5 more games...can that be right?

I honestly can't believe it...there are only five more games left in the regular season of 2010-11!  I just said that out loud and realized we don't have that much longer.  Living overseas for nine months out of the year there are days when the time seems to stand still (sometimes for days on end) and then other times when you don't know where the last month went.  Today I am feeling like where did the month of March go?

With five games to go we are (what do you know) still in 7th place in Legadue.  We are still looking good for play-offs so I have a strong feeling we will be here longer then 5 more weeks. :)  Last week the team won against Casterpusterlengo and this week will be heading to San Severo for a game on the road.

My parents get here this week and I am SOOOO excited! I love when they get to come and visit here...it is such a special time with just them and not the hustle and bustle of being home and having crazy schedules everyday.

A big thing happening in our family is that my Sister Kristin is moving to Chicago next week!  She was offered a job at her same company in Chicago where the market is the 3rd biggest in the country!  This is bittersweet because I am so happy for her and proud of her success as a business woman, but so sad that when I get home she won't be there :(  She is so amazing though and I know she will be rocking the Chicago market in no time, and this is a great opportunity for her.  I guess this calls for a visit to Chicago this summer!! ;)

Kristin's trip to Sardegna!

This is a sign my other talented sister Sara made for Kristin's going away party!  Cool huh!

Other then that not too much happening around the old hill town of Veroli.  The sun is trying to make a permanent appearance but still squeaking a few rain days in there...but looks like this week is calling for 68 degrees so I will take it!

Since I am munching on some fresh crackers right now...I will share a very dear secret to keeping items fresh in my cupboards and fridge....wait for it....RUBBERBANDS!!  This is a trick I learned from my Father in law, and it seriously works like a charm.  The best part about them is that you can use them a million times over and they change shape according to what you are wrapping up (chips, salad, cookies, etc).  This little trick has helped keep our food tightly wrapped up and that means fresher food for longer!  Can't beat that!  I dare you to try it ;)

Make sure to buy a bag of all different sizes!! :)

Official countdown:
My Parents....2 days!!
My Aunt...8 days!!
My Sister Sara...12 days!!

Time is rolling on!

SO we are two weeks and two games since we won the Italian cup and things are just moving along. We won one game and lost the one last Friday, and funny enough we are STILL in 7th place in Legadue!  It is so frustrating week after week of being in the exact same spot in the rankings, especially since we all feel like the team has been playing SO well.

And too clear up any confusion...the Italian cup (what my last blog was about) has nothing to do with our actual season in Legadue.  It is just an Italian pride tournament that is a big deal and an accomplishment to be in, but has no bearing on our standings whatsoever.  I think I might have confused some people with that post...sorry! :)

So time, as I said in my post title...are just rolling on because we aren't moving anywhere in the standings but right now it is still looking really good for us to make play-offs.  The top eight teams go to play-offs and we have seven more games to play.

Too keep busy last weekend while the guys were on the road, Adriana and I headed to Roma and it seriously could not have been a more perfect day.  The sunshine was out and it was about 65 degrees!  We got there and headed to the Trevi fountain (our favorite place) and then to the Spanish steps...after that we shopped till we dropped before we finally had to eat.  We had lunch at a great restaurant near the spanish steps and enjoyed our pesto pasta, and gorgonzola gnocchi! IT WAS GOOD :)  Then we walked back to the train station and headed home.  

Blanko restaurant!  Highly recommended :)  

It is funny because as much as both of us have been there, we still couldn't stop talking about how amazing this city is and how much we love it there.

Yesterday Cinzia, Adriana and I walked the Veroli outdoor market in the warm sun and enjoyed our cappuccino's out in the center square.  THEN the rain came...it started raining last night and has not stopped since!  I sure hope the weather is cleaning out it's system so that the sun can come back :)

Tony also had his TV appearance on the local station so here are a few pics from his interview. Don't worry...they actually powdered his nose! Hehe :)

This week the team heads to Verona for their Saturday game...unfortunately it is not on TV or anything so we will all be glued to our computers watching the play by play.

COUNTDOWN to my parents arrival....14 days!!!!! :)

2011 Italian Cup CHAMPS!

YAY!!!!!  We are so proud of our team for winning the 2011 Italian Cup Championship!!  They played so well and beat two of the best teams in the league to take home the trophy.  :)  Here are a few pics of the celebration when the team returned home after their awesome WIN!!

My cute Champ!

The wives! Amanda, me, Adriana and Cinzia :)

Way to go PRIMA VEROLI!!

 

Winter Wonderland Wedding = Perfection

I always have a hard time starting my blog posts about a big event because I always worry that I won't do it justice, and that I will forget something important!  But then again...I love blogging about special events.  And this was one of the most special in our family.  My little Brother T.J. got MARRIED!  He and Ashley Roggenkamp tied the knot on February 26th and it was a fabulous time with family, and friends.

Ashley and T.J. getting ready for the rehearsal

Getting home early I was able to help a little bit with last minute details and my Mom with the rehearsal dinner.  It was so nice to be home to do those things because I missed so many fun parts of the wedding like showers, and the bachelorette party!  But anyway...to the good stuff :)

So a few days before the wedding it started snowing like crazy in our town...and I am not going to lie everyone was a little nervous because it doesn't snow where we live that often, and we were afraid people wouldn't come to the wedding if there was ANY snow on the ground.  But God was definitely watching carefully because he stopped the snow and it was almost all gone by the night of the rehearsal!  SO that was great :)

My parents house on Lake Sawyer

The night of the rehearsal was so amazing, after the practicing at the church and everything we went to Sip City for dinner.  It really is a wine tasting cafe but my parents had it catered by someone else in town so it worked out so well.  It was nice to have the whole place to ourselves and just be able to relax and have a great time.  The night was perfect, we had great food and great company.  T.J. and Ashley each talked about their parents, siblings, and then talked about each person in their bridal party.  Then the families were open to give toasts too.  My Dad and all of us sisters talked...and I don't know how many of you know our family that well, but we are seriously CLOSE and very emotional when it comes to our family members.  So we all cried...but we still were able to get out exactly what we wanted to say to my Brother and Ashley.  It is kind of a big deal for your baby Brother to get married...

Half of the room!

FAMILY :)

The WEDDING day  2.26.2011

After we all got our hair done and all ready we headed to the church around noon to get dressed and get ready for pictures.  The pictures were pretty fun, one of the bridesmaids brought out her iPod and speakers and we all just danced outside for about 20 mins!  It was so cool and I really hope the pictures turn out the way it looked!  Remind you that it is about 35 degrees out so we didn't last outside too long :)  

Brody getting ready to be the ring bearer...what a stud muffin.

ALL ready :)

The ceremony was at 3:30pm and it was absolutely beautiful and I think we only managed to cry a few times so that was good ;) Then it was off to the reception in Puyallup where every detail had been carefully planned out and the room looked so pretty.  The reception was a BLAST!  So fun to see so many people and dance the night away with family and their friends.  It could not have been more fun :)

The next day the families went to Ashley's family's house to open presents with the newlyweds!  It was a special time with just the families to talk about everything that had happened and just enjoy one last event together to wrap up the incredible weekend!

The biggest bummer of the whole weekend is that Tony couldn't be there...of course this is really only a bummer for me, but he really wishes he could have been there and of course I really missed him :(

The winter wonderland wedding was a true joy to be a part of and I am so so happy for T.J. and Ashley and for their new journey together as a married couple.  We love you guys! :)

Mr. and Mrs. Poe