More shots

Computer is still fast, so will add a few more.

Max's friend from private school is in middle. 

Swinging dudes.

More flowers in "winter"

Max and friend

How did they know I liked giraffes and turtles??

A Vana White pose??

Yep, it was a great day!!!!

Hair Cuts

Carol getting prepped.

The "new" look.  Quite short and with the part on the other side.  She awoke this morning with her hair unmussed!!  Earlier mornings required a shower to tame the tangled tresses.

Max getting his haircut in the regular chair.

Lucas in the car chair.  Note the hydraulic lift underneath.

It isn't everyday you get to have your hair cut in a Porshe!!

Wemerson also got his hair cut at a different barber and has a much shorter look!!

Max-Min Clube more

Books were used to get some quality rest time.  A slight breeze made it chilly when one was wet.

Max reading about polar bears to Lucas.

A warm weather Bird of Paradise blooming in winter in Brasil.

This giant turtle houses a snack bar for the wading pool, but it has not been open either time we were here.

Two "cuties" enjoying the day!!

Max-Min Sporte Clube Again

One last day of relaxation as one of the students from EFM has a membership at this private club, so we got to have the pool all to ourselves from 10am til 1pm.  Not because we were exclusive, but that just seems to be the time that everyone shows up!!  Max and Lucas enjoy the deeper, heated pool as much as the shallower wading pool with all the slides.  Lucas doesn't like the swim ring.

Max and Lucas at the start of the morn.

A time for resting.

A time for playing.

MTC photos

From the road, across a field that will be planted with veggies, to the main 3 story building with all the windows across the topand the white duplex to the left.  The kitchen, cafeteria and girls dorm is "above" the white house.  The field had been fairly weedy until a couple of days ago when they brought in a tractor and disc/plow and really worked it up nicely.

A view of the white duplex from the side and the tan "front" of the 3 story main building which houses the classrooms, offices, library and main worship area (third floor which is an open design).

Sara is pulling Lucas on his "moto" up the road which runs between the cafeteria and main building.  The cafeteria is the yellow/tan building.

A succulent which has a downward hanging, elongated balloon shaped blossom which develops a red "star" on the bottom.  Quite different.

The front wall at the entrance to the complex.  The A at the end would have spelled "Americano" if it hadn't been cropped.

The new bicycle

Daddy Wem has gone to the bike store on his motorbike to buy a bike for Lucas who no longer needs training pants.  Yep, Lucas remembered that mom and dad had promised a bike when he got big enough to go potty all by himself.  Watch what you say, parents, because kids have GOOD memories!!  Yes, Wem has the small bike lashed to his back with two large plastic bags.  With a little help from Grandpa Ron the bike was finally "unveiled".

Lucas tried the bike on the grass with a few envious onlookers.  They stayed so close he probably did not even need the training wheels.

Look, guys, my new bike with Batman Mask, too!!

Solo with a steadying hand from daddy.  Wait, where is my mask??

That's better.  I think I can do it by myself, now that I'm dressed correctly.

Da Dah!!  Here I go.  Wonder why Grandpa Ron keeps walking with me on the grass.  It used to be mommy.  Looks like she is now going to play hula hoops with the other kids.  Too bad they didn't get new bikes!!

Hot Wheel Tracks

Let's see, if we put this piece thru here this should work pretty good.

We don't think daddy will mind if we run the track thru his medicinal herbs??!!

If you aim the rocket launcher like this, the track should stay down??

And the waste basket with lid becomes the final stop for the hot wheels.

Climbing the tree

The children use this small tree as a climbing area, but Max has had difficulty getting into it on his own, so this was a big day, when he finally figured out how to use his legs and arms to get to the branches.  He is built like Grandpa Ron with a heavy body and not enough arm strength to pull the weight up.

And finally a safe descent.  He now does this without any help.

The three year old wants to do the same, so with a little assistance from Mom, the feat is accomplished, but the look on the face is not really convincing that he enjoyed it.

Yep, the 5 year old wanted to be back in the action, too.

The road to MTC has been in bad shape for many years.  Wem worked hard with neighbors and MTC to get enough money to make some major changes which has really improved the access to the site.  Many cabbies and mototaxis would only take fares to the village which had paved roads, but now they don't mind taking students, staff and visitors to MTC campus.  Ron is handing a rock to Wem.  There is a drain pipe under the road where Ron is standing that will carry a lot of the drainage water during the rainy season to the other side of the road instead of it pouring down the middle of the road and making deep ruts and pools of muddy water.  The drain pipe to the right is to handle overflow for heavy rains.

Jusuae, Thiago and Wem on the upside of the single drain section.

Ron with the KC Chiefs shirt and KC Royals hat.  The wagon is our main hauling device.

Wender is our cement mixer for this batch.  The roadway behind is typical of the improved road bed.

Thiago lifting a rock.  The MTC buildings are in the background, so you can get a feel for how long this road section might be.  I'm guessing it is about 1/2 mile of road.

Fun on Friday

Max is flying a kite on the green medium while Lais (lye ees) the next door neighbor watches as her kite lies on the ground.

Lucas helping the wind lift his kite by running fast.  Sophia, directors daughter, who lives in the house to the upper left and Max are in the background.

Daddy Wem gave Lucas (helmet affixed) his first BIG motorcycle ride.

Of course he HAD to give one to Max, too.  The boys had grins from ear to ear.