Fourth Month in a row in Minnesota....

Joe and I returned today from a weekend trip to Minneapolis for my ex-roomie's wedding. I have to say, it was a blast! Beginning Thursday with being reunited at Houston's Intercontinental Airport with Joe and then celebrating with my college cronies all weekend. (This is a group that I need a week to recover AFTER being around, they wear me out!) It was also a nice couple of days seeing the "rents". It was a great time. Tonight finds me exhausted and sore. Exhausted from the 13+ hours on a plane in the last 24 hours and sore from laughing nonstop for 3 days. My stomache muscles actually hurt. I think I could market laughter as the latest workout gimmick. I'd buy it after this past weekend. I'm happy to be home though. And even happier that Joe is back with us in Rio. Customs today was a breeze. And I didn't think I would ever say it, but I'm happy not to have any upcoming travel plans. It's time to stick around here for awhile.

I'm going to post pictures instead of filling a lot of discourse here because the pictures are worth more than the words I could create.
Enjoy...

The bride and groom arrived at the reception via horse drawn carriage.

Vicki looked amazing.

Joe and I after dinner at Vicki and Chad's reception.

Vicki and Chad's first dance! Gotta love the fog effect.

Here are the girls waiting for directions during rehearsal Thursday night.

Here are the boys all smiling at the girls waiting for directions at the rehearsal.

Here we all are again at the groom's dinner following rehearsal. Emab, KZ, Kaija, Nina, Vicks, Lecia, Me, Wendy.

Here are my parents at the reception.

We all danced all night.

And danced...and sang a little...

Me and my friend Monica.

Joe danced with the bride.

I danced, and kissed, with the groom.

And at the end of the night, my wine glass was still full and my hair and make-up were still in place! Not too bad for a long day/night of laughter, dancing, and mingling.

My baby turned 9!!

I'm a little delayed in posting the pictures from Sierra's 9th Birthday last week (August 15), but here are a few shots of my big girl, last year in the single digits baby.

This is a daily image. Sierra in the bathroom, before school, primping, ipod shuffle in hand.Here she is shortly after check her whole self out in the full length mirror.

Her choice of activity for the evening was to go for a pedicure and manicure at a local salon. Here she is resisting squirming from ticklish feet.

This year was the first birthday of her life that she had to go to school. Last year, August 15 was a staff development day and kids didn't have class. Every year before that we were in the states and school doesn't begin until after Labor Day, so she was on summer vacation. This year's experience was a good one I think. She received birthday hugs and kisses from all her friends, young and old, at school, she wore a "It's my Birthday" sticker on her shirt throughout the day, and in the afternoon when she came into the Middle School Staff meeting to ask me a question, the entire middle school staff sang Happy Birthday to her! I think she enjoyed being at school on her birthday.

Her birthday party was booked today. She will have a Brazilian-style birthday on September 4. We decided to wait until we knew for sure when Dad would be home, and he will be back Monday. Tonight we went and booked the details for cake, decorations, food, libations, and entertainment to take place here at our condominium on the 4th. Brazilians go overboard on birthdays. Sierra will invite the entire 4th grade and then some!! I'm looking forward to celebrating with her in a week and a half. Pretty big of a 9 year old to agree to wait for the big celebration if you ask me.

Toto, We're Not in Kansas Anymore...Or are we?

The following is so random. I warn you now.

Rio de Janeiro is a megatropolis. 11.5 MILLION people live in Rio. I often refer to this city as the "concrete jungle" (thank you Bob Marley for the phrase). However, since our return last month, I have been serenaded by the random rooster cock-a-doodle-doo at all hours of the day. Two nights ago, the cock crowed at 3 a.m.--And woke me up! I look out my windows and only see concrete buildings between us and the ocean...where in the heck is the farm? and who in their right mind would raise chickens in the city? Sure, the rainforest is off to the right, but it's the side of a mountain...can you raise chickens on a mountain?

So, my question is this: can you raise chickens in an apartment?

Vicki's Bachelorette!

July 21 we had a bachelorette party for my college roomie Vicki who is getting married the 25th of this month. We girls enjoyed dinner at Solera and then boarded a rennovated school bus (painted like a cheetah--classy) for bar hopping in Minneapolis. Most of the pictures from the night of this party cannot be made public here. Kids read this site afterall...I was the photographer for the night since I was one of two of us who remembered a camera and functioning batteries. In hindsite, this was to my benefit as I am not pictured in any of the incriminating photos!

However, there are a few that I can share.

Here is the whole group rooftop at a martini bar we stopped at while waiting for the "limo" to pick us up.

Me, Kaija, Karen, Liz, Mickalean, KZ, Vicks, Nina, Claudia, Monica, Leech, Maria, and Scrodes.

We stopped at Nyes, of course, for a couple of cocktails and Karoake (Going to the Chapel) and we discovered this church decorated for Vick's party, so we took advantage and got in a group shot! Her colors are even Pink--well, and black.

If you know this group, then it is obvious that The Yaht Club was the final bar of the evening. The final group shot was next to the bus (Notice our HOT driver hangin out the window!) outside the bar before heading back to the hotel.

We don't look so bad for 7 hours of drinking and bar hopping.

The hotel got a little crazy after Dave was blown up!! I found him between me and Monica the next morning! Monica's arms were wrapped tightly around his neck. I wonder if he's going to make it to the wedding. Monica's husband might be jealous!