Just checking in...

It's hard to imagine that I will be missing my first Halloween/Mardi Gras ( for all my Italia friends this is a festival in my hometown). After 21 years, it feels weird to not be thinking about the parade and all the family coming in. But I suppose its time to grow up. Josh and I carved our own pumpkins last weekend, which we have been told are very impressive to the Italians. Pics to follow post.  Last Sunday we went to a pumpkin festival in Venzone with our friends Nick and Tiffany.  It was a packed and traffic was not fun. I wish we would have went earlier because by the time we parked the car it was almost dark outside.  It was a cool town though thats for sure.  

In other news I have a small job three days a week. Im watching a one year old baby girl who is living with her grandparents while her mother is deployed. I have only worked two days so far but I enjoy it and I feel busier not to mention the extra money is nice!!

This weekend we have the bazaar going on at base. Vendors from all over the world will be here selling their products. Josh is on a mission to purchase something neat. 

We will see how that goes over. I think thats about it as far as news with us.  Hoping everyone is doing well....and to all my Pinckneyville folk have a great Mardi Gras! Miss you all very much!!!

-Holly 

Zucca Festival

Back to Italia

After a very long day, I made it home on Monday evening. I had a good flight and had no problems getting a seat on the rotator.  I had a fantastic visit with my family and friends, two weeks wasn't enough!!  I'm trying to get back into the swing of things...I'm having a rough time getting adjusted to the time difference. This morning I was up from 2-6:30...then slept until 11. So that means that I won't sleep again tonight! Maybe I should resort to some Nyquil or something.  

The weather has changed to fall since I was home in the states.  Everything is still pretty green though.  We have already had our heat on, these cement walls do not hold in heat very well at all.  This weekend starts the Halloween festivites. There is a Trunk or Treat for the kids as well as a Haunted Spook walk on Sat.  I'm going to try to drag Josh to it.  He has to work on Saturday, which stinks because we were planning on going to a pumpkin festival a few towns away.  We might try to go on Sunday.  We have three huge pumpkins to carve as well.  I asked Luisa (our landlord ) if Italians celebrated the holiday and she said they started about 5 years ago! I haven't seen any pumpkins or decorations in our neighborhood though. 

Well I think thats all for now, hope everyone is doing well!! Miss you all back home already and I enjoyed spending time with ya'll SO MUCH!!!

-Holly

Home Sweet Home

I think most of you know this already but I made a surprise visit home last Sunday. It was so much fun I keep telling people that I want to surprise them every time. Its so nice to be home, although not much has changed since I have been gone. It honestly feels like I just left. I got to spend some time with our nephew who was still in the hospital when we left for Italy. He is going on six months now, and its crazy to see how fast they grow. I went to St. Louis to spend two nights with my cousins. I took Sadie to the Magic House and I think I had more fun than she did. I'm already dreading leaving, but I miss all my Italia peeps. I think me and my sister are heading out shopping hear in a little bit. Probably going to do some major damage. Hope all is well with everyone. I will write again soon!