Another lesson for y'all

So I though I would post a map of Italy to show y'all where Ethan will be. You can see Campobasso just below and to the right of Rome. That is home base. From there he will be taking day trips to the Amalfi Coast and Pisa and Pompei, and then up to Bologna where my dad's sister and baby brother live, and from there taking day trips to Florence and Venice. Italy is not very big. Actually, from Campobasso to Bologna it is only about an 8 hour drive. Pretty good considering you have travelled half a country. We can barely get to Revelstoke from Cloverdale in 8 hours! Ya. Lots of fun ahead for Ethan. Lots of crying ahead for me...

Ciao all.

Testing is over

Well, we made it! Whew. Testing is over. Ethan was successful. He is now a red decided belt. Yeah! It was nerve racking for all involved. But he did his forms perfectly and his sparring and his self defence, and his board breaks -BOTH of them!! Yeehaw!! It's a good way for him to end a busy summer. He worked hard for this belt. And now Ethan is off to Italy and will miss the next testing cycle, but it gives us all a much needed break. He had worked himself up so much that after we got home, he was sick to his stomach. It is tough. It is a lot of pressure for a kid who isn't even 9 yet! He never ceases to amaze me...

Not sure where the summer went... I can't believe that Tuesday my baby starts Kindergarten and Ethan starts grade 4. Wow. I am not ready to go into this. So I won't. Denile isn't just a river in Egypt!! ha ha

Have a wonderful long weekend all.

Ciao

I am glad the weekend is over...

Not too many times I say that. But I am. It was busy. Too busy. And I am exhausted. And it is only Monday... Marc went away to Harrison for the weekend so it was just the kids and me. We had a lot to do. And we got it all done. Good thing. Ethan is ready for Italy, and Bella is ready for Kindergarten. In the end I bought the following:

Ethan:
New suitcase and backpack
Luggage tags for both
New book for the plane
Complete 4th Grade Canadian Curriculum to work on while he is away
Disposable cameras
An Italian/English Dictionary
Refills on his asthma medication/puffers
Travel insurance
Travel kit
1 new hoodie
2 new sweatshirts
1 new pair sweat pants
2 new pair jeans
1 new pair cargo pants
1 new pair dress pants
5 new pairs shorts
5 new short sleeve t-shirts
3 new long sleeve t-shirts
all new undies
all new socks
1 pair Crocs

That is on top of whatever else he has in his armoire that I will pack for him... Well at least he will be one stylin' kid!! It is important for him to look good in the pictures. Please!!! Nothing I hate more than kids in pics with miss-matched outfits. Oh ya. I notice. So does everyone else. But I am rude enough to say something. Not my kid. Everything I listed above is totally coordinated. I only buy 3 main colours and one complimentary colour. So Ethan's clothes are all red; blue; tan. Chocolate brown is the complementary colour. No matter what he puts on, it will match.

Bella:
New backpack
2 new pair shoes
2 new pair jeans
1 new pair cords
1 new sweater
2 new skirts
2 new long sleeve t-shirts
3 new short sleeve t-shirts

She is good to go. She did not grow out of as many pants as Ethan did over the summer. So she still has 3 pairs of jeans and umpteen shirts in her drawer that will be great for Kindergarten.

I am feeling shopped out now. But I still have to tackled stocking up the pantry with juice boxes and appropriate school snacks = no peanut products allowed... Sigh. I think it is time to start baking and freezing. Then I will have plenty o' snacks on hand for school. And complete control over what they are eating!

I have ironing to do. Ciao all.

Weekend Pics

This is our weekend - beach, beach and more beach. It was gorgeous. We had a blast. We are all nice and tan (and some of us burned - white meets light = no good....) Enough said.

Now I am in panic mode. Ethan leaves in a few short weeks and I have to get his stuff in gear. I bought him a new suitcase which is awesome. Wow, with the travel restrictions, it is really tough to get a "regulation" sized suitcase!! But I did it. Wheels and all. Now it is time to fill it. I made up my list today while I was at work and now I am scared with all that is left to do before he leaves... This Saturday is going to be a VERY busy day. Gear up. Time to shop. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE to shop! But I have to take the kids with me = no fun. If I were alone, it would be heaven. But I need Ethan there to try on the things I buy for his trip, and I may as well get Bella's back to school shopping done at the same time so she needs to try things on... Sigh. Just need to get it over with.

And the Euro is on the rise. Why now?!! Today it was trading at $1.63 Canadian - not so good... I think I can get only about 70 Euros for $100 Cnd. Pretty sucky. I will wait it out and see if it drops any in the next week before I buy.

Have a great Wednesday all. We have taekwondo tomorrow and Thursday. Ethan has testing next week - and we are praying that he will pass this time around...

Ciao all.

Hello from Harrison

Well good morning everyone. We have internet out here, along with full cable, etc. etc. The RV really isn't camping - it is a private hotel room (with a fully equipped kitchen and a full sized fridge!). We have had a great past few days. Friday night it was hot out here. Over 35 degrees in the RV and each time we tried to put on the air conditioner, it would blow a circut. I don't think we were the only ones trying to keep cool! Yesterday it hit 34 degrees here, but being at the lagoon and on the beach you could not feel a thing. It was only when I ventured into town to go to the market that I realized how HOT it was! Again, I am very VERY happy that we were out here for the "heat wave" and not back at home in Cloverdale. I am sure our house was an absolute oven. But apparently it is going to cloud over tomorrow and Tuesday and start to rain. So again, really happy we are out here this weekend.

So today we are headed back out to the beach for the majority of the day. No other grand plans. I am sad that the weekend is almost over and I head back to work tomorrow. Oh well. Marc is out here again next weekend with his buddies for a "boy's weekend". Too funny. I have a feeling this place will become a second home to us - it is only a hour and a bit outside of Cloverdale. Really quick to get to. Can't ask for a vacation spot to be any closer.

I am going to sit outside by the creek and watch the ducks and read. Have a good day all.

Ciao

Up coming weekend

We are headed out to Harrison for the weekend. I am looking forward to sitting on the beach and reading and doing nothing else. I am sooo excited to do that. I am sooo excited to veg - kind of sad. But I am exhausted. Working full time has taken it out of me, and it has only been a month and a half. I am still getting used to not having my Wednesdays and Thursdays off = errand and house work days. Now everyday is errand and house work day... Oh well.

The above pic was taken when the kids were in Harrison with the in-laws a few weeks ago - it was a bit cold and rainy. This weekend, on the other hand, is supposed to be hot and sunny (30+ degrees) so the beach will be packed. Adds to the fun of it all.

Have a good weekend all. Talk to you next week.

Ciao

The Countdown

Ethan leaves in 3 weeks, so I thought I would educate y'all as to where he will be "living" while he is away.

This is Campobasso, the capital city of the Province of Molise - about 2 hours south east of Rome. This is where we are from. My father was born in Campobasso, and my mother was born in a little town called Sepino, about half an hour outside of the "big city". The city and surroundings remind me very much of Vancouver actually - other than all the red tile roofs! They are great! Soooo Mediterranean! But it is a city nestled in the mountains, just like we are in Vancouver. And the weather is the same - wet and rainy most of the time, and then hot and muggy in the summer, and then relatively mild in the winter.

Campobasso dates back to the 7th Century and was ruled by many of the aristocratic families in Italy. Today it is famous for pasta. Yup. Chances are the pasta that you have in your cupboards right now was made in Campobasso.

It is a beautiful city and Ethan will have great fun exploring the various castles and churches and Roman outposts that still exist.

Hopelessly addicted

To the Olympic games! No joke. I don't follow sports on any regualar basis. Honestly, I could care less. But there is something so magnetic about the Olympic games. I love watching these athletes compete - knowing that I am watching the best in the world. Seeing their hopes and dreams and training and blood and sweat and tears come to fruition. It is just so addicting. My favourite events to watch are gymnastics, diving and swimming. But this morning I watched beach volleyball, and have to say, I think I have found a new favourite sport! And now I am totally psyched for the 2010 games to be here in Vancouver! Can't wait for that.

Ciao all.

On the look out

For something EXACTLY like this! I need this for my entry way - to use as a catch all for keys and a lamp and some candles, and to put my table linens in, etc. etc. Do you know how difficult it has been to find something like this?? Extremely. But I am undaunted. Of course, this lovely piece above is an antique and goes for 550 British pounds = 700 Cnd dollars... Ya. Not quite lookin' to spend that much, but I am looking for a replica. Wish me luck.

Have a great weekend all.

Ciao

Not so much to say today

It is Wednesday. Not too much to say. That's fine. It's all good. It is hot out. Too hot for me. I am not a summer person. I don't like the heat out here because it is humid. So it is gross being hot and sticky. Not motivated to do a whole lot either, which annoys me even more. Oh well. I am sure in a few short weeks the "summer" will be over and we will be back to the rain and I will be in my glory!!

Thought I would start posting some images to prep y'all for Ethan's trip! hee hee Ya, I know. I am teasing. Hey - you have to put yourselves in my shoes. I haven't been "home" in almost 9 years and I am just dying that my kid gets to go to Italy and I have to stay here and work... Whoever said life was fair was full of it! Anyways, this is a cool rendition of the Colosseum in Rome. Ethan will be visiting the real thing. We will have to be satisfied with the drawing.

Ciao all.

They're baaaaaccckkk...

My mini holiday is over. The kids are back from Harrison, and it is business as usual. Oh well. I missed them. The house was too quiet while they were gone. It wasn't right. Marc and I have been married for 14 years. But 9 of those 14 have been with children. We weren't complete without them here.

But they had a great time in Harrison. They spent their days at the beach building sand castles and watching wildlife in the resort. There is a pond that houses a beaver, heron, and a mother duck with 6 ducklings. Not to mention a ton of frogs. Good entertainment for big and little kids alike. And in two weeks we are going up as a family to spend the weekend away. That will be a lot of fun. I am NOT a camper = tents and cooking over some camp stove and no bathroom or shower. NO. Not fun. But I am an RV person = master bedroom and full bathroom with shower and flush toilet and a fully equipped kitchen and power!! That is my idea of "roughing it"! Oh I am sooo beyond a spoiled princess. Please. Don't even go there. There is nothing about nature that I enjoy or need to be a part of. Don't bother. That I am agreeing to go up to the RV is a huge step!! Before my in-laws bought it, they had a tent camper thing. Hideous. I refused to go up because there was no difference between that and sleeping on a tent floor. And there was no bathroom. Please. I spent 4 years at SFU (Simon Fraser University) never ONCE using the bathroom. I am not going to go out to some gross public campsite and use that bathroom! Who knows what has been through!! I am gagging just thinking about it... Anyway, I digress. Now that is all behind us and I am looking forward to being able to have a nice weekend away. Not to mention time to just sit on the beach and read my book and build up my tan!

Well I have a Relief Society lesson to finish preparing. It is my month to teach. Poor gals... ha ha

Ciao all.