Update

I feel like this is all I really do...update that is. Since I haven't been blogging a lot. But it just feels necessary anyway.

The biggest thing is school. I am really enjoying working where I do. My bosses are fair, give me plenty of space to do my thing, and I like them. I enjoy most of my co-workers and they have warmed up to me as well. We even have tentative plans to spend time outside of work together as well, which I am excited about. This month started a new semester, I have all of the same students from last semester and one new one. I just got word yesterday of another student that was supposed to start with me, but he cancelled due to his heavy work schedule. I was a little sad about that...it was a 3 hour a week class and it definitely makes a difference in my paycheck, but the coordinator is working on getting me some conversation classes, so if that happens it would be great!! Right now I'm working about 14 hours per week and would love to be working a little more.

Sidnei's work is going great. He is in the middle of a big apartment building project which has kept him really busy. He leaves about 6:30 in the morning and I don't see him until about 9 when I finish my classes. We usually eat, put a movie on, and he's generally asleep before it actually starts. I have been missing him, but this past Sunday, we spent a lazy Sunday doing nothing but hanging out together, so that was nice.

I can't talk about our housing situation because then I will say negative things. Let's just say, like I have been (for how many eternities months now?) that it should be any time now. But I'm so frustrated it's better to say nothing at all.

My little niece is doing GREAT! She is so cute!! She is 2 months now and Tia caught her very FIRST smile on camera. That's right folks. She reserved her first smile for me! It was precious and now I spend all my time trying to get her to smile at me. She is becoming more active and more fun every day. I speak to her in only English and she just looks at me with those big brown eyes. I am hoping that if I only speak in English with her, she'll pick it up and learn as she learns Portuguese as well. I love spending time with her and detest having to share. There are lots of other Tios and Tias, but rest assured, Tia Anie (as Israel calls me) is her favorite!

So I leave you with the cutest smile ever (captured in an awkward position because I was holding her):



And since I am displaying my proud Tia-ness, here is Israel and I from the other day: