Guess who I get to play with every week?

This is Walter Radvansky. Sean and Susan's first son. My life is pretty boring right now. Long shifts at Red Robin with an occasional day off, if I'm lucky. On those day's I'm usually over playing with Walter. He has the biggest blue eyes you've ever seen.

He wasn't so sure what to do with me, when I first started to come around. He'd scrunch his forehead up and give me a very serious look that said, "And WHY are you hear?", but eventually he warmed up to me and now I can get a smile or two in minutes. He's almost three months old and makes the cutest baby noises! He can't do much, of course, but Susan has all these little tricks. Like if you roll him on his stomach he'll start kicking then eventually push himself up on his stomach and do this superman pose. It made me laugh the first time I saw it. I'll post a picture above.

Susan and I love to play with him and talk about the future. Though its hard to switch from talking to Walter to talking to Susan, because I can't turn the baby voice off sometimes. You know what I'm talking about. That high pitched, "Your so cute! Lets see that smile!" kind of voice to the regular adult conversation. The funny thing is, she has a problem with it too. So we're having fun with Walter, but trying not to talk to each other like we're both two year olds. It's funny! And it makes me wonder, if Sean hasn't lost his mind yet. Because if Susan does it with me, you know she does it to him all the time.

I know that Jaime, Rachael, and Steph don't really know Sean that well, but I'm sure everyone can understand when I say, I'm still in shock that Sean's a father! I still remember him as the rowdy boy that tricked me into wrestling, when I was younger. Now he's got a youngen of his own! How fast time flies! I know this time in my life is a time of change, but boy do things change!

Not that I'm complaining, I'm just excited, I guess, to see what the future holds. Here's to looking towards new horizons and brighter days!

Snow Day!

Hi Everyone!

Well here is my first attempt to post on our family blog! I hope all goes well! I am going to promise to be more regular than I have been.! I must really thank Stephanie for keeping this idea "live"! Thank you Stephanie! My hope is that more of us will begin to share more through this blog!

On to more excitement....Last night it began to snow in Myrtle Beach! We (mostly me and Ashlee) were eagerly awaiting the snow flakes to appear! And around 7 pm, the snow flakes began to fall! The only thing better would have been for the snow to come on Thursday night so we could have a day off! (You know what I mean!)

Ashlee had a friend over, her name is McKayla. Both she and Ashlee spent most of the night outside playing in the snow.
Then first thing this morning, Jaime and I were first to go outside and take photos of the undisturbed snow!
Then of coarse we got the girls up around 7:30AM to enjoy the snow some more before it melts!
They ganged up on me and covered me in snow balls! I know one thing...I have TERRIABLE aim! I know why I never played softball! I stink...they creamed me! It was fun!
I think it has been about 8 years since we have had snow in SC!
Here are our pictures....I hope you like them!!

Aerobics- Take One

Recently while visiting with Sidnei’s Aunt, she mentioned that she was starting a water aerobics class. Since I have been feeling rather homebound lately, I decided I would join and invited my MIL to come with us as well. I figured that this was a good thing for me, as I have been rather inactive lately. (Read: Couch potato) Not only that, but it’s been HOT, and I couldn’t think of anything better than getting in a pool!

So this past Monday, we all dragged ourselves out of bed…Israel’s Mom now stays home with him, so he hasn’t been here…and thus we have taken full advantage by going back to bed after the men go off to work. It has been full of wonderful, heavenly, lay in the middle of the bed spread eagle, sleep. But never mind that, off we went because our class started at 9. We arrived, stripped down, and hopped in the pool. The water was absolutely delicious at that time in the morning. I was thoroughly enjoying myself as it has been quite a while. Though the pool rapidly became FULL, we had about 30 people in the water. Almost everyone was 50 or older.

So first, let’s start out with the obvious. I am WHITE. And everyone here notices and is always concerned. Did I put on sun block? Where is my hat? I really need to shade my face. And my eyes are sooo beautiful, but my light eyes need to be shaded from the sun, I need to use sunglasses! Okay, they were right about the sun glasses, I completely forgot and was pretty much blind with the rising sun. I did use sun block…70 spf. And for only being in the pool for one hour, I still burnt my shoulders and back a little. At 9 AM. Now don’t get me wrong, in the states I burnt pretty easy as well, however, it was usually after a couple of hours, and somewhere between the hours of 12-3.

The actual workout was not challenging AT ALL. Which is alright, it was challenging for a lot of other people there, including my MIL, and I am glad. Part of the problem is the teacher. She only had about 5 different exercises, which we just repeated over and over and over. And over. So I was pretty disappointed by that. She rode in on her motorcycle (literally), she is very fit, and looked very promising. Maybe she doesn’t do more because the women are older? That is very likely, but I still think she could have included some different exercises. Really the only thing we did, was running in place. To the front. To the back. To the front again. And then the opening and closing of the legs…all the while using our arms to push the water.  And I am sorry I don’t know more technical terms for these exercises.

Anyway, truly I was slightly disappointed. I had done water aerobics back home and it had surprisingly (for me my first time) kicked my butt. I was hoping this would do the same. But anyway like I said, it helps my MIL who has a lot of back pain, and if I go, she’ll go. And plus on Mondays and Wednesdays, I get to play in the pool. When it’s over, everyone scurries out, I do a couple of laps, play around like the little fish I used to be and climb out happy!

Fast and Testimony Meeting

Yesterday, after trying to explain what the Godhead is and how the Holy Spirit helps us in Portuguese to a 2 and 3 year old, helping color and glue, stopping tears, getting snacks, singing songs, I was tired. Not only was I tired, but I was alone. (Poor Sidnei had over worked himself all day and night Saturday and when I tried to wake him up on Sunday, he literally just didn’t even stir. Not even a little bit. So I let him be.) Walking up the stairs to the (hello I am drawing a blank here..the more I learn Portuguese, the more I forget English words) place where we take Sacrament (isn’t there a word for that room?) I had decided that I would just take the Sacrament and drive home.

As I was sitting in Sacrament, I was watching the same little boys that I had just taught, running up and down the aisle…and I thought, I should pull him aside and ask him if he thought the Holy Ghost would like him running around during Sacrament. And then what do you know, that all knowing little voice said, “Maybe you should ask yourself the same question.” Meaning, should I really be taking off after Sacrament? Crrraappp.

So I stayed. Honestly, I’m so glad I did. Every month I’m always pleased that I listened to everyone’s testimony. I love watching how eager the kids are (primary and YM, YW) to get up and share their testimonies. I love the simple, yet profound statements that come from them. I honestly, really love listening to these people, so different from myself in so many aspects, who know and profess the same things I know and believe.

I am so grateful to have the gospel in my life. This gospel that creates similarities, that gives me a home away from home. It creates a love and friendship that I wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. And I take comfort knowing that no matter where I am, no matter where I go, the gospel will be the same and I will always have instant family and friends.

Please be advised…

This is a long post…with lots of pictures…I’m going to introduce you to all the family that is close to us here. It is all Sidnei’s Mom’s side of the family and she has a lot of brother’s and sister’s. But it was my birthday and we had a lot of fun! Here goes!

 

 

My roses! Aren’t they pretty?

 

This is Sidnei’s oldest brother (2nd oldest sibling) Nei and his nephew Israel!

Israel is so cute and loves me to pieces! I sing him all the nursery rhyme songs in English and he loves it! Especially baa baa black sheep. He always comes to me and says baaaaaa! When Sidnei gets home from work, he runs over to me and starts yelling ‘Minha titia’! Or ‘my aunt’! He does NOT like Sidnei to hug or kiss me. It is hilarious!

My birthday cake! It was sooo good! It was chocolate marble frosting, chocolate cake, doce de leite and rasins in the middle. Sounds odd, but it was really good!

 

 

I love this picture of Sidnei with his Dad!

I never know quite what to do while people sing to me…

 

But it was so funny, they sang to me in Portuguese and English!

 

This is Sidnei’s Aunt Sonia (Mom’s sister), her daughter Sabrina, and Sidnei’s sister Lucinha (aka the beast…but don’t tell anyone I said that)

 

This is Julianne (She is married to Sidnei’s brother Lucelio and she is Mom to Israel), Sidnei’s cousin Gardiner and his fiance Amanda.

Alright from R to L: Gil (soula’s wife), Soula (his name is Sidney too, and he is Sidnei’s Uncle born a couple of months before Sidnei), and the next two are Gil’s brothers, but I don’t remember their names!

 

These girls are my neighbors and were childhood friends of Sidnei as well! They have been really sweet to me. The girl on my left is Juliana (she also does my mani/pedi) and the girl on the right is Miriam!

 

Okay, the girl in the front is Reggiane (Sidnei’s cousin), then L to R, Andrew and Junior (cousins and they belong to Sonia (see above)), then Poliane (cousin and sister to Reggiane), Zenia (Sidnei’s Aunt, his mom’s other sister and mother to Poliane and Reggiane), me, and Mary Luisa (who is the serious girlfriend to Junior. She also never smiles, is always pouting, even in pictures).

I love this picture of Sabrina, it is absolutely her personality! She is crazy fun (can you believe she is 21?) and I think she’s gorgeous!

 

Me and the beast. (I really do like her. I just will like her more when I don’t live with her. I hope.)

I really did have a great birthday! Everyone has been so good to me and have accepted me into their family with open arms! It is so nice to have family to celebrate with…but it just doesn’t come close to celebrating with you all. I miss you more than you can imagine!

Belo Horizonte in Pictures

We actually stayed in a suburb of Belo Horizonte called Sabara…here is the view from our hill top. The ultra blue sky, puffy white clouds, against all the green amaze me. I seriously don’t ever remember the sky being so blue at home!

This is Sidnei’s Mom, her Aunt, and me. Her Aunt is in her eighties and the sweetest lady. She kept calling me her white rose. She cried the day we left, which made me cry too.

 

This is the sun rising on the day we left! I was the first one up and ready to go! Despite the tears, I was NOT missing that train!

 

Though out of chronological order (sorry) this is on the way to Belo Horizonte. This is the sun setting and the train crossing a big bridge. I really loved this picture!

 

This is (from L to R) Corinne (my American friend!), Taina (Sidnei’s cousin, she’s beautiful!), Marlene (MIL), Lete (Sidnei’s Aunt-Dad’s side) and me! It was an American sandwich! On white bread! HAHAHAHAHA I crack myself up!

Here I am at Praca do Liberdade! In front of me was the Governor’s Mansion. It was a really beautiful part of the city. It was still decorated for Christmas.. again, note the blue sky!

The view at night in Sabara!

All in all, I want to go back and experience more of Belo Horizonte! There is a LOT more to see and do.

The New Do

Gracie finally got her hair cut! She got her first one in October and her hair had gotten so long!

Not to mention the crazy heat all day…! Let me just say, it was time.

The people did a really good job this time. They used the machine instead of the scissors. In fact they did such a good job, she’s practically naked. Look! You can see her freckles!

Needless to say, she was not thrilled with me and would not “speak” with me upon her arrival. But she did give me the stink eye…see?

Of course I wasn’t very nice either. I think there was some comment about my dog now looking like a bobble head. But I have no idea who would have said such a thing.

Now ignore the mess and tell me these two aren’t precious?