Gentle Beagle, or Junk Yard dog??

Okay, so it depends on who you ask for the answer to that question. Jack really is a great dog , and we love him, and he loves everyone.......everyone except our gardener Jose'. For some reason he can not seem to get along with him, one day I looked outside because Jack had barked and I've never heard him bark like that, well he had Jose' up on the table scared for his life, it was really quite funny, but not for Jose'. We told him it was because Jack doesn't speak Portuguese HA HA so we have given Jose' a few American sayings like, "Jack that is enough", and "be quite Jack!", and "I have a cookie for you Jack." So far it really hasn't worked, so now I really have to get a bag of dog treats so that Jose' can give him one when he comes in the yard. We will see how that goes. Jack loves our maid, Kellie, I think that it is because she gives him scraps while she is cooking, so I think the treat thing will work. We think that Jack likes it here in Brazil, he is always chasing the local possum that gets in our yard, one day he had it, thank goodness he let it go, but when we got him to come in the house, he smelled just horrible!! The birds that use our pool for a bath only have managed to make him fall in once, we think he has learned his lesson. Finally, the other night he went after a bat, a huge bat that could have carried him away, I am sure of it!! So the local wildlife have been a new and exciting thing for him, we are glad he has these things to keep him busy, since we left his other dog friends in California, Jen I think he really misses walking with Rudy!!

Carnival Rio de Janeiro

This is our house here in Rio, we love it!

See what I mean over-the-top and we have 500 more just like it. What a good time though.

Brian decided that he wanted to take some friends to a soccer game for his birthday. So Marcus being the great dad he is, took him, along with Travis and 3 friends. They had a great time, and I am about 95% sure Marcus told me they all got searched for fireworks...hmm how did those get in!? Brazilians are wild about their football!! Way to go Marcus, I think it was a hit, smiles all around!!

Madison and Brian at the beach in January!!






I hope everyone enjoys this picture of Lucas. It is my favorite...hmm I wonder why, maybe because of the great view of the water! (tee-hee)

People who speak English are so few here that when you find them, they become instant friends. We bought our van from this Australian family, and had them over for a cook out, the kids had a great time. I love our pool!

Our First Weeks in Paridise?

Okay, so this is my first post, so please hang in there. Thanks to my many talented friends who gave me the push I needed, and to Mary for showing me how to get started you rock!!! First I must say Brazil is beautiful if you can get past all the traffic and horn honking....you have got to see it to believe it...I think no rules apply, if you can remember that you'll be set! Anyway, the kids finished out school here, it was different, but at least they spoke English, we found a Christian school that was not to far away, they are glad they will not be there for a full year next year. Travis is really the only one that has picked up Portuguese and is quite good, Lucas speaks Portuguese, German, Russian, and finally English you should hear him at the dinner table what a crack-up, he's always good for a laugh. (he really can't speak all those languages, but he thinks he can, SHH.) Things we have done since we got here...let's see...we went to Carnival, glad we didn't take the kids, but it was great to see, way over the top!! The boys went to their first Brazilian soccer game, we visited the King and Queen's "summer house" we should all be so lucky, and have gone to many, many, way too many Brazilian restaurants!! I will be honest, I am having a hard time adjusting, we call it a love/hate relationship that I have with Brazil...love the people, hate the place. Well okay I don't quite hate it here it is getting better, but I can not wait to leave!! We have it so good in America, the things we take for grated, like toilet paper, let me tell you about that, they don't flush it here, talk about gross....I am going to flush a whole roll when I get back just cause I can!!

We did find out when/where we are going and we are headed to the great state of Texas, Go Long Horns! Marcus will report on the 8th of December so we are now on the down slope, yee-haw, sorry I'm just getting into the spirit of Texas.

Hope you enjoy our pictures of the sites here in Brazil.