Grateful

Well, I am in California right now to visit my mother-in-law and friends. I ended coming a few days earlier, because someone from our old ward passed away and I felt like I should come for the funeral. Brother Clinton was one of the sweetest, funniest person, and was full of life. Ze and I moved in to our old ward when we were newlyweds and we always commented how we hoped we would be like Bro and Sis Clinton when we were older or even a few years down the road. They showed such love and devotion to one another. In the funeral today everyone spoke of his love for Sis. Clinton and what an example it was.

It made me think of how grateful I am for Ze and for all that he does for our family. He is so kind and patient, and works so hard for to provide us with the wonderful life that we have. I am especially grateful for his love for me and for his patience. My mom has always said since the first time she met Ze that she feels he was made just for me. That he is so perfect for me in the way he loves and supports me and most importantly puts up with me, that she believes he was made just to be with me. I have to say that I agree, because I don't know of anyone else who would love me so unconditionally, and greatley. I love you Ze, thanks for all that you do and for all the love and support you have given me. I am so grateful for the strong priesthood holder you are and the example you are setting for our children. I have been so blessed with you in my life. I LOVE YOU!

Drake's Haircut

Okay so Drake was needing a haircut, i(t was long because I wait so long to go because I have to physically hold him down when he gets it) anyway, Ze was home with them one night and decided that maybe he could cut his hair at least the sideburns. So when I came home he said, "oh by the way I cut drake's hair, he was in the tub and was so calm and let me do at least the sideburns." I thought okay that can't be too bad, just a little bit so they weren't so long. Then I asked "well what scissors did you use?' remembering that I had moved them since he had left for California and wondered how he found them. He said "oh the ones from the kitchen." yeah the ones from my knife set that have a sereded edge on them and curved ends. So when Drake woke up I freaked out. HE HAD A MULLET!!! a total full on mullet. I had to call my friend Tisha to come over on a Sunday morning and fix it. There was no way I was taking him to church looking like this.

Hello this side looks like a total 1980's mullet where the stepped the sides!
Thankfully the end result looked pretty good, especially once I washed it and put some hair stuff in it. Thanks Tisha for saving us that morning!!!!! What would we do without you? And now Dad has been banned from playing with scissors.

WHAT A MESS!!!!!

So I obviously I need a lock on my pantry, or maybe a locked room for my kids while I get ready in the morning. This is almost a daily occurence. While I am getting ready in the morning, drying my hair and can't hear what is going on, my kids make huge meses! Somebody please help me!!

Okay one more from Brasil

Okay I know, I said that I was done posting from Brasil, BUT , I was looking through my pictures and I found these of Ze and his uncle doing churrasco. Um yeah, we ate this like every day it is soooooo Good. And his uncle without his church was also an everyday thing along with the rest of the brasilians......

Family

Ze's cousins were all so much fun. We all had somuch fun together. Guga, the one in the picutre with Ze and I was like a long lost friend. Her and I got along so well and she made the trip even that much more fun. Ze especially had a good time hanging out with all of his cousins some he hadn't seen in over ten years,and it was good for him to make new memories, and not think of them as still little kids when they all used to fight. Jose, Joao, and Joao Paulo, really had a good time together. THey were always up to something and it usually involoved food, but can you blame them , the food down there is SOOOO GOOOD

Here you see the boys dancing with there little cousin Rafael, while Mamim, plays the guitar for them. Those three had so much fun together, we introduced Rafa to some things I am not sure his mom liked, but boys will be boys.

We went to the shopping a lot (shopping meaning mall) because it was air conditioned so we found an excuse at least once a day. Now this guy on the computer is Ze's cousin Duda, I had to put it in because that is what he was always doing, and now i see why Ze and him were so close growin up. The other tree characters are Joao, Ze's sister Mariana is the blonde, and Mamim, is his youngest cousin. I don't think I stopped laughing for a whole month with as much fun as they are.

Ze's Aunt's Rose, and Eloiza, which everyone calls Elo (eh-low) are such great people. Elo was kind enough to let us stay with her while we were there and even gave up her room and bathroom for us. I loved talking to Rose, she is so down to earth and to the point. I miss them a lot and wish we could all live closer. Ze's cousins were all a blast! We all had so much fun together. There are so many more picutres I could put, of things that happened, but I need to move on or I will never catch up with our lives. We were homesick for home, while we were there, and now that we are here we are homesick for there. Hopefully we will be going back often. We loved every minute of our time there and miss everyone terribly. It was a great month!

BOYS' BIRTHDAY PARTY

So it is tradition in Brasil that on your baby's first birthday you throw a huge party. You invite all your friends and have a ton of food and sweets, and a lot of people rent out reception centers that specialze just in this first birthdays, and others, but mostly first birthdays. We were going to do one for Drake here in the States when he turned one, but I was expecting Gavin any day and wasn't up for all the work, or knew if I would be there for it. So when we went to Brasil, this year Tereza, (ze's mom) insisted that we have one, and I am so glad we did. It was so much fun and a great memory and cultural tradition for our kids. I am grateful to her for giving it to them, because now I see how great it really is. It will definately be our tradition from now on.

Brasil 12/09/2007-01/09/2008

Okay, so I have been hounded by everyone to update my blog, why I don't know....Well I can't believe that it is already the end of April where has the time gone, it seems like we were just in Brasil visiting Ze's family, and now it has almost been six months since we left to go there. I have to say it was one of the best Christmases ever! We had so much fun seeing his family. Ze was able to see friends and family he hadn't seen in 10 years. And can I just say I LOVED LOVED LOVED his family! It was so great to finally meet them all and for them to meet the boys. Everyone of course fell in love with the boys, and the boys were so sad to come home and leave all that attention. I was especially sad to leave there, because I had to come home and cook my own meals, do laundry, clean house etc, again. We stayed mostly with Ze's aunt Elo, (eh-lo) who has a maid that comes every day and does everything. Awww, the life. I would seriously move there! We had a great time visiting his Dad, and meeting his new wife, she was just great we really liked her. His grandparents were so nice and I really enjoyed the time we were able to spend.





Ze's mom came with us and it was so great to be able to meet her family with her there. I just totally and completely fell in love with his family. His cousins were so much fun to hang out with and made me feel so loved and welcomed. I am so gratefuly to have married into such an amzazing family. We especially enjoyed the time we were able to spend with his sister Mariana, we have missed her so much and it was so great to see her and see how much she has grown since her mission. It was so hard when it came to an end, we hated to say good-bye and were missing everyone before we even got on the plane. We can not wait to go back, this year again.





These are Ze's grandparents (on his Dad's side) and his Dad and his wife Ruth.