Evie's favorite things in Rio so far:
1. The buttons where the mist sprays at the beach
2. carmel stuffed-churros and coconut popsicles
3. monkeys
4. going to the park
5. the sand castles on the calcedau, especially if they involve dragons, whales, or Corcovado
6. Jesus: really, this morning her favorite thing was holding the amethist and silver corcovado statue, it reminds her of the real statue, and Rio. We tried to take it away before we went out, but she was insistent: "I want to hold the Jesus!" She was very, very sad, crying a lot be we didn't want it to break. We'll buy her a wooden one tomorrow.
Yesterday we went to Colleens for brunch, and then to the Sheraton for the pools and little beach. It was really fun, I like the Sheraton. The water is so warm, it's so scenic, and Evie loves the kiddie pool with the little balls and rings.
It rained a few days in a row this week so I had a lot of time to write, and wrote a blog post that got 26,000 views and over 4,000 shares on facebook. Kinda weird!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Sunday, November 3, 2013
New Parks and Justin Beiber
We discovered two new parks this week, one just right behind our house that Rolf found online. The park equipment is the same, but it's very quiet and it doesn't feel like you're in the big city like the other parks around us, it's very jungle-y and nice. Two police officers drove up and went up the hiking trail, and I thought there was something going on, but Rolf asked them, and they said they were just going for a nature walk to relax. Ah, Rio! There were lots of monkeys, so of course Evie loved it. We'll definitely be going back, I'm so happy our closest park is so quiet and right up against the rainforest.
We also went to a park in Largo do Machado with a square that's very beauitful/colonial with an old church in the center. A short walk away was the park with an imperial-looking governor's house inside, waterfalls, and play equipment. Evie definitely (thanks to Dora the Explorer) knows what waterfalls are and was very excited to point to each one and exclaim, "Waterfall! I see it! There!"
Saturday we went to the Copacabana Palace and a walk on the Calcadao because it was closed for the holiday (Day of the Dead). We almost didn't go in because there was this HUGE crowd of people, mostly women, and figured a celebrity was there, but we went anyway because the idea of a pool sounded really nice. Sure enough, it was, not to crowded inside, they fed us fruit cups, the pool was heated, there were other babies for Evie to play with, we liked it! And at the pool we found out Justin Beiber was there. So that's why. As we exited the rotating door, there were hundreds of screams and applause, I'm guessing because we were holding 2 cute American girls and they were hungry for anyone to come out!
Today we showed around Rolf's old friend and spouse from BYU. We would have gone to church earlier but we had to stay home to let in the gas company person as we haven't had hot water for 3 days and that was the only time he could come. Luckily, we have hot water now, yea!!!! Anyway, we took them on the Calcadao walk down to the edge of Leme, the Windsor hotel, and then back here. I can't believe they'll only be in town 3 days, not enough time to see everything! Sounds like they're going to try though.
We also went to a park in Largo do Machado with a square that's very beauitful/colonial with an old church in the center. A short walk away was the park with an imperial-looking governor's house inside, waterfalls, and play equipment. Evie definitely (thanks to Dora the Explorer) knows what waterfalls are and was very excited to point to each one and exclaim, "Waterfall! I see it! There!"
Saturday we went to the Copacabana Palace and a walk on the Calcadao because it was closed for the holiday (Day of the Dead). We almost didn't go in because there was this HUGE crowd of people, mostly women, and figured a celebrity was there, but we went anyway because the idea of a pool sounded really nice. Sure enough, it was, not to crowded inside, they fed us fruit cups, the pool was heated, there were other babies for Evie to play with, we liked it! And at the pool we found out Justin Beiber was there. So that's why. As we exited the rotating door, there were hundreds of screams and applause, I'm guessing because we were holding 2 cute American girls and they were hungry for anyone to come out!
Today we showed around Rolf's old friend and spouse from BYU. We would have gone to church earlier but we had to stay home to let in the gas company person as we haven't had hot water for 3 days and that was the only time he could come. Luckily, we have hot water now, yea!!!! Anyway, we took them on the Calcadao walk down to the edge of Leme, the Windsor hotel, and then back here. I can't believe they'll only be in town 3 days, not enough time to see everything! Sounds like they're going to try though.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Birthday Week!
So I had my birthday on Saturday, 29 and I don't feel old yet (fingers crossed). Rolf watched the kids in the morning and came in with pancakes, music, and flowers. Then we went on a beach walk with the girls to Leme on the Calcadao. Later we went out just the two of us onto the beach, walking all the way to the other end of Copacabana. It was really nice.
We also found out Rolf got short-listed at Wisconsin-Madison, wow. We're planning a trip to Ilha Grande sometime, but in the meantime the weather is nice and it's not to crowded in Rio so life's good. Rosie's golden curly locks are getting in the way of her eyes now so we keep having to pin it back, it's very strange to see an infant with so much perfectly ringletted hair!
I love how Evie's talking in full sentences, and being able to talk to my baby. She knows the entire Go Diego Go song and runs around the apartment pretending to be an adventurer/explorer while singing and dancing.
Last Wednesday we went to the famous colorful-tiled staircase in Lapa, really fun and interesting to look at all the individual tiles on the way up. Saw a couple of Texas ones. And today we went to Santa Teresa again: Parque Ruinas was really scenic, of course, I loved the 360 view. We also went to Chacado sur museum gardens right next to it, for Evie to run around. On the way home we took a set of stairs that last time people told us not to go down, not safe. But we didn't know it, it was broad daylight, and looked safe. We carried the stroller down and noticed some people saying, "how do you say good afternoon in Portuguese?" Rolf responded back in Portuguese, and they laughed, and he said he just wanted to thank us for coming down these stairs without being afraid since it really is quite safe. Everyone had a good laugh.
On the way home we stopped by a huge fountain and park in the center of town, with Flamengo Beach and Sugarloaf in the backdrop, apparently it's a WWII memorial. Evie got to see a Crane up-close and personal. Until next week!
We also found out Rolf got short-listed at Wisconsin-Madison, wow. We're planning a trip to Ilha Grande sometime, but in the meantime the weather is nice and it's not to crowded in Rio so life's good. Rosie's golden curly locks are getting in the way of her eyes now so we keep having to pin it back, it's very strange to see an infant with so much perfectly ringletted hair!
I love how Evie's talking in full sentences, and being able to talk to my baby. She knows the entire Go Diego Go song and runs around the apartment pretending to be an adventurer/explorer while singing and dancing.
Last Wednesday we went to the famous colorful-tiled staircase in Lapa, really fun and interesting to look at all the individual tiles on the way up. Saw a couple of Texas ones. And today we went to Santa Teresa again: Parque Ruinas was really scenic, of course, I loved the 360 view. We also went to Chacado sur museum gardens right next to it, for Evie to run around. On the way home we took a set of stairs that last time people told us not to go down, not safe. But we didn't know it, it was broad daylight, and looked safe. We carried the stroller down and noticed some people saying, "how do you say good afternoon in Portuguese?" Rolf responded back in Portuguese, and they laughed, and he said he just wanted to thank us for coming down these stairs without being afraid since it really is quite safe. Everyone had a good laugh.
On the way home we stopped by a huge fountain and park in the center of town, with Flamengo Beach and Sugarloaf in the backdrop, apparently it's a WWII memorial. Evie got to see a Crane up-close and personal. Until next week!
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Ward Lunch
Today our Jardim Botanico ward had a lunch after church, man was it good. Tons of shredded chicken and chopped fruit, yum! It was also the first time I've had ice cream in months, the dessert spread was quite nice too. It's starting to get a little warmer here, and my birthday is next week, so perfect timing eh? It was pretty raining/cloudy this week so we didn't get out too much, but I met up with a friend from the Canadian Embassy in Copa with Rosie, and went to Malynda's in Leblon with the girls. We were going to go to the park just under Corcovado after church, but someone from the ward offered to give us a ride home and I couldn't pass that up. We'll have to go this week.
Evie's quotes for this week are "I wanna draw you!," "Daddy, look!", "I want to take a bath," "Silly goose!," "I like to play with you!" Basically, this brilliant girl talks in full sentences and so she says hundreds of new things. She's very quick. I still find each new thing I hear from her amusing, and it's so fun to have conversations with my baby. She's really developing a voice.
And Rosie--she's definitely coming into her own, I'm loving her playful, cuddly personality. She was just playing a game with me yesterday as I was putting baby clothes into the drawer, she would grab them one by one, throw it back out, and look up at me and laugh, then do it again. She also loves to hang out and be held, and talk (yes, this one's very verbal too), and she's Evie's biggest fan.
Evie's quotes for this week are "I wanna draw you!," "Daddy, look!", "I want to take a bath," "Silly goose!," "I like to play with you!" Basically, this brilliant girl talks in full sentences and so she says hundreds of new things. She's very quick. I still find each new thing I hear from her amusing, and it's so fun to have conversations with my baby. She's really developing a voice.
And Rosie--she's definitely coming into her own, I'm loving her playful, cuddly personality. She was just playing a game with me yesterday as I was putting baby clothes into the drawer, she would grab them one by one, throw it back out, and look up at me and laugh, then do it again. She also loves to hang out and be held, and talk (yes, this one's very verbal too), and she's Evie's biggest fan.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
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!"
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!"
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saara
These are the little monkeys that are in the parks above where Evie plays, and on all our hikes (Sugarloaf, Leme Fort, Jardim Botanico, where Becki took this one, etc). Evie's always asking, "Mon-teys, where are you?" with her hands cupped to her mouth. Other fun phrases of Evie's right now: "I coming...you!" (I'm coming to you--especially when someone is sad or in trouble), "I love you, mommy!" (My favorite), "Dada, Mommy, want Kun-kles!" (Snuggles). "I run fast!," "I want beeeeeach!," "Night-night, Rosie!" "Mommy, Dada, tiss-es" (kisses), "Dada, come (to) me!" (with her hand gesturing wildly to come on over). And "I want apple-cheese!" (Kraft Macaroni and cheese from the US).
We went to the Saara market in Centro this week for the first time, I shopped while Rolf had a meeting, and then he met up with me, only to find that I'd bought 4 huge blue interlocking foam mats for our hard floor and strapped them to the top of the stroller. Then I had Rolf go back and buy 2 more so that we could cover all our floors, he's a good soul. So we took them on the subway, along with 6 balls we also bought for Evie, and got really funny looks. But now our floors are softer for Rosie, she's crawling up a storm, and Evie's room is now her very own ball-room too, wall to wall with foam mats, balls, and perfect for babies.
Today we went to the gigantic cemetery behind our mountain, just a 20 minute walk. It was a cloudy day, Corcovado in the backdrop looking down on all the memorials, and a very sobering/contemplative experience.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
A DATE!
We had a really fun week! Earlier in the week Evie and Rosie went to their second party (birthday party!) here in Rio, for their friend Ellie, Becki's mom. Ellie is such a sweetheart and Evie had a blast. I missed how U.S. cakes taste, yum. And Becki was so kind and took a few pictures of the girls, I'm attaching them here. On Friday we walked (*walked*) to Sugarloaf, it wasn't too bad just 35 minutes away. We had lunch at the a kilo place on the beach (Grandma, you wouldn't have liked it--it was the same food as the a kilo restaurant behind the Copacabana Palace, only twice as expensive). I got really excited because it looked like they were serving free strawberry shakes, so I poured one and luckily took a whiff because...it was alcoholic. Yuck!!!! Dodged that bullet!
Then we spent the day on the beach, remembered how the sand at at little beach looks exactly like coarse brown sugar. Makes sense at the sugarloaf! We saw people kyaking and found out how to do it, so we'll come back by ourselves sometime and kyak together on a date. On the walk home we found a $10 bill on the floor so we took a cab home!
Speaking of dates, we went on our first date since we said goodbye to family, it was SOOO nice. I love this man. We have a lot of fun together.
Then we spent the day on the beach, remembered how the sand at at little beach looks exactly like coarse brown sugar. Makes sense at the sugarloaf! We saw people kyaking and found out how to do it, so we'll come back by ourselves sometime and kyak together on a date. On the walk home we found a $10 bill on the floor so we took a cab home!
Speaking of dates, we went on our first date since we said goodbye to family, it was SOOO nice. I love this man. We have a lot of fun together.
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