Onca Costume

Around the beginning of November Isaac came home with a note from school that I was supposed to sign and return.  I laid it to the side and waited until I had time to translate it before I signing and tried to forget about it (because I kind of knew what it said).  Around the end of November I found the note, translated it, and realized I needed to make a leopard costume for Isaac by, the day before.  The leopard costume was for the end of school play called "The Dream of the Tree Trees".  I normally enjoy making costumes, but things are different in a different country where you do not know the words for "leopard print fabric" and "pillow stuffing" and "fabric glue" etc.  Anyway, I sucked it up, took my dictionary along and went hunting for costume supplies.  In the end it was fun and Isaac loved his costume. 

 The play was by far the best school program that I have every seen.  There was beautiful singing and each class did a little dance routine.  I was amazed at how much the boys even got into the show.  Isaac's class did a little jungle scene.  First some boys dressed as frogs jumped on stage, then Isaac and buddies dressed as leopards crawled around.  The girls came out dressed as flowers and butterflies.  There were even kids dressed as alligators.  (I was jealous of the flower parents, but glad to not have to make an alligator costume.)  It was extra special because Mom, Dad and Traci were all here to see Isaac in the play.  They loved it, and Isaac felt very special to have them here.

The kids all sang a song together at the end that is about Jesus.  Isaac and Ethan sing it all the time.  I love hearing their beautiful little voices signing about Jesus and in Portuguese, too! 

Ethan's got a Girlfriend

Here is Ethan with his friend, Emma.  They have become great buddies lately.  Is she adorable, or what?  Emma is in Ethan's class at school.  She is an American living here in Horizontina.  She speaks awesome Portuguese, and helps Ethan at school.  The other day Ethan tells me, "Mommy, when it is snack time I watch where Emma is going to sit, and then I sit next to her."  Then after school I was talking with Emma's mom and Emma comes over and tickles Ethan and just giggles.  Ethan tickled her back, and we just laughed.  Last week, my family got to sit in on Ethan's class for a little bit.  Traci said that Ethan and Emma were sitting on pillows right next to each other, and Emma was sitting as far on the edge of her pillow as possible to be closer to Ethan.  How cute is that?  They have a ton of fun together.

Brazilians Know how to Party

 We went to our first Christmas party here in Brazil, and it was fun!  It was even better that my family was here and we got to share it with them.  This was the Christmas party for the Manufacturing Engineering Group at the Horizontina factory.  Since Scott heads up the Manufacturing Engineering group, he had to give a speech...in Portuguese.  I was so proud of him!  He did awesome!

 Owen loved the chicken drumsticks that were served at the party.  Here he is double fisting them.  At one point, I had to take one away because he was starting to eat bone!  Eww!

 They kicked off the dancing with this fun couple dance where we walking around the dancefloor and went under eachother's arms.  It got everyone out on the dancefloor.

 The party got even better when they brought out props for everyone to dance with.  We got boas, hats, silly glasses, lightup necklaces and all kinds.  Traci and I are showing off our goods.  Isn't my sister cute?

 Mom and Dad got into the silliness with their props!  They loved the party!

Isaac and Ethan had fun at the party running around with the other kids and dancing.  They like the lightup necklaces and glowing bracelets.   We all danced for a long time.  There was some Brazilian music and lots of English music.  Traci and I were the only ones singing the words.

Pictures of Owen

Owen has grown up so much lately.  He is going to be 18 months old soon!  Hard to believe.  He talks a lot, and knows exactly what he is saying, too bad we don't.  He is not talking English or Portuguese.  We say he is talking Owenese.  He has a loud, low voice.  It is so cute!  He has also started to copy his brothers.  The other night at dinner Ethan put his fork and spoon in his mouth and said he was a walrus, and we look over and there is Owen with his spoon in his mouth the same way.  Tonight Isaac was being silly, standing on the bed, making funny noises and falling down on the bed.  Next thing we know, Owen falls down on the bed and laughs.  I love it!  Owen has a fun silly personality, and an awesome belly laugh.

 Owen showing off his first piece of artwork.  He sat on my lap for a long time getting different colored markers and scribbling in the same spot.  He would grab a marker, give me the cap, color and then give me the cap back before getting a new color.  He also got some marker on himself.

 Owen playing with Scott.  Owen loves it when Scott comes home.  He runs outside to see Scott and jumps up and down until he gets to hug him.  He loves his Daddy!

Owen loves to play with Isaac's DS.  He seems to find it everytime it is within his reach.  Caught a picture of him in the act.  Looks like he is really into his game.

A Different Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was quite diffent for us.  Being on the opposite side of the equator can do that to a family.  While we totally missed, and would prefer, time with our family, we made the best of it.  We definitely have some memories that will last a lifetime.

 The first Thanksgiving excitement came with our Thanksgiving party on Sunday.  We invited all the Americans living in Horizontina over for some turkey and pumpkin pie.  We did not invite the enormous lizard that showed up as all the guests were arriving.  The kids were entertained for a long time watching the lizard crawl around our pool and through the yard.  He was enormous, and we have since seen him and his buddies several times since.  Not getting used to it yet.

I was starting to dwell on the fact that we would not be with our family on Thanksgiving, and decided that I needed to get another plan going.  The night before Thanksgiving I decided to spend our whole morning doing Thanksgiving activities.  I came across an awesome website by Scholastic and The Plymouth Foundation that talked all about the history behind Thanksgiving.  The boys and I had an awesome time.  We learned all about the Mayflower voyage, the first Thanksgiving, and the Wampanoag Indians.  The boys were awesome, and totally into it.

 Ethan is showing off his Native American hat and Mayflower picture.  He could not wait until Scott got home for lunch to show him his creations. 

 Here is Isaac with his Native American hat and Mayflower picture.  I love how colorful his picture is.

We had a tired little Indian after the busy morning.

Another unusual thing about this Thanksgiving was that we got to go swimming outside in our pool.  We are loving the pool!  Owen decided he liked swimming in the floatie.

 Nice action shot of Ethan doing the backstroke.  He is a fun little swimmer.

Love this picture of Isaac.  It shows his sweet, fun personality and beautiful blue eyes.