Trip to Brazil Part I

Our trip to Brazil has come and gone. We had such a fun time visiting my parents, seeing where they live and meeting some of their missionaries!

We left on November 14th. We flew to Dallas, then Miami, and then straight on from there to Salvador. Our flight to Salvador was about 8 hours during the middle of the night. I thought the kids would just sleep through the night (and 2 of them did just fine). Graham on the other hand...let's just say I never want to relive that night ever again!

I started off the first leg sitting between Graham and Bridger. I had a whole bag of treats, coloring books, sticker books, toys, drinks, movies, etc. to keep them entertained. Bridger loved it and he was SO good the whole time we traveled to and from Brazil.

Graham started off thinking it was pretty cool to be flying in an airplane. After about 20 minutes, the excitement wore off and he was a pill the rest of the time. Oh, just thinking about it right now is giving my anxiety! It was the worst experience ever. I don't think I can even explain it, just believe me. He was EXTRA naughty for some reason. Anytime I asked him anything he would scream, "No!" even if I asked him if he wanted a treat or wanted to watch a movie. I tried to keep him entertained but a 2 year old is just not meant to sit still for 20+ hours. On the flight from Miami to Salvador Graham would NOT go to sleep and he screamed bloody murder for 20 minutes or so. Jake tried to rock him, I tried to rock, him finally he said, "I want, Bar." So I handed him over to Barry and he played games on his phone and iPad until he fell asleep. Barry is Graham's favorite Uncle and luckily he was there to save the day. Jake and I were at the end of our ropes!

Once we finally made it to Brazil we got to see my parents for the first time in about a year and a half. They were so excited to see the grandkids and meet baby Amber for the first time!

I love this picture of my mom squeezing Amber to pieces. Amber's like, "Nice to meet you too, Grandma, could you ease up a bit?" Just kidding, she loved ever minute she got to spend with Grandma.

Another picture of us just after we got off the plane.

When we got to the mission home my dad had to give the kids a pony boy/girl ride first thing. They loved it!

Jake and I were so exhausted from the traveling that my parents just let us lay down and sleep while they took care of the kids. Something tells me they didn't mind a bit!

I was planning on getting Amber all dolled up so she would look like this when she got off the plane but I was too lazy by the end of the trip. Once we got to the mission home I dressed her up so we could take pictures of her with Grandma and Grandpa.

 

Grandpa and the kids watching a show.

Bridger loved eating breakfast with Grandpa in the mornings.

 We went to the Pelourinho a few days after we got to Brazil. A cute Brazilian lady (that recognizes my parents because they go there so much) took pictures of us in Brazilian attire. Don't you love Amber's fro?

Every where we went people would stop and look at Amber. They would call her a "little American doll." She loved all the attention!

The men in Brazil do this really cool dance (which I can't remember the name of right now) but these guys tried to get Bridger to do it with them. He wasn't all that thrilled about it.

So they tried to have Amber dance with them instead. She loved it and was all smiles the whole time.

Walking around Pelourinho

 Salvador is famous for their drummer groups and this one was playing while we walked around.  

Bridger thought it was too noisy.

This balcony is famous because it's where Michael Jackson stood and sang during his music video "They Don't Care About Us." For a small fee you could go upstairs and stand on the balcony. I wish I would have done that! You can check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNJL6nfu__Q

Another beautiful Bahian woman gushing over how cute baby Amber is.

This guy was so cool! He stood there as still as a statue until you put some money in his coin collecter thingy then he would move around like a robot and make a buzzing noise with his mouth. Bridger loved it.

Amber loved shopping with Grandpa. She got this cute swimsuit cover up for our trip to the beach.

The blue lit building there is the elevator you have to go up to get to the Pelourinho. We had a wonderful time walking around and seeing the old town part of Salvador. More pictures to come in "Brazil Part II."