therefore the floors made a lot of noise. Once all the kids were down, especially Joaquin, we didn't want to move. :) God forbid anyone needed to use the bathroom!!!


The second day was also cold. We got up and had a great breakfast. The cooks at the fazenda were great! One of the farm workers then took us all down to where some of the goats were and we all had out first experience milking the goat.

Next, we headed out for our second ride. This time we were all on horses. Isabella and Gabriel were so proud that they could go ride "alone" at times.

We got back to the fazenda just in time for lanche "snack time". We had lunch and napped and then headed out for our afternoon outing. This time Valgier took us to the falls. We took the tractor down the road and got out and hiked 25 minutes to these beautiful falls.

I kept thinking to myself that we wouldn't be allowed to do this in the US. We were right up against the falls. I am sure there would have been a fence or something around them in the US, but we were able to hike and climb rocks right up to them. The kids thought that was great! We got back just in time for our second lanche of the day, had dinner and then we were asleep again really early.



The third day was just ugly. It rained all night and literally all day. It was cold and rainy. We hung out at the fazenda, played games, relaxed in the hammock, and eventually watched some Star Wars. The rain let up for about an hour and it was just enough time to get an afternoon ride in. This time we toured another area of the farm.

I was praying that Saturday's weather would be much better. God answered our prayers and we woke up to a beautiful warm day on Sat. We got up and went out for our morning ride.

We headed back to the field where all the animals were roaming. By the time we got back to the fazenda, more guests had arrived. In the afternoon all of the women and the kids piled into the tractor, while the men rode horses down to the river/lake. We all got in and played for a while and then headed back.


Sunday, was also beautiful. After breakfast we milked cows and then went out for our morning ride. The kiddos spent the rest of the day in the pool. They were finally able to get in. Another family, with an 8 yr old girl had arrived the day before and Isabella had made a good friend to hang out with.

We had such a relaxing time. It was much needed after stressful days leading up to our vacation. Isabela's birthday party went well last weekend. We had to get through many obstacles. 30 min. before the party the guard informed me that pool parties were not allowed. I had 15 kids coming in their bathing suits waiting to get in the pool. I sent Jaime out to the store. No water guns to be found. Thank God he found a small packet of water balloons and we had a water balloon fight. That saved the day!!!



God has been watching over us in a majorly BIG way. Two days before going on vacation I was walking home with the boys, when a car pulled out of an apartment building garage and hit Santiago. Thank God the man was going slowly and it really just knocked him down. I had many nice people stop to help me and get me and the boys back home. God had kept Santiago in his hands and he was absolutely fine. We are now in the process of getting a second car. It is just not safe to walk around with four young kids in the city. NABC (Jaime's company) has been wonderful and are helping us get a second car, since we don't have any credit, just got a bank account this week, and cars are outrageously expensive here.

I am thankful for vacation and the time for the 6 of us just to be able to spend time together. I think that we all feel revived and ready to get back to reality. It so doesn't feel like Christmas yet, especially not having family around. We have decided to spend the 24th and 25th here at the apartment, just the 6 of us. A couple of friends have invited us to be with their families, but with our kids early bedtime schedules, especially Joaquin's, we have decided that we would be much more comfortable here together. I will let you know how that goes later.

Holidays are approaching

Joaquin has discovered his tongue!!!


I can't believe that it is already Christmas and we have been here for 6 months. I can't believe that we still don't have our stuff yet!!! Who would have known! So much is going on around here.

The kids are wrapping up their school year. They are getting ready to transition into a different school. The school they are currently at was perfect for a first school because the teachers were so loving and caring. They really made the kids feel special and that is exactly what they needed when we got here. Unfortunately, their academics were not up to my standards and that is why starting in Jan., the kids will be going to Notre Dame. The past couple of weeks have been full of the kids activities. Isabella sang in her Christmas choir, Santiago had his end of the year show and Gabriel will graduate from Kindergarten tomorrow.



The kids have continued to go to a lot of birthday parties. I took some pics so you could get an idea of the parties here.



One of Santiago's friends mom's invited me to a a play put on by the only special needs school in the city. It was absolutely awesome!!! The school helps people from babies to senior citizens. A group of actors and dancers comes together with them every year and they put on a play. All of the students participated, as well as some teachers. I thought that it was great to see how inclusive the play was and how each special needs person was able to participate to the extent where they felt comfortable (singing, dancing, acting, making the sets, etc.) I hope to go and visit the school in the near future. Isabella and Gabriel went with me. It has been a blessing to see how God always puts special needs people in our lives and how my kids are now starting to recognize them wherever we go and accept them for how God has created them with their special needs.

Jaime's boss (Kevin) and Marcia from his office came down for a week. It was like Christmas. They were gracious enough to bring us 4 suitcases filled with stuff. Amy was an angel and packed up not only all of our Christmas presents for the kids, but packed up all the goodies and items that we needed. I am thankful to now have arepa harina and my hot chocolate. Yum yum!!!


Thanksgiving came and went. At first it totally did not feel like Thanksgiving because they do not celebrate it here. The kids had school, Jaime worked, etc. I invited my English class to come over for a Thanksgiving feast. The kids were psyched about it. I had some Thanksgiving crafts sent from the US and we had a blast making them. The kids made a little craft for each of my students and a center piece for our table. On Sat. all of my students came over and we had our feast. It was the first time they had tried mac-n-cheese, pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread. We all had a great time just hanging out. It was a good time to thank God for all of the blessing that he has given us and for the new friends we have made.


We joined the tennis club. Hooray!! There is a club within a 5 min walk of our apartment. Everyone kept telling us that we needed to join and we finally did. I think that it is going to be great. One of our friends got us a temporary membership so we don't have to pay the expensive title for the club for a year and just try it out. It has tons of activities for the kids to do like swimming, soccer, tennis, basketball, etc. It also has a gym for Jaime and I to use and a baby daycare center to take care of Joaquin when we need it. This club is going to be a blessing during the kids summer vacation, which starts in two weeks. We will have somewhere close to go during the day in order to burn some energy and get out of the apartment.

Jaime and I have both had birthdays within the last couple of months. It was a different experience being here to celebrate them without our friends and family in the US. We missed everyone terribly. Jaime took me shopping on my birthday.He said I need to get with the brazilian styles. He told me that I needed to get some heels like what everyone wears here with all of their outfits. Isabella now thinks that I am super hip. I will let you know how walking around in them goes. They are going to be a change from my mommy friendly shoes. Gabriel took a pic of Isabella and I modeling my new shoes.



We have also found a consistent babysitter. Her name is Ana Beatriz and I give her English classes once a week. She then comes over another night and babysits the kids. They all absolutely love her and it has been great to have her here. She has become like part of the family.


I am in the middle of planning Isabella's 8th b-day party. This will be the first time ver that her b-day falls during summer vacation, so we have decided to have the party Dec 11. before vacation starts so that all of her classmates can come. She has decided to have a pool party. This will be the first time she has a summer birthday and she is really excited to be able to have it at the pool. I have 3 people coming to help me supervise the kiddos. We are doing it American style. Amy sent down some crafts for us to do and we are going to play some games. i will have to let you know how that goes later.


Well, I guess that is it for now.