KGB 7 Months, Our First Visitor, & Air Shipment

Although we haven't been overseas long, it was a breath of fresh air to get our first visitor from home! Mrs. Burns was able to take a trip to see us right around the time Kennedy turned 7 months old. It was a short and bittersweet visit, but we had a lot of fun just enjoying family time with her. Not to mention, she brought us 3 gigantic suitcases filled with goodies from home! It was early Christmas, THANKS MRS. BURNS!!

The weekend she arrived, we went to Buzios, which is a really pretty resort destination. Blake had a company golf tournament to attend, so we all tagged along to enjoy! We walked the shops, tried some great restaurants, and I enjoyed a spa day one afternoon with some of the ladies here (my Mother's Day gift from Kennedy :) ) Mrs. Burns watched Kennedy for us most of the trip, so Blake and I got a much needed break and Mamaw got some much needed quality granddaughter time! A great weekend. Once back in Macae, we were able to show Mrs. Burns what we know of Macae, our house, and just spend some time together. We were sad to see her off after only a week, and will be looking forward to our next family visits.

We finally moved into our house this past week. We've been learning some very interesting things about our house. For instance, you have to turn the gas on and off every time you use the stove. And water runs out after about a day's use, so you have to turn on a water pump to refill the house water supply from the city water. Unfortunately, today our pump broke- agh! It caught fire (small flame, no big emergency) and I had to get a fire extinguisher to put it out. Ah... Brazil. Haha. You have to keep a sense of humor.

Highlights - we've started Portuguese tutoring, and although we are far from fluent, it is really helping us get around better. The few phrases I've learned plus hand gestures can now get me around town! AND we expect our air shipment to be delivered TODAY!!!!! Should I even say it aloud? It might not come true.... At least there is light at the end of the tunnel. Next stop - sea shipment!!

Kennedy Grace at the hotel, standing up like a big girl.

Playing at the new house!

Mmm... Bananas!

She thinks she can feed herself, she always tries to grab the spoon away.

Crawling machine.

Beautiful baby!

Chasing her bottle rolling across the floor.

Asleep on a walk.

With Mamaw playing at the hotel!

Kennedy loves her Mamaw! At the new house, cleaning and getting things ready for move in. Mrs. Burns was a huge help!

Little bit out to eat with Mamaw at a restaurant in Macae.

1 Month Mark! - Costazul

On our 1 month mark of being in Brazil, we were still living in the hotel and had not received our air shipment...  but we were slowlyyy making progress towards moving in!! We found a delivery company for drinking water and explored a lot more of the city. A friend took me downtown to go to HortiFruti, which is the produce market with the best groceries. Although progress had been slow towards the house we took advantage of our time at the hotel, enjoying not cooking or doing laundry for awhile longer! And we got another trip under our belts to Rio das Ostras to visit Costazul beach and shopping market. We went with our friends, the James family, who have been our tour guides in Brazil! We went to a bird sanctuary in Rio das Ostras, and shopped in nearby Costazul.

Kennedy, ready for the bird park!

Mom & baby

With the James family at bird sanctuary, walking the nature trail.

Costazul, getting an Acai berry frozen treat, Brazilians are big on Acai - YUMMY!

At the market we stopped at a wood carving tent to get Kennedy a name plaque.

The finished product!

On the boardwalk of Costazul.

Giant whale fountain at the end of the boardwalk.

Corcovado

The following week after Bicuda Grande, Blake, Kennedy, and I had to make another trip to Rio for more visa paperwork. This trip we made time to visit Corcavado to see the famous Christ statue, Cristo Redentor. 

View of Cristo from the main streets of Rio below. We drove as high as we could, then we had to get on a bus to take us to the top of the mountain.

Blake and KK taking the escalator up to the top! Kennedy is not sure about being up so high... :)

Family photo op! Cristo behind us.

Mom and Kennedy, behind us you can see Pão de Açúcar, or Sugar Loaf mountain and the coast of Rio.

Cristo

Lunch break!

Family photo with Sugar Loaf in the background.

At a lookout point, Cristo and Corcavado behind us.

Bicuda Grande

Our third week in Brazil, we decided to explore one of Brazil's many waterfalls in the small town of Bicuda Grande. We went with our new friends, the James family- Annette, Jeremie, and their two kids, Asher and Chapel. The drive was a little more than an hour from where we live, but the scenery was GORGEOUS! 

Photo op on the way to Bicuda Grande.

Mountain scenery... I cannot believe how green and lush Brazil is!

More local scenery!

Blake standing in front on Bicuda Grande mountain - almost to the falls!

On the side of Bicuda Grande, we saw the most amazing thing I've seen in awhile. There was a family getting baptized in the river. What a beautiful way to profess your faith! I think I've just found a new item to add to the bucket list.

Finally, at the falls, with Bicuda Grande behind us.

KK and Daddy at the top of the hill.

On the steps down to the bottom of the falls.

Mommy and Kennedy at the bottom of the falls.

With new friends- Annette and daughter, Chapel.

Going to the waterfalls in Brazil is the equivalent of going to float the river in Texas! There were people sunbathing, kids playing in the water, and BBQing on travel pits. It reminded me of trips to New Braunfels - substitute river for waterfall, cabins on the water for pousadas (Brazilian bed and breakfasts), and the river tube chutes for rock slip and slides!

Kennedy dips her toes in the stream.

Dads and daughters.

Brazilian bridge = plank of wood across the stream, haha!

Rock slip and slide! Asher and a local boy test out the slide - only the kids were brave enough to go, the water was chilly.

Kennedy enjoyed watching the kids slide.

She was very amused by Asher and Chapel playing.

Burns family photo op.

James family photo op.

Picnic lunch and playing with Dad.

Fun day at our first waterfall!