Mattie Poo: Back in the States

Our dearest peach, Mattie Poo Pie, has once again delighted us with his presence!  He came to stay with us from Switzerland for just under a week, see the Buckeyes, and enjoy some good old catch up time with one of his best buds, Brian.

Mattie Poo is a special guy in our household.  When Brian took a job in Scotland in 2006, he moved there not knowing a single person, other than the one who hired him.  Mattie Poo offered Brian a place to stay in his flat.  They introduced each other to their respective countries and traditions.  They became the best of friends.  And the rest is history.

Sometimes when I see these two together it is like the are long lost brothers... Naturally, Mattie Poo fits right in with all of us girls too!  Kate adored having Mattie Poo Pie here with us and once she heard his nickname, there was no turning back!  We heard shouts of it throughout the entire time he was here!  And when he visited Brian's brother, Mike, and Mike's family in New Jersey shortly after he came to visit us, they adopted his nickname quite quickly too!

We were so happy to have Mattie Poo here!  To entertain us, to enjoy all of our massive plates of food, to see the Buckeyes, and to just catch up with a best friend.  We did a lot while he was here, so here is the quick version!

First stop: Brian took Matt to Ohio Stadium.
While in Scotland, Brian's love of the Buckeyes
bled into the heart and soul of Mattie Poo.  He is a
true fan, and I think the Buckeyes were the main
reason for his visit!

Mattie enjoys some Sofia the First with Kate after
her bath!  She was enamored with Matthew!

American burgers...

While Matt and Brian were recovering on Sunday morning from the Buckeye game the night before, I took Kate and Maya to Sky Zone to get our jump on!

She's a jumpin' fool!

And a tumblin' fool!

Getting her bounce on:

Conquering the foam pit with NO FEAR:

That face says it all!

Foam pit fun!

Dodge ball fun!

Maya's not entirely sure what to think of this place.
She and I sat on the sidelines!

Also, I feel like I look like I'm 14 years old in this
photo.  Must be the angle and the lighting.
Look at me!  Taking a selfie at my first baby
sitting gig!!!

Later that afternoon, Kate was doing some marshmallow crafting and Mattie Poo and Daddy were very interested!

Mattie Poo Pie is the best!

Marshmallowing a ghost!

Pause for the pumpkin.  Taste test...

Daddy was so intrigued so I made him a spider.

He is so proud of his work...

On Monday, Brian had to work, so Kate, Maya, and I took Mattie Poo to the zoo!  He loved it!  And it was a Monday so we more or less had the place to ourselves!!!

Riding the train in North America!

Feeding giraffes!

Checking out the polar bear!

And the brown bear!  These bears were massive!

Riding the carousel with Mattie!

She picked him to go with her.

I'd say it was a huge success!

Showing Mattie Poo the enormous playground and
running back to the entrance to get back to the top
of the green slide!

And, of course, our stop at the bronze kimono dragon
with a little sit on it's head...

On Monday night, Brian and Matt headed out to see one of Matt's favorite bands, The Maccabees.  The Maccabees are a lot more popular in the UK and Europe, so seeing them in this intimate setting was incredible...according to Matt!

They even met the lead on the left!  Aka, Matt's man crush.

At the end of Matt's visit, we all didn't want him to leave.  We are 100% fine with a live in house guest like him!  We love you, Mattie Poo, and hope to see you soon!  Thanks for making the trek!!!

These two were best buds!

Brazil

My husband.  Let me tell you one more thing about my husband: he has had some pretty incredible opportunities in his life because of his hard work and networking and he continues to amaze me each and every day with new stories and latest adventures.

This one is no different.

When Brian found out that the 2014 World Cup would be held in Brazil, he was ecstatic.   Like I mentioned, attending a World Cup Final was apparently on his so called bucket list.  (So was attending a Super Bowl Final which he did in 2012, for the record!)

The World Cup Final being held in Brazil meant that was a feasible destination that Brian could get to.  He was getting to Brazil one way or another!  We had originally talked about making Brazil a family trip.  And then we heard stories and learned about rioting and fighting and shots for malaria and hepatitis, and we decided that we had better save Brazil as a family trip for another time.  After all, Brazil IS still considered a third world country and while there are many, many great things about Brazil, there are still third world problems that way bigger than we can even comprehend.

Saving Brazil as our family trip for another time was our good decision, but Brian was still 100% committed and if there ever was a chance to go to a World Cup Final, this was his.

The stars aligned perfectly.  Flights were books, tickets were purchased, lodging was arranged, activities were planned, and Brian found himself in Brazil...on his 38th birthday...attending the World Cup Final. Germany would go on to win against Argentina 1-0 but the experience in and of itself was one of a lifetime.

Trust me, I wasn't even there and I know how much this meant to Brian.  And, knowing Brian, he had everything planned to perfection.  Brian met up with a friend that he knew that lives in Brazil.  He went to dinner with him and his family and had a personal tour guide take him around. He visited Christ the Redeemer and the infamous Copacabana beach, met famous people, took a Favela tour, met up with another great friend, Matthew, and attended the World Cup Final.

My words won't do his experience justice, but some of the photos that he took are so moving and so thought provoking that I had to share [some of] his story through images.

View from the first night's lodging!

And that, my friends, is Copacabana beach right below!

Christ the Redeemer is on the top of Corcovado Mountain -
the third "hump" from the left...and straight on til morning.
(Just kidding!  I had to throw that last bit in!)

Fuleco - the World Cup 2014 mascot.

Famous hotel on Copacabana Beach.

Entrance into Fan Fest on Copacabana Beach
in Rio de Janeiro.

Pre-game before semi-final.  Brian apparently didn't get the memo...

The BIG screen for the semi-final game.

The atmosphere was amazing because of the fans!

Sand art!

This will go down in history!

FIFA Fan Fest fans!

View to fan fest.

Team USA's Clint Dempsey...

...on the wall that told the story.

Brazilian flag at Rocinha - the famous favela.

Inside Rocinha.

Rocinha street soccer.

This is real life.

Favela view.

Favela decor.

Favela residents get electricity by
"borrowing" it from the city.

Looking up at Rocinho.

This place is unreal.

Brian met Ronaldo - a very famous Brazilian soccer player.

Brian also met Wyclef Jean...

And Carlos Santana...

Argentina team pulling into the hotel prior to the final!

Tickets in hand!  It's official!

The famous Maracana stadium!

¡Increíble!

World Cup robots!

The pitch.

History, my friends.  History!

Brian's seat mate: Daniella - an Argentina fan!

And on the other side, Sebastian - a Germany fan!

The World Cup trophy awaits its victor!

Honoring each team's national anthems!

The stadium.

The fans!

Team Germany - the Champions!

The wall in the works...

...now has a story that has ended.  Compliments of
pictured arteest!

This trip was the epitome of Brian doing his thing, working with the contacts he has, and pulling together an experience of a lifetime.  I am so happy that Brian was able to pull something so incredible off.  It meant the world to him to be there and I know it will be another experience that he will never forget!

There is never a dull moment with Brian Hendricks by your side!