Merry Christmas/ Buon Natale

I think I have become a holiday-time blogger haven't I? It has been awhile since I last blogged. Sorry for that. Still no internet, not that I am making excuses, but it does make it more difficult. Believe it or not, I have been (or at least felt) a bit more busy here in Avellino, with birthdays, holidays, games, and planning my trip back home. I just emptied the latest pictures taken on the computer so that always gives me something to write about. The past few days have been great weather (not the same back home I hear). Here is a picture Drake took from the kitchen.

I was doing some holiday baking

Drake with his birthday cake, 27 candles

Doesn't the tree look nice? We really enjoy it

I know I always have pictures of Drake's injuries. Kind of morbid I guess, but he is so tough. Today he came home with a big black eye. I am expecting it to look worse tomorrow.

Okay well if I don't get a chance to blog before I leave, Merry Christmas, Buon Natale! We miss you and hope your holidays are the best.

Happy Belated Thanksgiving

So I am a bit late, but just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We miss you guys always, but especially around the holidays. Wish we could all celebrate together, someday right?!

For our big turkey day we celebrated with all of the other americans here at Tony's hotel. Drake had practice until about 8:30 so we had a late meal. I was in charge of the pumpkin pie. Kind of nervous because that really is the most important in my opinion, besides the turkey of course. So I thought I would make four so everyone would have plenty. Celeste (another wife), and I got all of the ingredients at the Navy base which has almost every american supply you could think of. I have been there 3 times in the past 3 weeks, I love it there. Anyways, I followed the recipe to the "T" but had extra filling... Kind of confused me so I tried to fill the crusts with as much filling as possible. While trying to move the pies from the table to our tiny oven I spilled all over the floor and in the oven as well. Made a huge mess, but they turned out edible which I was pleased about. Oh and one more glitch I ran into. Our oven is tiny (as most appliances in Europe are), so I could only bake one at a time. I was cooking pie for 6 hours straight...

Here is a pic of my final products:

Drake and I at the hotel

Picture of the table

Watching a game after the meal

Not the most flattering picture of Drake, but I didn't take that many so

he will have to deal with it

Now that Thanksgiving is over we can officially get ready for Christmas. We got a tree, and some lights around the apartment. Here is Drake assembling it.

It is pretty small and sad looking (I think it is only 60 inches tall), but we tried to make it as lovely as possible. I got tons of ornaments.

The final product.

Of course stockings too!