Happy Monday Everyone!

Don't worry, we haven't gotten kidnapped.  It's amazing how busy and productive you can be when you get on a normal schedule. 

I'm really enjoying my new job.  I work with another great teacher and we co-teach a kindergarted prep class.  The hours are wonderful and the work environment is sooo much better than the last place. 

John Ralph has been super busy with work.  They have been doing a lot of training and have a lot more to come.  The other night his company did a reverse training cycle, which basically means they work and train through the night and then have the next day off (to sleep).  I cooked his platoon breakfast, which was an experience!  The night before I prepped as much as I could.  I made blueberry muffins, cranberry orange muffins, and apple cinnamon muffins.  I also made sage, hot, and maple sausage patties for biscuits.  Then I decided that simply wasn't enough, so I made two bacon, pepper, and onion quiches.  I'm usually pretty good in the kitchen, but for some reason I started rushing myself and ended up with a burn, a cut, and two huge bruises on my shins from running into the dishwasher door.  The next morning I woke up (at 4:00) to bake biscuits, reheat everything, and deliver it all by 5:30.  Needless to say, after spending the rest of my day with a classroom of 4 and 5 year olds I was very ready to crawl in bed that night!  John Ralph appreciated it and I think the guys did too.  It actually was fun for me to get everything together and I wouldn't mind doing things like that more often...just maybe not as early!

I'm gearing up for a month-long trip back home.  John Ralph will be out of the country all of March, so I figured it would be a good time to go home for a visit.  My weekends are already full with weddings and parties, but I'm looking forward to being able to see my friends and family and have lunch dates during the week!  March is such a busy month for my family.  Everyone was born in March.  Seriously.  Everyone.   So there will be lots to celebrate!  I'm ready to be home.  Plus, I CAN'T WAIT to go to Target!! 

When I fly back to Italy, we'll just have a few days before we get two weeks of leave.  We're planning a trip through Germany and Austria for the first part.  I think the plan is to hike a few days, then stay somewhere nice for a few days in each area we visit.  For the second part of the leave we're having our first visitors!!  I'm really excited to show James and Michelle around Vicenza and some surrounding areas.  I like to imagine how other people will react to our life.  Sometimes, when I'm walking around I like to make myself take in the surroundings like I've never seen them before.  Not only does it make me appreciate where I live a little more, but it makes me see it through a visitors eyes over and over again. 

This past weekend we made a trip to Ikea for a guest bed.  I actually like it better than our bed.  Once I get some pictures on the walls and finally organize the last little bit of clutter I plan on posting pictures of our bedroom and guest bedroom.  Everything is coming together so nicely! 

That's all I really have to share at the moment.  I hope everyone back home is doing well and I can't wait to see everyone!  Enjoy your week.  Ciao for now!