Blue or Pink...what do you think?!

Last week we gathered with our closest friends (those who live here) and our Italian family to find out the gender of Baby W.  I had my anatomy scan appointment that morning and we told our ultrasound tech that we wanted to know the gender but we didn't want her to tell us.  We wanted her to write it down and put it in an envelope.  The day before the appointment I had made a huge bag of pink and a huge bag of blue confetti; after the appointment we took those bags, along with the sealed envelope, to the florist shop on base.  We told her to open it and if it said "girl" to put the pink confetti in the balloons and if it said "boy" to use the blue confetti.  About 30 minutes later we picked up 15 black balloons filled with confetti and took them home.  It was so hard having them sit in the living room, knowing they held a secret that I could easily discover if I would just pop one.  But I figured I had waited 20 weeks (well...in actuality about 9 years) so I could wait a few more hours.  

Nathan and I picked up the house, got the stuff ready for the party, then snagged a quick cat-nap before we picked Miles up from school.  

Our guests started showing up around 5:45.  As they showed up we took a poll:

At 6:15 we Facetime'd my mom so she could see it live.  Then we passed out the balloons and pins...

Becky was our official mom "FaceTimer"

And counted to three...and POP

Baby W is a GIRL!!!

If you want to watch the video:

Funny kid

I posted this on Facebook but then realized that I've got some friends and family who won't get to see it...and this really should not be missed.  You can tell Miles is picking up on the Southern Italian way of speaking...loud and with gestures. 

WARNING: if you have to pee...go now.  

Edinburgh Tattoo

As if living in Italy for work isn't rough enough...Nathan was sent to Edinburgh, Scotland for the month of August.  The US Naval Forces Europe Band was invited to participate in the Edinburgh Tattoo...it's like a huge marching band show...only with fireworks and other things mixed in.  It's supposedly the largest in Europe. 

Miles and I were initially planning on going up to see the show, but plane tickets into the UK were SO expensive (because of the Olympics) and Edinburgh is NOT cheap for hotels/food/etc...so we saved our € and stayed home in Italy.  

But in an attempt to quench my thirst for everything marching band, (that and I miss the hubbs) I've been scouring the web of videos, pics, etc from the show...here's some of what I've found.  

A news article HERE.

A video of their portion of the show: 

A time elapsed video of the entire tattoo:

And a few pictures: 

The massed bands all together...with Edinburgh Castle as the backdrop.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa Band director Lt. David Latour, left, leads the band as its conductor, as they play "Anchors Aweigh" for the Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, the Right Honorable David Wilson, outside the city chambers building, July 30. The CNE band is in Edinburgh to perform in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo with musicians, dancers and bagpipers

from around the world coming to perform in the month long show. This year marks the first time since 1950 that a Navy band has performed. U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band is a multi-service/multi-national musical organization responsible for performing throughout the continents of Europe and Africa. Public Domain

U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band musicians march out onto Edinburgh castle’s esplanade while playing “Anchors Aweigh” during the second official show night for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Tonight marked the first official opening show for the month long tattoo. This military tattoo brings together musicians, dancers and bagpipers from around the world to perform in Europe’s most prestigious military tattoo and this year marks the first time since 1950 that a Navy band has performed in the show. Department of Defense photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Patrick Grieco (Released) Public Domain

All the bands in the big finale

U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band musicians perform "Anchors Aweigh" as technicians project Navy imagery onto Edinburgh castle during a Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo dress rehearsal for charities and local Edinburgh citizens. This military tattoo brings together musicians, dancers and bagpipers from around the world to perform in Europe’s most prestigious military tattoo and this year marks the first time since 1950 that a Navy band has performed in the show. Department of Defense photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Patrick Grieco (Released)

I have to admit...Nathan has a pretty cool job!

Miles: Year One

**DISCLAIMER**You may need tissues.  Especially if your name is Faye.  Or Verla.  Or Kim. Or Donna.  
So get them now.  You've been warned.  

Solfatara

We took advantage of a beautiful day over Easter weekend to see Solfatara.  It's an extinct (or possibly inactive?  dormant?  I dunno...) volcano near us that the ancient Romans believed was one of the entrances to Hell.  Yup.  I did just say that...and no it wasn't just to see if you were paying attention. It was pretty impressive because the area surrounding it is beautiful and lush and then you walk through the gate, through some trees and BAM...you're in Eastern Utah.  Ok, not really...but it's barren.  Well, at least INSIDE the crater.  It was quite unsettling walking around knowing I was IN a volcano.  And every once in a while I would step and it would feel and sound hollow and my gut would drop...thinking I was about to fall through some volcanic crust and die a`la Gollum in LOTR.  Aside from the landscape it was stinky.  Like rotten egg fireworks left to ferment in steaming baths of boiled sauerkraut stinky.  Nasty.  Ick.  

So the trail starts out like this...not too bad.  Actually looks a lot like the Logan River parkway in some places.  Well, minus the river.  And the mountains.  

And you turn a corner and this is what you see...and smell:

Yes that does say 302 degrees.  And the yellowish orange spot on the rock is dyed I imagine from all the sulfur in the steam venting out of the rocks.

These are brick "saunas" built into the mountainside by the Romans.  They used to come and sit in them and breathe in the air...they thought it was therapeutic.  I don't know how they did it...I had to breathe through my mouth just to make past here...it was funky with a capitol F. 

Miles was obviously ::so:: impressed with it all.  (couldn't you seriously just eat those cheeks?!??)

After we "survived" our trek near the gates of Hell we rewarded ourselves with some gelato from our favorite gelateria.  Mmmmmm

Hiking a volcano

Yup, you read that right.  Here in Italy we live on what's called the Phlegraean Fields. It's basically a big land mass sitting ontop of some volcanically active earth.    Yay.  As if earthquakes and robbers and weird Italian diseases weren't enough to make me worry now we're living on a volcano.  Seriously...ON.  Our house in on the slope of an inactive volcano.  Let's just say I've had some pretty vivid dreams of me trying to outrun lava flows.

Anyway...let's please change the subject.

We had heard that there are some pretty amazing hikes on our volcano (if I call it "our" it seems less threatening) so we decided to try one out.  It was quite the adventure...and that's because we are hiking idiots.  You think I'd know better having grown up in Utah...hiking for the better part of my life, but no.  We ended up taking the SUPER long, difficult route.  Which I guess burned off more calories...so whatever...but it was TOUGH.  And if we had gone the "correct" way we never would have come across this about 1/3 of the way up to the rim:

Inside the building was one large room with a pillar in the middle.  This picture shows you half of it...imagine another half this size.  It kinda made me want to get rollerskates and skate around it like I was back at Classic Skating in 8th grade.  Maybe some other time...

 Miles was quite happy as long as he had a stick in his hand.  I love that Miles and Nathan are making the EXACT same face in this photo!

 

Hiking Feet

 At the rim of the volcano there is a monastery...or church...it depends on who you ask.  But it is inhabited...there are signs posted asking you to be silent on the premises. 

This is the view looking back into the crater.  Yes, that's a golf course.  :)  There is also a pool, a paintball course, yurts, soccer fields and a few baseball diamonds. 

At the rim...in front of the monastery.  Don't worry we said cheese VERY quietly.  

Our friend Stephanie came on the hike with us. 

I took a few videos...if ya feel like watching them. They're short...and Miles is in them :)

And another:
 

Miles helping lead the way down:

On the move

We've had quite the development in our house.  Miles decided he was going to walk today.  He also learned how to open cabinets...I am in deep, deep trouble. 

Imagine

As with a lot of my National Adoption Month posts...I've put this up before.  But I just LOVE it so much.  So many people think adopted kids are screwed up...that their lives will always be horrible, suffering, miserable existences.  Seriously...just google adoption and you'll find (too) MANY blogs dedicated to negative adoption experiences.  They call us baby stealers...adoptees say they would have rather been aborted than adopted...and much worse.  It makes my heart hurt.  But I know that isn't the case.  Adoption can be sad...and hard, but it can also be WONDERFUL and AWESOME.  We fall in the second group.  Adoption has blessed our lives in so many ways.

So here it is...I could watch this 100 times in a row.  Gives me goosebumps everytime.

Out like a light

Apparently Miles has an off switch...he must have flipped it about 3 seconds into this video.  

Happy Easter

I'm a Gleek

Nathan and I have recently started watching Glee.  I have to admit I was hesitant at first, the thought of high school kids breaking out into song seemed a bit cheesy to me.  But I caught a glimpse of an episode one night and loved it.  So we put the first two seasons on our Netflix que and have been catching up on the episodes we've missed.  Today we watched an episode where a Glee club from a school for the deaf sang John Lennon's Imagine...which just happens to be my favorite song.  It brought me to tears and I just had to share it. 

Here you go:

Christmas Tree Climber

I've been feeling a little bah-humbugish.  Because of the move we have yet to put up our tree or stockings or even a wreath.  To help lift my Christmas spirit I watched this about 4 times.

Enjoy :)

Sure miss that pesky little bugger.

Lennon

Those who know me, know of my love for the Beatles.  Today would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday.  Imagine is hands down my favorite Lennon tune, but Beautiful Boy is on my favorite list.  I loved when this song is used in Mr Holland's Opus.  Makes me cry every time I see it.   Here are two videos, first of John Lennon singing Beautiful Boy and the second is the scene from Mr Holland's Opus.   

John Winston Lennon

9 October 1940 - December 8, 1980

 

Were any of you alive at the time of Lennon's death?  Do you remember where you were when you heard the news?

Imagine

I've posted this video before...but I love it, so you're getting it again.

National Adoption Awareness Month Kickoff!

This video is the perfect way to kickoff the month.  Our friend Sterling is the beautiful woman behind the amazing voice and the touching story.  You can read more about her HERE.

Sailor of the Year!

Guess who is Sailor of the Year for the band??  

Nathan works extremely hard at his job.  We live a good 45-60 minutes away from the base so he must get up with the birds everyday to catch the 5:50am train to get to work (which he has to walk 3/4mile to catch...even in the snow/sleet/wind/rain).   I have NEVER ONCE heard him complain about it.  (An example I could follow...)  He does what he's asked...and many things he's not asked, but he just knows they need to get done.  He is cheerful and happy and goes out of his way to make people laugh.  He received the nickname of 'Billy' his first week at this band and it's stuck...the story is actually quite funny, next time you're around Nathan, ask him about it.  He puts in many extra hours at home (he's sitting at the kitchen table right now putting a piece into Finale...so the band members can have an easier copy to read) and at work making sure things get done...and so I think he definitely deserved the title!  Now he'll compete against all the other command's Sailors of the Year in the region...and if he wins that he'll get a NAM (Navy Achievement Medal...more bling for the uniform! and points for the advancement exam)

Way to go sweetie - you're the bestest sailor I know!

And just because I never put it on here and I think it's worth sharing...here is Nathan doing his ASF (auxiliary security force...basically volunteer police for the Navy Base) training "final exam".  He gets pepper sprayed and then has to "take-down" some guys.  

...and love it

My sister-in-law Briana sent me this video tonight...and then she shared it on her blog.  It is {{exactly}} what I needed to hear.  It brought tears to my eyes, and I knew I wanted to share it too. 

John Lennon

I went through a bit of a phase in high school...a bit of a HIPPIE phase. I loved (and still do) the Beatles. 29 years ago today John Lennon was shot, I can't help but wonder what music the world lost out on because of that loss.

RIP John Lennon

Pick-me-up

I haven't been feeling myself lately and I really needed a pick me up. Enter this video.



Hope it brings a smile to your face...if it doesn't you should look in the mirror and see if this is what you see:

29, 30

29: Laughter - My SIL Janus shared this one with me...watch it. It is a quick 40 seconds and I promise you'll laugh.




30: Visiting Teachers - I had my VT come tonight. First time in almost 2.5 years. It feels good to know someone is aware of my existence and would notice if I disappeared. :)