Just some more pictures!

Mom and Me in Pisa

Thought it was neat.
Nick and I sleeping on the train from Florence to Pisa.

Nick and I at Santissima.

Teeter Totter!

Took a chance...

Well, today I took a shot. My friend Angela emailed me this website..http://www.oplove.org/
If you go there, its pretty much for military families that have a deploying loved one. You find a photographer, affiliated with the organization, and they come and take before pictures of you and the loved one and children. Then the photographer goes with you when you say goodbye, snapping shots, then if the photographer wants they can do a session while the loved one is deployed, then the photographer goes to the reunion too and snap pics.

The photographer is entitled to get pictures printed in 4x6's and put them in an album and send to the loved one with no cost. Thats the photographers only obligation. The family then can purchase some or the photographer can offer more free ones. The rest is up to the photographer.

Well, back to my friend Angela, she said I should apply. Since there is no photographers affiliated with OpLove over here. So I just, 10 minutes ago, sent in the application via email. I am indeed a bit nervous, but how else am I going to build my portfolio{the app had a specific part asking if I was professional or portfolio building}. People can't complain of my work when they aren't paying for it right!


Anways, If I get it, pray I have courage. My one real fear is taking pics of people I don't know. I've never done it yet!

Thanks !

Yummy Casserole

I tried this tonight, and Nick and I both really liked it.


Chicken Broccoli Casserole: Serves 8-10

• 8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, sliced{I only used 4, since it was just us, and I cubed them instead of keeping them in strips, but I still used all the other ingredients}
• 1/2 cup[1 stick] of butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 cups half & half cream
• 1[14 oz] can chicken broth
• 1[8oz] package shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 1[5oz] package of fresh grated parmesan cheese{I forgot to get the fresh stuff, I just use the grated stuff, and it was good still}
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes or 3 tablespoons fresh chopped onion {we don't really like onions, so I just used onion powder, its all I had}
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2[10oz] boxes frozen broccoli florets, slightly cooked
• 1[7oz] package vermicelli{thin spaghetti} pasta

1. Preheat oven, 350 {175 for us in Italy! lol}
2. Wash chicken and dry well with paper towels. Melt butter in large saucepan or roasting pan and add flour.
3. Add half and half cream and stir constantly over medium-low heat until thick. Add chicken broth, half cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, 1/4 tsp pepper, mustard, parsley, onion, and 2 tsps salt.
4. Heat on low until cheeses melt. Remove from heat and add mayonnaise. Add broccoli and chicken slices to sauce.
5. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and pour into 10 x 15 inch glass dish. {This will not fit in a 9 x 13 pan}
6. Spread sauce and chicken mixture over spaghetti and sprinkle remaining cheese over top. Cook for 40 minutes

I really liked it. We didn't have anything else with it, I'm not sure what you would put with it.

I always forget to take a picture, plus this probably wouldn't be a great picture, once you dish it out, its all mixed together. Haha.

Let me know if you try it!

Good Times.

Well, the time has come that my mom and sister had to leave. 2 weeks just wasn't long enough! 3 would have been perfect.

We got to show them a lot, but if we had another weekend could have done a bit more.
We went to Lake Barcis, and a few other local spots we go to often. Then our big trips were Pisa, Florence and Venice. They seemed to have a good time.

My mom was fine with just staying here chilling around the local area, pretty much just being with us. But we couldn't let her come all the way to Italy and not see some sites!

My sister was way excited to see all the architecture. She had a Art History class last semester about....Italy. So that made her more psyched!

My mom was ready for the Arizona weather but wasn't ready to leave Italy. More so me of course, but she really liked the town and surrounding area. She got to meet our little group of friends and saw how close we are and feels good that we have that in case we ever need anything and so on. She also knows now that she doesn't have to worry about my safety when Nick is gone. Kodi is very intimidating she says! More so to look at, otherwise he is just a but teddy bear! And once Kaci is full grown, she knows I'll be just fine! Lol.

My sister loved Kodi, Kaci has a totally different personality and thats why she was more prone to cuddling Kodi. He is a cuddler! Kaci likes to lay on her own and do her own thing. Kylie also loved it here and wants to come back soon. She liked the cold, just for a change.

They both would love to come back when its warmer and green. Its got a totally different look when everything is grown especially like the vineyards and such. And of course, they wanna go to the beach!

Saying goodbye was hard, as it had almost been a year since I had seem them/left them....but knowing that Nick and I will be home sometime the end of summer makes it easier. We just said "see ya later!"

Anyways, I'm back and will be posting for frequently hopefully!

Oh Nick goes TDY the end of this month. Only 20 days, but its his first. He is excited. As am I. A little break is nice every so often, especially since its a short one! He is going to Spain. So it should be pretty neat!

Oh yes, on another note, we accidently made more puppies....and thats the truth!
Kodi and Kaci were outside for a while and we were playing Scene It on the XBOX and it was loud then all of sudden it was quiet and I heard screaming...dog screaming of course, and I was like CRAP! We all got up running to the door, some that were here not knowing why, and it so happens...they were stuck together....only people that have seen dogs do it or know about it will know what that meant, but it definatly means they did it. Rachel had only let Skye out 5 mins before I heard them...needless to say, it didn't take long. Haha! TMI Sorry!

We didn't want that. But it happened. So we decided to make the best of it. There are so many people here that wanted one from the last litter that didn't get one, so they will definatly have homes! We already have 6 people in line! Thats how many she had last time, so no telling how many this time!

Kodi is going to be fixed. We were waiting till mom and Kylie left to schedule it...as the Vet was out of town for the Holidays...so we now will defintaly get on that! We don't want more accidents in the future!

Pisa & Florence

Our trip to Pisa and Florence[Firenze]

Very fun. Lots of walking!

We stayed at Camp Darby right outside of Pisa. It was nice and we got it for free! Because they needed our Deluxe cabin so they let us stay in a Rustic for free both nights! All that we didn't have in our cabin was a bathroom and we were real close to them and they were clean! So we saved $100 bucks!

Nick and I in front of the Gothic Cathedral in Pisa
Me in front of the Cathedral in Pisa{I'm lookin at the tower}

Me Nick and Kylie in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Kylie Mom and Me in front of the AWESOME cathedral in Florence!

Pics while Mom and Kylie are here...

We went to Barcis...the famous lake we always go to! Because its gorgeous!

It was a great day to go, sunshine and snow and mom and Kylie...what more could I ask for! Lol.