Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Gretta's First Brazilian Birthday Party

Today the relocation company had arranged for two people to come deep clean the apartment since it wasn't clean when we moved in. They were suppose to come at 8am. Eric stayed home to help let them in and make sure they knew what they were suppose to do.  I think the first lady showed up around 9:30am. Figuring out how to let her into the building was a bit complicated, but Eric figured it out. Then once she got here she said she needed to leave for a hour to go and get the second person. What?!?! 
Plus the repair man was suppose to come fix the stove and also the washing machine door. He was suppose to come at 11:00. 
I was to drive Eric to work and meet the courier/notary with him at 10:00 to sign documents to get the final process for our CPF number started. Between language barriers, not understanding how to let help in and trying to also get the documents signed it was a bit of a stressful morning. Luckily the landlady's friend, Christina, showed up just at the right moment to help us navigate the rest of the process. 
After dropping off Eric around 10:00 and signing documents Carli and I were home at 10:30 but the two cleaning ladies didn't show up until after 11:00 and the oven repair man after noon. 
Luckily it all worked out. He fixed the oven and told me he needs a part to fix the washing machine and will come back tomorrow to fix it. 
The cleaning ladies worked hard all day!!! I have never had a cleaning lady that I thought did a through job.  I had heard Brazilian cleaning ladies are the best, and after today I have to agree. The house was cleaned from top to bottom. They stayed until about 6:30 and didn't take lunch. 
To stay out of their way Carli and I walked to McDonald's for lunch. I know there are a few lunch places around here, but it's so stressful to order and not really know what I am ordering. It was just easier to go to McDonald's. Plus I knew for sure they had a high chair for Carli and I didn't feel like wrestling with her through lunch. 
Luckily after school our neighbor Dani invited us over for chocolate cake. She left a nice note with the maid inviting us over. Eliza, Carli and I had a great time. Her girls are 7 and 4 so it perfect for the girls. They are in the unit right next door. Dani also speaks great English which is wonderful for me. She is also home all day and offered to help me navigate the city and gave me lots of good advice about places to take the girls and things to do on the weekend. 
Her brother lives in Houston, TX and she visits him regularly. She was excited to show me what she brought back from Whole Foods last time she was in the States. 
She was also able to help me with the maids this afternoon. The only thing I asked them to re-do was the master bath tub. It needed a little bleach. They fixed it right up and it looks so much better!!!!
I feel so blessed to have such a nice neighbor right next door who has girls my girls same age. Her girls don't speak much English, but Eliza still had a great time. It was also a blessing to have some place to go today while they were cleaning our apartment. 
Gretta got invited to a Birthday Party for a girl Isabella in her school class. She was so excited to go and I had heard that Brazilian's really know how to throw birthday parties. This party did not disappoint. The whole second grade was invited. They let them out early from school at 3:15, so they were at the party place right at 3:30. Eric described it as like "Chuck E Cheese". They rode rides, ate dinner, and had cake. For dinner she had chicken tenders. It's good to know that chicken tenders seem to be a universal children's food. After dinner they got balloon creations and fake tattoo's. I think her favorite part was the gift bag. She came home with a notebook, color pencil set, candy and bubbles. 
Eric was nice enough to come home from work early to pick her up. She was so excited to tell us all about the Party at dinner. Poor little Eliza was so jealous. Especially because she got invited to a birthday party at the Kids Zone and Carousel for a girl in her class in Michigan right before we left, but wasn't able to go because we left to early. It's tough to be the little sisters some days. I am just so glad we were able to go to the neighbors and eat chocolate cake. It helped her a little bit not feel so left out.   










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