The Joys of Moving... Internationally (Part 2)

Okay, more pictures this time!  We move into our own house this afternoon, and we are very excited!!!  There is still a lot to be done and a lot more to be bought, but we have thoroughly enjoyed our beginnings. One thing I've observed:  The customer service here is amazing!!  Whether looking at the most expensive of household appliances or just picking up a can of hairspray, store employees always greet us, ask what we are looking for, and then show us exactly where to find it.  Then they proceed to describe each type of the item and differences between brands, etc, making recommendations of what they feel would be best for our situation.  Once we choose the item we want, they then take it to the check-out counter for us and hold it while we look at other items.  When it's time to check out, everything is waiting for us at the counter and we just have to pay.  Now, with things like furniture or kitchen appliances, I love this system!  But hairspray or toothpaste, well, some things I think I can figure out on my own. :)  (Two exceptions I've found are grocery stores and 1 shopping center that is probably comparable to Walmart.)

Now, on to the fun stuff!!  PICTURES! :)  I recognize this is not the best picture to see Tiago or Elissa, but my main goal was to show the stairway.  It just happened to be Lissie's first place to explore.  I'm not sure what material the steps (and counters) are actually made out of, but they are definitely some sort of stone, maybe granite... or maybe something cheaper...

Here is one view of our kitchen.  The funky-shaped door on the left is our churrasco (barbecue). 

And now we have... a Microwave!!!

This is our bedroom with our lovely, soft bed.  (Apparently in this area, most people prefer to buy firmer beds.  We got some funny looks when we asked for something softer and with springs in it.)  Not much else in here yet, besides a few clothes we brought with us.  

 Of course what grandchild can move closer to grandparents without some spoiling?! :)  Lissie had several nice gifts waiting, which have made great additions to our home!

    

Our living room is HUGE!!!  Actually all of the rooms on the lower level feel bigger than they really are, because the ceilings are so high.  We've estimated they are close to 10 feet!  No sofa yet, but hopefully that will be our next purchase. :)  Oh and I've decided the front doors were mainly just for show, since 90% of the time we enter through the garage.  

     Here is our new TV, which is bigger than we originally planned on buying.  It is a 40-inch LED screen, I think.  Tiago had budgeted a certain amount for a 32-inch, according to prices he had seen online.  Then when we went to a furniture store, this one was on sale for less than the 32-inch ones we saw.  It was too good to pass up, and while we were in the process of buying it, a store clerk walked out and took away the sale price tag!  It seems we were just in time. :)

     Okay, I know it's weird to post a picture of keys, but look at these keys!  These are our house keys.  I've just never seen keys made by drilling holes into them like this.  Just one of those things I thought everyone should see... :)

     And another thing I have just recently been introduced to:  a washer AND dryer, all in one machine! (Has anyone seen this in the US?)  Unfortunately the cost was about the same as buying both separately, but since we had limited space in our "service room", and I DO NOT want to do laundry by hand, we now own this lovely piece of equipment. :)

     Our house still does not quite feel like home; we still have a lot of decorating to do!  But we already love it and are excited to finally be in a place that will most likely not blow away in the event of a tornado. :)