"Precious Memories...How They Linger..."

The words above, taken from a old, old hymn, are playing through my mind this morning as I organize and enjoy pictures from our month long vacation.

April...the month we looked forward to for so long.  And now it is a precious memory.  And the memories indeed linger on.  We traveled many miles, spent hours on the beach, many more hours talking and taking care of our children.  And they were all precious.  God protected us during all the outings and two different trips to the beach and back.  We are most blessed.  He brought two very special visitors from California for the last two weeks of my husband's vacation and the time with them was priceless.  Precious.  Beautiful.  I cannot possibly share all the pictures (there are so many GOOD ones!).  But I will give a brief overview of our time with Daddy during the first beach stay and time with Jolyn and Jenelle and Amanda's family during the second beach trip and week in Sao Paulo.

Before we left on vacation, my husband (oh, he is good to me!) gave me an entire day off.  Just me, myself and I...and God!  I knew in an instant what I wanted to do.  Massage, Starbucks with my journal and a visit with my sister-in-law, Tati, later in the afternoon.  You can be sure I enjoyed every.single.moment.  These days are few and far between, but I sure enjoy them more than I ever did single.  And I enjoyed them while I was single!  You mommies know what I mean, I know.  The very following day, I became violently ill with only God knows what.  "It" lasted several days so my day off became a distant, precious memory rather quickly.  But God in His mercy, eventually brought healing and I am as good as new now.

We spent a wonderful week at the beach, just us four.  My inlaws came through on their way to a city further up the coast and spent one night, then stopped in a for another night on their way back.  We always enjoy sharing our ocean time with them.  It is their house after all and it just seems right to have them join us there.

Brother and sister playing in the tent, waiting for mommy to get everything together for another day on the beach.

Daddy loves...our son is in love with his daddy

Like father, like daughter.  I love how they are standing almost identically watching the ocean.

My men!

And to prove that mommy does exist, a few with mommy and Noah!

Happy Seven Months to our prince boy!

He was thoroughly sang to this week at the beach, over and over again in English and Portuguese!!!

Chloe Maria, 4 years old and Noah Miguel, 7 months old

Where Chloe spends hours and hours, perfectly happy and content.

We spent hours just sitting...he is no longer content laying still and is all over so this stage is a bit hard in the sand...he just wanted to eat it all!

Back at home for a few days, getting ready for our special guests from California...watching music shows with daddy.

Chloe, fresh from school, all painted as an Easter bunny.  She came home this week hopping off the bus and hopping all the way to our apartment, wiggling her little bunny nose!

And the long.awaited.day, J & J's arrival day.  Oh, we were so so excited!  Amanda, my student and friend, lived with Jolyn's family last year for three months, so we had to share the girls with Amanda's family, too.  We all had a wonderful time together.  For the most part, we just did everything together for two full weeks!

Skipping ahead to yesterday in our home: he is on the go.  Did I already mention he is into everything?  Chloe could not wait for brother to be able to play with her and guess what I hear now?  "Mommy, Noah is getting into my things!"  Knew that would come someday.  Time.is.just.passing.too.quickly.

And is he ever PROUD of his little self!

This picture is for Jolyn: amazing how fast I rolled out tortillas with my big girl rolling pin!  Thank you!  Everytime I use it I will think of you and how you thought it was HILARIOIUS I have been using a child's rolling pin for 6 1/2 years!!!  I am feeling very grown up now!!!

Last night after an hour at the park.  If he gets this dirty at 7 months, what, might I ask, will his clothes look like at 7 years???  sigh!

My cousin, Jolyn, takes way better pictures than I so I just copied her pictures before she left.  I will share a second installment of our vacation via her eyes another day.  For now, my home and family are calling.  Have a blessed day and I will be back soon!

Blessed beyond description,

Jama