Sara G. May 2012

With best friend, Tia Auria, who lives in the next housing unit.  Auria was the onsite daycare center "volunteer" when they first moved to MTC

With husband, Wemerson

With son, Lucas.  She designed and built the piniata, because they are not available or common in Brasil. 

As a soccer mom for Max's benefit.  Occasionally a male parent would show up for the one hour practice, but it was usually populated by soccer mom's and their other kids.  They play on cement in the beginning and then "graduate" to grass fields.

Her art work that hangs outside our west sliding door.

Her family.  Sorry about the bad lighting.

Reading to the boys from the interactive Nemo book.

Clapping and singing Happy Birthday (parabens voce) to Lucas in the MTC cafeteria.  She had baked the gluten free chocolate cake and normal cupcakes for his party.

Doing homework with the boys.

We love you, Sara.

Max, May 2012

Max really liked the colorful shirt.  He is a friendly, active, growing 6 year old.

He attends a private school from 7:30 to ll:15 weekdays.  A uniform shirt is required and red shorts are requested.

Homework is a joint effort of parents and students.  Note grandma Carol "helping" in the upper left corner.  Her Portuguese wasn't much help as Max is quite proficient and knows a lot of English.

Both boys love to play memory and go fish card games.

He fought sleep as long as he could.  His breathing is labored and noisy as he needs his adenoids removed.  We hope that will be very soon.

He likes to help with the Friday afternoon work sessions when possible.  One of the African students is coming up with a load of palm fronds that are cut off of the base of the trees in the background. 

It is not obvious in this photo, but he is missing one front tooth and another is hanging on by a thread.  No you can't TOUCH it!!

Lucas is a lively, energetic, and shy newly turned 4 year old who likes to help.  We were washing the very dirty car and Carol got this photo.

Doing his homework.  Yes, even in a private preschool they have homework that is supposed to be done with the parent helping.

He didn't have a nap this afternoon, so about 20 minutes into a CD movie he crashed. I am still able to lift him to the lower bunk of the bed he shares with Max.  He loves his spidey pillow case.

Lucas is putting the ABC snake puzzle together AGAIN!!  Great uncle Larry made it for him.  He loves puzzles and will do them everyday more than once a day.  The others were content to put their puzzles together a couple of times, but HE puts them together EVERY day.

He loves to eat, but not in big quantities, so he raids the frig or monitors the incoming groceries for new goodies.

It keeps up his boundless, resolute and sometimes stubborn energy!!

2012 Home from Brasil

(Rose mallow by the seawall at the lake)

We finally made it home from Brasil on Friday May 25.

Happy May 26 Birthday, Kelly !!

Our debacle took from noon Wednesday til 6pm Friday because the American Air flight from Miami to Belo on Wednesday morning was diverted to Puerto Rico for mechanical problems and did not make it to Belo for the 9pm Wednesday return flight until Thursday morning.  With LOTS of confusion at Confins (Belo international airport) we finally received vouchers for hotel, meals, and transportation for Wednesday night in Belo Horizonte and Thursday night in Miami.

The Belo hotel was 5 star and amazing.  Taxi to and fro was confusing but we finally made the trips in a timely fashion.

We finally arrived in Miami about 8 pm and walked the LONG way to immigration and customs and made it thru with no trouble.  We did delay in luggage area because we had agreed to help a young Brasilian man thru the Miami airport and overnight hotel.  He never showed to get his luggage, so we finally abandoned him and went to American customer service desk in main lobby which required yet another LONG walk thru at least 5 banks of American Air check in locations before a live attendant was found so we could get motel and food vouchers for Miami.  We finally made it to a very nice Best Western about 11:30pm and only were able to sleep to 5am as we had a 7:20am flight to O'Hare and then a noon flight to St Louis.

(closeup view)

We almost missed the O'Hare to St Louis flight because there was a glitch in American Air's data, but we finally got the last 2 seats but didn't get to sit together - no big deal at this time in the trip!!

(variagated Hosta)

We took a side trip in Jefferson City to see Chad's family, as JP was scheduled to run a 2 mile race at 4:30 pm.  We didn't get to see the race as it was postponed to after 7 pm to allow the temperature of the day to drop below the 90 degree level it was at when we arrived at the Lincoln University stadium.

(ginger)

We did have a chance to chat with Chad, Karla, JP, LucyLea and Truman.  We watched a few of the events from a hill overlooking the track before they changed the time for JP's event.

(volunteer white hollyhock in lower garden)

Of course we had to stop at the Central Dairy store for a dip or two of Bear Claw ice cream.  If you like chocolate you WILL like it!!

(closeup)

Finally home by 6pm--thank you sis for the taxi service.  Collapsed into bed about 7:30 pm after starting out at 4 am Missouri time.

(dark red hollyhock behind rental house)

Our gardens look great even with the very dry and hot conditions that have existed during the last couple of weeks.  Thanks again, sis.

(close up)

(with pollinator!!)

(Sara's metal artwork)

(flowers close up with metal dragonfly in lower right)

I wasn't able to sleep past 5am (had been getting up at 6 am in Brasil) so wandered thru our gardens and hope you enjoy the photos as much as we enjoy them in real life!!

We are glad to be back, but miss the Brasilian quartet a lot already!!