Soaking up the USA

We've been in the US for 2 months now and it's been a really worthwhile time.  Jeyson has been getting a lot out of his training and things are going great!  But there are also a lot of other perks of being here in the US.  Here are a few things I've been soaking up that I've missed in Brazil.

1.  Variety!  

Every single item for sale here has SO, SO, SO, SOOOOO many more options here than in Brazil.  Everything from salad dressings to clothes to ribbon.  There is just SO much more to see and it's so much fun to shop or just check out what exists!  Our cereal selection is seriously about 5 kinds in Brazil.  Not even an exaggeration!  Here...wow...there are no words.  It can be paralyzing...in a fun way!  

2. Windows and porches

In Brazil we have a 10+ foot wall around our whole property so when you sit on your deck or look out a window, there is nothing to see.  Here we love sitting on our porch swing and enjoying a view

3.  American Summer Fun

It's hard to even describe how fun it has been back in America the Beautiful for the fun summer community events.  You'd really have to spend a few years overseas and then come back to really able to really appreciate the safe, fun, free events available here.  It's just not like that everywhere in the world.  We've been soaking it all in.  We kicked it off with the 4th of July and have kept going this summer.  It's really special and sentimental.  

4.  Easy Peasy Laundry!

Seriously I am getting SPOILED to have a dryer!!!  

5.  Favorite Foods

So many favorite foods right there for sale in the supermarket:  fresh mushrooms, asparagus, blueberries, SO many kinds of cheese, sourdough bread, cheerios, blackberries, creamy ice cream in so many varieties, root beer...I could go on and on here!

6.  Places to Bike

Yes, you can ride a bike in Brazil, but the streets are much crazier and so it's not nearly as fun and carefree.  We had some bikes lent to us and Jeyson rides his almost day to the airport.  We just bought a     bike seat for Elijah from a garage sale and soon as his helmet arrives from Amazon.com we're all going to enjoy some fun family biking together.

7.  And last but definitely NOT least....being closer to family

While we don't have any family in Ohio, we still feel SO much closer just being in the same country.  It's so fun to be able to call on a cell phone or get texts, mail letters knowing they'll get there soon (or at all), and knowing we could hop on a plane and visit very quickly if something came up.  SO SO nice.