6 years ago...and 20 hours of labor

Little George Eugene Stewart arrived! March 27th, 2003. George, you were a big boy, 8lbs 15 ounces!!! Had to stay a few days in NICU, but when you came home, your butter-cube colored room was there to greet you, with a 'stars and moon' theme (didn't know you were going to be a boy yet), your other decor quickly became Curious George...and today, you live up to that name!

What a joy you are George! The Lord has richly blessed our lives with you! You have never been a dull kid, and I believe God has great things planned for your strong-willed ways...just keep listening to your wise mom and dad!!! With you, there is always an adventure going on, something cooking inside that head of yours, thinking and planning your next idea, caring and loving your brother Finn, out catching bugs or lizards, running barefoot and finding your friends while riding your ultra green bike.

Living in Brazil has opened your eyes to a needy world, you see kids sleeping on the streets, and fingerless men begging, and you want to help. Just like Jesus did. Keep your heart sensitive to what Jesus wants for you...even in Kindergarten.

George chose a Woody the Woodpecker themed party...that bird is alive and well here in Brazil! We had the gathering at the pool, compete with water balloons, too much pop, lots of kids and little woody the woodpecker flags in sub sandwiches!

Come on flying Finn...time for cake! Homemade cupcakes and frosting, took 2 days to make it, and minutes for it to melt. But...they were GOOD! George's first birthday being sung to in 2 languages!

Gifts from the grandparents living in the US came ON TIME! They both shipped them in January, took about 2 months to get here. But...they were here!!! Great party, and those 3 hours were the only rain-free hours of the day!

Here are a few more pics I have been wanting to post:

Here's a pic from the latest Fun Night fund raiser here at school, it was a Disney Dress-up theme. I hear Hulk is to be casted in High school musical 8. Stew had a sign that read, "Grow-up Pinocchio. I'm not a puppet, I'm a real man!" Finn and I were home, sick. I hate missing out on fun things...rats!

Found Finn working on his motorbike the other day. This thing has gone through about 3 other MK's here, about time someone worked on it.

George and his beloved tadpoles. As soon as they become young frogs, they are on his cars, passengers on his little airplanes or living in the Lego land he made. "Why do they always die, mom?" Don't know son.....

Finn hanging out with some boys in a neighboring town...he didn't want to go home.

Ahhh yes, just when I thought my yearbook pictures were over, Finn and I have one taken for the Amazon Valley Yearbook!

finn's training days

Finn has had a horrible rash on his bum; I am talking bright red, swollen, blisters...all over. Must be the tropical heat combined with the diapers and such. So, we have tried 8 different creams and ointments, have switched to the Brazilian day time washable diaper and have brought out the little Brazilian potty. Here was Finn's first response:

i'm hanging for the first time

So we made it to Brazil, our new home (this pic is in Miami during our layover). Two days of travel, arriving with no luggage, and a humidity that will make the shortest of hair curl! Once our luggage did come, all 2 dozen pieces...I figured out a few things.

• I cannot read portuguese


• I have no idea what to feed my family with (beyond store bough coconut cookies and little bananas)


• I have never hung laundry before


• Kids help you get to the front of the line


• "220" on an outlet does not stand for a Phil Keaggy album


• Toaster glow and burst into blames when plugged into the 220 outlet


• Driving is an extreme sport

So, once I came to the conclusion that I need help with the basics of life, I asked the Lord for some serious grace, humility and patience.

I now know:

• Fire ants have short tempers...and enjoy their title


• Teenagers are the same everywhere (our house got TP'd the 3rd night here)


• Envelopes will seal themselves


• Just sweat and be happy


• Veggies and fruit are to be soaked in vinegar before eating


• Can't flush TP, the little trash can isn't just for ladies anymore


• Paper gets moist and wavy just sitting there


• Unplug everything when not using it


• The words for coconut and poop are the same, just with a slightly different tone...wonderful!


• This is where the Lord wants me right now!!!!

So this morning, after dropping George off at school (a 1/2 mile walk or so) I came home to make something and now feel like we will survive. Granola! I found (with LOTS of help) ground flax seed, whole oats, EVOOil, unsweet coconut, soy granuals, and honey!!! Yippeee...I can cook!!! On the menu tonite...GRANOLA!!!!

To see our family blog and its pictures, just click here

My 2 milk choices...

The variety of fruit...can you find the avacado?? Notice the outlet...uh...duck tape was put there by me, litte reminder!

mid march

"Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

March days are here, and so is the fresh air (still a bit cold) a desire to clean and purge, and my toes wanting air. Visas are said to be on their way to us March 25th, we'll soon see! If that's the case, we'll depart April 14th.

God has our absolute best in store...no worries!

The guys hiking around. George actually brought a sketchbook and a pen for the purpose of doing some work out on the trail...

...see

brave susie

The other day, Susie came over and we played make-up! She actually let me put it on her face!!! And even better...it turned out fabulous! Not hard to do when you are as cute as she is. We did more browns, greens and creams on her, as they look great with her skin tones and with her style. My neighbor Megan gave me a steal on her Mary Kay, mucho thanks!

The boys working on Valentines. George's first year of signing his name, he has 31 cards to practice on!

Tons and heaps of snow

This is the view from my kitchen window, as I wash dishes, make meals, clean the crust out of things, etc. Here are the boys playing with the neighbor boy, Austin.


















We have some

family similarities...



Me and my
baking partner!


















Its been snowing here like mad...I mean, we are past 2 feet, and rising! Schools were cancelled for the week, ideal for any student of any age. I feel like a kid again when the news flashes, "District 81-CLOSED" at the bottom of the screen...YIPPEEE!!!! Oh wait, I am the mom now. I have responsiblities, I have to drive in this, get food for my family, run to the bank, go to the gym, but fear-not...I have a Subaru...YIPPPEEEE!!!!