2011 ~ January - March

January

New Year's Eve & Day
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We started the New Year out with a BANG!

Plug your ears!! Those fireworks are LOUD!!

Sparklers for all the kids

Umbrella for rain? or for keeping the ashes from the fireworks off?

We had a wonderful New Year's Day Picnic at the pool with neighbors, Jill & Tim Stewart & family!

Great times with great friends!

The little Juni-Bug enjoyed the picnic in her totally cute swimsuit!
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Winter Break Fun Activities
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Sewing Lessons

Karen helped Elisabeth and her two friends make some sleeping pants.

Not too bad for having no pattern but another pair of sleep pants.
The girls did all the work themselves.
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Hiking

Dennis, Tim and the kids went on a couple of hikes during the break. They actually got kicked out of this park because it wasn't open yet. Apparently trespassing is frowned upon. :o)

Here they are being escorted out.
You can see their "guide" in the distance.

While they hiked, they got to see some very pretty areas.
Maybe they can go back again once the park is officially open.
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Baking
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Baking is something Dennis loves to do with the kids.
It's a great relaxing activity for him and the kids learn a lot about baking.

Tropical climates are perfect for rising dough.

Stellar Cinnamon Rolls with Lizzy

Apple Cinnamon Muffins with Caleb

Delicious!!
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February
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Junior High Candy & Flower Sale

The Junior High sells candy & flowers for Valentine's Day to raise money for their spring retreat.

They sold 200 roses & over 250 bags of candy!
It was a very successful event!
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High School Valentine's Banquet
All You Need is Love

A great looking group of kids!

Our two favorite High Schoolers

We had a super, yummy taco bar with all the fixin's!

Nathanael & Yugo sporting the signs for the salsas!

A good looking trio!

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Family Worship

Worshiping in a language that is not your own can be frustrating. It's hard to grow spiritually when you can't understand much of what you are hearing. For this reason, we started having home worship services using a DVD series.

Dennis & Nathanael lead us in singing.

After singing, we watch the DVD and then talk about how the message applies to our daily lives.

We recently had Communion training and had a Communion Service as a family.
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Nate Turns 17!!

We had the Stewarts over to celebrate Nathanael's birthday.

Nathanael & Mr. Stewart
Great Teacher, Good Friend & Mentor
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Little Juni-Bug

We love this little girl!

Too Cute!!

Juni loves her "big brother" Nate

Cute Girls!!
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March
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Great Friends

Dennis & I went out with our friends, Carlos & Luiza Pires!

We enjoyed a great day of eating out, a coffee break, and a movie at the Boulevard Shopping mall in downtown Belem!

Luiza showing us her brownie that came with her cappuccino. HUGE!!
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March Madness!

We had an amazing sky one night!

Beautiful Color!

Boys + Rain = Muddy Fun

More Baking Fun...with Hannah!

YUM!!

Mosquito Killers!!
We got a couple of these great mosquito killer rackets. They work great and we have rid our house of MANY mosquitoes!

"Let's Kill Mosquito Together"

Face Painting Fun!

So happy together!!!

Hannah the Leopard!

The "Beth" Friends at Rachel's Dad's wedding
Elisabeth, Bethany, & Rachel Elizabeth
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Rachel's 15 Anos Birthday Party

Elisabeth's friend, Rachel, turned 15 and had a traditional Brasilian birthday party. It's a big event with lots of friends, family, food and traditions.

One part of the program included 15 friends giving the birthday girl 15 special Bible verses.
Here is Lizzy reading her verse (in Portuguese) to Rachel.

Another tradition is the "Switching of the Shoes."
This is when the young lady's father removes her flat shoes and replaces them with heels, signifying her move into adulthood.

Bethany & Elisabeth at the party.

Hannah & I before the party.
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Spirit Week & Fun Night

Hmmm....no corn for Nater.

Crazy Lizzy on Crazy Day!

Cute Hair-do
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Birthday Fun Night

"Cheesy" Nate runs the "Piece of Cake" Walk

Face Painting with Lizzy & Sarah

Hannah fishes to earn some prize tickets!
I didn't get any pictures of Caleb since he spent most of his evening running away from the jailors at the "Party Pooper Prison."
This was our last Fun Night at AVA, and it was great fun!
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CIA
Christians In Action

We finally got our shirts!!
After months of waiting, missed planes, and finally a FedEx box from America -- they arrived!

After iced coffee, the students go to work preparing for their next trip to the orphanage.
Sometimes I think the iced coffee should come last. :o)

Juniper is a favorite with everyone. She even got her own CIA t-shirt.

Although a bit crazy, we love these incredible kids!

Which way do we go?

AVA's Christians in Action