SCORE!!!

You know those Christmas mornings when after all is said and done the kiddos are more intrigued by the boxes the toys came in than the toys themselves??  Well, this was NOT one of those Christmas mornings!!!  I am proud to say that we hit the nail EXACTLY on the head this year with Leap Pads (a child's version of an ipad) for Bailey, Hunter & Landon, while Peyton got a active play climber.  I DESPISE mindless video games - sorry Angry Birds! - and feel like a better mom when my kids are at least learning something while I let them play for who knows how long! :)  Turns out these Leap Pads are also great bribing tools.. Children are suddenly going to sleep without countless attempts to sneak out! Wonderful.



Now with all the brain workouts they've been getting on their new "Pads", I had to include something for their bodies too right?? Enter "Just Dance Kids". L-O-V-E. Truly. There are no words for how stinking cute they are to watch while attempting to bust their new moves!!! Landon (quite characteristically) stands there and stares at everyone else like we're all insane, but aside from that, we've all been getting in on the fun! :) 

I hope everyone had as great of a day as we did!  Minus the fact that our Vonage phone didn't work (see http://minutesformama.blogspot.com/2011/12/counseling.html), it was a PERFECT day!!!  MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! :)

It's Here!!!

I wasn't sure which blog to post our decorated house pictures on and opted for the Brazil adventures one.. if you want to see the shots here is the link:  http://minutesformama.blogspot.com/  It is SOOO nice to finally have our stuff!!! :)

Editing

My new hobby of the moment is officially snapping and editing photos!  Since Brandon gave me my Christmas present early this year (a Nikon D7000!) I have been borderline obnoxious snapping shots every chance I get!  I purchased Photoshop Elements 8 almost 2 years ago and haven't used it.  But thanks to the wonderful world of the internet and late night hours when the house is eerie-quiet, I have been learning some tricks of the trade.. but buyer beware!!!  This stuff is ADICTING! :) 

Check out this before and after shot of Hunter - it's a thing of beauty I tell you, and I don't even know what I'm doing!  Isn't technology incredible?!  Before:

After (check out those eyes!):

And a small sampling of the other little cuties.. :)

You can even add sun spots and rays to make it all dreamy..

Truly - now I have the necessary tools to show the world (in greater clarity!), the eyes I get to stare into every day! :)  I am one LUCKY mama!!!

Counting Blessings

I know what you're thinking.. "What does one do to celebrate an American holiday when you are not in America??"  Why, you head to the beach of course! :)  Brandon and I took the kids and headed northeast about 3hrs to the most rustic beach house I've ever laid eyes on.. A-MAZING! :)  We shared the joint with some friends of ours and had a wonderful time!  3 days in the warm sun, and a legit Thanksgiving meal (back to back with an authentic Brazilian churrascaria - Mmmmm) made for PLENTY to be thankful for!!!

For the sake of overbearing you with photos, I have arranged them into these handy dandy collages.. does it give me away that I have just as many shots of the food as I do of the beach?? lol

And the beach house of course! :)  Couldn't leave that out of the collage brigade! :)  All in all, good weather, great food, and amazing friends made a "family" holiday without family not only bearable, but FUN!!!

Foreign Communications

Today was the primary program in our ward here in Sao Paulo.  Bailey was given a part which we practiced until she had it memorized.  ..Turns out it's quite difficult to memorize a part in a foreign language when you have no idea what you're saying!  Her part was "Posso mostrar reverencia pelas coisas e locais sagrados."  Aka "I can show reverence for sacred things and places."  I wasn't sure if she would do it under the pressure of an entire congregation of Portuguese speakers watching, but bless her cute little soul she did it!  And didn't skip a beat either! :)  I had her "replay" her moment for keepsake purposes.. I am SOOO proud!  I have yet to speak at that pulpit myself - GO BAILEY!!! :)

3rd times a Charm

Look out world, it's official!  Our little whirlwind has turned 3!!!  Landon is the rough n tough, bruiser, linebacker-in-the-making son we all adore.. maybe it's his smile, his shocking baby blues, or the fact that after he's finished destroying the house and tackling his unsuspecting siblings he snuggles better than anyone I know!  He's always good for a laugh, endless story books, or an impromptu game of "put all the food back in the pantry and fridge". ;)  Thank you Landon for keeping us laughing, and ensuring I don't have too much time to be idle!  I love you more than you love binks (aka. pacifiers.. and sorry again we had to take them away..)!  Happy Birthday buddy!!!

We had a nice intimate get together with some friends here in Sao Paulo in honor of the big day - complete with a sandwich bar, cake and ice cream, and some pool time!

Landon got sufficiently "car" spoiled and LOVED every second of it!

One of my personal favorites was an iguana from Val Hale and her sweet family to mock our (or "my" rather) naive experience with a live one: http://minutesformama.blogspot.com/2011/09/mother-of-year.html

We have been SO blessed to find such great friends out here!

After one failed cake attempt, we opted to keep this one in the pan.. topped with "match" candles, and we were ready to sing!

Hunter couldn't contain the excitement and was itching to help out his brother...

After this picture, Landon gave Hunter a piece of his mind - apparently he didn't need (or want!) the help! ;)

Down at the pool we had a perfect afternoon of sun and fun - I am LOVING springtime in Brazil!!!

McKay Thomas helped us wear out the kids.. everyone slept GREAT that night!  THANKS MCKAY!!!

Later that night we gave Landon the gifts from us which included plenty of sand toys for the beach,

The "David" books, which I never did find cute or funny until now ;)

..more DINOSAURS!

= one very HAPPY birthday boy!!!  We have been SO blessed to have this little guy in our lives!  No amount of unbroken household items could ever replace the joy I get when I see his sweet face light up!  We love you Landon!!!  HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY!!!

A Brazilian Halloween

This past Friday the Bailey and Hunter had their class Halloween parties at school.  Since they got to dress up, Brandon and I took the opportunity to surprise Bailey with a Ballerina set and the news that she'll start her much desired lessons in a week! :)  Needless to say, I think it worked.. she was SOOO excited!  And dare I say, I haven't seen a cuter girl in a leotard!!!

For Hunter's costume we took the cheap and creative route.. he was the VERY appropriate "Chick Magnet"!  He has smitten nearly every female teacher at the school - it is SO sweet! lol  I blogged about it too on our Brazil blog here: http://minutesformama.blogspot.com/2011/10/lover-boy.html  truly priceless! :)

I took some pictures in their classes.. First off - Bailey's class:  Here's Bailey with one of her "best" friends Vivian. :)

Even though Halloween is not celebrated here in Brazil, the Brazilian moms sure know how to prep for it!  They brought in all sorts of goodies into the classroom - it was ADORABLE!

Bailey's teacher's were perfectly dressed too - I LOVE these women! :)

A nice class-action shot.

And the whole gang!  They really do have SUCH a fun class! :)

Hunter's treat table didn't dissapoint either!  I had to restrain myself.. SOOO yummy! :)

The little lover boy himself..

Hunter's teachers were Smurf's!  SO stinkin' cute! :)  We have been incredibly blessed in the teacher department - I truly couldn't be happier!

Enjoy his pre-lunch goodies :)

I was able to help out with a craft in Bailey's class prior to the costume parade where all the kids marched around the school in their Halloween best!  It was a fantastic day that just kept getting better.. when I arrived home, our air shipment arrived with some of our stuff from the States!  It was like Christmas!!! :)  *That event is on http://minutesformama.blogspot.com/ as well! :)