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.  

Finding our Rhythm

Things are going great as we settle in to small town Ohio.  Elijah and I got home form AZ about two weeks ago but dealt with an ear infection and fevers for Elijah all last week, so this week was the first that we all feel settled into our routine.  Culture here in rural Ohio is quite different than Brazil, but we're enjoying it and soaking up all the local fun!

Parade through the main strip of town

Tractor show in town

A local Amish petting zoo

 Jeyson has really really been enjoying working around the hangar.  He feels like the time already has been well worth it for all that he has learned.  He also has been enjoying working on planes that are headed to missions all around the world.   Here are some shots from around the hangar.

Family is the BEST!

What an incredible 10 days Elijah and I just had visiting my parents and brother in AZ.  My 3 sisters and I all few into AZ together with their kids and we spent packed days eating, having fun, lounging, shopping, and celebrating my mom's big birthday.  None of my sibling had met Elijah yet and I hadn't met my little niece and nephew.  We had such a great (and exhausting) time together.  We definitely made up for lost time.  Charlotte is 18 months, Noah is 13 months, and Elijah is 8 months.  There is so much to say, but I'lll do it in picture form.  Watch out, MANY pictures ahead!  And they are in total random order since there are pictures from several cameras mixed together.  Enjoy!

Charlotte and Elijah in the bathtub

Lots of playing

G-ma and Popi took Elijah out for breakfast one morning to Chik-filet.  So special and nice for me to get a little break!

Danielle, Noah, and Charlotte at the park.  I'll spare you the pictures of what Elijah did there...ate sand!

Obsessed with chewing on books

Young Auntie Christa is a serious contender for coolest aunt!

See the remaining bits of sand?

Right before we all got bit by 394 mosquitos in seconds!

We all got to take turns snuggling with each other's kids (Danielle and Noah)

Charlotte all on her own got Elijah's hairbrush out and started to brush Elijah's hair.  When she was done with his hair, she moved on to brushing his eye :)

Picture at Mom's birthday lunch.  We surprised her by getting a babysitter for the kids and took her to a very nice hotel for lunch.  We all worked on making a shutterfly book of notes and pictures from the people who love her.  It was so sweet to watch her emotional reaction.

Jamie and Noah...awesome mom of this sweet, energetic TOTAL boy!

SO, SO much lounge and talk time (and enjoying some Olympics too!)

Popi's the best!  And yes, they all traded and shared sippy cups throughout the whole week.  Thankfully no one got sick or we'd ALL have gone down!

Ladies' shot at the birthday lunch.  Poor dad...you are totally outnumbered!

Charlotte loved this stethoscope and wore it everywhere, even the bathtub and out to eat.  Dr. Barger!

This was one of the funniest moments.  My family was always teasing me about my tight no sweets policy for Elijah before he turns 1.  On their way home from taking Eli out to eat breakfast (where he really ate chicken and fruit), they bought this donut on the way home.  My dad took a big bite out of it and smeared chocolate on Elijah's face before they came through the door so it looked like they went to dunkin donuts for breakfast.  Too funny!  And honestly I'm shocked at the self control the grandparents really did have :)  In the end I gave him a little lick, which he LOVED and screamed wanting more!  Oh no...we're going to have a major sweet tooth on our hands in the future!

Story time with Popi

LOTS of time in the kitchen cooking up great snacks and meals

More b-day shots

One night I made homemade pasta for the family, like we sometimes did growing up.  I rolled and dad sliced.

I can't tell you how many picture DIDN'T turn out to get this one that was pretty good.

Curious Noah always on the go

So relaxing!

We love Auntie!

Tons of tons of pool time

And hanging out on the back deck

Noah is serious about this watermelon!

No, you may not touch the camera with your watermelony finger, no matter how cute you are!

Eli got a first hair trim from Popi Auntie and me (1 held his head, 1 the arms, and 1 cut) 

Hello?

It's for you...

Tell them I'm out...I'm too busy playing to talk

We had so much fun we wore them out

Meals were quite the adventures

And while we were in AZ, Elijah went from crawling like a "Swiffer" to an actual crawl!

Lots of food sharing between these too...Charlotte would pass her food to Elijah and even sometimes pick up the food Elijah accidentally dropped on the ground when she was not in her highchair while E was eating.  (Then E learned he could do it on purpose and he would drop a piece intentionally for C to pick it up!)

And Charlotte loved to hold Eli's hand during meals (though I don't think we got a picture)

Popi loved to give baths to the kids and would call down the hall for the mother to come for the pick up when the baby was out and wrapped in a towel

Sweetie and SO pretty!

PJ time how we like to remember it

PJ time as it really went down :)

Lots of fun, hang out time in the mornings

Lots of corn on Elijah's eyelashes after a passionate eating of corn on the cob

Round Ball with Popi

Newspaper play time...desperate for some way to keep them busy!  

Elijah kept going LONG after everyone else got bored!

This stuff is the best!  Why buy toys?

Mom's evening cupcake celebration at home

Speciality, DELICIOUS cupcakes from a cupcake shop

Uncle Joe - Elijah like him and kept playing with his tubes :)

OOOH BOYS :)

Over all....exhausting but A++++