Holidays 2011-2012. What a trip!

We left my parent's house (always so sad!) at 6am in the morning on Thursday and got to our house in Campina Grande at 6pm on Friday. sigh. Lots of tiring travel but I'm always so grateful to get from point A to point B safe and sound. And I decided our kids travel so well. Yes, I give them benadryll to sleep on the long flights- but still they are not crazy out of control like some of the ones I've seen. The trip back we sat by a whole colony of what looked like or a polygamist family or Amish people and the lady acted like she didn't understand me. I was so fascinated by them I wanted to know more about what they were all going to do in Sao Paulo, Brazil! :) kkk. Anyways, other than the fat man reclined seriously all the way into my lap and snoring loudly, that was the most entertaining part. uh. Sooo glad to be home in the sun with all our wonderful family and friends on this half of the world! 

We had an awesome time and my parents were such good sports about the kids being all over the house and into everything. Even the dryer! Oh man- it was crazy to be so off schedule for so long and as hard as I tried to enforce bedtime to Maile she wasn't about to miss out on any action! Our little night owl. She was so cute with the cousins, "Come on Gracie..." teaching them and loving the leader role. 

 My Dad is definitely a very fun and silly Grandpa! As you can see- just one of the kids! It was funny- Lukey would follow him around giving him a signal pointing his finger to his other hand asking for chocolate! 

We went over to Melanie and Jim's a few times and the kids had a blast together. We made ovalmaltine shakes and ate calzones. Not a calorie free night....but fun no doubt! :)

I got such a kick out of the kids 'talking on their phones". Maile talking to "Marissa, we have to have the sleepover tonight!" and Gracie repeating behind her, "Marissa, tonight." Then comes Lucas following behind in a little boy voice, "Mamae....Papai.....Ball." Too funny! 

This is the only picture that I took of it snowing because....it didn't snow! Just once while we were there. It was such a crazy winter. I was still freezing the whole time and always wore my jacket inside. 

We hung out with Marcia a few times and had a blast. 

The kids looove playing over at her house with her room full of fun things.  

Grandma is doing such a great job learning Portugues. Nao e facil and I know that! It was so great to spend so much time with my mamae!! You're the best!

We went to a Fat Cat's bowling party for Anne and had a blast! And I took a chance and brought some royal blue pants. I'm loving them. I think everyone here loves them too cause they represent the Brazilian blue so well! ha ha. 

Yes, we did get a bit bored at times just chillin' at Grandma and Grandpa's house for 5 weeks straight but we found ways to keep entertained! 

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
We had such an amazing Christmas. Everyone together and definitely bitter-sweet as this will be the last Christmas we'll spend together because of my parent's upcoming mission. I am so excited for them and they will be so awesome but it will be hard to see them move from our childhood home where so many amazing memories have been created. I felt myself just soaking up every little thing in that house. But the best part of course are the people and it's so great to see us all married and on our own and our little family growing. I am so grateful for each one of my family members and love them to pieces!!

 Gracie is the cutest thing ever! She's repeating so many words and has the cutest little voice. 

And she even skis! :)

 The kids looooved holding baby June. Lucas would pat his lap insisting that he hold her. :) She was not so sure on the other hand as you can see. 

She is so cute- "a little peanut" or "little bumpkin" as Mimi would say.

 Maile and Gracie got make overs from Tia Danni.

 It was so fun to have everyone in town for the holidays! We had a fun dinner and speed scrabble night at the condo, some were brave enough to go skiing in the cold icy weather, we had a movie night and watched "The Family Stone" and enjoyed each others company!! 

My handsome boys!  

Lukey's 1st haircut (the little snips that I took don't count!)  He is such a sweet little boy full of energy and laughs. He learned new words on this trip- his vocab went from "Mamae, Papai and Ball" to "mine, no!, more, nenem (baby), hi, bye, coco, and a good effort to say "gampa" for Grandpa." hmmm, all these words sound like...yep...going into the 2's!! Everything is "no!" and mine!" :) But he is still so sweet giving lots of kisses and such a good snuggler.

Merry Christmas Morning!

Maile was so excited about all of her little princess things that Santa brought!

Christmas Eve 2011

 After the "Sail On" poem, everyone here gave a favorite memory of Papa. The spirit was so strong in the room full of love and saudades for Papa. 

 Christmas Eve Party. My little Mary and shepherd. 

Other fun Activities:   our holiday dinner with high school friends, getting together with Heidi a few times, Jazz game with Marcia and Jeff, Park City Outlets of course, lots of great movies, "New Year's Eve, We Bought a Zoo, Sherlock Holmes 2, Beauty and the Beast 3D", making ovalmaltine shakes every sunday, sunday dinners, visiting Hyland Lake Ward a few times, Maile's new bicycle, cleaning out all the closets with mom, Portuguese lessons, Bachelor season started, Lee interviewing for jobs, Salt Lake temple session, having Gracie sleepover, RPE dinner at 5 Alls, and much more! 2011 was such a great year- I am excited for 2012 and all the surprises (no doubt!) and happiness it will bring. My goal is to take this "season" of my life and enjoy it, accept the set backs and challenges, and be a little better. I am so lucky I have such amazing kids and a wonderful husband. (I mean, come on, who packs six 70 pound suitcases all by themselves?!) He is wonderful e eu amo voces muuuuito.