Part of the Brazil Pictures.

We stopped at a mansion which is now a museum. It once was the working place for the Presidents.

On the rocks in the gardens.

In the gardens of the mansion.

The mansion was beautiful. The door knobs are awesome.

The real picture.

The had OTIS elevators. Chris had to pose next to it.

A portrait of Isabela's favorite president.

This are the pajamas that the President was wearing when he commited suicide. If you look close, you can see the bullet hole near the pocket.

Isabela's College.

This is a drink...it is tea. (pronounced: Mah-Chee) ? We had some straight from the barrel and with lemon on the beach.

The Flowers we bought for Grandma. Dinner there was AMAZING!!!

Chris with the painted cow! haha!

Food at the Hippie Fair - OMG, this place was a blast! It is like our version of a flea market or the Covered Bridge Festival.

Eating our corn on the cob at the hippie fair.

Getting a snack. I know -lovely picture right?

That's better. Chris is addicted to Guarana - a Brazilian soda.

With Isabela in the street!

Getting ready to go up the cable cars to see Sugar Loaf. You have to go up one and then you can walk around, and then you get on another cable car to go up higher to another. It is really, really great. We highly recommend it.

This little cutie came out to say Hello.

Sugan Loaf was such an experience. One that we almost didn't take because I had such a terrible headache after the heat of the day at the hippie fair, and the bus ride to Sugar Loaf. Once I got some tylenol it was okay, but I had to use threats to convince them that I was fine and wanted to go. Plus, Chris wanted to go really bad.

Isabela knows how to pick 'em, lol. This guy that took this photo must be a photographer because he was like, "no, no - you got shadows. If you must look at the sun, you look at the sun." It was entertaining.

Family Portrait at Sugar Loaf before leaving.

Emilia's arrival!

(Monday) I couldn't wait for Emilia's flight to arrive. I had to leave really early for the airport in South Bend because I just couldn't stand waiting around at home any longer. Here is the sign I made for Emilia. I thought it would be welcoming, but then I thought just in case I don't recognize her right away, or if she don't recognize me then I have the sign...but AS soon as she walked off the plane we spotted each other - I still shook it in the air as I rushed to her just because.

We pretty much came right home after she got off the plane. She was tired, and all shopped out from her stay in New York. We ordered Albano's Pizza and just ate at the house for dinner while watching "Back to the Future".

(Tuesday) We both got up and moving around 7ish. We ate some cereal, and chit-chatted while we got ready for the day. At 10am we went to the high school to get her registered. She was not in the system yet, but thankfully she was approved - so there was not much standing in the way of making this happen...except the twenty other new enrollments waiting. But, we waited patiently, and finally got in to see one of the Assistant Principals.

But then...it would be a while before the counselor could see us because they were so backed up. So, Ashlee gave Emilia a tour although we didn't have a schedule. We wanted to be sure the counselor knew Emilia wanted a theater class, and she was just putting a schedule together for her when we walked in! Perfect! So Emilia got to pick all of her classes, and she is excited to have a theater class - and NO math class.

After showing Emilia her locker and teaching her how to work the pad locks (apparently those kind are not popular in parts of Brazil and Sweden), we went to Ashlee's house to pick up her soccer gear, and headed to Carlson's for hot dogs and root beer.

We came back to the house for a few minutes before the game and then I dropped Ashlee and Emilia off at the field. Ashlee introduced her to the team. I came home to mow the yard - but forgot I had to turn on a gas switch, so it didn't work.

I went back to the game about game time and sat with Emilia. She got to meet her host-sister for the week Betsy, her host-mom for the week (We properly titled them co-host family though) Debby and co-host dad Jerry.

Here Emilia is at the Soccer game. This was JV, it was a little more crowded for Varsity.

There is Ashlee (facing us, on the other side of 25) playing full steam.

This is Rachel - I thought Bela might like to see her!

And now, Emilia's first day of school. I know she has to be super nervous, but she played it off really well. She does know where her homeroom class is at, so she can at least get the day started right. I know it is going to be a mad-house, and she was pretty surprised to the police officers outside the school this morning, but she has met lots of teachers and girls to call on for help. Ashlee's locker is thankfully only like six away from hers so she will have her there to point her in the right direction, but however she finds her next class, I know she'll be fine.

Haircut Destiny Fullfilled

So, we find it entertaining that Chris is getting a haircut in Brazil...but not just by any barber....Isabela is taking him to the barber who cuts her Dads hair, her brother's hair, her Grandpa's hair and now...he cuts her HostDad's Hair!

Pretty wild, right? Love it!

And - Chris seems to be having a great time in Brazil!

Why, Why???

Can someone please tell me why it always happens to US!??!

So This weekend we spent the night in Danville, so that Sunday we could take the girls to the Colts game. Well...after the Colts game Chris is putting his bags back in the trunk.

(We put them in the backseat so we could pull all of our tailgate food out.)

And he says, "Where's my lap top bag?" So of course we immediately believe it must be at my mom's house. So we call and call and finally she answers and says it is not there. I'm not too worried and I tell Chris "Oh, she's probably just looking too hard and over looking it."

(Of course, we are freaking out while we try to convince ourselves of this! It was not calm or rational by any means.)

I get her house Sunday evening - it's really not there. I rush home early Monday morning, hoping that he accidentally put it into his car while rushing around to get everything packed....hmm...NOPE.

So, There is nothing I can do. I decide to go detail clean my car out...yeah...that is when I discover the big black hole on the side of door....some PUNK done went and pried the entire lock mechanism out of my drivers door.

(Which I'm told will not trigger the theft alarm????)

We must be too trusting of society, and have much too little faith in ourselves because we never once thought that somebody would break into our car! Not to mention, the thought NEVER crossed our minds because nothing else was missing.

I had the ENTIRE books of season tickets in the glove box, we have the 6 disk changer, the GPS was in the console (all the cords were out, and there is a ring on the window - all signs point to GPS HERE) Thankfully (I guess,) everything else was left alone, but GRRRRR! It is just so frustrating -

Not to mention Chris had his Passport with his Visa for Brazil in the bag that got stolen. So he has been in Cali for work, not able to do his work because he's been running around San Fransisco trying to get a new Passport and Visa in a week. (Which I think he has successfully accomplished.)

Can I just say GRRRRR and stomp my feet one more time, please?

Dentist Appointment

Had my cleaning/exam today...NO CAVITIES....HOORAY!

Meet Emilia

This is Emilia. She is an exchange student from Sweden coming to live with us for ten months. She is 18 years old, and enjoys acting, golf and movies. She arrives on the 23rd.

We are excited to have her come and stay with us!

Funny Exchange Student Fact:

Isabela had the same birthday as my sister casi - And - Emilia has the same birthday as Chris's mom Cathy.

Colts Game with Rachel & Ashley!

So MAYBE the Colts DID lose - It's only pre-season BAY-BAY! And we still had a blast at the game. Sat in our seats for the season - and then spent part of the game three rows from the field - Boo Yeah!

Chris at our private (and highly exclusive) tailgate party. :) We had Angus burgers, Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad and Chips.


Girls ready for some play!

Manning warming up.

Manning receiving the MVP trophy.

Holla Reggie! REGGIE - REGGIE!

Vinnie after good kick!

Ashley getting a boost from Uncle Chris to cheer.


Annd.... down ya go!

That's right - We ready to Scream!

The Blues are always a joy to watch...Watch Out Air Blue!

Bummer dude.

Oh, good. Air Blue is good and they still be friends.

Oh Isabela!!!! Do you see a certain handsome young man on that bench???

To name the obvious - Collie, Manning and Painter.

Gonzalez - and Gary Brackett The Man! OoooWwwwww.

Vinnie, Reggie and Coach Moore - Glad to see him still there...well...

What's football without some eye candy??? Huh, I didn't forget the boys.

Coach, Coach, Coach.

Manning talking biz-nez I'm sure.

Game Over -

Girls can't get any closer than that.

Yup. We Happy.