Lagoa Silvano

So back in...July was it? When it was still "cold" (think high 70's and 80's...compared to right now, it's heaven) here, we took a nice break on one of the warmest days and went to the lake!

The lake grounds are really nice. They have pavilions where of course we had a place for churrasco (no get together is complete without it). I really thought the lake was really pretty. The pavilion was set on a hill, so you walked down to the lake, where they have a little sandy beach. I didn't get in the water (never did like lake water much...read: chicken), but it was so nice to lay out in the sun, eat (my favorite is grilled pineapple), and hang out.


View on top of the hill where the pavilion is...the slide never opened that day or I would have thought more seriously about getting in!

But they did open the little kiddie water park! The kids came running and screaming! They were so funny to watch! (That is my sister in law's brother and child by the way, not just some random people)

Those my friends are big swan boats!! I was so excited! I wanted to go find out where they were and go ride them. Unfortunately Sidnei had a MAJOR headache and laid on a table top for most of the time.



Can you tell he's feeling icky here? He got off the table top to go home so I snagged him to take pictures first. You can tell he was thrilled with that idea.


These next two were before the sickness ensued.


This really made me miss our times on the beach back home, but glad we have a place here too!

This was one of the craziest birds, wandering around the park. It had a crazy scary scream call and would go on for 20 minutes at a time. I would try to find out what it is, but I have no idea how...My Brasilian friends..do you know? I wish I had a better picture of it. It had a crazy mohawk feather thing going on!

Hopefully we'll be going back to Lagoa Silvano now that it's warmed up quite a bit!

Parque do Ipanema

Once upon a time, about two months ago, I uploaded these pictures. And never did anything with them.

So now, let me introduce (better late than never) Parque do Ipanema. It is really the only "scenic" or pretty place to walk in Ipatinga. It really is a very nice park and kept really clean by the city. We love to go in the evenings right before it gets dark. We walk around, people watch (one of our favorite activities) and settle in later at one of the many vendors that are selling numerous things, including, but not limited to, hot dogs, hamburgers, churrasco on a stick (beef or pork), popcorn, fried bananas (like little chips), drinks (all varities), popsicles, and (my personal favorite) filled churros (you can fill them with chocolate or doce de leite (or dulce de leite or similar to caramel if you are more familiar). YUM.

Anywho, here we are:



This is a very peculiar. It is a little island with a windmil. I dont really understand it, but I hope to one day see the time when the paddle boats at the bottom are open on the pond you can't see here.

I thought this was rather picturesque at the time...but at least you can see the pond/lake I was talking about.

So of course I made Sidnei stand there (because of the picturesque-ness).

Pensive Husband, wife who thinks she's creative. If I look close I can make out his face in the darkness. In my defense it looked better on the camera screen.

An ending much like the beginning...self portraits.

Party Girl

So as you all know, Sidnei's birthday has recently (and by recently I mean a week and a half ago) passed.

We all had a nice time. A very nice low key time. There was cake and soda. And family (which is more important than I am making it sound right now). Which is all well and good.


Us and the store bought cake...since my cake making ventures haven't exactly been successful here.

Israel LOVES when everyone sings Happy Birthday!

And trying to convince everyone to take a picture together is like pulling teeth. Hence why you don't see many in the photo.

Here is my question. Is it normal to be so low key for adult birthdays in Brasil? I am familiar with blowing it out on kids birthdays. Seriously if you haven't seen a little kid Brasilian birthday party, they make us look shameful. Our bowling parties where we get the pin everyone can sign is just down right pitiful next to theme banners, walls of balloons, theme decorated tables, millions of candies, big cakes,lots of food, and the list goes on.

So here I am thinking I need to blow it out big for Sidnei's birthday. And I want to. It's really the first thing we have been able to celebrate since we'd been separated. My problem: lack of funds. Sidnei has been working on a big construction job that we have been financing. Thankfully we finally got paid, two days AFTER his birthday. So the only thing I could do is cake and drinks. But his family hasn't celebrated with him in like 6 YEARS. The only person that even got him a present was his sister (which is a whole other post). Seriously Happy Birthday was barely even said.

Sidnei's Mom's birthday was the next day. We ordered pizza. One brother didn't even show up. We didn't sing Happy Birthday.

Here is my big problem. I am a big holiday person. I LOVE the commercialism of all holidays. I love that the minute Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is here, and Christmas is out the next day. I love seeing shamrocks the day after Valentine's Day. I love to decorate for holidays, parties, birthdays, etc. I LOVE IT. I love throwing big birthday parties. I love to celebrate. I like to make people feel special on their day.

I am assuming that if I want to celebrate, it will be up to me. And I am assuming my birthday will not be near what I am used to. I feel very American Princess saying this. So I am, so sue me. My party bubble is feeling busted.

Happy Birthday Sidnei!

Today I get to celebrate the life of a man who is good and kind and wonderful. I feel so fortunate to be here with him today. One year ago the only thing we wished for was to be together to celebrate days like this. Today we remember this and we hug a little tighter. And I still cry, but only because I am grateful to share his day with him.

Happy Birthday Sidnei! My world is a better place with you in it and I am grateful to have you in my life every single day; to learn and grow with you. Thank you for a million different things, but mainly for loving me so completely, dreaming big, and working hard.

In response to requests: here are pictures of us from the last couple of months. Mostly just of our faces because we don't have anyone to take the picture for us!

A visit to the country

A friend's birthday

Lagao Silvano (Lake Silvano)

Sidnei's Favorite thing to do: Churrasco (BBQ)

Trombini (The traveling amusement park!)

Up early for the Independence Day Parade

Visiting Friend's in the country

Our first soccer game last friday night!!