You have been warned

While (finally) unpacking my suitcase from Brazil I came across a CD that my students gave me. Popped it in to my trusty computer and it turns out it is a copy of the slideshow they made for me! They played this during the closing ceremony celebrations and you can bet it turned me in to a teary mess. But the kids were crying more than I was! Even my trouble-maker... go figure :)

And when I arrived to class the last day my students had left me messages on the board. (Possibly with some help from Google translate...) Melt my heart!

Home for the holidays. (and beyond!)

Hard to believe that just a few days ago I was in Brazil playing games, sweating out 20 lbs of water weight per day, and repeatedly dancing "the wobble". 

Now I'm in Nebraska bundled up to my ears, eating 20 lbs of holiday cookies per day, and repeatedly wondering how I got so lucky. 

My time in Brazil was AMAZING, and it was hard to leave the kids. So many goodbyes, so many tears, and so many great memories. But what made leaving just a bit easier was knowing that I was coming home to family, friends, and the holiday season. And coming home with a tan :)

Many more photos and stories from Brazil to come, but until then, a few snapshots of Christmas at the Muegge household. 

Ella is a reindeer! 

 Doesn't every 9 year-old want a jumbo pack of bungee cords? Alex sure does!

 E is doing some holiday grilling 

 Papa and E time

 Story time

 The wouldn't stop moving long enough for me to get a picture with all of the kiddos. Welp, two out of four isn't too bad...

Warm holiday wishes to all you and yours!!

Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley is getting some love from my class, The Champions! What an adventure we both have had. One more day with these lovelies - will be so hard to say goodbye!

Exploring the amazon!

Both this weekend and last our partners in brazil arranged awesome weekend excursions for us. So awesome to be shown these amazing places by the locals who know and love them!

Last weekend we went to Serra do Navio, a town that was booming for its manganese mines, but the mines are no longer functioning.



Swimming in a lake created from the mining.









And on to the river!





This was the view from the inside of our hotel room looking out. Literally





Day 2 we went to one of the abandoned mines.














This weekend brought two river tours! As you can see here, it s a bit humid and my camera lens fogger up...











We found acai palms,


And acai berries,


And Richard learned how to climb a palm tree!


School bus boat!

















Sitting on the deck overlooking the river with a beer, and watching dolphins play! Didn't know they lived in the river!





And our AMAZING tour guide! When you come to Macapa make sure too look him up :)



It is hard to believe we are on our last week here! The time has gone both quickly and slowly at the same time. Each day brings its own challenges but so many more rewards. It was hard enough saying goodbye to our tour guide (who had created an amazing photo slide show for us, by the way), I can't imagine saying goodbye to the kiddos!

Much love from Macapa!

First we visited the zero marker and stood on the equator! We tried to balance an egg, but we were unsuccessful.
























And then we visited the warehouses where they are making the floats for Carnival! Busy tearing apart last year's and making this year's. Each samba school in Macapa competes against each other. These things are HUGE!!

Location:Field trip!