Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Recife Curtain Call

This week I returned to Brazil to finish my tour and depart.  It was a bittersweet trip, full of good friends and good byes.

 Yes, please get me outta here!!

One more caipirinha from my favorite spot, Quiosque 6 na Boa Viagem.

Okay, so first, I am so mad this came out blurry.  Second, I am going to use it anyway.  After my caipirinha I decided I really needed a coconut.  I asked for one and he asked me if I wanted it to go.  I said yes, so he dropped an unopened one into a bag.  I asked him to open it, so he did, and stuck a straw in it.  2 years in Brazil, and this is the first and only time I walked down the street carrying a coconut in a plastic bag.  Lol.

Recife's other side.  You know, the side not facing the beach.

My first and only acai in Brazil.  It's a little scandalous, I know.  Thanks RA.  :)

One last drink.  Thanks for everything, Brazil.  It has been real.

New Year's Eve

While Autumn was busy flying back home from Brazil on New Year's Eve, Kylie and I were snug as bugs up at Grandma Cathy's house. We did venture out for supplies and had an exciting day in town. My mom and I rang in the new year alone (Rich and Kylie only made it 'til 8 o'clock!).

 A snowy day

 Morning fog on the river

 Rush hour traffic

Traveling in style

 Stink faces!

Cheese - Hi Mama!

Happy New Year!

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Sledding

Today we got to go sledding with a real sled! It was sunny and beautiful. A perfect, relaxing day.

 Let's go!

 Wheee!

 Ready to sled!

 One little icicle

 All by myself!

 Grandma getting her workout!

 Cheese!

 Kylie's turn

 I got an ice wand!

 Kylie!

What a beautiful sunset!

Sledding Videos

Wheee!

Let's do it again!

Sunday, December 28, 2014

The Snowy Day

Autumn had to fly back to Brazil to wrap up her tour there, so Kylie and I stayed the week with Grandma Cathy and Grandpa Rich. On our way home from Spokane the snow starting coming down, and the next morning we had enough to go sledding and have a real snowy day!

 Kylie's travel bed and travel-size Christmas tree!

Highway Christmas tree.  So festive!

 Doing her chores!

 I think that Rich did most of the work!

 Snowball fight!

 Baby & Grandma

 Rudolph?!? Dasher?!Vixen?!? NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

 Beautiful day to play

 Time to check on the chickens

 More snow!

 Let's get them their breakfast

 Bok! Bok! Bok!

 Time to sled!  
(in a garbage can lid!)
Watch out kitty!

Playing with daddy!

 Long walk to the mailbox

I love snow!

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas Day

This morning, we got up bright and early to drive out to Grandma Cathy's house to OPEN PRESENTS! Luckily, Santa knew where we would be, so he filled our stockings and dropped off our presents there on Christmas Eve. Uncle Jake and Uncle Ben were there along with Grandpa Rich from our Brown/Oakley side of the family. It was a very Frozen Christmas, much to the delight of Kylie-zinha!

 Winky-Blinky had to go potty before she headed back to the North Pole, 
and she pooped out a candy cane!

 I'll never "let it go!"

 What is it?

 Is that Kylie, or Queen Elsa?!?

 Playing her new piano! 
*Thanks* Grandma!

In our three part Christmas Marathon, we spent the day after Christmas with Grandpa Ed, Grandma Lynn and the Kowitz's side of the family. We had so much fun that I forgot to take any pictures, except one!

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Ugly Sweater, Gun-toting, Target Shooting, Redneck Christmas Eve

The title of this post pretty much sums up our night!

We had such a fun Christmas Eve with our Matney side of the family. As is becoming tradition, we started off the festivities with a good ol' fashion shootin' contest, which consisted of trap shooting, hand gun target practice and a final rifle shot at long range. I got third place overall, which I was pretty happy about since this was only my second time shooting a gun (other than my years of practice with Duck Hunt on Nintendo!). Santa came and brought Kylie a much requested Elmo toy, and much fun was had by all!

 Ready to party in our ugly sweaters!

 An adorable whirligig!

 Casey firing his homemade cannon....BOOM!

 What do you shoot out of a homemade cannon?
Beer cans filled with concrete, of course!

 Grandma Julie....ready...aim...

 FIRE!

 Sharpshooter Grandpa Ron

 My turn at trap shooting

 Next up is Autumn!

 Hand gun target practice was my best event! 10 points!

Third place!

 HO! HO! HO!

 Kylie and Ms. Vivian!