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January 14, 2003
Wow, long time no post!
I have talked quite a bit about what we have done on our travels but not about us personally so here is a little update about us.
We move into base housing on Friday with some temporary furniture and then receive all of our household goods on Monday (MLK is not a holiday here). I should have most things unpacked in about a week, including the computer. I am not sure how long it takes to set up internet service over here but I plan to have at least 4 new photo galleries up by the end of January. I get my van back on Friday also - although I have really come to appreciate the clown car.
<b>Me:</b> Settling in quite nicely and learning Italian slowly. The food over here is way too tasty and not even remotely wheat or dairy free. I knew that it would be hard to manage but had just no idea. I am weak. So so weak. Everything over here has either cream, cheese or butter in it. Virtually all Italian meals have wheat in them. I am sort of okay if I stay home and cook for myself but living in a hotel has made that really difficult. I am resigned to the fact that cheating will happen until we get moved into our own house and I get my kitchen back together. In the meantime, both Seth and I have had a terrible time with our allergies, he with his rash and me with my sinuses. I am still on orientation and have not really begun what will be my normal work schedule but I think I will like my job.
<b>Eli:</b> Doing well in second grade although spelling and handwriting will be his crosses to bear. He has about 30 minutes of homework a night which is less than his last school. He has just gone through a growth spurt and has changed two pants sizes since June! He is going to have his dad's build. Fortunately for him (and me) he is also going to have his dad's sense of direction. He is my map guy in the car and has, on more than one occasion, stopped me from going the wrong way.
<b>Jake:</b> Happy to be a kindergartner! He loves, loves, loves to draw and make up stories. He also likes to take things apart and put them back together. He has gotten quite adept at using Euro, which is the money they use in Europe now. The Italians think it is very amusing to see him mull over his potential purchases.
<b>Seth:</b> A totally different baby than when we started traveling. He is very tall for his age and has a mouth full of teeth (11) that make him look a lot like Stitch from the movie Lilo and Stitch! His rash comes and goes but is usually fairly itchy. He eats quite a bit now, which has been a challenge to find legal foods for him. He is starting to say words and so far says: mom, nana (banana), ticka ticka (tickle tickle), woof (for dog) and mao (for cat) and even says - quite gleefully - CIAO!! The Italians absolutely love him. He said ciao for the first time two days ago to our Italian landlord, complete with the hand wave. Seth has also learned to kiss and will kiss anything that moves. He absolutely adores Eli but will go out of his way to annoy the crap out of Jake.
<b>Cheryl:</b> I think we have found a way for her to stay for a year. She will not have to go back to the states to renew her ID card - her mom is sending me power of attorney to do it here. She will be doing distance education for college in order to keep her a dependent of her mom's past the age of 21. I will send her out of the country for a day or two every 90 days to keep her visa current. I am also buying a tiny beater car for commuting purposes so we will both have transportation. See where being stubborn will get you hahahahahahaha.
Posted by DebC at January 14, 2003 6:18 AM
Comments
I never knew you had allergies so bad.I feel so lucky that way,almost all of Randy's family,even him,have bad allergies along with a few of our kids.
It sounds like ya'll are doing great.I hope I will get to come and see you all,and where you live,before you come back home.
Posted by: Kim at January 14, 2003 2:39 PM
Kim - you get a passport and a roundtrip ticket here (cheaptix.com) and I promise to do the rest!
Posted by: DebC at January 14, 2003 2:54 PM
I will start checking into it,but don't promise that it will be this year.Randy says he doesn't want to fly or be in another country while there is a war going on.
Posted by: Kim at January 15, 2003 12:47 PM
I went to Cheaptix.com but I don't know what to put for the departing and arriving city?
Posted by: Kim at January 15, 2003 12:56 PM
The city is Catania - airport code is CTA.
Posted by: DebC at January 16, 2003 1:37 PM
What is your new e-mail, Joni says the old one isn't working anymore. We have all been thinking about you and miss you. We are glad everything is going well!!!!
Posted by: Karla Murie at January 17, 2003 4:41 PM