Christmas Day

Hope everyone had a great Christmas. We had a wonderful Christmas, very quite but nice. Nikolas had a blast and was really excited when it snowed that night.

Christmas School Program

Nikolas had his Christmas program today and now he is on his Christmas break for a couple of weeks. Here are a few pictures of them singing, his girlfriend, teachers and his classroom. He was even signing the Italian songs, so cute. Enjoy!!

Merry Christmas

A Shepard

Yes that is right a real Shepard. He takes his flock all around our little town. They cross the main roads, and fields etc. It is so fun to see, he has a few hundred head of sheep (baby sheep too), and two dogs. The dogs are amazing to watch when he yells commands at them they get right too it and start gathering the sheep. Here are a few pictures. Enjoy!!

WOW

So I had to post this pictures. We were at a open market and I had to take a picture of the port a potties. They were so fancy. ENJOY!! HA HA

All Grown Up

Our little tiny baby is growing up so fast. He looked so grown up on Sunday I had to take pictures and I had to share. Man they grown up so fast!!

Future Mozart!!

handsome little guy!!

He looks innocent, ya right!! Don't let him fool you too!!

Happy Halloween from Buzz Lightyear

Is this not the cutest Buzz Lightyear you have ever seen!! ahhhh

Halloween School Party

Today the Asilio (Italian Preschool) has the American's come in a do a Halloween Pumpkin Carving demonstration. They sang songs and watch us carve pumpkins, let the kids see the insides etc... Hope you enjoy the slide show.

End of Soccer Season

They had a Soccer Jamboree for the end of the season. We had fun!!

A good laugh

Funny Commercial, had to share!!

I am all Caught up

Sorry for all the posting but we were crazy busy and so now I am all caught up. We are doing very well and having fun. Italy it so amazing and so beautiful. Please feel free to come visit and see this awesome country. We defiantly go to Venice a lot but we love it there and it is only a 1 hour train trip away. Easy and no planning needed. Anyway just wanted to do a little update because I am not very good about email everyone back from the comments. I hope all is well with everyone. We love and miss all of you. Enjoy!!

Helping Hand

Our cute little Italian neighbors and their wonderful garden and vineyard. Nikolas loves to be a part of it and they love having him. Enjoy

First Day of Preschool

I know this is late but here are pictures of Nikolas and his Asilo. Enjoy

Wasting no Time -- Our First Visitor

We had some friends from Arkansas come visit (Angie & Dustin), and we had a blast. It was so great to have visitors and show them around. Of course we went to Venice again, we love that place not that you couldn't tell!! Anyway we were suppose to go to Florence but we came down sick. Oh well, so here are the pictures from our trip with them to Venice. Oh Nikolas has been dieing to take a boat trip so we kept promising him next time, we he got his next time finally!! He was in heaven, the taxi driver let him drive!! Enjoy

Our First Snow

We had our first snow a couple of weekend ago and it was so cold. Ahhhh not already!!

Nikolas Italian Buddies

Just hanging out!!

First Catch

We were doing yard work this past weekend and Nikolas decided to try out his skills and catch a grasshopper. He was so proud of his catch but also very careful and tender with it. In a couple of pictures he was sitting down singing a sweet little lullaby to it and telling it that it was going to be okay! Oh so cute, my tender hearted little baby boy. Enjoy

Soccer

Nikolas is in soccer and loves it. I don't know how the couch does it though, 7 three year olds and trying to get them to learn to play soccer. WOW!! Enjoy

Marostica, Italy

Okay so I have been a little lazy on posting, okay really lazy. I am sorry so I have a few post and lots of pictures.
These pictures or from Marostica, which is a town that puts on a human chess game every even year. This is a neat little explanation.

Marostica is surrounded by the ancient walls of its castles, as if it wants to symbolize its discreet elegance. This finds its moment of greatest expression and renown in the world famous Chess Game.
Every September of an even numbered year, this human chess game is played on the square of Marostica. It occurs every second Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The story of the Chess Game dates back to 1454 when Marostica belonged to the Venetian Republic.
It happened that two nobleman, Rinaldo D'Angarano and Vieri da Vallonara, fell in love with the beautiful Lionora, daughter of Taddeo Parisio, the Lord of Marostica's castle. As was the custom in that time, they challenged each other to a duel to win the hand of Lionora.
The Lord, not wanting to make an enemy of either suitor or lose them in a duel, forbade the encounter in conformity with Venetian Law.
He decided the two rivals should play a chess game: Lionora would take the winner as her husband. He furthermore decided that the loser would in any case join his family, marrying Oldrada, the younger sister.
The game took place on the square in front of the Lower Castle, with armed living persons carrying the ensigns of Whites and Blacks. It played in the presence of the Lord, his daughter, the Lords of Angarano and Vallonara, the noble court, and the entire population.
The Lord also decided the challenge should be honored by an exhibition of armed men, with fireworks and dances and sounds.
So the armed men entered the field: archers and halberdiers, foot-soldiers and knights. Then came the Lord and his court with an anxious Lionora, who was secretly in love with one of the two rivals. With them were Lionora's faithful nurse, noblemen and their ladies, the herald, the master of arms, falconers, pageboys, maidens, standard holders, musicians, farmers and their wives; the Whites and Blacks with their kings and queens, rooks and knights, bishops and pawns: and the two suitors, who decided the moves.
After the victory, fireworks and music were offered according to the Lord's orders.
As Lady Lionora had secretly informed the population, should the winner be her beloved, the Lower Castle would be illuminated by white light, so that everybody could share their joy.
This event is repeated today just like the first time, in a framework of sumptuous costumes, multi-color 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 lives today as a miracle of fantasy.
The orders are still given to characters and cast today in the dialect of the "Serenissima Republic of Venezia".

NOW FOR THE SHOW!!!