Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my Mom's birthday...Hip hip hooray!!
My Mom is so funny....she is always making me laugh! When she starts really laughing, I can't help but laugh with her.
Some people say we look alike, and now I find that I am acting like her, too....using phrases with my kids that she used with me, combing my daughter's hair how she used to comb mine (and I swore I would never do that!).
Well, here is a poem from a book that she bought me for my birthday once. It is called "mother and daughter friends of the heart". It really is a long sentence that continues throughout the whole book, but here is a part that I just love:
"In her achievements, a mother's hopes come to life.
She is one of life's brightest lights, greatest hopes and purest joys."...
Now that was talking about daughters, but that is how I feel about my Mom, too!
Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!

Kreativ me...

My blogger friend Jodi gave me this award:
Thank you Jodi...
Now, I have to "list 6 things that make you happy and pass it on to 6 other bloggers."


My six:
1. My husband and children
2. My life
3. Scuba diving
4. Sunshine
5. Flowers
6. Traveling

My six friends that I find to have Kreativ sites:
1. Cielo
2. Sonja
3. Gabriela
4. Carol
5. PJ
6. Tracie

In each of these ladies posts, there is always something beautiful, that makes me laugh, or think, or wonder and enjoy their site. Visit them...it is well worth it!

A special day in Brazil

This past Sunday, October 5th, two things happened...
First and foremost, our son turned 10 years old! 10? A full two hands! Where did that time go? I still remember ending my last performances as a ballerina and having a baby shower!How time flies!
He invited 2 friends to go bowling with us. The bowling alley was empty, which was really nice. We all had a great time and he seemed really happy.
So why was the bowling alley empty? It was the general elections for municipal mayors and council members. It is a requirement here in Brazil to vote. If you do not vote, you are fined. I think it is a great way for people to learn about what is happening in their governance, and to get involved, instead of just complaining when something goes wrong.
Now, the funny thing is that you can run under ANY name you like, as long as it is not offensive.
There were 8, yes 8, Barack Obama candidates. Is that too funny or what? Others used Bin Laden...(? that's not offensive?), whilst others used French soccer player, Zinedine Zindane. If you remember, he was the French player that was thrown out of the World Cup final in 2006, against Italy, for head butting an Italian player. It was a shame because it was his last game before retirement.

Half and a quarter, or Sleepy middle, or Steeler's Update :)

It seems like every late game, last Monday night, and last night, I can not stay awake for the half time nor 3rd quarter...
and both times, I have drifted off to the Steelers up by a few....
same last night. I woke up at the beginning of the Fourth Quarter to find the Steelers up by a slight margin and then go on to win it! Go Black and Gold....I love ya!
Steelers 26
Jacksonville Jaguars 21

Friends

A Friend is a Treasure
Jean Kyler McManus


A friend is someone we turn to,
When our spirits need a lift,
A friend is someone we treasure,
For true friendship is a gift.

A friend is someone we laugh with,
Over little personal things,
A friend is someone we're serious with,
In facing whatever life brings.

A friend is someone who fills our lives,
With beauty and joy and grace.
And makes the world that we live in
A better and happier place!

I found this poem and wanted to send it to my friend, Gabriela...
she took me out to lunch for my birthday, and helped me remember what a special friendship has formed since we moved to the same city just over a year ago.

You know, you never know when something is just going to click. A mutual friend, that we both lived with in different cities overseas, sent an email to us and said....meet each other! I am sure you will both get along, and you have kids right around the same age.

I think we would have met anyways, seeing as our two 2nd graders were put into the same class last year. Good thing, because they also became instant friends. It just is nice knowing that no matter how far away we sometimes feel when we live overseas, that friends like her are just around the corner to make it feel like home!

Look at the way the bill came to our table ..and the painted utility pole right outside...

Thanks Gabriela, for sharing my birthday and for always being there for me on our crazy adventure!

Bella

Happy Friday to all....
what better way to celebrate the start of the weekend with some fun, cuddly fotos of my puppy, Bella.
She is growing really quickly. She still can not go outside, until her 3rd vaccination at 12 weeks.
The poo and pee that I left behind when my youngest turned 3 was enough for me!Alas, just 2 more weeks and we can "go outside".....that is what I am calling the paper that she tries to go on while housebound, so that she can be ready to really GO OUTSIDE.
Here she is amongst some Gerber Daisies that I am using in my flower work.Luckily I was able to salvage them before she bore her tiny, sharp puppy teeth into them!
I hope you all have a great weekend

I should live ...WHERE???

Ok, so I found this from Tracey's blog...and I really can't believe that this is where I am meant to be! I like that it is close to the ocean, but that ocean is WAY too cold for me!!!
Interesting though...should I look for real estate?

You Should Live in Maine

If you don't want to live in Maine, you might also consider: Washington Wisconsin California Delaware Kentucky

What State Should You Live In?