Exploration has begun!

Well everyone, the famous Joaquim da Silva Fragoso has arrived!

He got here yesterday morning at 6am and was happy (not really...) to see a rainy airport upon his arrival. Hopefully it is a little sunny tomorrow at least so he realizes Chicago doesn't only rain. What a bummer of a summer...everyone pray for sunny skies on September 6th!

Yesterday was a whirlwind. I can't believe he only arrived a little over 24 hours ago because we have done SOOOO much since then. I went to work at 9am yesterday and left a bit early to go to the tasting for the caterer. (WOW - one of my only goals was to have impressive food at this wedding of ours and you better believe that I have achieved that goal. We were STUFFED because we couldn't stop eating! Joaquim still can't stop talking about it!) We got home from the tasting around 6 and dropped off some leftovers for my dad and my brother to have for dinner, then turned right back around and went out to the storage unit so Joaquim could know how to get in there. Of course, I promptly forgot which number it was, much to his disbelief. I know, I know...ridiculous. We found it and all is well. Then we took a few things, whatever fit in our trusty Camry, to our apartment and unpacked a bit. We do NOT have enough storage space. Shelves and/or portable drawers will soon have to be part of our lives. But until we get everything in, we won't know what the situation is, so in it all goes. There is a lot in my storage unit...how did I get so much STUFF? After all the apartment shuffling, we came back to my parents' house, and worked on paperwork for the greencard filing, and planned all of today's activities.

All of that travel was practice for Joaquim to take the car today and explore the area a bit! He was a bit reluctant, understandably so, but I promised him adequate mappage and that he could hang on to my cell phone (until we get him one tonight!) So he dropped me off at work this morning, and off he went! Thankfully he has a very handy sense of direction and at least is aware of when he is going the wrong way, so he has made a few turn-arounds today, but that's how you learn right? He has been very successful so far, with a trip to the apartment already under his belt, and he picked me up for lunch with our friend Yani. :) Now he's off to the storage unit and the apartment again...this afternoon after work I have my final dress fitting, then dinner, then the Verizon store, then seeing a potential $50 couch...oh my goodness.

Tomorrow we are going on a DATE, to see Harry Potter. :) it will be well worth it and I hope I don't sleep through the movie after all this running around!!