Christmas Eve 2012

We welcomed Christmas Eve in style this year.  We were blessed to have all of our children with us as well as Kevin Anderson, a friend of Heather's, and President and Sister Hepworth from the temple.  We had a wonderful evening of food, friends, and of course the Nativity from Luke 2.  These are the days that I want time to stand still.  What a great day!!

The table is set and ready to go!

WOW!!! Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing!

Poppers popped and party hats are on!

We were blessed to have the Hepworths for dinner as well!  It just doesn't get
much better than that.

Merry Christmas Heather and Kevin.

Christmas Pajamas.

The Kids are Arriving!!

First View of Nolan and Hana arriving in Curitiba!!

Nolan and Hana arrived today.  He finished his first semester of Law School and now they will be with us for a few weeks.  Wow is it great to have our kids with us!  Heather and Tanner arrive tomorrow.  It just keeps getting better!!

Sinos de Natal: Christmas Spectacular

Dallin and Leticia after the show

Bonnie and Leticia

The Church hosted a Christmas Spectacular here in Curitiba tonight.  It was held at the Teatro Positiva, an auditorium of a local university.  Some 5,000 people attended and were treated to choirs, dancing, and Christmas traditions from around the world.  It was fantastic.

Sunday Ride to Prudentopolis

Dallin found a new friend in this llama.  He was very territorial and didn't like Dallin getting near his pasture.

Dallin, Pres. Cordon, Elder Brooksby, Elder Affonso, Elder and Sister McKinney.

We drove out to Prudentopolis for Sunday meetings.  Elder McKinney was put in as the new Branch President.  We had lunch together before returning to Curitiba.  It is Spring here and the Hydrangeas are in bloom.  The road is lined with these beautiful flowers.

BONFIRE PARTY

 We were invited to attend a party at the home of a family that makes wooden bowls from Araucaria wood.  They had built an enormous tower, some 25 feet high and planned to make a bonfire.  It really was something to see.  They also barbequed a side of beef over the coals and cooked a pig in a woodfired oven.  They had prepared the party for a group of Spanish people and invited us to come as well.  That flaming tower was putting out some BTUs!

Side of  beef being cooked by the coals.

Edna and Bonnie with the fire tower just getting underway.

Fire going full force!  It was a towering inferno!

Cutting the meat off the stakes.

Mom and Dallin getting ready for the fire!

Thanksgiving 2012

We celebrated Thanksgiving this year with missionaries.  We would have loved to have all of them with us however that is just not possible.  We invited several companionships selected randomly over for dinner.  We held Thanksgiving one week late due to the Annual Stake Presidents' Dinner last Friday night.  The Elders and Sisters moved their p-day to Thursday in order to participate.  Several went to Barigui to play frisbee with Dallin and the president took the Sisters and a dupla of Elders to feed the monkeys in the park.  We certainly ate well.  There was plenty of turkey, stuffing, homemade rolls, and desserts to satisfy everyone's appetite.  The hit of the day was President's apple crisp and German red cabbage!

Satisfied diners!

Sisters Arce, Patton and Cook recover from Thanksgiving Dinner.

Not much left!

Jogging in Parque Barigui

The geese were about the only ones at the park today.  Temperatures dropped into the 60s with intermittent rain after consecutive days in the 90s.

Christmas has arrived in Brazil!

Yep, no mistaking it, Christmas season has arrived here in South America.  Bonnie was caught shopping for Chocottone!  That means that the kids will be here soon!!

Sunday Dinner with the Gerhardt Pereira Family

Presidente Calnay Gerhardt Pereira of Paranagua made an outstanding fresh juice for Sunday dinner with fresh oranges, papaya, mangos, and strawberries.  What a great afternoon following a wonderful Paranagua Stake Conference.

Augusto - Souza Wedding!

The Newlyweds! She is the daughter of Presidente Souza, mission president in Fortaleza and he is my first counselor's son.  It was great to spend the evening celebrating their wedding.

One of our favorite young couples, Bruno and Barbara Augusto, were there to support his brother.

OK, enough is enough.  How am I supposed to stick to my diet here anyways!!

Churrasco with Friends from the Barigui Ward

Jefferson Rasera KNOWS Churrasco!!  Ele tem jeito sim!

Resolvendo os problemas do mundo.

Dinner with the Petla's and the Temple Presidency

Our family was invited to a spectacular dinner hosted by Elder and Sister Petla.  The Curitiba Temple Presidency was also invited.

"And in the morning I'm making waffles!!"

We found a waffle iron in Prudentopolis of all places!!  Dallin was super excited to have American waffles after more than two years!!

Dinner out in Guarapuava

After getting our missionary responsibilities done, we took advantage of the opportunity to go out to dinner.  Dallin was in rare form as he downed a great quantity of food.

7 de Setembro Parade

Dallin on the Governor's reviewing stand (Palanque) with an officer's sword.

Just plain cool, swords and uniforms!

Cordon Family with Governor and Mrs. Beto Richa on the Palanque.

Dallin resolving issues of national concern.

This is a colonel and his daughter that we met last year during the parade.  We really enjoyed their company.  I gave him a pin of the Curitiba Temple.