News!!!

Today was Chads last day of work for a month...Yea for leave... and yea for....
1. We have our orders!
2. They say just what we want them to!
3. We have our tickets booked!
4. We'll have a month of Leave!
5. Chad will be on TDY for ANCOC!
6. I'm on orders to stay in Colorado while he is there!
7. We already went to the out-processing brief!
8. My car is ready to be shipped Wednesday!
9. We put in our request date for our household goods to be picked up!
10. Chad made the cutoff to be promoted on 1 October!!!!

Can you say we had a GOOD Monday.... I think SO!!!

Soldier and Family Appreciation Day

The post put together a nice event Thursday, for Soldier and Family Appreciation Day. The kids had TONS of fun, but the highlights were getting their faces painted and jumping on the trampoline. I think I may have had more fun on the mechanical bull...YEEHAW!!!!!

Giadas and Gelato

Last weekend we went to our favorite restraunt Giada's and then to our favorite gelato place after. I took some cute pictures of the kids while we were out and about. I'm wondering if Kirra ate or wore more of her gelato... what a messy girl.

It's been a LONG time!

Yes-- It has been a LONG LONG time. 4 years to be exact. Thats 1460 days since we moved to Italy. Here's a few pictures...looking back to the begining.

Here's the kids 2 weeks before we left the States.


Our first weekend in Vicenza


Kirra, on the day we got the keys to our new house.


Our first trip to Venice- sharing Gelato.


Christian, the day we moved into our house.


Halloween day at the food court.


First Halloween in Italy


Thanksgiving Day 2004


Kirra by the Christmas Tree December 5th 2004


Kirra and Christian all dolled up for a Christmas Pic


Taking pictures to send to Dad in Afghanistan- Feb 2005


Cute Photo from another Photo Op


Hoppy Easter 2005


1st trip back to the States- November 2005


4th of July 2006

Happy Birthday Mom

Wishing that your birthday is extra special. That all your dreams and wishes come true… because no one else in the whole wide world deserves it more than you!

Marostica Chess Match 9/12/08

The story of the Chess Game dates back to 1454.
It happened that two noblemen, fell in love with the beautiful Lionora, daughter of Taddeo Parisio, who was the Lord of the Marostica's castle. As was the custom in that time, they challenged each other to a cruel duel to win the hand of Lionora.



The Lord, not wanting to make an enemy of either suitors or loose them in a duel, forbade the encounter. He decided the two rivals should play a chess game: Lionora would take the winner as her husband and the loser would in any case join his family, marrying Oldrada, the younger sister.





The game should take place on the square in front of the Lower Castle on a feast-day with armed living persons carrying the noble ensigns of Whites and Blacks, in the presence of the Lord, his noble daughter, the Lords of Angarano and Vallonarathe noble court and the entire population.
He also decided the challenge should be honoured by an performance of armed men, fool-soldiers and knights, with fireworks and dances and sounds.


So the armed men entered the field: archers and halberdiers, fool-soldiers and knights, then the Lord and his noble court with an anxious Lionora,
who is secretly in love with one of the two rivals, her faithful nurse, noblemen and their ladies, the herold, the master of arms, falconers, pageboys, maidens, standard holders, musicians, farmers and their wives; the Whites and the Blacks with their kings and queens, rooks and knights, bishops and pawns and the two suitors who decide the moves.


Then tribulation for the victory, fireworks and music according to the Lord's orders.
This event is repeated today just like the first time, in a framework of sumptuous costumes, multi-colour banners, martial parades, exquisite elegance.
A note of unique courtesy pervades everything; it inspires the whole re-evocation of this ancient story which, from the darkness of remote times, still live today as a miracle of fantasy.



It was such an amazing time being able to go and watch this! Our family will have memories of this event for a very long time.

Remembering 9-11

On this Anniversary of the Day America was Attacked,
let us take a few moments to REMEMBER.



We NEED to REMEMBER, that horrible feeling we all felt,
when the news of the Attack broke early that morning.

For if we forget, we will surely be taken off guard again.



We NEED to REMEMBER, how we ALL came together
helping our fellow man.



We NEED to REMEMBER, the Hero's



We NEED to REMEMBER the Victims
We NEED to REMEMBER those we Lost



Freedom is not Free
Never Forget


Credit to: http://home.att.net/~vetcenter/911anniv.htm

Baby Ashton

My sister in law made this scrapblog of my sweet nephew, and I just had to share. I cannot wait till I get back to the States to meet him. I'll admit that I was in tears watching it... He looks so much like my brother.

Making Pasta

Last Friday Julie and I got to learn how to make HOMEMADE Pasta!!
On Sunday, Lucia asked us if we wanted to come over, and there was no way we could pass up the opportunity.
So here I am making pasta from scratch!!
I was surprised at how easy it really was!

Julie looks like a pro. She already has the tools to do it at home too!

Thank You Silvia and Lucia. You guys are the best!!!

First Day of KINDERGARTEN!!

Somebody is EXCITED!!!

It's hard to believe that both of my kids are in school.

Waiting for the bus. Kirra and Austin are pretty happy to have him riding with them.

Oh Boy...here it comes!!

Getting off the bus at the school... wow...maybe a little more scary than he thought.

No worries...Big Sis is there to help show the way.

Greetings from Ms. Ginn.

Best Buddies!!

Time to say goodbye... You're on your own now mom.......