Lagoa Azul Boat trip

The next morning (after a BRUTAL loss the night before on my part in the card game of golf! ARG!) we decided to get on a boat to go around to 3 different places on the island. So we loaded on the boat.....

Oh wait, that WASN'T our boat,

this was.
The first stop was to Lagoa Azul (blue lagoon........but it was actually more green). They just stop the boat and you can jump out and snorkel or swim or whatever. They were going to stay there for one hour and we just couldn't go on the sharp rocks or jump off the top deck. Other then that, we were free. So I jumped in only to realize it was a TAD cooler then I expected!!!!

Brooks, Mom and Dad.

They actually DID Have a lot of fish......they just happened to be all the same kind. But hey, it was still fun.

Then to dry off Brooks and I stayed up on the top deck where Brooks told me he was going to jump. I told him that was ONE of TWO rules they told us NOT to do. He plead the I-don't-understand-portuguese thing. Then a guy next to us (after Brooks asked HIM to jump with him) said, not to because Brooks could die or kill a fish. Give me break. We didn't believe his judgement on the situation anyway because his judgement in speedo-wearing happened to be WAY off, so he was clearly disillusioned. (I've had seen enough speedos to keep my appetite at bay ALL DAY. Ick. Literally, I didn't eat until dinner).

Brooks TOLD me he was being tempted up there more then he could bear. So I just went downstairs. I wasn't going to be part of it (thinking of them leaving my husband there after he breaks the rules). Then I see someone jump past from up above and splash. I looked down and it was a young college kid from the US that had had his 2 cans of beer. Then we see Brooks (not so gracefully, I might add......he slipped.......maybe speedo-wearing Brazilian was right?) jump off in the water.

Here is Brooks with his jumping buddy.

He said he just needed to convince one other person to jump with him. I told him CONGRATULATIONS! I bet it was soooooooo hard to convince some kid drinking beer to jump off a boat with you!!!!!! Thankfully, Brooks didn't get in trouble.

We headed off to the next port. We just loved the beautiful scenery behind us!

This teeny place had a church built in the 1840s! The church......that was locked (even though Brooks went around asking people if they had a key and would let us in)

This tree is the TALLEST palm tree i have EVER seen. It was amazing. You can see Brooks at the bottom.

Something odd about my mom is that she LOVES cemetaries. Visits all sorts of them. We even passed on the way the the island called the "Cemetary of Health" and we all got a kick out of it. Well, around the church there were a few gravestones. So I was respectful because I knew this was mom's thing. Then she walked up to this one and said, "It looks like this one is picking her nose!" I was NOT expecting that!

We came back to the island, walked around, played another round of the card game to redeem myself (I came in last again.......I'm not sure I can handle any more losing!), ate the most incredible mangoes ever, slept and got up to go (after a quick hike that Brooks and Dad took).

Farewell, cute view from my shower window.......I'll miss you.

Good bye Ilha Grande! It's been GREAT!Here we are getting to board the ferry again. What's that you ask? What bag am I holding?

It's the bag that contained the spark plugs from Mom and Dad's CAR of course!!!!!! Someone grabbed it as we were going and we had to carry around these darn spark plugs everywhere......in an island that doesn't have any cars. Ironic, huh.

An idea of how crowded the ferry was. We were sitting halfway back so there was still another half.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand, for the record, we drove home a DIFFERENT way. Can you blame us?

We made it back to the MTC JUST in time for the pizza night here. Brazilian pizza never tasted so good (but the yummy food in the cafeteria here deserves it's own post! Too bad, it's against rules to take pictures of all the yummy food served here. I. AM. IN. HEAVEN there.)

I MADE IT!!!!

THIS IS ME!!!!! I'm actually in Brazil and THAT is my dad greeting me after my overnight flight (that I was NOT able to sleep on.....much to the guy-next-to-me's shagrin)

Come to find out you actually need a PASSPORT and a VISA to go to Brazil. Brooks had one and my passport hadn't arrived and neither of us had visas. We found this out a week before. It was a LONG week of phone calls/tears but miracle after miracle happened, thanks to the prayers and fasts of our families and close friends.

I was pooped when I arrived and crashed many times that day, however the NEXT day (Monday) I was ready to go. And good thing too, because we were OFF to Ilha Grande (a large island off of Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro)!!!!! It was SUPPOSED to be a 6 hour-ish trip, but we had a few.....eh-hem.....mishaps that made it longer. Oh well. Like you would expect anything else with me, right?

Here we are at one of my many rest stops......I just LOVE the phone booths in Brazil.

At that rest stop we asked if we were still going in the right direction, or if we should go another way. He said this way we were going was SHORTER in distance for sure, but it's tricky when it rains. Huh, that was a weird comment, but as long as it was shorter. Plus we were driving through the most INCREDIBLE country side and small towns.

For example: the city of Cunha

Then we get up to the top of the mountain before we would descend all the way to the shore and the "highway" stopped and turned into dirt. We backed up and asked a bus driver at the top of the hill if we were still going the right way. He said yes. Dad asked how much farther to Parati (a town we needed to drive through) and he said 24 km. (I HATE converting everything!!!) Then dad asked if that whole way was "sem cemento" (without cement) and the guy just smiled a smug smile and said yes. MAYBE that's what they were talking about that it's better when it's not raining.........

So we proceeded...... the road doesn't look TOO bad, right?
WRONG!!!!! We soon embarked on a hour+ drive down the mountain, off-roading style for 7 miles. We're not talking dirt roads.....we're talking ditches, boulders, mud and winding back and forth to find the flatest route......all while being surrounded by plush rain-forest greenery. It was INSANE.
FINALLY we saw a car zoom past us and we decided that we're just going to follow it (even though he was going WAY to fast for my liking). I took a video of it to give you an idea.


As we passed some other cars (WHAT ARE THEY DOING ON THAT ROAD?!?!?) they kept laughing at us and saying "good luck" and also "Go with God" in Portuguese. Comforting, huh?

We MADE it to the bottom though and was later stopped w/ construction. Of course. Brooks got out (he has NO fear of not knowing portuguese) and asked how long and they said 7 minutes. Fine. Dad went to go make sure we were still on the right path.

We finally made it to the bay to catch our 1.5 hour ferry over to the island........of course after we passed smells of fish/feces/sewage to get to the cheapest boat. You know, smells that pregnant girls should NOT have to smell!!!! ;)
Here was our cute little village, Abraao. Look at that sweet church in the middle! It's all cobble stone roads (some dirt) and NO cars are allowed on the island. It felt so far removed from busy life and it was perfect.
Our cute little rooms...

First order of business? Get my pregnant belly some FOOD!!!!! And might I say, the ONLY thing that keeps me healthy all day long has been mamao (papaya) and beans and rice. They're like miracle workers, so I keep ordering the same thing.

Some views from around the town.....

(Yes, that IS infact a big branch going right through the middle of my face!!!! But it still was a cute shopping strip)

And here's for you boys.....as promised, the picture of the crab we found that night. Pretty huge huh! I kept thinking I wish my boys were around to catch the lizards and chase crabs because Brooks and Dad just couldn't get a handle on those lizards like my Camden could.

Wanna-be Hepheastus

As I mentioned before Bronson's class was doing a unit on Greek Mythology. They each got to pick a God to do a project on and were given a box. Bronson came up with this idea all my himself after learning Hepheastus worked underground by the volcanoes, etc.

(tired face.......this was last night @ 11 and he STILL wanted a picture. Notice I did NOT want to be in it!)

A project, is a project. He'll have plenty, but he had to attach an "opinion" piece on his god to the back and THIS is what I was impressed with the most that he came up with himself.

It says, "To me, Hephaestus is the greatest greek god. He's the best! I mean, who wouldn't want to learn about the famous greek god Hepheastus, the god of fire and forge? Even when his own mother threw him of (whoops, he meant "off") Mt. Olympus, he forgave her. Hepheastus is a good example of kindness and forgiveness. I wish more people would learn from his example. I chose Hepheastus for this reason."

This really gives you an insight into Bronson's sweet heart.

You know, like the same kind of kid that spends 45 minutes in the backyard with his baby brother helping him hit baseballs to make him giggle.

Come to think of it, I'm kinda a Hephaestus wanna-be now!

Love me some boys

There are VERY few faces that make me happier then this one.........

Seriously, this kid just LIGHTS up.....especially for me. His WHOLE FACE smiles and his eyes shine. I LOVE going in after his naps because I get the Mom-you're-my-everything smile each time. Royce is just so sweet.

Look at this sweet innocent face!

Ok, ok, not SO innocent as he is SITTING ON THE TABLE!!! He's such a climber. Table, computer table, beds, bunkbeds, you name it. He's just so limber and teeny that he just throws his leg up anything and pulls himself up. Grandma will have her hands full keeping him off of stuff.

Have I ever mentioned how helpful my kids can be? Well, they can also be bought. Camden and Bronson REALLY wanted to stay up past 9:30 and keep watching the NEXT NCAA b-ball game until Dad got home. hmmmmm, I thought about it. Then I had a brilliant idea. I told them they COULD if they hand-scrubbed my kitchen floor first.

And whaddya know......they did it!

Might I add, they did a REALLY good job too. They're definitely hired.

Then they enjoyed the game. :)

My "chest" is filled with love

When I found out I was pregnant @ 4 weeks, I KNEW that if this pregnancy was anything like the past um.....4, that I would start getting sick around 6 weeks.

That meant I had at least 2 weeks to get everything done I needed to.

(Remember that post where we showed our house, spread mulch, painted, power-washed etc.? That was the weekend before my 6th week when I was still healthy. Coincidence? I think not. Heavenly Father had my back on that one.)

In those 2 weeks I went to work on projects on the home, did stuff for my church calling, but most importantly (in my mind) I needed to get some meals in the freezer. So I cooked and doubled and tripled recipes. I conned my 2 friends Rachel and Allison to do a freezer meal swap w/ me, so I ended up w/ 9 meals from that. All in all, I think I had about 20-ish meals.

And at 6 weeks and 1 day, I got sick. Amazing. Do I know my body or what?

Even when I went for the ultrasound and the lady was showing me the baby and the "yolk" sac thing next to the baby she said, "You see this yolk? That's what is releasing the hormones and making you so sick!" My baby was a raspberry-sized thing at the time and the yolk was maybe 1/4 a size of my baby. So this 1/4 a size of a raspberry made me so sick. Incredible. (and if you think I wasn't cursing the yolk all the time after that day, then you would be wrong!)

Then on those sick days that I was done w/ being sick, I couldn't help but think, "Would I rather have my health and NOT have this baby?" This answer was an OBVIOUS NO WAY!!!! So I would just smile spiritually and think, I was taking one for the team so another one of Heavenly Father's spirits could get a body and come to earth.

Anyway, last week there was a baby shower and before the shower my visiting teacher, Kim said she wanted to stop by really fast, visit and then go to the shower. For dinner that night I pulled out my 2nd to the last freezer meal out and was a little sad to see them almost gone. My freezer was basically empty except for a few things on the bottom.

I heard the door and knew it would be Kim. I came to the door and saw a WHOLE PORCH FULL OF WOMEN!!!!! And they were all carrying freezer meals for me.

I was so overwhelmed and couldn't help but think that there were SO many others out there suffering more then I was and going through a harder time. I felt a little unworthy. I COULD HAVE made my family meals, yes. I was able enough for sure. And of course I didn't NEED them. But as I led them down to my freezer (by my big ol' pile of laundry, yikes!) and saw them fill my freezer back up to the top, I couldn't help but just sit back in awe.

I had a great time @ the shower, but by the time I was in the car home, I was feeling like I was ready to crash. I walked in, sat on my couch downstairs, because I just didn't have enough energy to walk up the stairs. Later I decided I had enough energy to walk out to the freezer to check out all the meals (Because I didn't really get to examine them!!!!).

I sat there looking at them and just cried a few tears of gratitude.

Tears of knowing I have the best friends who teamed up to lighten my burden just that much more. I feel so very lucky to know people like these women.

Just call me Athena

Why you ask? Well Athena is the Greek Goddess of wisdom.

Bronson came home a week ago and invited me to a parents/students Greek party in his classroom because they just finished their Greek History/mythology unit.

Cool, I thought. I found a babysitter for the younger 3 and I was good.

Then Bronson came home the day before yesterday (THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY!!!!!) and gave me the flyer. On the flyer, it said "Olympics btw. the students vs. parents on their knowledge of Greek history/mythology". WHAT?!?!?

He never said ANYTHING about a competition! You mean I could've been studying this whole week?!!?? I mean, I've read the Percy Jackson books, I've eaten a gyro once and Greek/Roman mythology was my favorite class in 8th grade, but that's really all I had goin' for me. He told me he would bring me home a book yesterday to study. Here it is:

I happened to stay up until 11 last night studying it (even after 11 years from being in college of still have some MAD cramming/memorizing skills) and then as you see from the picture above, while I was stopped @ red lights on the way to his school.

I get there and they're all eating the foods that they used to eat in ancient Greece before the Olympics. Stuff like goat cheese, feta cheese, figs, grapes, honey, olives and Capri Suns. (Pretty sure the champion of the chariot races was ALWAYS The guy who downed the most Capri Suns before the competition)

That's Mrs. Coles, his teacher in the tunic above. Bronson goes from his awesome hispanic teacher (who teaches in spanish) who calls him lovingly, "Bronsito" (meaning "cute little Bronson") to Mrs. Coles class ( 3-5 graders ) where she calls him the manly nickname of "Bronsonian". I just love his teachers.

And here we are eating. Surprisingly the little peanut in my belly didn't gag up any goat cheese like it did w/ my pregnancy with Aleeya. Phew.

Then it came down to the MAIN event..........the students on one side and the parents on the other.

(To be quite honest, I was a little nervous because Bronson has come home talking about all these topics that I REMEMBER learning about them, but couldn't recall any facts. These kids knew EVERYTHING like the back of their.....well.....fig newtons they were eating.)

It was jeopardy style and the students were PRETTY much ahead the WHOLE stinkin' time. We parents missed the question on the year of the first Olympics (ARG! I skipped that chapter!), but got everything else right. Bronson and I kept signaling back and forth with a thumbs down sign telling the other that THEY WERE GOIN' DOWN (the same sign we give Dad when we're racing him to church in the other car).

And I HAAAAAAATE the brag or boast or have this be permanently in my printed blog book forever that Bronson's mom wanted to rub it in his face that we won................but...........who am I kidding, OF COURSE I'm documenting this! Check out that score people!

(think I embarrassed him enough posing by that?)

Ironically enough Athena was also the goddess of "just warfare" and I HATE to say it, but

the parents JUSTLY won, fair and square.

But don't try asking me any of those facts come next week, as I said, I'm a master at memorizing/cramming for a test. :) Bronson however, will remember this stuff for a long time. He loved this unit.

No surprise

I realize this post will NOT surprise some (as in my mom and family), partly because I have a history of getting injured in the lamest of ways.

So to add to that extensive list I'll add these feet:

Not sure if you can see but my right foot has a bruise mark/circle under my first three toes and it's a tad swollen. (don't you hate those injuries that feel horrible but don't have much to show for it? It's like you want your toes hanging off to prove your pain or something! hahaha)

Anyway, I got the boys off for school and at a hour that I usually feel great, I started feeling, well, not-so-great, and it seemed REALLY out of character. At literally 8 o'clock I thrilled the girls by telling them we could watch a movie this morning (they were so happy) while I curled up in a blanket downstairs and watched it with them. I still didn't feel right. Then I got the watering mouth, and well, we all know what that means, I had VERY LITTLE time to make it to the toilet before I puked.

So I jumped up and started to run (my only chance of making it on time) but I was caught in the blanket. I kept on running anyway and my feet got caught. Well, more specifically, my toes. I went to run and my first three toes folded under my foot before I stepped on them to run up the stairs. I was a baby and made a scene (not enough to get the girls vision unlocked from Belle though) but I am HAPPY to report, I MADE IT TO THE TOILET IN TIME!!!!!!! Success!!!!

But really, WHO DOES THAT?!?! Ugh, me. I've hobbled/limped around like a loser Monday/Tuesday and actually by Wednesday I was feeling quite a bit of relief. Apparently my first diagnosis of "I totally broke my toes" to "I sprained them" ended up being what? I lamely bruised them or something? Who knows, but it sure made driving and getting a house ready for a showing a little tricky.

Good thing the girls were entertained during the day though w/ the lizard

Those are Iris' hands feeding the lizard a worm that they spent 20 minutes digging up to find. Seriously people, if you want your kids entertained for hours and days, catch a lizard and tell them to catch bugs to feed it (which the lizard DOES eat). I'll even loan Camden out (for a small fee) to catch them for you!!!

St. Paddy's Day

Jellybean race time. All day the kids were talking about it and in my mind all I could think of was, "Camden will probably win again" and "Bronson better not win, because he wants to go someplace w/ Lobster" ;)

We broke it into heats. The older two aren't allowed to use their hands.

This picture makes me laugh because Royce has his eye so set on Bronson's jellybean that the whole trick this year was moving the jellybean fast enough so Royce couldn't get it.

Camden smashed his nose into the carpet and pushed the jellybean as he slid along the carpet. It is NOT cheating, but also a tactic I have never seen (and I've seen them all.......)

Ah, yes, THAT'S why no one does it, because it leaves a good ol' red mark on the side of your nose!!!! (the picture doesn't do it justice)

But heck, it was worth it, Camden won.

Next heat, w/ hands: Iris, Emerson and Aleeya

Here is Aleeya FREAKING out because Emerson is in the lead.

In the above picture that actually is the last time you will SEE Iris' jellybean. Now you see it.....

Now you don't.

Then it was me and Brooks...........and literally, it came down to 1 maybe 2 split seconds. And well, I HATE to brag, but heck, I won. And CLEARLY was excited.

Okay, now the "WINNERS" heat. It consisted of Camden, Emerson and myself. And shocker of ALL shockers, Emerson actually BEAT Camden!!!!!

He was sooooooo happy, he couldn't hold still, His celebration was more of the break-dancing level at this point.

Then I asked him where he wanted to go..........and here is what he said. (Mom, you actually have to click on the video to watch it. :) love you)

So we were off! And to be quite honest, it's actually one of my FAVORITE places to eat. I was thinking of roast/potatoes/carrots, chocolate fountains all day. On the way over there, I started feeling like something was just NOT right. I assumed it was because I was hungry and just needed to get something in my belly. Once we got to the restaurant, I just wanted to double over. We waited in line until I finally told Brooks I wouldn't be able to eat ANYTHING or go get the kids food, let alone sit up. So I took Iris and Royce and we went home. Here is the picture I took of them waiting to get their trays as we walked out. (I know, it REALLY looks like they care that I'm leaving, huh)

I promise they were all in green at one point, they just kept getting dirty and well, we can't take homeless looking children there, especially in such a large quantity! :)

Iris was NOT and I repeat NOT happy that we were leaving, so I sat in that darn McD's drive-thru basically laying in my own lap so she could get a Happy Meal w/ a toy to possibly entertain her and keep her happy. Here they are eating (I love that face)

I crashed on the couch. Later when I saw the boys one of them asked me if I was going to die. hahaha. Not sure what "tender/loving" comment I shot back, but the question still makes me laugh as I type this. (During times like these Camden always says , "Man, I'm suuuuuuuuuure glad I'm not a girl!")

Here's hoping that maybe NEXT St. Patrick's Day the Irish luck might actually be with me to go out and eat with my own stinkin' family. (Who by-the-way had the best time.......they were even giving out cotton candy that night and my kids came home w/ blue faces from multiple helpings!)