Chiave

Well there you have it we now have keys to our place and are starting to get things together. After a grueling trek to our new abode (Ill post a picture later to show the only downside-steep driveways and bicycles as your only mode of transportation don't mix) we are no longer vagabonds! Today we got our appliances delivered and hooked up, and our wardrobes delivered. The only hiccup is that the wardrobes are too big to go up the stairs and will have to be disassembled for transport up the curvy narrow stairs and reassembled in the appropriate rooms. My only concern now, is if the rest of the furniture will make it up; if not Kyle and I have devised a plan involving a rope through a second floor window... Ill be sure to document how move-in day goes, especially once we are settled and show our new digs!


We have also come to realize with this four bedroom....yes four I still cant believe it, we do not have near enough furniture to fill it! We spent our time waiting for our deliveries, going room to room and discussing what each will become, possible color schemes, furniture placement, installment of shelves, etc(= me telling the hubs where I want things to go). I see some shopping in my future. We of course will first go for the basic necessities as our budget is not unlimited but I think our first major house purchases are going to be some more rugs! Brr are my feet going to be cold, good thing I have already invested in slippers and with this nice weather we have been having I would hope that spring is here and summer is soon to follow! 


It has been an absolute joy and godsend to be staying at our first 'apartment' (the B&B) and I can't thank Bob and Jenny enough, but I am SO ready to be in our own place with all our belongings especially for Roo since I think he knows something is up. I started packing some bags tonight as we only have one more night here and he followed me like a glued shadow, just to make sure he wasn't going to be left behind again! Poor Roo, you are almost at your HOUSE! Hopefully this brings a new friend for him too as our (only) neighbors have a furry child as well that is just as playful as ours. Thor is slightly bigger being a husky of some sort but I have high hopes for those two!


Well better get to bed, I have a few trips up to the house to make tomorrow and I know I will need some energy to tackle that hill more than once! Hope everyone in MN is staying warm and safe as I see they are getting hit by some snowstorms!


I would also like to wish my adorable nephew CALLAN THOMAS an early HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY! Aunt Maggie and Uncle Kyle (cousin Roo too) miss you so much and cant wait to see you in the fall! WE LOVE YOU!! 

Neglectful much....

So I know I havent posted in awhile and Im terribly sorry to my few followers, again sorry for this post because it is going to be a big dump!

Since going to Venice, sadly my last post in almost 2 weeks....we have been busy with housing appointments, negotiations, setting up delivery (yes we found a house, more to say later), taking a day trip to Verona, V-day, Benvenuti class, getting my SETAF license, etc. I wont bore you all with the small details in which I run around post all day dropping things off here picking things up there, getting signatures...the usual Army Gypsy stuff.

Okay that was the short version of the last two weeks. I will now expand on the big things.

I attended a three day class for Army wives called Benvenuti! It was a three day class with about ten of us ladies, in which we got to get to know some fellow newcomers to post, learn some Italian culture, and learn how to get around. A bit of it was a refresher as I already attended the Culture College with Kyle that first week or so, but I was happy to make some new friends and be able to ask all my questions in a smaller group! We also took a day trip to Venice, a bit of a repeat of the weekend but it was fun none the less. I also go to experience my first Thursday market in downtown Vicenza. I have to say it was the highlight of my class, to me at least since I had pretty much seen everything we were shown already; everyone who is coming to visit start stashing away some money for this shopping because you get some amazing deals. I got two sweaters, one for 3Euro and the other for 8Euro....very good deals. Yes its because they are having end of winter sales right now over here but still everything is still that cheap!!

House: Yes we found the house! and signed our lease last week. We will inspect it on the 29th an at then get the keys that day (pending nothing is wrong upon inspection, fingers crossed) We are set to be in our new home on the 1st of March....this girl will no longer be homeless!!!! I am so excited to finally be settled and to make our house a home, the plus side, i have two more bedrooms to decorate since it is just a quaint duplex on the hillside overlooking Vicenza with four bedrooms, yard and garage to boot! Kyle is just as excited as I am, we are remote enough that its just us and our one set of neighbors, a large yard for hanging out in, and his favorite feature of the house a wood burning fireplace. Here are some pictures from our initial walkthrough, sorry they arent that great due to my lack of skills with an iphone camera but i promise better ones once we get settled.

And now a short picture recap of our day trip to Verona, Kyle had a 4 day weekend but we decided to stay close to home so to speak to save up for a bigger, better planned trip to Rome another time...also warmer weather would be helpful. We decided to take another 45 minute day trip train ride to Verona, The city of Love: the home Romeo and Juliet. This city was much more appealing to me, it was just 'prettier' and I loved seeing all the historical markers along our journey. I was slightly disappointed at how crowded Juliet's house/balcony were so we didn't stay long. I figured maybe a week day would be better and less crowded for another future trip.  The day consisted of a lot of walking, per usual around here, and some geocaching for the boys....which actually turned out to be helpful as we stumbled upon a castle. Sidenote: before I mentioned better planned trips....we may or may not have only looked into what time the train leaves Verona and failed to procure a map for ourselves or marking what we want to see through research....noted for future trips...make a plan so you get off at the correct train station and know where you actually are. Anyway it was an adventure all in the same and I enjoyed myself.

We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing and taking Guncle Mike to some of the local joints and a quick tour of the city! I know its late but I hope everyone had a love filled Heart Day and a relaxing long weekend! Off to check on the J-O-B situation, still frantically applying for everything under the sun here. This week will hold more errand running and preparations for the house...Oh and I promise to not wait another two weeks to post again, back on the blog train again!!!

Venezia

Yesterday we enjoyed a day at Carnivale in Venice. Not much to say so enjoy some snapshots of the days highlights!