Oh my! Italy is everything I thought it would be, times 10. Our trip here was ridiculously easy, and our friend Molly was waiting for us at the airport. It was an amazingly beautiful drive from the airport to their house. We got to Italy mid-morning and it's currently 6 PM on Saturday evening, so we've had two full days here. The town we're in, Asolo, is just like every small Italian town you see in the movies. Old men working in their vineyards, lots of people on bicycles, wild drivers, winding cobble streets. It really is such a magical place. Today we went to a factory where they make tons of pottery and dishes--they make all of Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma's stuff. They also make Tiffany's stuff, and I got a Tiffany's platter and bowl that retailed at Tiffany's for $90 and $95 respectively. I paid $37 for both pieces. Happy vacation to me!
My mom is finally used to the fact that we are in Italy and not, as she thought we were going to be, in a cabin in Branson. fWe're having a ball. The only downside is that Ethan got a stomach bug the day we left, and Abby got a BLACK EYE at school when she fell on the playground! My poor babies. Luckily, they happen to have the best father in the world, so they probably don't even notice that I'm gone.
I have so much more to say, but I'm hogging the computer so I'll stop for now. There will be much more when I get back, though--I'll have lots more to tell, and some great photos, too. However, that will have to wait for another day--I have some pasta to eat!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
I'M GOING TO ITALY!
I haven't been able to post about this until now, but I AM GOING TO ITALY TODAY! We have surprised my mom with a trip to see our friends Molly and Jimmy, who live right outside of Venice. Until about 7:30 this morning, my mom thought we were going to Branson. Instead, she, our friend Kristen and I are getting on a plane at 2:00 this afternoon! We told mom this morning, and she was SHOCKED. In fact, she's still a little dazed. She sat at her table for an hour, asking questions, before she could even think about packing. She just can't believe it--how fun! We will be back next Tuesday night, but I think I will have blogging abilities while I'm there, so check back. Arrivaderci!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
I'm all about denial
Well, the real American Idol started last night. Of course, the show started several weeks ago, but for a while it's just a bunch of nonsense until they get it whittled down to the top 24. The top 12 men sang last night, and though no one blew me away I was impressed with a few of them. We shall see how the girls fare this evening. If you don't watch the show, I really do recommend it--it's fun to root for your favorite and watch these people go from being ordinary citizens to superstars. Plus, you gotta love Simon.
Last night at Abby's gymnastics class, I saw her run and do a somersault in the air without putting her hands on the ground. Since when can she do that?! It's amusing, though, because for all my daughter's gifts in the somersault department, she is definitely remedial with cartwheels. It's painful to watch. But hey, she's only three. For two more weeks, anyway. Wait. Two weeks until I have a FOUR year old? Can't..breathe....mustn't...think...about...it...
Last night at Abby's gymnastics class, I saw her run and do a somersault in the air without putting her hands on the ground. Since when can she do that?! It's amusing, though, because for all my daughter's gifts in the somersault department, she is definitely remedial with cartwheels. It's painful to watch. But hey, she's only three. For two more weeks, anyway. Wait. Two weeks until I have a FOUR year old? Can't..breathe....mustn't...think...about...it...
Monday, February 19, 2007
No clever title comes to mind...
Here I am! I haven't gone missing, I've just been a tad busy. Ethan had a fever on Friday, so I had to go pick him up from school and stay home with him. Saturday we had group family pictures with my in-laws. It went surprisingly well, and the pictures should be nice. Then Saturday night Audrey spent the night at our house for the first time, and she and Abby had a grand time. They played dress up most of the time, and at one point Abby sported her Snow White dress, a straw hat, purple gloved and flip flops, while Audrey wore a pink princess dress and literally every piece of play jewelry Abby owns--which, thanks to my Mom, is a LOT. If Audrey's mom approves, I may post pictures later--they are priceless.
Sunday morning, Audrey's parents Chad and Marla had a conference to go to, so they dropped their other daughter Avery, who is Ethan's age, at our house around 8. Matt and I had to get all 4 kids dressed and to church, then home, fed lunch and down for naps. Piece of cake! I could totally be the mother of 4--for 2 days, anyway. Then my head would probably explode from all the gray hairs coming out of it so fast. The kids were great, though, so it ended up really being fun. Yesterday afternoon and evening was spent mostly in recovery.
Today Ethan is covered in spots, but the doctor's office tells us it's a common reaction to the shots he received last week. Abby was grumpy this morning because she wanted to stay home and be Snow White and eat Valentine's candy all day, but a mother can only tolerate so much.
Sunday morning, Audrey's parents Chad and Marla had a conference to go to, so they dropped their other daughter Avery, who is Ethan's age, at our house around 8. Matt and I had to get all 4 kids dressed and to church, then home, fed lunch and down for naps. Piece of cake! I could totally be the mother of 4--for 2 days, anyway. Then my head would probably explode from all the gray hairs coming out of it so fast. The kids were great, though, so it ended up really being fun. Yesterday afternoon and evening was spent mostly in recovery.
Today Ethan is covered in spots, but the doctor's office tells us it's a common reaction to the shots he received last week. Abby was grumpy this morning because she wanted to stay home and be Snow White and eat Valentine's candy all day, but a mother can only tolerate so much.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Beautiful Irony
The following is a headline from the U of A's website:
Hurricane Katrina: Unnatural Disaster? (Lecture Postponed due to Weather)
I am not making this up.
Hurricane Katrina: Unnatural Disaster? (Lecture Postponed due to Weather)
I am not making this up.
Well, they don't sing their way out!
It was a lovely Valentine's Day in the AMEN house. My dear husband got me a necklace that I have been wanting, AND sent me flowers to work. The flowers were a total surprise. Good job, Luv!
The kids both had Valentine's parties at their respective schools. I thought a party for Ethan's class was a bit much, considering they are 12 months old and are barely on solid foods, but whatever. So we had two exhausted but sugared up children last night. Interesting combination. Abby brought home enough candy to keep her hyper for months.
As we do every Wednesday night, Matt and I spent yesterday evening leading the Kindergarten and first grade choir at our church. Let me tell you, that has been an interesting experience. The kids are great, but this is the age where they get really smart and start saying things that make your jaw drop. Case in point:
Last night we brought cookies for the kids. They were sitting around eating them before choir started when Kaitlin announced that her mom was pregnant. Everyone was all excited. I asked if Kaitlin hopes for a boy or a girl, and she promptly answered "twins!" Then Makennah informed Kaitlin that Kaitlin's mom's stomach was too small to hold two babies. Kaitlin retorted that no, she had met another woman whose stomach was just as small as her mom's who had had twins. "But, Miss Nancy," she said, "how do the babies get out of a mommy's tummy and into the bed?"
Um. Yeah, this falls outside of the realm of teaching kids how to sing "Jesus Loves Me".
"Anyone want another cookie?"
The kids both had Valentine's parties at their respective schools. I thought a party for Ethan's class was a bit much, considering they are 12 months old and are barely on solid foods, but whatever. So we had two exhausted but sugared up children last night. Interesting combination. Abby brought home enough candy to keep her hyper for months.
As we do every Wednesday night, Matt and I spent yesterday evening leading the Kindergarten and first grade choir at our church. Let me tell you, that has been an interesting experience. The kids are great, but this is the age where they get really smart and start saying things that make your jaw drop. Case in point:
Last night we brought cookies for the kids. They were sitting around eating them before choir started when Kaitlin announced that her mom was pregnant. Everyone was all excited. I asked if Kaitlin hopes for a boy or a girl, and she promptly answered "twins!" Then Makennah informed Kaitlin that Kaitlin's mom's stomach was too small to hold two babies. Kaitlin retorted that no, she had met another woman whose stomach was just as small as her mom's who had had twins. "But, Miss Nancy," she said, "how do the babies get out of a mommy's tummy and into the bed?"
Um. Yeah, this falls outside of the realm of teaching kids how to sing "Jesus Loves Me".
"Anyone want another cookie?"
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