Lions and Tigers and the Beach, Oh Yeah!

This weekend was monumental in terms of upping the "happiness in Brazil" scale. You know what they say, "a happy wife, makes for a happy home". Well, that's so very true and I'm feeling very happy lately. Happy that my Husband finally figured out that we are able to buy "season passes" for both the Detroit Lions and Michigan football that stream live through the computer. No more Slingbox (cross your fingers that it works) anxiety every weekend. And the picture we get with the new method is crystal clear, just like we were back in the US. We tried it out Saturday for the MI game and then again Sunday for NFL. It was perfect and David was HAPPY!

The winning results helped too...oh and maybe the American buffet I served to all our expat friends- pulled pork, sloppy joes, baked beans, and cole slaw. If we closed our eyes, we might have thought we were back in the USA. We even had a few Budweiser. So yes, my sweet hubby was happy this weekend and I was too.

So on to next weekend, what I'm now referring to as "Payback Time for Momma" and nothing gives Momma a payback like the beach. So off we go next weekend to our (drumroll please).....SHARED BEACH CONDO. Yes, I finally convinced David that a little sand in our crevices on a regular basis would be good for the soul. So when the opportunity came up for a beach share, we decided to go for it. We're going to see it for the first time this weekend , so once again, we've done the whole sight unseen thing. But hey, all I need at the beach is a shelter and a shower, so I know it'll be perfect. We already have the boogie boards and beach chairs out of the storage room and ready for their new home in Barra do Sahy, a little beach town about two and a half hours away.

It's the perfect compromise - football marathon weekend in trade for lazing at the beach weekend.

Now on to the next "happy" maker- 10 days in Buenos Aires . As some of you know, David travels to Argentina monthly and in October he's taking the kids and I with him, for ten whole days (five of which David won't be working). We're making up our list of Buenos Aires "must dos", but just being able to be with David instead of without him, makes going worth it. And our crazy kids LOVE hotel living. We'd never have to leave the place and they'd think it was cool. I'm hoping to see some good Tango demonstrations and find a leather jacket at a decent price (and drink lots of great, cheap wine).

Overall, October will pass in a blur of travel and football, bringing us one month closer to December 16, our departure date for the States. It's true what they say about time flying when you're having fun. Since we've come back from Michigan, I don't know where the weeks have went. I guess life is what you make it, and for all the bad and sad we endure living in this crazy city, we've worked really hard to find the joy, even if it's just a few friends, a football game on TV, and a good meal.

I knew we'd come a long way when I overheard Aidan telling his "old" buddies that there were some new boys coming over and that they were having a hard time adjusting to Brazil and that it was important that they made them feel welcome. "Remember when we didn't like it here and we felt really sad?" he said. Boy has our son has come a very long way.

Now, we've graduated to the Welcome Wagon. We're no longer the new kids on the block. Aidan's first sad months are becoming a distant memory and his empathy is huge. Yes, we're tipping the scale on happy. Now if I could just find a way around this crazy restricted driving schedule. Hmmm, maybe I'll beg for a driver, but that's a whole other post.