A Teacher's Diary

...and I'm just now putting up pictures from Christmas and the rest of the delightful break with my beloved family.

The Night Before Christmas...

See if you can guess below whose house is whose (the choices are me, Ella, and Jeremy)

First nephew for Joe and Shana!

Traditional ham Christmas dinner!

Getting ready to carol for Mitzy and Earl!

Christmas PJ's!

Who else is dying right now?! What a CUTIE!

Reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" with Granna

Christmas Morning!

It has become tradition to open stockings on my parents' bed. We are starting to outgrow that tradition...literally...sniff, sniff!

What a doll. Love this girl so much. Her latest love fashion wise are pajama sets and leotards.

This gift for m mom was a joint effort. My dad provided the cash, I provided the website with how to fold it, and my brother created this masterpiece. I can't follow directions very well and he can.

Oh man, they crack me up.

I miss so much being at home with the people I love so very much. What a wonderful chance we had to be all together for Christmas!

Dia 7

Outlet Mall with Siomara and Andressa

A "Shopping" (that's what Brazilians call malls)

I wish every food court had Brazilian food...

If I were a guy, I'd want to date me based on these shoes alone! Too bad they were all over $70!

Genius parking system. Green means there is an empty space. Red means it's occupied.

The winning sandals!

Maracuja sweets for the wedding

Chocolate...my favorite...

Some treats before they were dipped in goodness...

Dia 8

And the wedding treats continue...

Isn't this lunch beautiful? The only time I'll eat tomatoes is in Brazil mixed with everything else. I love mixing my food like they do in Brazil. L-O-V-E.

Last dress fitting (it's awesome when the seamstress happens to be your mom!)

Those gold treats are NOT wrapped in aluminum-- that's a powder!

I think this little picture is too cute for words!

Rehearsing our duet for the wedding

Rock on, Rebicki.

The beginnings of something big...

Haven't you always wanted to know how to fold cloth napkins?! I was pleased to have learned.

Pretty girl

Bee-bee

Dia 9

Princess Rebicki!

I learned that putting cellophane in water inside a vase gives the effect of gel (and is a lot cheaper!).

Check out all those roses!

Kelly the flower arranger!

Rebecca and Steve, local celebrities, came from the U.S. to help with the wedding preparations! (They lived in Brazil 5 years ago and Steve was the bishop. Everyone LOVES them!)

Practicing the walk down the isle!

This cake isn't real! Isn't that cool? The real wedding cake was cut and served by the waiters. DELICIOUS!

Dia 10

The super glue incident

Sisters helping each other get ready!

Waiting to make the grand entrance!

The ring bearers!

Check out this tower of sweets!

This one had caramel inside and I stole it before we were supposed to take them- I don't regret it one bit. Heavenly!

There's my guest book! :-)

All the witnesses who signed the marriage certificate at the end. They were mostly their aunts and uncles.

Leandro crying :-).

I sang "Three White Dresses" in English.

Georgia and her daddy :-).

Georgia's dad spoke, and it was very beautiful. They didn't know if he'd be able to be at the wedding because of the accident in early December. But he was able to walk his daughter down the aisle, which was a miracle.

Georgia's cousin did some beautiful ballet dancing down the aisle to present the rings. It was so cool! She did it to an instrumental version of "A Thousand Years."