The United States of America

That's where we are!! We arrived in Missouri at 10:30 this morning! It's good yet strange to be back. I'm definitely missing Africa and everyone there, but I'm glad to see Grandma and Uncle Don, Aunt Penny and Anna, and Lord willing some of my other friends soon. 

I'm sorry this update isn't very long, but I'm wiped out! (It's 1:50pm as I type this, but in Mozambique it's 8:50pm... bed time :) ) So, after I get some rest I will update again. Just wanted to let everyone know we arrived safely, soundly, and tiredly, but happy nonetheless :) 

Thanks for all your prayers for us!!!

Olympia Randoms

Watching the Olympics in Mozambique is quite the adventure in itself!! When Dad came back from the States he brought back something that will connect to the computer that way we can get the channels of the country we're in. Here in Mozambique that would be two channels :) We were thrilled that one of the channels had the Olympics! We got to watch the opening ceremony. Although it was rather different. First they muted everything that was going on in the background (The drummers, and something else) and were just talking (In Portuguese). Then when they un-muted it they were still talking. I'm guessing they were sharing the same studio as some British person because while a lil' Chinese girl was singing and they were talking over her, the British lady says, "Can you please stop talking! We're trying to hear the little girl!" Haha, we were thankful! So the commentators stopped talking for a while and we could hear the British commentators in the background! English! YEAH! So refreshing! Anyways, because there is only one channel covering the Olympics, they only put certain stuff on. And since we are in Africa, they put on the stuff that Africans are in, at least that is how it has been seeming. So there has been a lot of weight lifting, judo, boxing, and basketball. I never watched any of those when we watched the Olympics in the States. So, it's been sad not getting to see swimming and gymnastics :( But such is life in Mozambique :) It's also sad cause a lot of the sports they do show no Americans are in, and it's sad not getting to cheer for my country! But I must say, I am SO thankful for the internet! At least I can read about who won such and such. I remember four years ago, Damarise and I were cheering Michael Phelps on, and it's been amazing to hear about all the world records he's been breaking and the gold medals he's won! Wow!! Go U.S.A!

Also, before I close, here are some cool facts and fun stuff from the Olympics:

1. Do you know why the Olympic ring are coloured such? I never knew this, but this is so cool! Every flag in the world has at least one or more of the colours on the rings! How neat is that?

2. Speaking of flags... it's been fun to see all the flags from each country. I love flags. In Portugal we had a map above our table in our living room and at the bottom of it it had the flags from every country. I loved staring at it and seeing what flags belonged to what countries. Then I did geography and learned all the flags. All that to say it's been fun seeing people from all the countries with the neat flags. :)

Well, that is all I can think of now. (I though I had more, but oh well.) I hope you all are having fun watching the Olympics! Yeah! Three cheers for team U.S.A!

Fourth of July!

The Fourth of July was a wonderful day! :) In every single way! :) We started off the day by singing all the American songs we could think of at breakfast :) Like, our national anthem, "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country Tis of Thee" and I think that's it :) It definitely made everyone feel more patriotic through out the day :) After breakfast we painted nails and got out the water paints :)

Aunt Julie did her own nails! Wow! Don't they look amazing?!

I painted Gracie's face... Hmm it was supposed to be a star... but..  it looked more like a star fish;) hehe..

And Gracie did mine... Now she did one amazin' looking star!!!

We love our country!!! :D

Hehe, then in the afternoon we were all gonna go to the Maddux house for a 4th of July party. So Gracie and Sarah went to work on a strawberry (box mix!!) cake :) Mmmm...

And the icing!!! :D Yum!

Then Gracie painted Andrew's face... she did an amazing job drawing the US on his cheek!

And Sarah drew on lil' Andrew's face! Great flag, Sarah!

Bethy and Damarise put the icing on the cake... and I put the sprinkles on :)

Ta da!

Andrew loves the icing!

The cake in all it's patriotism! :)

And that's how I looked on the 4th of July :)

And Gracie :) Cute cute!

Aunt Julie wrote God Bless USA on Benaiah's cheek. 

And Damarise and Bethy decorated my feet :) hehe.. Thanks guys!

And my hand ... although it came off when I washed it...

Aunt Julie making tortillas ... And her apron is patriotic too! Wow! :)

Then I got to draw stripes on Bethy and Damarise's faces.

:) Andrew, Sarah, Gracie, Ian, Benaiah, and Lil' Andrew had all gone to the Maddux earlier. So, later on Damarise, Bethy, Kent, Aunt Julie and I went :)

Playing a water balloon type volleyball type thing?! :)

Damarise, Bethy and I hung out with the lil' Roger kids :) fun fun!

Aw! :)

Asher and Renata! Aren't the CUTE!

Lil' Andrew popped a balloon on himself... and his paint started to run run run...

It's three Andrews!!!!!! (and Sylvia ;) )

The American Flag! :D 

Gracie's nails! (look at how long they are!!! Wooo Hooo!)

Damarise and Kent getting ready to play horse shoes!

Speaking of shoes... ;)

Aw! I love you both!

Sylvia and Sarah!

Aw! Esther!  So patriotic looking :)

Cute!

All the American teen girls here :)

Damarise rocked at horse shoes! She horse shoed the pole at least 3 times! wow!

While Kent, Damarise, Bethy and I (Andrew I. for part of the time too) played horse shoes, the other kids played Spud:)

All the kids :)

The sun setting :)

So we decided to head on home..

People were going crazy with the camera ;)

Aw!

We came home to a wonderful dinner :) Like every night! :) :)  And watched "Alvin and the Chipmunks" :)

And that was our Fourth of July :) It was a wonderful day... in every way :)