J's Bake Sale

What can I say....My little J is an entrepreneur.

Before we even moved home from Brazil J had this planned. She wanted to do it the week we got home but after some negotiation we set a date. After careful thought, going through recipes to make a list of needed ingredients, making and passing around flyer's through the neighborhood, she was ready. We made rice krispie treats, no-bake cookies, cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookies. All of her product sold and she even made a little extra money to spend. What a fun day and a great learning experience.

I love this shot of M walking away with his purchased treats.



Our cute neighbors who came to help support J.

M enjoying his cinnamon roll.

Good Job J.

Splash Pad

Great fun playing at the splash pad on a hot day.

Fish Farm

We really stayed busy all summer with family activities.

The week after Bear Lake before the cousins went back home we took the kiddos fishing at the fish farm. They always have a great time. Grandma and Grandpa took us out to dinner afterwards. It was fun to be with cousins.

All the family together minus one

My favorite sister was in town to bless her sweet little babe.

We all got together to celebrate them being in town and also the birthdays for the month.

It was so great to have everyone there minus my oldest brother. It was a shame he couldn't be there with us. These are some of the fun pics we got. After we took this shot we realized one of my nephews was off playing and wasn't in the picture. So this is all the grand kids who are still here with us. Except ONE. A few of them tried to escape the picture but with some strategic planning we held them down and snapped this picture.

This is what our family picture really should look like,

but for posterity sake we took another one. Where we are all looking civilized.


Not a bad shot for an impromptu picture,
but I think baby V wins the best facial expression hands down

Bear Lake 2011

10 Reasons why We LOVE going to Bear Lake

1. Family

2. Frogs

3.Good Food

4.Water

5.Boating

6.Late nights

7.Cousins

8.Crafts

9.Games

10.Relaxation

The king in his chair, out of the sand with an umbrella.

Life is Good. I love the thumbs up.

C lost his front tooth. I think Grandma pulled it out while I was gone.
So Exciting!

Hanging out with Uncle Kyle.

We had so much fun making these CD spinners from the family fun Mag.

Treasure Hunt

Fun afternoon of Tie-Dye

Making I-spy bottles.

A little drama after a wrestling match with Uncle Kyle and Cousins

I Love Love Love this picture. C loves to skip rocks, he does it every year.

So many fun memories. Thanks to Kyle for taking this great shot!

M's little foot print.

The little frog catcher.

M along with all the little cousins spent hours chasing and catching these little frogs.

Dinosaur Swamp

Aunt Tiff hanging out with the niece and nephews.

Catching Up... on more than just sleep

Our first few weeks home were a little bit of a blur. Between deciding if

we should move or stay in our small home. Wanting to see some old friends, spend time with family and getting unpacked it was a little overwhelming but wonderful
The last 6 months in Brazil our plans were to sell our home first thing and move on. Somehow plans in life don't always work out the way you want them too. Which was fine because honestly I can't imagine moving back from Brazil and then having to move again. The kiddos had a wonderful summer playing with there old friends. They have loved having bikes again and a yard. Last but not least they love being back to Grandma's and Grandpa's Aunts, uncles, and cousins. Oh how life is so much fun being by the ones you love. . . .

We had been home maybe one day when Ralph and Sharon showed up to pick up some things. Our conversation turned to some friends of ours from Brazil and they just happened to be at the Cutlers house. It was very late but they invited us over for some ice cream and we were able to see Toa and her kiddos. It was wonderful to see them. The kids were beyond exhausted but I am so glad we went we haven't seen them since..






The ride home from the Cutlers house is maybe 10 minutes and the kids
were sacked out before we even got home.

Flight Home

My prayers literally started about 5 months before the actual flight. It wasn't the airplane ride I was so worried about but getting through customs. Every time we are coming or going to Brazil we have problems with customs and passports. I had dreams of me having to stay in Brazil and them never letting me out. Well my prayers were answered and we got through customs and security in record time. I am talking within minutes we were through and on our way. I was shocked and so relieved it all went so well. We hopped on the plane that If I remember right wasn't even running late, our seats were next to each other and we were off. After getting served dinner and watching a few movies the kids were off to sleep and then the plane landed.

J and C getting situated

This was most of our stuff. I think we came home with about 15 containers.

Not counting the bins we had sent home earlier with visitors

M enjoying the securtiy packets placed in the pouches of each seat.

I LOVE this picture of R babe.

Our last day in Brazil part 2

I couldn't forget M's little buddy Leo.

There favorite thing to do was going to McDonald's after school.
Me and Jung. (Leo's mom)
We had the boys take this picture.
This was the best of about 4 or 5 pictures.

C's best buddy Noah. Oh how we all will miss Noah.

C learned some sweet soccer moves from this little guy.

We loved having him live in the building right next to us.

If I could only count the hours these two played soccer together

C's little soccer playing buddies.

Every day at recess they all knew there was going to be a soccer game.

The beautiful scenery of Portal.
This was literally our last few hours in Brazil.
We came home from J's presentation stopped by to get the last minute picture and were off to pack up the taxi's and head to the airport.