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.

Drake & Great Grandpa Boyd

I wonder who put who to sleep?

Quem sera fez quem pra dormir?

WHAT A MESS!

Gavin LOVED Grandpa's birthday cake! After eating half of his Uncle Blake's piece, he got his own and boy did he go to town on it. When he was finished Grandma decided that it was easier to throw him in the sink and give him a bath than try to clean him up with a washcloth! Oh what fun.

Gavin ADOROU o bolo de aniversario do vovo Gary. Depois de ter comida a metade do pedaco do tio Blake, ele ganhou o proprio pedaco dele. Depois a vovo Sue decediu que era mais facil de dar banho em ele do que tentar limpar com um pano.

Gavin is addicted just like mom! He was sitting on the table and I was talking to my aunt when gavin reached for my drink, put it between his legs and started going to town. He probably drank almost half of the drink. He was being too cute to stop.

O Gavin esta viciado como a mae dele! Ele estava sentado em cima da mesa comigo e eu estava conversando com a minha tia quando ele pegou a minha coca, botou entre as pernas dele e comencou tomar. Acho que ele tomou a metade do copao!.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

We were so excited for Halloween this year, with Drake old enough to understand what is going on and Gavin just loves to do whatever his big brother does and they LOVE candy. ( Just like daddy).

Nos estavamos bem animados pro Halloween esse ano. O Drake esta grandinho o suficiente pra entender e saber o que esta acontecendo, e o Gavin adora fazer qualquer coisa que o irmaozao dele faz, e eles AMAM doces. ( Que nem o pai ).