Dog-sitting in Paradise

So, sorry I didn't post last week, it was our LDS general conference and boy were we busy!   Elder Uchdorf and Elder Holland were definitely our favorites.  We also are house- and doggie- sitting for a friend here in Rio, and boy is this neighborhood beautiful too!   We have a gorgeous view of the Christus and mountain on our apartment's patio.  I ask Evie at night before bed, "do you want to see Jesus?" and she goes, "OK!!" Then I take her out and hold her and point Him out, and she starts singing the Rio song. We're working on "I am a Child of God," too.  She's got her "amen!" s down pat.

The little pup, Burt, is the cutest doggie ever!   Now I really want a Yorkshire terrier someday.  He's so easygoing and loooooves walks.  He and Rosie seem to like each other.  Their hair color even matches, supposedly his is "champaigne."

We're living really close to the Sheraton resort, so we've walked there a few times.  It's super-nice, just right below Dois Irmaos, and super tropical.   It's above a really pretty cove too.  You can see Ipanama in the distance, and Sugarloaf even farther out.  I'm a big fan of all their pools and jacuzzi, and it's beautiful to be right next to the ocean.

There's also a neighborhood huge play area in the next street down from us (where all the houses are, all gated of course, and all the ambassadors live).   There's a huge dollhouse, tons of play equipment, all in this lush garden rainforest-y area.     Evie loves the dollhouse most of all and calls it "Papa's house" because it has similar trim.

There's also a ton of play equipment at the beach here, just right there in the sand, and it's enclosed by a mesh gate.  Evie loves it, of course, as does Burt.   I's interesting to get a different view of the beaches here in Rio, with a different mountainscape and Rochina (a favela) in the distance.  I'll post pictures soon but I didn't bring the usb cord for our camera so we'll download them all when we get back home Tuesday.

This apartment is AMAZING.   The embassies treat their employees really, really well. It's a 2 bdrm, and the second room doesn't have a bed either, but who cares?   I feel like I'm at the grandest hotel in Rio.  And it smells SO good everywhere.  Like coconut.  I'm a big fan of the jacuzzi tub, I won't lie.  And the space-y sink designs and built-in cubby above the master bed that's lighted.  And of course, the porch!!!   Also, Rosie is sleep-trained now, it was incredibly easy.  I'll have to remember for the future how easy the transition can be from the yellow bassinet to her own crib/room.  I'm really grateful for this opportunity to see more of Rio with my family.  

Oh, and update, Evie's favorite phrases this week:  "I'll be back!,"  "Rosie's funny!,"  Where's Burt?"  "Please close door!,"  "I want to go outside!" and "Thank you!"