Christmas down south. Way down south.

We've been playing up the "Christmas in the southern hemisphere" with the girls for a while.  "Christmas in the SUMMER?!?!?!  Can you believe it?"  Unfortunately, the weather isn't exactly cooperating.  It's been rainy and gray and chilly outside almost every day since we got back from Florianopolis.  It's not as cold as I hear it's been back in Georgia, and not nearly as cold as Milwaukee, but it's been as chilly as it's been for many of our Georgia Christmases. 

Some people, when they hear we're in Brazil, probably picture us in this nice tropical weather, getting sun tans and frolicking.  Or something.  The reality is, this is what it's looked like for the past 2 weeks.

We have had a few nice sunny - even hot- days in the past week or so, so we've gone out on the town to do some shopping and to look at the decorations.

The tree below is made entirely out of plastic 2 liter soda bottles.

 This one is made out of live potted plants.

We went through the shopping mall the other day, where we did see evidence of the whole opposite season thing.  A display of poinsettias and bunnies.  Not a combination you see a lot in the states, and a reminder that it's the end of spring down here.

And ducks, too.

On the way back from the mall, the girls were excited to look out at all the lights on the buildings.  They haven't seen many because, as Mac observed, you have a lot less time to look at Christmas lights down here, since it doesn't get dark until almost 9.  

Here's a pic of Papai Noel (Santa) as he seems to be shown a lot around here - climbing a ladder.  I'm trying to think back, but I don't think I've seen any reindeer or sleighs around at all. 

The other day Lily asked me if Santa used capybara dusted with pixie dust to pull his sleigh in Brazil, since there aren't any reindeer in the Southern hemisphere.  I told her that I honestly didn't know.

We've been getting ready for Christmas in our apartment as well.  We've got a tree.  Here's what it looked like after the girls decorated it with their animals.  Everyone needs puppies and dinosaurs on their Christmas tree, don't ya think?  Oh, and monkeys.  Definitely monkeys.

The stockings were hung by the...um, bar...with care.

And we have our own snow.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season!