Brazil Needs Change

Even though we have moved back to the US I still feel connected to Brazil. I enjoy keeping up with the news and future events that are going to be held in the coming months and years. Nate and I have always talked about how amazing the country could be and the potential makes you sick when you see it first hand. One of the most beautiful places you could ever visit but the effort put into the country doesn't match the physical beauty.

Check out the video below to see that riots are now happening to hopefully make some changes! I am interested to see how far this will go and if anything will change as a result.

Sara

Busy Bee

We just finished a weekend garage sale and we are all exhausted! The neighborhood decided to pull together and make a huge garage sale.

All the kids ran around from house to house as we struggled to stave off heat exhaustion. By the end of it all everyone had decided that march would have been a better time to do this!

Despite the heat all of us managed to sell almost everything!!! Success :)

Now we are gearing up for a little get away while my family watches Belle! I am super excited to spend a few days with Nate and happy for Belle to bond even more with my mom and dad. Maybe she will finally say Grandma correctly?!

Sara

Picasso

I am trying to bring out Belles creative side without being to crazy messy!

Water colors are perfect! We learn colors and we get to be creative. Right now she loves it and its the first thing she wants to do in the morning.

We head outside, her with juice and me with coffee and start painting! I love it :)

She just amazes me everyday! Love this kid!

Sara

Fun in the Sun

Lately we have been outside as much as possible and in the water as much as possible! Each day we meet new friends and find more things to do!! This summer is really proving to be the best yet!

Sara

Cleaning

We closed on the house March 11 and it's not even June yet and I am sick of cleaning! Toilets mostly and I am sure you can guess why. I mean, who loves cleaning a nasty toilet?

I do have to say that transitioning from my house being super clean ALL the time to it being clean most of the time is challenging. I feel the stress to constantly clean because that is what I have become accustom to the past three and a half years! I miss Claudia and Rosa!!

For example I had in my head that I would only have to dust the house once a week. WRONG. I don't do it more than once but a few days after I do dust it's already collecting on everything. It annoys me!

The dishes are never ending as well as the laundry. I find that I don't like unloading the dish washer so much that I will hand wash the dirty dishes before unloading the clean ones to make room for the dirty. I also dislike putting laundry away. It usually gets done in a mad dash right before Nate comes home otherwise I would let it sit on the couch forever!

My favorite cleaning activity is vacuuming and I do it probably three times a week for the entire house. Baseboards, windows, blinds, and the refrigerator are clean when I see it dirty. For example, yesterday I found chalk all over the wall and baseboards so the walls got cleaned and the baseboards with the Magic Eraser sponge. If you have kids and don't use this device you are working too hard! This thing gets everything!

Hopefully once all the boxes are unpacked and random things have homes then the house will just appear cleaner. Right?

Sara

Day in Belles Shoes

I only missed the water balloon party.... Lets just say she had a great day :)

Sara

Memorial Day

What can I say? I love my new neighborhood! I might be able to assume Belle does too since she always asks to go play with friends!

Here is most of the cru playing in the water on Memorial Day. This summer is going to be filled with lots of outdoor activities and I love it!

Looking forward to all the random get togethers and summer nights. It feels good to be home.

Sara

Fast Update

I am currently sitting with a cup of coffee and listening to the birds chirp outside my window. In the distance I faintly hear a lawn mower and I think to myself, "how perfect" this day is starting. Then I hear, "mom? mommmy?" coming from Belles room and I really say this day IS perfect. (All this really happened- I can't make this up!)

I know it sounds cliche but I have been waiting for this moment to fall into place. Each day at home with Belle becomes easier and more fun. She is becoming such a wonderful little girl. I am sure you all know that I had a rough time with her as an infant but now I can honestly say this is our time to shine! Most people are talking about the terrible two's right now and as frustrating and stubborn as she can be it also doesn't wear me out!

The house is coming together slowly and it's sort of overwhelming to decorate an entire house! Especially when you lack in the artistic department :) I thought it would be easy since we don't have very much. I could just look at a magazine and then bam... the house would be decorated and featured in Home and Garden magazine. Wrong.

In my life I guess I am always having to eat my words but to be fair at least I try right?

Sara

Destin

We are alive and well! Just had a mini vacation in Destin FL!

Belle was in love with the beach and waves. It was neat to see her remember the ocean!

Longer post will come when I finish the laundry :)

Sara

Tulsa

We woke Belle up early and made the 5 hr drive to Tulsa. Nate had to work and then his sister graduates from OSU Saturday. We thought we would come and hang out the week :)

So far things are going great! Colson and Belle are catching up nicely already!