kentucky, here we come

Well, we are packed and ready to go.

I am not sure how much sleep the girls will get because they are VERY excited!!!

We are hoping for no ice or snow and warmer temperatures than there has been lately. At least we know that it will be warmer in Alabama!!!

See you in a few days!!

happy valentine's day

Hope your sweetheart sends you lots of love!!

where have my little girls gone?

I was looking at pictures while the children I am babysitting are playing.

It is hard to believe we are coming up on three years since we first came over here for 6 months and two years since we flew back over to live.

2005

NOW

2005

NOW

finally!!!

We decided to drive up to Lakenheath tonight and stay at the hotel. There is high, high speed internet in the rooms, so I have finally added links for some of the Venice pictures. {I had to use Shutterfly because I c/n figure out how to link to Photobucket.} I hope you enjoy them.

Steve is doing well at the new base. He has to get up at 2:45am, be out of the house by 3:45 so he can be armed and at guardmount by 5:00am. It is going to be a long, tiring 60 days, but WE ALL will survive it:):)!!!!

**** He fired EXPERT on the 9mm and M-16!!! Should I be proud that he can shoot guns well??????hahaha

Oh yeah, and I have survived turning the big 39!!. That can't be right can it? Surely I am still in my 20's!!!!!

siamo a casa

Ciao a tutti!

Well, we made it home. It was a good trip. We all enjoyed ourselves.
Michaela loved looking at all the Murano glass jewelry in the shops, Emma loved all the masks in the windows, and of course, they both LOVED the gelato!!!!

We left at 2:30 am for the airport and made it with no complications. We went through security with Steve setting off the sensor as he always does (it's that BB in his finger!!!) and then were made to throw away our toothpaste because it was over 100ml. (It was CREST Neat Squeeze and I had to send it over from the States:). We boarded the plane and took off at 6:25am. We were supposed to be landing on Treviso at 9:25, but after 2 failed attempts at landing due to the fog, we were diverted to another airport 15 minutes away. We then waited for the charter buses they sent for us to transport us back to Treviso. An hour after getting onto the bus, we arrived at the correct airport! It was raining, our morning was gone, so we loaded into the rental car (remembering to drive on the right side of the road) and headed to Aviano to check into the Mountain View Resort--gorgeous mountains all around and Austria just on the other side.

Sunday morning we drove to the train station, parked the car, bought our train tickets, and headed into Venice. The plan was to take a trip down the Grand Canel, climb Campanella tower, spend some time in the square and then walk back to the train station to head back to Aviano for church services at 3:30pm. (There is a group that meets at the base chapel so they have to wait for the Protestant and Catholic services to be over.) Unfortunantly, we were incorrectly told there was only one train every hour going back to Perdonone and we did not make it back to the station in time (Walking for 15 minutes and ending up where we started did not help!!) So with worship services missed, we continued exploring.

Monday morning we drove an hour to Treviso and parked the car near the airport and train station. We took the train in and explored for the next 7.5 hours. We walked EVERYWHERE!! The mosaics in the basilica were amazing! Gondolas were intricate--and everywhere. The palaces of the sinking city were unbelievable. The costumes for Carnevale were extraordinary!!!!

Exhausted, we headed back to Treviso and to the airport. We arrived home at 2:00am, the girls fell into bed, and were up at 8:00am for school--tired, but excited about the trip.

*** Pics to be added as soon as I can get them to upload to the blog--running very slow right now and pics are not being added?????

un'avventura di famiglia in Venezia

We are off on a three trip to Venice, Italy to mourn--oh, I mean celebrate, my 39th birthday. We leave at 2:30am {Ugh!!!} to drive to the airport for a 6:25am departure. We will have three full days of exploring the fabulous city of Venice and experiencing Carnevale di Venezia. Look for loads of pictures next week!!!

**Here is my few sentences of justification--because I could name a few people who are reading this and shaking their heads like we are children needing to explain a poor decision:) Yes, we were just worried that we had no job and no income, but I planned and paid for this trip a month before the Air Force decided to add some drama to our lives--so the money was gone whether we had a job or not! We are just glad we are still here and can go on the trip!!!!!!!!!

the official word

Steve just received the decision as to what our future holds!

He will be on orders at RAF Alconbury for 60 day-beginning on the 5th--and then will be put back on orders at RAF Croughton in April. We are not sure the reasoning as to jumping through all these hoops to get around a regulation instead of just issuing a waiver, but its the military way!!!!

Thank you for all who prayed for us during this time of indecision and worry.

michaela is devastated

Michelle, from Kentucky, emailed us yesterday to let us know that the Olive Garden in Florence is closed for remodeling. We went online and found out that it is being completely torn down and rebuilt.

It will be closed until September!!! {Just in time for our return}.

Michaela was so looking forward to stopping there on our way from the airport!!!! I guess she will have to wait until Saturday--she has already mapped where the closest one is! I am not sure what the second restaurant is on her list, but I am sure we will be there as soon as we leave CVG!!

*** Wasn't it great to be young and for the biggest worry you had was that your favorite restaurant was closed for a few months and where you will have to eat instead!!!!:):):)

americans go home

This is what met me as I went onto the base to do laundry this afternoon.

Once a month or so, the Quakers set up in front of the base gates to protest our presence in their country. I believe it is more the military presence rather than the American presence--at least I like to think it is!!!! The sign used to say, "Quaker prayer meeting for peace." It now just says, "Quaker meeting for worship."

They are peaceful but nonetheless it is unnerving to turn into the base and see a group of people who are praying for us to leave!!!

the update...correct as of this moment

Okay. so the information we were given last night (we have to wait for USA work hours to get any info.) is that Steve cannot go off orders and come back on to get around the 1095 regulation. They are still working on the waiver--this make take a few days to find out an answer--no need to mention Steve is supposed to be off orders in 6 days now!!!! If the waiver does not come through, he can go on orders at RAF Alconbury (a base about an hour away) until September 30. You are probably saying, "Well, that makes no sense!" Don't worry we have said the same thing. But it is the government and it is not for us to question the thought process.

So I guess this means--as of12:40pm British time, that we will be here until September. Stephen will either be working at Croughton still or making the hour commute to RAF Alconbury.

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

We will let you know as soon as we know.

a pet or something that belongs in a trap????

On Friday, Michaela spent the night at her friend Thu's house. At 9:00pm, we received a phone call from Thu and Michaela begging us to let her have a dwarf hamster. After telling them NO--very emphatically, that hamsters were nothing more than rats, I received the following emails.

FIRST EMAIL------

PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! Let Michaela have a dwarf hamster. If she doesn't stay I will keep it for myself but if she does can she please!!!!!!!!!! keep one because they are absolutly ADORABLE!!!!(as u see in the pictures!) if you do let her get one she will promise me that she won't ever ever let you see the cute thing. She will buy all the supplies for the thingy mejig! PLEASE!!!!I'll make sure she'll do extra chores (mwahaha) to earn more money. When the hamster arrives you would be the most awesome person in the world. I'll make sure she begs on her knees when she comes home too ^_^ PLEASE you know you can't resist the adorable little thing!from THU!!!!!!!!!!

P.S pppppppppppppllllllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!she'll be extra good!PLease!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^

SECOND EMAIL-----

=( How long till you have to leave!!!!!!!If you stay can she have one and I will help look after hers as I'm not aloud one if I'm going too get a dog so its one or the other. I'll help with the supplies too and michaela(hopefully) will agree to be your slave for a whole week! Did you see those pictures they were adorable!!!!!!!!!!

Thu!

p.s btw you are not the greatest mum yet!!!(not until she gets a hamster!)
PLEASE!

THIRD EMAIL----

RE: thu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-cutest thing ever!!!!!!!!!!(not a ugly fat rat!)‏
From:Thu Ta (lil_thu_qt@hotmail.com)
Sent:Sat 1/19/08 9:13 AM
To: Stephen Martin (stephen_martin91@hotmail.com)

oH YEAH i FORGOT i WILL PROVIDE THE CAGE!!!!!!!!!!

These emails have not swayed my decision!! It is still a furry RAT!

will the parachute open???

Today at church services we told the members about our situation. One of the members, Susan, stated that our life with the Air Force has been like we have been trapped in a whirlwind. {There have been too many times of the Air Force causing upheaval in our lives--it would take pages to list} I thought about that for awhile and decided that our three years with the Air Force have been more like a jump from a plane. We have been falling with the Air Force as our parachute and many times it has not wanted to open due to AF regulations and government stupidity. Luckily, the chute has always opened at the last second--- just before we smack into the ground. Let's hope that this fall will have a smooth landing:):):):)

**** Please don't get me wrong. I am very thankful that we have had the three years that we have had. The Air Force has been a God-send for us since Steve lost his job. It has allowed us to have once in a life time adventures, to pay off bills and to save money. I am not being negative or ungrateful--just slightly stressed about have 9 more days to figure out the next stage of our lives--8 months earlier than originally planned. It also doesn't help to be told by the individual in Texas that of the over 500 National Guardsmen that this regulation affects, Steve is only one of two people whose finance departments have tried to enforce it! I am glad we can be here to fight the battle!!

I have given it to God--or at least I am trying to.

prayer request

At 4pm on Thursday, Stephen received an email from the finance office in Springfield informing him that due to an Air Force regulation his orders would be ending on January 31st. This means that we no longer have an income, Steve has to be back in Ohio by the 31st, we have to store our antiques because 14 days is not enough time to arrange a moving company, figure out what to do with our two cars, and did I mention we no longer have an income, etc... There are many people trying to overrule the regulation, but as of today we have no idea as to what is going to be decided.

We are asking that you pray that what is best for our family will be done. {Of course I think what is best is that we stay until September:)}

We will keep you informed as to the decision.

got milk????

Did you know that there are still milkmen that deliver milk to your house? Last week I was researching the company on the Internet and decided to have our milk delivered to our door while we lived off of the base. So this morning, when we woke up, we opened the front door and there they were--5 glass bottles of milk!! Every Tuesday and Saturday we will have milk on our doorstep.

Who would have thought that in 2008 there were still milkmen!!!!!!

emma's family portrait

Emma Shea was writing on her easel the other day and drew her family.

Notice the knees on all of us!

AND .....there is no Michaela????? I asked her why Michaela was not in the picture and she said, "Because she annoys me." She did eventually add her--flying above all of us.

what is that bright light in the sky.....

Oh, it's the sun!!!!!!

Look at the beautiful blue sky.

This morning when we woke up, the house was flooded with light. At first I thought someone had left lights on, but then I realized the sun was actually shining and the sky was blue!! It has been some time since we have seen anything but rain and grey skies--so it was a welcome treat.

Blue sky+45 degree weather= NO COATS!

*****Of course, as I type this up, it has dropped 15 degrees and is raining again:):):)

no snow!!!

As you can see, there are no snow pictures! It snowed for maybe 10 minutes and then rained for 2 days. Oh well, maybe we will get snow some time this winter.

I am sitting in a quiet house for the first time in three weeks!! I have been babysitting children for the three weeks of Christmas break (I had 8 kids yesterday--makes me glad I only had two children.

Michaela and Emma started back to school yesterday and the private school kids went back today! Today it is just Jaedon and I--he is 9 months old and sleeps for three hours in the morning!!! I feel lost without kids calling my name all day! ALMOST!!

As you can see from Michaela's countdown, we are coming back to Kentucky for a quick visit. We fly in on Friday, February 22 and will be flying back home on March 4. Michaela is compiling her list of activities. She is very excited that we land early enough to eat at Olive Garden. I just hope she can get everything in she wants to do!!!!

I had planned on leaving Emma here with Steve and having friends help with her while Steve works, but she wanted nothing to do with that--she wants to play with her toys in the states. Not to mention, Steve says I would never get on the plane without her--so she is getting another trip to Kentucky. Hopefully the weather isn't too 'wintery'


The girls are doing great. Not too much happening right now. Ballet classes start back this week so they will be busy learning their dances for the performance in April. They are just enjoying playing with each other and friends.

I will go through pictures and find some to upload soon.


Have a great week.

let it snow!

All we have heard for two days is that the snow is on its way--4 to 6 inches. This amount of snow is unheard of in this part if the UK. The kids are excited and talking about snowball fights, snowmen, and sledding. Maybe by tomorrow I will be posting SNOW DAY pictures!!!!



***As I was just about to click on PUBLISH POST, Stephen called and said it was snowing very hard at the base--5 miles up the road. Emma is now watching out the window to see the snow start here.

happy new year

We hope everyone's new year is one filled with happiness and fun.

boxing day in london

We had planned to take the girls over to spend 2 days with Michael and Mason while Steve and I went to Wales for a 'getaway', but on Tuesday evening I decided we should take them to London for ice skating and a trip to Hamley's instead.

We drove up to Reislip tube station, parked the car, and headed into London. The skies were clear and the temperature wasn't too cold. A perfect day!

Steve and the girls enjoyed ice skating at the Tower of London (I have messed up my ankle, so we didn't think getting on skates was a great idea for me!) After skating for an hour, we drank some Cadbury's hot cocoa, and then headed off to the theatre district. If you have never been to the theatre district in London, it is ALWAYS bustling--great place for people watching! We ate at Planet Hollywood and then headed to Hamley's toy store. The girls got their Pawsports stamped at Build-a-Bear and then had a look around at all the toys. After the store closed, we headed to Trafalgar Square to see the city's Christmas tree (sent over from Oslo, Norway each year as a thank you).

With energy spent, we walked to the tube station and headed back the 15 stops to our car and then the hour drive home!!

Everyone had a great time.

*** The only bad thing about the day was my camera card worked for a second and then would not work again. So as I carried around my almost professional-but useless--Nikon, I had to take pictures with my phone! They are not the greatest quality, but they are pictures of probably our last Christmas in England.

Today, the girls are with Michael and Mason and Steve drove to pick up an antique bed we bought. I have had the house to myself all day!!! It has been very quiet!!

happy boxing day

Yes, this is an actual bank holiday--not just words on calendars.

While the exact origins of the holiday are obscure, it is likely that Boxing Day began in England during the Middle Ages.
Some historians say the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but took the following day off. As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with gift boxes.

Church Alms Boxes
Another theory is that the boxes placed in churches where parishioners deposited coins for the poor were opened and the contents distributed on December 26, which is also the Feast of St. Stephen.
As time went by, Boxing Day gift giving expanded to include those who had rendered a service during the previous year. This tradition survives today as people give presents to tradesmen, mail carriers, doormen, porters, and others who have helped them.

Whatever the origin, England shuts down for this holiday! Most everything was closed today and the roads were empty of drivers--but London was CROWDED with tourists!!

I will add some pictures of our day in London some time tomorrow-now I am ready to go to bed.

out of order

The last two post are out of order. I thought if I posted them in the order I wanted them on my page they would post in that order. Unfortunately, they post in the order you write them, NOT the order you post them!!!

the end of our christmas activities

This week was filled with.....

Decorating our tree (the scrawniest, i.e. UGLIEST, tree ever)

Cookie decorating and gift exchange with friends at the Ostrowski's on Saturday....

Christmas Eve dinner and gift exchange with our friends, the Ostrowski's....

Christmas pajamas left by Santa on our doorstep Christmas Eve.......

Leaving oats for the reindeer.

And of course, to bed so Santa could come!!!!!