Dr. visit

Like everything else, going to the Dr. while in Italy is an adventure. We don't have a clinic at our nearby base, so if we want to see a Dr. that speaks english,(and we do) we must travel to the army post about an hour away. This is also where the nearest commissary is, so when we go we make a day of it.

Dain had had a cough for a few days now so we decided it was time to get him checked out. The clinic was booked for the day when we arrived, but because we live so far away (and they are awesome) they said they would squeeze us in if we didn't mind waiting. So we waited. And waited.

 

 

 

We waited so long Hayden sprouted some whiskers.

 

 

He has learned to embrace the crazy.

 

 

 I already embarrass the living daylights out of Dain. I cannot stop laughing at his face in this picture. I'm sure he thinks I'm a complete idiot.



 

Trevor was not so keen on having a moustache so I settled for cuddles.

 

 

Dain was finally seen and deemed not dying. He has a cold that is kicking his butt though. Here's to hoping the rest of the family is able to stay healthy.

 

 

~Ashley

 

 

 



 

 



milk machine

One thing you have to know about us is we drink milk, a lot. We are very picky about our milk, it has to have just the right taste. Trevor won't even drink Gandy's brand of milk. Anyways, the thing you have to know about Italy is the milk here is weird. I'm talking you have to really look to even find refrigerated milk. After numerous milk scouting trips and not finding anything, we were finally introduced to our new favorite thing: the milk machine.

 

This is the magical milk machine. It is located in the middle of Montichiari (we live right outside of town) and it's right down the street from Dain's bus stop.

 

You buy the one liter milk jugs from the vending machine pictured above on the left. You can get either plastic or glass (we have glass and just wash them out). The vending machine also offers yogurt, butter, and mozzarella cheese.

 

Then you fill up your jug with the best milk ever. This stuff is like mana from heaven.

 

 

 Dain and Hayden love going to get milk because it 'moos' at us. They are convinced there is a cow trapped in there.

 

 

This is the church across the street from the milk machine. The only times that we have a hard time getting milk is on Friday mornings when the market is going on and Sunday mornings during church.

Have a happy day before Friday!!!

~~~Ashley

Cats

It's been forever and ever since I was on here last. I have no excuse, I'm just supremely lazy. We are starting to feel at home here in Italy and are enjoying it. Not much has been going on around here. Trevor is working a ton, and in his off time he has been trying to fix up his truck with a friend. Dain is doing well in school. He started learning how to play rugby in sports class, and so far he likes it. Me and Hayden are just hanging out at the house most of the time. The weather has been cold and rainy the last few weeks, so we just stay inside. Some of the best entertainment has come from the cats that live on our street.

 

This is one of the cats. I call her crazy cat, because she cray. Crazy cat has tried to get into our house several times (she has succeeded several times too). The only reason we don't just steal invite her in is Hayden is allergic to cats. Very sad for me. I love cats. And crazy cat obviously love me.

We have two other cats that haunt our house, I call them spy cat, and grumpy cat. Spy cat has also gotten into the house, she sneaks in for a peek, then casually walks out like it's no big deal. Grumpy cat always looks like he is mad. We don't talk much.

That's all for now. Happy Friday!!

On the road again (kinda)



This is a traveling post, I don't wear make up while traveling, you have been warned. We left Lubbock on a Thursday so we could drop off our Mariner to be shipped from Dallas on Friday and then fly out Saturday morning. As we were driving to our hotel we passed Medieval Times, we've never been there so we decided to go that night. There was no time to freshen up from the drive, but it was the only time we could go while we were in town. So we went.  



 

 It was a blast. I think I was the most excited. If you haven't been, I highly suggest you do. It's dinner (that you eat with your hands) and a show. We really enjoyed it.

Friday we drove all over Dallas/Fort Worth looking for a car wash. Using google maps. On my phone. Then we dropped off our car to be shipped. It was a bad feeling to be without a car.

 Saturday morning We packed up and flew out. The Dallas airport wasn't too crowded and we had no trouble finding our way around. New York was a different story. We had to wait 30 minutes when we arrived before we could get off the plane, and with an hour and a half layover, that was a problem. It was crazy in there! We finally found where we needed to be. We flew on a huge Air France plane. It was a seven hour flight. The TVs were broken in our seats, what a bummer.

 We arrived at the Paris airport around 5:30 a.m. Sunday. That airport was really nice, and we found our way around it easier than I thought we would. Two years of high school french had nothing to do with it. We finally got to Verona airport around 10 a.m. and were picked up by Trevor's sponsor (he helps us with pretty much everything here). There were a few hours to kill before check in, so we went to play at a near by park and ate at a cafe. After that we crashed till the next morning when Trevor had to go into work. So far things are going good. We have a lot of help and it has made things easier.

Before

We made it. Finally. Before I get into everything that is going on now, I want to play some catch up.

Before the big trip, we spent some  alot of time back home in Lubbock. Hayden had his 4th Birthday party early. Pokemon has been all the boys have talked about for almost THREE MONTHS. Seriously. They watch the movies, the t.v. shows, they have pokemon toys that don't get put down all day long, it's all they talk about. I never thought I would wish they would like cars again.

Trevor killed a demon snake that almost ate me. He is my hero for life.

 

Before we left I had to get a copy of The Hunger Games on Blu-ray. And a Hunger Games blanket, because I'm cool like that.

 



Dain and Hayden were almost eaten by Hippos.

That is most of the excitement that went on while in Lubbock. I will (hopefully) have a little something cooked up later this week. 

 

July

It's July! We have less than 3 weeks till we pack up and leave San Angelo. In a month we will be heading to Italy! For now we are spending our time relaxing at home playing video games and hanging out at the pool. Dain took swimming lessons and is starting to become a little fish. Hayden mostly floats around with his floaties. Trevor is still waiting on his orders, but they should be in sometime next week, then hopefully we will know what is happening when. As for me, I've been trying to de-clutter the house. Not an easy task, but with luck I will be done by the time the movers are here. Hopefully we will have more news soon!

-Ashley

No News

It has been over a month since my last post, I am a terrible blogger. I thought that once I was out of school for the summer that I would be able to blog more, wrong! I have been home with Hayden. We have been lounging around and playing and enjoying the quiet. Dain is graduating from kindergarten next Friday and I am thrilled. I have high hopes for this summer. I plan to get things back in order around the house before it all gets packed and shipped.

We still don't have any new information about the big move. We are waiting, and not so patiently. I am concerned because we still don't have orders (the official papers telling us to go), and that is making me crazy. At this point we are thinking that we will leave San Angelo in mid July and report to Italy around the first of August. During that brief time in between we are staying in Lubbock to spend time with family and friends, so if you are either, that is the time to see us!

If anyone wants to get together before we leave let us know, we would love to see everyone before we go. That also means if you want to visit while we are in San Angelo let us know.