This is the post you've been waiting for and I've been partially dreading.  Let's face it, no one wants their trip to end. 

To me, Brazil was something I thought I HAD to do.  I HAD to take my kids and husband there for the first time, I HAD to catch up with old friends and family.  I HAD to show my family where my roots were.  One thing that I didn't think Brazil would be is a place that I had missed so much.

 I knew I missed the people there, but what I didn't know is that I actually missed the country, the weather, the crazy life.  This post is less about sights and more about home.  For the first two weeks I was in Brazil, and for the last week, I was home.  

My home town is Curitiba and here are the shots that I got there:

Here's the place where Hildi's house used to be.  So you see, my husband has roots in Brazil too!  In fact, it's a miracle we're not related.  No, really, we're NOT related! (and even if we were, too late to find out now, our kids have been born each with ONE head and no tails, so we're good...)

Then we went to my Uncles' farm: strawberries, beans and ... yes, goats.

 So good to see you, Tio Daniel...  

The kids loved playing with Chocolate,

Tio Pedro looking out at the strawberries:

Sabrina loved eating straight out of the fields:

 The kids' fear of goats slowly diminished. 

 Hmmm, things you do on dirt roads in foreign countries:

We went to visit my old elementary school together.  Notice my crazy hair: the one and only reason why I couldn't live there again! 

Standing with my old science teacher close to the cafeteria:

20 year reunion with high school girlfriends, missing a few, most importantly my best friend, Rossane.  Girl, we MUST schedule a trip down there together one of these days!

Left to right: Dani, Noeliza, Gi, Cintia, Bianca and me. 

We went to the zoo and this picture tells the whole story between my kids and Mathias, my cousin who is Gabriela's age.  The trio was always goofing off, though they didn't speak the same language.  Oh, to be kids!  On the right, Emilia, a fictional character from my childhood sells balloons to the kids.   

The next day we took an amazing train trip down the mountain, from Curitiba to Morretes.  It's a historic trip, beautiful and HOT!

Here's some of the scenery along the way:

That's it folks.  I have 1300 more images, but if you want to see them you'll have to come on over!

Or just stay tuned for the next edition: 2012!! 

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Just say it.  You've been waiting for this blog post more than any other!

So here it is.  These are the shoes I got in Brazil. Go ahead and weep!

However, the sad part is that no matter how cute they are, this is what it looks like when I wear them here, at this time of year...  and actually for most of the year, right?

Boo-hoo, poor me! 

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Before I show you more pictures of this amazing trip, I need to tell you that it's absolutely surreal for me to be here, 20 years after I moved to Canada... And now that I'm in the south, where I lived for most of my Brazilian life, it's great to be able to introduce my kids to so many of my relatives and very dear friends.

On to the pictures!

The first one is the market in Fortaleza, where you can buy just about anything local, from paintings to homemade candies, dresses and SHOES!

Here the girls are enjoying pasteis at that market.  Hmmm, so good!

Now, take a plane for 5 hours and land in Curitiba, then take a drive to the beach!  My childhood friend, Ciro, picked us up, took us to an amazing Churrascaria (Brazilian Steak House) and then drove us to my parents' condo at the beach in Itapoa.  Thank you Ciro, we appreciated the ride!

Here's the kids at the beach in Itapoa:

 Here I was trying to get a shot of my parents, but then a wave came and swept my mom right under!

 Here's my little sunshine.  Her front tooth was loose so she could hardly manage to eat the corn!

Here's Tante Rosi, who hooked up my parents with the condo that they bought:

Here's a couple of shots of our parents together!

We did a lot of Boogie Boarding or Body Surfing, whatever you call it:

My mom and the girls:

Something to remember:

Waiting for the right wave:

The daily ritual:

Mr Hot Stuff:

 Ice Cream Ice Cream ALL THE TIME!

I love this shot:

Acro on the beach:

 Corn on the beach every day:

And for those who really wanted to see me in the pictures, here you go.  No I didn't wear my brazilian bikini that day.  I just knew better:

 After the kids were sick and tired of the ocean we'd head back to the condo and go in the pool till dark.

We headed out for dinner in Guaratuba one night and got my parents to babysit.   Jascha made a new friend that spoke his language:

The view from that restaurant:

Jascha had a meeting every day:

Sabrina left something for the Brazilian tooth fairy.  Her sister is the one who pulled it out.

 Then on Sunday my oldest friend from school, Ciro, and his family came to spend the day at the beach with us.  The girls got along so good you'd think they could understand each other:

And this is the view from our tent that will be forever burned in my mind:

And ladies brace yourselves, here he is, wearing speedos:

That's it for now folks, stay tuned for more!

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I'm just so happy to have found a place with good internet in this country that I'm just going to post my images here in no particular order so you all can see it.

This place is called Cumbuco Beach and it's famous for kitesurfing due to the crazy high winds.  It was my kids' first look at the sea and they were blown away.

Their first go at sand castles

Sunset walk 

 Our resort on the left and the obvious on the right

 My kids first taste of REAL tropical fruit!

 This was me doing hot yoga on the beach.  Jascha snuck behind me but I only brought my wide angle lens so I don't really have a close up.  Whew!

 The kids riding horses (and donkeys) on the beach.  Sabrina fell in love with pipoca the donkey.

 We rented a dune buggy and went for a ride along the water.

 The kids behind the dune buggy.

 I love these shots!

 Tiny crab.

 The kids would do this all day...

Love love love!

 Jascha driving the dune buggy.

 Caves at Taiba beach.

 The two bodies behind the girls are Jascha and his dad.

 I gotta learn this!

 Sand crab.

 Sabrina taking a picture of our guide holding a crab.

 Jascha doing the "Jacare"

That's it folks.  Stay tuned for more next week!

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Last weekend was The Wonderful Wedding Show at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.  The W List Photographers and Videographer had a booth together with Madeline's Weddings .  Here's some of the shots that we took.  Actually Madeline and Josh Sousa took these pictures os us.

Left to Right:  Manny, Jeremy, Joel, Trevor, Don, Lori (McNeill Videography) & Me. 

Thanks for stopping by our booth!  I still have some 2010 dates available, though very few and 2011 is starting to book up as well, so make sure to contact me for Wedding Photography in Winnipeg or abroad!

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Wow, as I look back at my blog I realize I have really taken my "holidays" seriously... No updates since Christmas, except for my tweets...

Life has been very good and busy enough but not crazy, however that's all about to change, with the Wonderful Wedding Show just around the corner!

Please stop in to say hi - I'll be hanging out at The W List booth - back end of the room.  I still have some 2010 dates open and I'll be excited to meet with you!

 Stay tuned here for a blog post of how our booth looks and other stories from the show...

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Ok, not "Gangsters" but pretty darn close.  

They travel in packs wherever the roads may take them. They haven't got a worry in the world (no worries that are large enough to cramp their style anyway).  And if the road is paved, they're on it.

So when my mother in law, Hildi, asked me to photograph them, I was happy to oblige.  After all, we'll never be able to repay the amount of help they give us, babysitting the girls when my husband and I decide to go globetrotting.

However, here's what I wasn't prepared for: the smooching.

I'm not stupid, I know they smooch.  But I warn you if you're part of my family: there's a whole lotta smooching going on here.  If you can't handle it (Robert), then don't look.  

In any case, enough talking for now:

Hello!

I just love this one:

And there you go:

Dad requested this one, and I love how he just stood there admiring his beauty and his beast. 

 Nice!

Now, can you believe her?  Hot stuff eh?  

Dad, you need this one for your office!  A big huge copy of it.

Now, this is what I was talking about.  Usually I have to ask my couples to do this.  For them, I had to ask them to please STOP doing it!

I just ABSOLUTELY love this one:

Mom asked me to do something to this effect:

Dad wanted his hog all alone for a shot:

A nicely behaved one:

Thanks Mom and Dad for letting me capture you two in 2009.  Looking great and loving each other just as much if not more than ever.

It's great to see, even if it grosses me out a little!  

Much love! 

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For friends and family of the couple, please click here to be notified when their images go live online (oh and receive a $5 credit!)

I love weddings like this one.  Relaxed evening events, with classy decorations and a gorgeous couple!  Tina was radiant and Ken couldn't take his eyes off of her.

The decorations were out of this world!  And though the venue was incredible all on its own, Emma's team took it to the next level!  Events by Emma was in charge of the decoration for the Conservatory and I was completely blown away.

Here's just a few of the many images I got that night:

During the ceremony, though very entertaining, it was also very emotional.

Now look at this beauty!

We managed to head outside for a few minutes too...

And yes, it was November.  Can you believe it?

Thank you Ken and Tina for the awesome night and I wish you many wonderful years together!

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Oh, they're in love and sooo gorgeous!

I know you think I say that to everyone. But aren't they?

Sylvie lives out in St Pierre and I was so happy when she told me that she wanted to do her engagement pictures out there.  I love going to new places, specially out in the country, in the fall.  Lucky for them we're having a long, warm fall... And lucky for me, they're photogenic and amazing to work with.

Thanks guys, can't wait till the wedding!

 I call these "Dancing in the Light"...

Chris was bent on swinging higher than Sylvie...  Sometimes I got a shot like this:

But most of the shots were like this: ;)

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Technically, this wasn't in Winnipeg.  Just outside Winnipeg, past Headingley, in a gorgeous park with trails and trees and water...

I'm such a romantic.  But so are these two!  Leanora and Jared chose me to photograph their wedding next year and I'm thinking we'll have a blast and as a bonus end up with amazing images!  Leanora HAS to be a supermodel in her spare time... I'm sure of it!  And Jared, though you're not so bad yourself, you are definitely one lucky man!

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