Hall Holidays - part I

The "Holiday" season for us, usually starts with Randy's birthday.  

He turned 34 on a Monday night so our FHE group helped him celebrate.

The Zaugg's gave him a cork board with memory photos on it 

and the Swenson's brought him a Sao Paulo insulated plastic mug.

Then as our gift, the following Saturday, 

some of us went with him to tour the soccer stadium.

All the guys got Sao Paulo caps

                                          It appears they have a few different mascots.

This is us with St. Paul (Sao Paulo) who was also visiting that day!

These are highlights of the tour~

 this life size statue is to honor the guy who invented the famous "bicycle kick"

 This is the press room~

 In the locker room the players have their picture next to their locker.

This is Randy's favorite player,  Kaka

impressive Trophy Room

After the birthday it was Thanksgiving week.  I was unlucky to get some stomach bug but recovered just in time to join and eat-  except dessert  :(    I didn't dare over-do it.

Craig and Randy took our assignment to peel, cook and mash potatoes for all.

We had a fabulous meal with the other seniors

 in the kitchen/dining area of the temple housing building

Mark and Carolyn  Zaugg were the heros that day.  

Organized and arranged everything!

(and did ALOT of the shopping and cooking!)

 Robert and Susan Hale

 Gloria and Laird Swenson

Jill and Craig Ferguson

                            

These last 3 couples are Brazilian friends/missionaries

Milton and Darcy Correa

 Maria and Amaldo Schioser

Sheila and Nilo Leal

and - us

Part of my being "sick" was an extreme pain in my stomach from home-sickness.

I seriously wanted our real family.

Thanks to all who sent greetings and reminded us of how 

fortunate we are to have so many wonderful people in our lives.

And thinking of what I'm grateful for, I have to include this opportunity to serve in the temple, and at the CTM (MTC), to learn from and teach and share our languages and cultures with the wonderful Brazilian people, and to my husband for providing it all.  For his patience and his goodness.   Also for Randy and his efforts and ability to "go along" with whatever, and his amazing enthusiasm for his work in redeeming the dead.

The Brazilians don't have a "Thanksgiving" and they just start decorating in November.

Which is the way I like it.  I mean of course, Thanksgiving is great but I have always 

 felt that Thanksgiving and Christmas belong together.

This is in the front of the chapel next to the temple.

Very visible from the busy street.

After being kind of sick and after Thanksgiving it was time to "upgrade".

We were offered the larger apartment after all the deciding back and forth.

They fixed it up and cleaned it beautifully and we couldn't turn it down!

I know "move" is a 4 letter word but it was so worth it.

The apartment is similar but bigger and better.

This is your virtual tour~

 This is the view from our 8th floor

The distant background to the left of the tall white building

is many, many more tall buildings of downtown.

Gives an idea of the vastness of this city.

I don't like looking down  :(

 This is Randy's room with a desk that he lets me use also.

His birthday cork board and "classy closet"  :)

 This is our new room with a "King" bed which we have never had before
and weren't sure we would like it.

But we are quickly getting used to it!

 This is Craig's private office.  Plenty of room for him to spread out, which is his style  :)

 New living room - 2 couches and our awesome Christmas tree!
The art is what we bought some weeks back at Embu das Artes

Also notice our essential air-conditioner with the vent hanging out the window :)

 This space doubles as a "minimum yoga studio" with my yoga dvd collection -
note the rolled up blue mat and red blanket.

Sometimes I use an empty cardboard box for a "block"
and my husband's extra belt for a "strap".

 dining area  - new phone with a land line!  

Everyone needs one of these so they can use it to find their cell phone.

Intercom phone to call other apartments at Vertentes complex.

 Bigger refrigerator and kitchen except no pantry.  

Extra bookcase and over the door shoe holder make a nice substitute.

 extra breakfast nook - always an abundance of fresh fruit - and Randy's map of Brazil

He has always liked maps -

we used to call him Randy McNally :)

 stove, microwave, laundry room

along with our 2 full bathrooms we got this extra half bath

storage/utility/iron/mending room

This room plus the small bathroom next to it, 

was originally included in the apartment for the live-in maid.

Not unusual in this country, even now days.

It's very small and has a window.

The bathroom has a hole, high on the wall for a shower head 

and there's a knob to turn on the water.

Just remove anything not water proof before showering.

I think I should start taking applications!

Anyway, now we have plenty of space, 

helps us avoid too many body collisions~