Moose Mountain in the Mall of America!!!

Last bit of fun with the Moteberg side before leaving the states!

The kids with Grandma and Grandpa!

MN State Fair!!! Our last bit of fun with the Gruenes side!

The last of the pictures at Grandma and Grandpa's G. house!

Helping Grandpa with the trees!

Driving the tractor!

Helping dad out!

Wild hair and toads!

Hours away from Christmas break...

I am continuing from December 10th, since that is when I wrote last!  The evening of the 10th we attended our first Aviano Tree Lighting Ceremony.  Where we got to see Tops in Blue for the first time ever, eat cookies, drink cocoa, and see Santa for the first time this season!!!

The morning of December 11th Bill tested for Senior Master Sergeant!  He felt like his test went well, now the waiting game until March to see if he made it!!!

December 12th I participated in my second Aviano 5K, the Reindeer Dash!  I ran it in 28 minutes 38 seconds, taking almost 30 seconds off my run from the month before.  The evening of the 12th the kids and I took Bill out to BEFeD in Aviano for his birthday dinner! (http://www.befed.it/it/index.htm)  They are know for their chicken dinners!  Then home to have pudding cake, which the kids and I made!!!

December 13th Happy Birthday to Bill!!!  We attended the 31 MXS Kids Holiday party, home to relax, then off to the 31 MXS adult holiday party that evening at Cial De Brent (http://www.cialdebrent.it/).  It was definitely not like the 323rd holiday parties back at Lackland.

 

Basketball parent orientation for Alyssa and Daniel.  The evening of 16th we got to see the 4th/5th grade performance of Dear Santa.  It was very cute and Alyssa did an great job!!!  Alyssa is the second row from the top all the way to the right!

December 17th Happy 6th Birthday to Daniel!!!  I was able to attend Alyssa's Study Trip to Casa di Roposo (the old folk home) in Aviano then out to eat at Casa Bianca Pizzeria (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Casabianca-Ristorante/225074627502819).  All the kids sang to the people at the home, it was amazing to see that even though they were singing in English how much it made their day.  The kids study trips are always so fun!!!  I can't wait for the next one!  Home that afternoon to prepare Daniel's birthday feast, since he didn't want to go out to eat.  His feast consisted of turkey, green bean casserole, blue doritos, peppers, apples, bread, and dipping oil!  He was one happy boy!

Yesterday I spent the day in cozy clothes cleaning up more of the house, it is really starting to feel like home here.  I have even reach out and made a couple Aviano facebook friends!  I continue to work on my master resume, in hopes to turn in my substitute teacher application before the new year!!!

Today after school begins the kids two week Christmas break!  No alarms to wake us up and hopefully we can find some fun things to get into in the area for the next two weeks!  Merry Christmas to all of you and a Happy New Year!!!

Bowling with grandma and cousins!!!

August 2014!

Rum Chata anyone?

One last pizza party with Great-Grandpa Donald!!!

Love this!!!

Happy 6th Birthday Daniel!!!

Daniel got his birthday present from us four months early!!!

Hannah's first time getting lowlights!!!

Thank you Kaylie!!!

Fun at Splashers Water Park August 2014!

East Grand Forks Heritage Days!!! (August 2014)

August 2014 trip to Itasca State Park (Mississippi Head Waters)

Grandma and the grand kids minus Ashlynn

Swimming with cousins in the Mississippi Head Waters!!!

Update from Italy!!!

On December 2nd, we decided to bring Daniel back in to the doctor as he was losing his hearing from his ear infection that he was being treated for.  We found out that the amoxicillian he was taking wasn't getting rid of his ear infection.  At that time they decided that he would need a Rocephin shot, which consisted of two shots, one in each butt cheek to kick start the healing process.  He was also put on Augmentin for the next seven day, which he did not like at all.  On the 5th he went back in for a follow up appointment.  He was not completely back to normal, but looking better.  He has since taken all the medicine is now back to normal.  I was a bit worried when he started to lose his hearing, but all is good now!

On the 5th of December, I got to experience a new volunteer opportunity, working at the Post Office!  I was immediately put at the window getting packages for everyone.  It took me a bit getting the tracking system down, but I got it.  I really enjoyed helping out and can't wait to go back!

The evening of the 5th Hannah, Daniel and I mixed up three batches of cookies to put in the fridge to make the following morning.

The morning of the 6th we were up early rolling out, cutting, and baking cookies, that way they were ready to decorate later that day!

Later that morning Daniel was invited to his friend Grayce's birthday party at Boscomatto Family Park (http://www.boscomatto.it/).  All three of the kids had a great time!!!

Back home to spend the rest of the day frosting, decorating and making more goodies for the Cookie Drive on Monday.  We ended up with 17 dozen goodies!  We made no bake cookies, white chocolate popcorn, puppy chow, two different sugar cookies, chocolate marshmallow fudge & gingerbread cookies!!!  Everyone had a great time helping out!

Sunday, the 7th of December we headed on a bus tour with the MXS squadron to Austria to check out a couple Christmas Markets, one in Klagenfurt and one in Villach.  The kids got to see snow on the way, but there was none in the towns.  They were hoping for a snowball fight!  We had a great time eating schnitzel sandwiches, bratwursts, Austria goulash soup, and checking out all the stands and the beautiful towns.  This trip really made me miss all the amazing German food in Germany!

 Monday I brought all the goodies to base for the Cookie Drive!  I have spent the past couple days catching up on laundry, wrapping gifts, finishing up Christmas cards, and just catching up around the house!  The next week and a half is going to go quick with everything going on, then the kids have two weeks off from school for Christmas break!  I can't wait!!!

Update!!!

Back on the 21st of November I did my first run in Aviano, the Turkey Trot 5K!  Not my best time, but I did complete it in 29 minutes and 4 seconds.  Later that evening we had our first squadron get together for Thanksgiving, it was a good time.

On the 22nd we had friends over for the first time!  We always enjoy our time with the Webers!

The 24th I brought Daniel in for what I thought was a cold, it turns out he had an double ear infection.  First one for him, I just hope they do not continue...

The 26th I was able to attend Alyssa's first study trip to Agriturismo Gelindo (http://www.gelindo.it/)!  It was a great experience!  It is a resort/restaurant/farm, they grow everything they serve, so everything is seasonal and fresh.  The kids got to go to the barns and fields, go on a long carriage ride, make biscotti and ravoli, and eat some amazing food!  I was really impressed and can't wait for the next study trip!

On Thanksgiving we went to see Penguins of Madagascar and enjoyed brisket along with lots of other delicious food!  We went for a bike ride/run for me!  Enjoyed the day as a family and got to talk with Grandma and Grandpa Gruenes on the phone and the Moteberg side we were able to Skype with at the McWilliam farm!

Black Friday we did some things around the house and a lot of shopping.  We are not yet done with shopping, but close!  We went to Self, a do it yourself store, we picked up walking bricks and a plum tree.  Bill and the kids built a path over the mud for when it is raining and planted a tree in our yard.  Our yard only had one little bush in it, so I hope the landlords don't mind!  I am curious to see if it will produce any fruit in the next four years!

This past Saturday we decided to adventure out to Venice, only an hour and ten minute drive from our house!  Most people have told us to take the train, but we wanted to check it out in the van.  We parked outside of the city, took the people mover in, and wandered the streets of Venice for a few hours.  This picture is by the Grand Canal!  We did not take any boat rides this time, but just got familiar with the area as this will be a place that we for sure will be taking visitors!  It was a very relaxing day!

Yesterday we went to church as we do every Sunday, to the Commissary for some groceries and home to relax for the day.  The day consisted of homework with Daniel, Bill and Alyssa started her tee pee project, Hannah and Daniel sorted Legos and K'nex with me (so it is easier to build stuff), we watched a couple Christmas movies and started putting up the Christmas tree and decorations!  I love the Christmas season!!!

Today begins ten days of leave for Bill, he will be testing for Senior Master Sergeant in a couple weeks! Thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated!

Detroit Lakes, MN pictures!