holiday recap!

Okay, so this is totally going to be a picture overload! I am so far behind on my blog but I wanted to get these holiday pictures on here so that I can do my next post on London!

First off...Halloween! The week of Halloween was spent in Paris with Dustin's parents. After sending them off we headed home. We got home on the 30th, the day before Halloween, just in time for parties! The night of the 30th we dressed up and went to a party with our friends Rachel and Sid. We dressed up as cops. I was a city cop and Dustin was a "hillbilly cop." It worked out perfect since he hadn't shaved for two weeks because he was on leave so he had a sweet handle-bar mustache that looked awesome! The next night we spent at our friends Rachel and Sids house and carved pumpkins and ate good food. Rachel is one of the best cooks I know!

For Thanksgiving, we went to our friends Vicki and Todd's house. We had so much good food! We had fun eating all day, playing games and singing karaoke.

Vicki and Larry getting ready to carve the turkey

Me and Vicki

Vicki and Liz

Ben, Dustin and Larry all thinking they need to watch over the deep-fried turkey. They were out there all day! It was their pride and joy :)

Christmas was low key and very nice! We got up and opened gifts for each other than had orange rolls and cinnamon rolls. We pretty much hung out the rest of the afternoon till all our family in the states finally got up! (Ha ha jk. They did get up at 8am but it seems like forever when it's 4pm your time!)

Some of the ornaments on our tree...

One of our snow storms! Didn't last long :(

Trying to wrap my cat up for christmas....Didn't really work out....

One of the cute pies I made for my Italian neighbors. I had never made them before and probably should have taste tested them beforehand... Oh well!

For New Years Eve we went to Venice with our friends Rachel and Sid. We got there around 7pm then took the water taxi to San Marco Piazza. After walking around the square, which was surprisingly empty, we found a restaurant and ate pizza and a traditional italian cake called panettone. It was 11:30pm before we made it back to the square where all the festivities were held and then it was PACKED! We had so much fun and it was way cool to see how Venice celebrates the new year. Definitely glad we went!

On the water taxi going to the Piazza

Gazebo in the square

Countdown to 2011!

Fireworks over the water

New Years Kiss!

Grateful!

I went visiting teaching today and the lesson was appropriately on being grateful. Sad thing is, is that even though it is Thanksgiving in two days, I hadn't even given this a thought. But I am grateful that I had this lesson to remind me of all the things that I am thankful for.

First of all, I am thankful for my husband. I am thankful that he works as hard as he does for us, that he is willing to use his paycheck for nothing other than vacations, and that he is willing to serve our country. I am SO GRATEFUL that he is HOME (and home safe) from Afghanistan. It was hard to have him gone and Iam so happy now that we are back together and that now I can look forward to all the fun times in Italy ahead ofus. I love him so much!

I am grateful for my family. I am grateful that I get to talk to them once a week and that they are always there for me even though they live 9,000 miles away. I love them so much!!! I am very grateful for my Grandma, who came to live with me for three months just to keep me company. And we had the BEST time! I know that it cost her a lot of money to stay here, and I am grateful for her sacrifice.

I am grateful to live in Italy. I know that I have an amazing opportunity that I sometimes take for granted. Especially when I am homesick. But I absolutely love it here and don't want to leave anytime soon! We love the friends that we have made, Italian and American. (P.S. We are open to any and all visitors! We would love to show you around!)

I am thankful for my In-laws. It's so wonderful to have another family as great as your own. We were so lucky that they came to visit and we had so much fun. They are very supportive to us and we love them.

There is so much more that I am grateful for this Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for and we couldn't ask for a happier life.

Sono cosi grato per la mia famiglia, gli amici e le possibilita di vivere in Italia. Ti voglio bene tutti!!

Another vacation!

I have been a MAJOR slacker on my blog lately. I lot has been going on the last month. First Dustin finally got home from Afghanistan, October 4th. It is so great to have him home, though now I have more laundry :( His parents came out to visit and arrived on the 12th. We stayed super busy with them. We went fishing in Slovenia, to Florence, Siena, Venice, Garmisch, Munich, Salzburg, and Paris. We had such a fun time and it was sad to see them leave. It was sure great to finally see some family!

Getting ready to go fishing in Slovenia

Siena. Piazza Del Campo

On the Vecchio bridge in Florence

We stayed at a really cute house in Florence that we had all to ourselves! I LOVED it there!

I loved all the unique furniture

Looking out over Florence

The really cute hotel we stayed at in Garmisch. It was so much fun because they would have music and dancing every night on the main level.

Eating at the Hofbrauhaus

It was our first time to PARIS and I loved every minute of it

I loved watching the Eiffel Tower at night sparkle! It was so beautiful!

the BEST Christmas party this summer!!

Alissa's birthday party was SO MUCH fun this year! I was so glad that I was home to enjoy it. And all of you who didn't come.... you missed out!

Birthday girl with her cake!

Santa came! The kids were so excited and practically mauled him.

Chennell and Kate meeting Santa

Kiah was so excited to talk to Santa and tell him what she wanted this year for Christmas.

Alissa with Santa

Mom and Logan. He was not so happy about having to do this!

Ugly Sweater Contest!!! From the left: Ryan Olson, Aunt Deanne, Grandpa Kap, RaeAnne, Danny and Cynthia. I was amazed at how many people showed up in their sweaters and stayed in them even though it was 90 degrees

Nikki Jeske, JaLesha Olson, Ryan Olson and Aunt Deanne
Nikki won the adult contest!

Chennell Brand, Meagan Bills and Grandma

Kenna showing off her Christmas/Americana sweater. There are 13 flags on this thing! I think she should have won but she was the judge instead

Tenaya, Me, Kenna and Alissa posing with our sweaters

Kids gift exchange

Adult gift exchange