This is the place where we are have documented the road we have walked in order to adopt our four children from Brazil and the road we are now on as a family. We are keenly aware that adopting is not just a process we've chosen to go through, but part of God's plan for us and for our children. May He be glorified through the process and through our family!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

18 November 2009















Though the morning didn't bode very well, with some substantial time outs required even before breakfast, we had a lovely afternoon at the Jardim Botanico. We had been hoping to go to the Zoo in the afternoon with the other American family here in Curitiba adopting 5, however they had some prior engagements. Instead we're going to the Zoo tomorrow with that family and the Canadian family adopting 3! (Regardless of the animals, I think that means we're bringing our own zoo, with 12 children between the ages of 2 and 12! Stay tuned for that blog entry!)

At lunch, we told the kids that we wouldn't be going to the zoo but, but instead of letting them vote or choose what they wanted to do, we told them we had a surprise. While Mae and the kids went up to the room to get ready to go (several of them have to get dressed in "going out" clothes before they're willing to be seen in public), Pai got directions from the hotel reception to the Jardim Botanico, which involved two busses. We're starting to get the hang of the bus system, so today's 35-40 minute bus ride on two different busses hopefully is a trial run for the longer trip to the Zoo tomorrow. They may have had suspicions, but they didn't realize where we were going until we got off the bus at the Jardim Botanico stop.

The garden was beautiful and extremely well-kept (we love the grass here), but was reasonably small and didn't have a whole lot of activities. Even so, we managed to stay there for probably more than an hour and a half walking around. The hit of the trip was piggyback riding and throwing things at ducks and pigeons (we put a stop to that second one). The kids liked being outside and in open space they could run around in. We told them they had to be able to see and hear us at all times, and that worked pretty well. Also, the garden has a nice "Sensory Garden" where they exhibit a number of plants that are meant to be smelled and touched. That was pretty cool and the kids liked that, I think.

We returned from the Jardim in time for dinner and a movie and some play time with some friends. Overall, a pretty good day.

2 comments:

Sherry Austin said...

I'm gettin' spoiled, y'all! You're going to have to keep up these pictures and little rundowns of the day 'cause I'm countin' on 'em!

Pat & Heather said...

Beautiful pictures as always! The one of Kim with Brayan next to the statue was the best though!! =)
Heather