{Felice Anno Nuovo} Happy New Year 2011

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!!!

:)

{a spoiled little kitty}

and he slept, just like that, for quite awhile!

Enjoy :)

Ciao!

{Gingerbread Houses} 20 Dec 2010

The kids got a kit to make mini gingerbread houses in their stocking from St. Nick. We spent the afternoon making a little village.
Enjoy :)
Ciao!

{Sledding-Asiago} 12 Dec 2010

We took the kids sledding up in Asiago @ Albergo Miramonti. We rented sleds and had a great time. There is a ski area there too--we'll ski there at some point this winter. The slopes are perfect for the kids (who haven't skied in a couple of years).



we rode up, instead of walking :)



Mark & the kids at the top.

getting ready to go!

a view of the slopes

Kieran & her daddy

Kieran and me--she is also old enough to go by herself.

We went up again this past Sunday. It was cloudy, cold and snowing lightly. We had another fun Sunday sledding.

Enjoy :)

Ciao!

{US Army Africa Holiday Ball} 10 Dec 2010

Last night we got to get all dressed up for the US Army Africa Holiday Ball. We had a wonderful time.

Enjoy :)

Ciao!

{Student of the Quarter} 10 Dec 2010

WooHoo Kieran--she was named Student of the Quarter for her class! Yesterday there was a 3rd grade assembly. We are SO proud of her!!!

Kieran with her principal.

Enjoy :)

{Vicenza Middle School Winter Concert} 9 Dec 2010

Mark and the band did a fabulous job performing in their winter concert. Mark is doing really well playing the trumpet. What's really impressive is that most of the students didn't know how to play their instruments at the beginning of the year. They worked hard and it definitely paid off---beautifully!

Enjoy :)

{Bathtime}

Our kitties definitely like water! I was getting Kieran into the bathtub and while we were waiting for the water to warm up, Rude kept jumping in the tub. So after, we turned the faucet on in my tub and the kitties had FUN. Reason was a little curious and didn't get as wet as Rude. Rude LOVED batting at the stream of water.

Enjoy :)

Ciao!

{the STAR topper}

When we decorated our tree last week, after I took and posted a picture of it, I realized we didn't have a star on the top. We had to buy new lights (220V) and the star we usually put on top had lights, but we couldn't use it here. I found a star at the PX---now our tree is complete!

Next up--trying to get a picture for our Christmas card this year!

Enjoy :)

{new KITTY pictures}

They are fitting in quite nicely. Both LOVE to jump in the bathtub after we finish our baths--from what I've read about Maine Coons, it's very typical of them to like water and play in it. Sometimes when we don't know where they are, we just have to look in the bathtubs or showers, and there they are :)

Enjoy!

{It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!}

We decorated for Christmas today :)

We had snow earlier this morning too!

Enjoy.

Ciao!

{3rd Grade Field Trip} 23 Nov 2010

Kieran's class took a field trip to Bonamini Olive Mill...they heard how olive oil is made and were able to see the equipment. The harvest is over for this year :( So they couldn't see olive oil being made.

After, they all got to taste the olive oil and make purchases. I'm glad I was a chaperone--I bought some olive oil, pesto, black olive pate & body lotion.

On our way back to school, we stopped in Verona to see the arena and walked around the Piazza Bra'. The high-point of the trip (for the kids) was gelato, balloons & paper crowns.

It was a great day and a wonderful experience for the kids!

Enjoy :)

Ciao!

{Vicenza Market} 18 Nov 2010

Another gray morning here in Italy---I wanted to take my parents to the downtown market one more time before they fly back to the States next Thurs. Kieran has no school today & tomorrow (parent-teacher conferences)...Mark was NOT happy that he had to go to school today. He'll have off tomorrow for the middle school parent-teacher conferences.

YAY---I found a yarn store downtown! I picked up some beautiful yarn to knit Kieran's teacher a scarf for Christmas. Now--to find the right pattern! Kieran found some chunky yarn and size 13 needles and is learning to knit (she's working on a scarf) :)

We stopped here for some hot chocolate (cioccolata caldo)....YUM!!!

The Teatro Olimpico

We had another great morning!

Enjoy :)

Ciao!