Settling In

After 3 months in our new home, things are really starting to feel more like a nice, normal, every-day life for us.  We've managed to collect most furniture and appliances that make a home more comfortable, and have even started decorating the walls a little!  I enjoyed a very happy birthday this year, an electric oven and dishwasher being included in my gift list.  (Oh how I missed baking!!  And not having to wash silverware by hand!! )

After many dinners in the absence of overhead lighting, our dining room area is now well-lit with a chandelier, and we can also appreciate fine art while we dine. :)  (The paintings in the following photos are borrowed indefinitely from Tiago's parents, who are art collectors.  Obrigada Mae e Pai!!)

 We've managed to add a bit more color to our living room area . . .

 . . . and thanks to our sounds system, a little more noise as well.  (Also please note the change in light fixtures in this room as well.  The ugly one has finally been replaced!  Yaaay!  See previous blog entries for pics of the old, tacky one.)

Another reason we've greatly enjoyed the addition of the rug in our living room:  It provides a much softer floor area on which to play.  Lissie and I worked together on the puzzle you see below.  Can you tell which pieces she put in and which ones I did?  While she is still not quite proficient at making all the princesses in the picture look the way they're supposed to,  she is starting to figure out how to match the colors on the pieces.  Sure, arms may be attached to heads and corner pieces may be in the middle... But she is getting closer all the time! :)

 Here is Lissie's little play area, now complete with toy box and fine art decor. :)

One of Lissie's current favorite games is "Rock-a-bye Lissie" on an upside-down chair, like the one below.  These little chairs go with her table and serve MANY important purposes in our home.  Besides just daily playing and eating snacks at her little table, sometimes they are helper stools in the kitchen. She can "help" (watch) me cook or help put away clean dishes.  She especially likes to help put away silverware and tupperware.  Or in reality, once the tupperware is put away, she enjoys pulling it all out again and spreading pieces around the house.  And a final use for these little chairs has just begun recently:  the dreaded "Time Out" chair.  She's starting to learn that when mommy says "Crayons, pens, and pencils stay on the paper; NOT on the couch.", that mommy means it. (Luckily, ink pen comes out of the upholstery fairly easily with a little rubbing alcohol. Thank you, inventor of rubbing alcohol and/or alcohol gel!)   

The painting we hung in the stairwell was painted by one of my favorite artists, Marilene Maffei.  Tiago calls her "Mom".  We think she is very talented!

It has been a great experience for us, living in a different land and starting from scratch again.  I can't say that everything has been perfect.  (One word:  BUGS.)  But I feel like the installation of our dishwasher got our house a LOT closer to perfection! :)  Oh, and we did have an exterminator come and spray for bugs and spiders.  So, life is good.