Wednesday

What a busy day we had today! Marcel (Erik's driver from work) and his girlfriend picked us up at 10:30. we all went to Corcovado to see Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). Before we left we could not see him from our hotel because of clouds but once we were on top of the mountain everything was clear. Beautiful! Once we took some pictures. We happened to be up there when the priest was saying prayers and putting ashes on foreheads. So I received my ashes there - very cool! The butterflies were so beautiful - electric blue!
Then we went to Lapa to see the arched aqueduct. which looked beautiful in the pictures but were much smaller and covered with graffiti.
Next we went to a cathedral that Marcel was baptized at, there was amazing stained glass.
Then a tea house in Centro - Confeitaria Colombo, we had great food and yummy desserts and new fruits.
Drove by Flamengo e Botafogo - one of the famous beaches, but you can not swim there to polluted.
There was a ferries wheel at an old Military base that separates Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. It is a special attraction to celebrate Rio being in the running for the 2016 Olympic games. So we went on it and had a beautiful view of the beaches.
Then back to the hotel to rest before going out again. The best part of being with Linny and Marcel is we learned a lot about the history of things. We saw parts of the city we would have never seen. Plus we learned about the schools down here. Like the public schools do not teach enough to get into a public university but you can get in if you went to a private school. It is different here. The public universities are free but really hard to get into, and you have to go to private school to learn enough to pass the entry test. If you go to public school and want to go to a university you have to go to the private school and pay for it yourself.
There is also 2 ways of saying Thank you - One is said by a man and the other by a woman.
We are having a great time!

Tuesday

Yesterday was unlike any Fat Tuesday. We headed to Cocacobana in the afternoon. We did a lot of people watching. There was a lot of street parades with colorful people. There was lots of good food and good people around us!

Monday - Samba

Last night we went to see the Samba schools compete, this is what all the pictures of Carnaval are of. The flashy outfits, beautiful floats and amazing drum bands. We danced (ok I danced) for 6 hours before we had to leave. We saw 4 of the 6 groups - each one lasting 92 minutes (if they went over that they were deducted points).
This was not what I was expecting it to be but it was beautiful! I am glad we saw many schools. I was amazed by the first group but realized quickly that they were one of the poorer groups. Group 2 was my favorite by far!
It is 11:30 and I hungry so I will up date more later. Have fun today and enjoy your Mardi Gras!

Sunday

Yesterday we spend the day walking around Cocacobana and Ipanema people watching. I have learned that Cocacobana is great for the food and Ipanema seems to have the better people to watch. We thought the parade was at 2pm but ended up to be at 4pm so we went to the jewelry store and took the tour. It was cool to see how they mine the gems in Brazil and then turn them into the beautiful jewelry we love so much! The store with the tour was very proud of their work and cost way too much! even their gift store (which had nothing to do with gems was way over priced). Then we went to the other jewelry store and I finally found my Mom's Nativity. Yeah. We found lots of paintings that we want for above our bed. We will look again on Wed or Thursday (maybe they will be cheaper since less people will be around).
We finally saw one of their parades and realized we had seen one the day before - yes that is right we saw them and did not even know that the jeep with people on the back playing music was the poor mans version of parades. So Sunday was a little more organized the police blocked the roads well in advance and there was tons of people. The parade this time had a dance group and a bus like thing that had the band on top of it. The dance group was surrounded by "guards" holding hands to keep the crowds away. It was very hard to see where the dance group was, they were small 2 to 5 people. It was crazy that there was so many more people watching or walking and dancing with the parade then actually in the parade. They all sing the same song which we finally found the words for but still have no idea what it says. On the "float" there was a sign that said "Obama E Negro. Mas foi Pra CASA BRANCA" and another one that said "Bush: so no sapatinho" We translated it but we still did understand the meaning of it.
There was a lot of things that is like our Mardi Gras - the biggest difference is the people are nicer. The American word I have heard the most is F***. It is funny hearing it with accents. The streets are a lot like Bourbon just wider so there is more people. They even had a guy peeing in the street right behind me. There was a lot more people dressed up the kids in cute costumes and the guys in little dresses. Some girls were dressed up but not as many as the guys. Most girls have crazy head bands on. We went to the hippie market - lots of fresh food, crazy looking fruit and tons of things they claim to make themselves (even as they are taken them out of the plastic bags they are shipped in)
We have decided it is a mixture of New Orleans Mardi Gras and Spring Break in Florida. We are having a great time! I did try the Pineapple caprinia and the orange caprinia today - the orange was very good!
Hopefully we will be able to get some pictures up today...

Saturday

We walked around Cocacobana and Ipanema yesterday. Had a great time watching all the people! Lots of Parade groups on street corners with the bands dancing and having a great time. Most people are dressed normal but there was a lot of men dressed like woman (not just gay men either) On the beach there was a lot of "lost" swimsuits. People really do not care if they should be wearing a string bikinis! We learned that we should only order one thing to eat. They do not give out "doggie" bags so we wasted a full meal between the 2 of us. You think they would have told us. The first place would only let us order the appetizer and we were full. The second place let us each order a meal - I ended up with 2 pieces of steak and enough other stuff to feed a family of 4. But I did find out I REALLY love Caprihinas - the limes were good but the tropical ones were YUMMY!!!! I am so looking forward to trying more today - there was 5 flavors!
Today I skipping the fashionable flip flops for tennis shoes - comfort over fashion today! Too much walking.

Watch what you say around little ears

Yesterday before school Jaxon was getting ready to walk out the door when he said something about school being very boring and he needed a drink!
I asked him what kind of drink he needed.
Jaxon - you know like a coke or a D. cream soda - I really like D. cream soda don't you!

I nearly dropped to the floor trying not the laugh! A 5 year old saying " I need a drink" Wow do I say that....

Good results

Just wanted to let you know that My Mammogram came back normal. I do not have to go back for a 2nd one - Yeah!

egg pie

We eat eggs almost every morning around here so I decided to make it fun with my little 1 egg pan which actually holds 2 eggs and makes it a great size! We top it with bacon and cheese and cut it into 8 wedges. The kids love it. Yeah for cute little egg pans!

3 shots and a mammogram and it is only Monday

So how was your Monday? Mine was good. I went to get my for Rio - still waiting on that passport but I have no doubt it will get here in time.Please please.
Then after my shots I was driving by the hospital so I decided today was as good as any to get my Mammogram. Since I am 35 I needed to get my baseline done. It was not bad. I was kinda scared because I did not know what to expect but once I was there, I was reading my walker handbook for the 3 day - encouragement maybe - it was fast and easy. It did not hurt me, not the best feeling but the shots were worse! The tech did tell me not to be alarmed if they call me back. That 90% of the baseline people get called back because they are very cautious since they have nothing to compare it to and they want to get a really good baseline. She did say if I was called back I would know after the next scans what was the problem if any!
Erik just got Jaxon and he had a super day so everyone is happy and doing great!

Please wear your Seat Belt

To me this seems like an easy thing to do. I have been putting on my seat belt as long as I can remember, my parents made us. So now I do not even think about, but if the person riding with me does not my Jeep beeps until they do. So I do not forget to put my seat belt on I forget that I did put it on.
We have had a lot of wrecks this year were people have died, of all ages but as young as 10 that I know of, because they did not have their seat belts on and were thrown from the car. Thursday one of Jaxon's classmates lost his mother because she was in a wreck and was thrown out of the car. I did not know her but I have thought about her a lot over the weekend and I have cried for her son(5) and daughter (2nd grade). It got me thinking that Jaxon and KK would not remember me. Sure they would know they had a mother and would see all the fun things we did in pictures but they would not really remember me - my hugs and kisses, the sound of my voice. This makes me really sad.
So I am begging you all to please put on your seat belt.

Tuesday

KK has been back to her new school (same one from last year) for 1 week and I have already been called to sub. It was neat seeing how all the kids had grown in just 6 months! I am so happy to have her back at BPECC. Makes me wonder why we ever left!
Erik is doing good. We still see him at night on the computer but the kids only last about 10 minutes then they want to play with something else. But that is alright, sign in right after dinner and since he is 4 hours ahead he is ready for bed then anyway. Just wanted to update since a few of you are checking in on my while Erik is away. We are doing good. The kids are not listening but I think that has to do with being stuck inside at school and home (cold weather sucks)
I am really sleepy!
Hope everyone is doing great!

Sunday night

Well me made it through the week. Nothing really much to report. We talk to Erik every night before he goes to bed on the computer - gotta love technology! Today we spend the day at my Mom and dad's house. Saturday we went to TKD, the library store and home. So not too much going on. Kids fighting over everything but who are not! I even put the kids to bed early - Jaxon is sleep, Katie is trying everything to stay awake! oh well such as life.

Just to let you know

I have not been updating lately but that is about to change (or so I think)
Erik has landed in Brazil and is headed to his hotel. He did send me a picture of the walmart in case you were wondering if one was there or not! We are able to text which may be the quickest way for us to talk. And save the calls for the kids bedtimes. But since the cells work we are good!
That's it for now - going to cook breakfast for the kids then off to TKD, the Library and to buy KK some skates (she asked for them the other day)
She is loving being back at her old school and everyone is excited to have her back!

New Yeras Eve

This is what the game will be playing on tomorrow night! That is Jaxon in front!!! This is a sheet set up between our house and the neighbors house - we are having a Tailgating New Years eve party!!!
Go Tigers!!

More Dec Pictures - Christmas Eve

pictures from Dec

Christmas Morning


Jaxon with Santa at the Comeaux Christmas Party

KK at Dance Class

Breakfast With Santa @ Jaxon's school

Snow in Baton Rouge

Snow in South Louisiana

Can you believe it and it was enough to make a snowman. It snowed over 3 hours! The kids liked it at first then Katie wanted to go in. But we had fun! Now it is turning into a slushy mess but we are having a fun snow day out of it.

Jaxon's Party

OK I know I should have spend sometime fixing the pictures but here are some of the pictures from him party. He had a great time. I am sad I do not have a good picture of the cake but that is alright, I was happy with how it turned out

Breakfast with Santa

Gingerbread Party

Here are a few from the Gingerbread house party at the Thompson's house. Nov 30, 2008