Iguassu Falls

Sometimes I wonder, who does this kind of stuff?  What in the world?  I never thought I would have opportunities like I do to travel.  Looking back at all of my Brazil pictures, it sometimes feels like a dream.  I remember when I was 14ish, I got to go to Washington DC with a group from school.  That was my first airplane ride.  And it was a big deal!  The world has changed so much in my little lifetime.  I don't even think I could count all the airplane trips I have had now, I can't imagine what it will be like for my kids...

After one night in Florianopolis, we headed back to the airport and flew to Iguassu Falls.  Everything about this leg of the trip was amazing!  I could do one whole post on the hotel we stayed at.  Our hotel was right across the street from the falls.  The falls are in a National Park that is only open certain hours.  Staying in the park had its advantages, we literally had the whole place to ourselves when we got up the next morning to see the falls.  

In Brazil, we came across a beautiful jewelry shop, h.stern, that highlight the gems of Brazil.  There was one in our hotel and we took time to try on some expensive ones, it was fun!  We didn't buy anything, but my mom came away with a beautiful one before the trip was over.

We ate at the buffet for breakfast and dinner.  The desserts were amazing!  That little green dish was pistachio creme brûlée, it was out of this world!  Our hotel offered complimentary Haviannas!  Haviannas are the flip flops of Brazil and they are quite comfortable.

I have so many pictures of the falls, and posting them all wouldn't even do it justice.  They literally just kept going and going!  The rainbows were almost as endless as the falls, it was breathtaking!

Did I mention we had the whole place to ourselves?  We walked out on the boardwalks and were drenched from the mist.  

After we had seen all the falls, we returned back to the hotel for breakfast and then went on a jungle safari/boat ride.  I didn't take my camera on the boat ride because we literally rode up the river in a raft and right into the falls.  The waves in the river are ginormous!  And we got completely drenched!

We saw lots of little creatures and later went to a bird park.  The toucans were amazing!  But the parrots were loud and obnoxious.

We went in October, which is spring in Brazil.  And it must be butterfly season because we saw them everywhere!

Most of the falls are actually in Argentina, but you get a good view from the Brazil side.  We took this at the top of Devil's Throat just before we headed out to catch our flight.  That flag in the background in the Argentina flag.  We got close, but didn't have time to explore the Argentina side.  

Langston Family 2012

Kirk is still working for Venafi and traveling the world!  In what little spare time he has, he enjoys cheering on his boys at their football and basketball games.  He is also a great basketball coach!

Lara is still busy at home.  Actually she is usually in the car hauling everyone around to their practices.  The highlight of her year was traveling to Brazil and seeing her mission after about 15 years!

Jacob (11yrs) helped his football team win a state championship (playing tight end and linebacker) and made the Bingham basketball team for his age group!  He is growing up, but still a kid at heart.

David (11 yrs) is a walking encyclopedia who loves to chat with adults.  He uses this gift to manage a couple of fantasy football teams and lecture his father on how to coach better.  He and Jake have been on the same teams this year.

Ethan's (10 yrs) world is sports!  He thrives under pressure and continues to make huge plays both on the football field and basketball court.  In his free time he likes to watch sports films of his games.

Tyler (8yrs) is the karate kid in this family!  It is his new love.  He was especially excited to get nun chucks this year.  Tyler recently got baptized and was so excited!  He looks forward to playing football next year.