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Oh Baby!

It is true! We are having a baby boy. We are due Dec. 29 and totally excited. Pregnancy has been full of changes, most of them really physically awkward, but we're so happy we get to be parents. Here's the countdown!

My Students' LIVESTRONG Submission

I'm back!

Italy was quite possibly the most beautiful, most wonderful experience of my life. I thought I'd be able to blog while I was there, but internet connections were not great. I've posted our pictures as a slideshow on the sight. These can also be viewed at picasaweb.google.com/kyletarbet/Italy07

I'm going to attempt to post a journal type entry for each day we were there, just as my for my benefit as for my readers. I don't want to forget the great experiences we had!

Many people have asked what my favorite experience was in Italy. Honestly, I can't think of just one. Walking the cozy streets of Florence, seeing ancient Roman ruins, marveling at Venetian architecture, and experiencing true Italian life were all wonderful aspects of our adventure.

Reality came crashing down on us when we arrived home. Our luggage was lost for about an hour, but soon found. We were terrified as many of the gifts we purchased were in our luggage. Thankfully, it came with the next flight.

In other news, Kyle didn't get the job he applied for in Boise, but I have an interview with Boise State University tomorrow for an academic advising position. I'm really nervous, but they have three openings. Hopefully I'll get one!

More later...I'm supposed to be working!

Skipping Thanksgiving

John Grisham wrote a novel a few years back called Skipping Christmas about a couple whose only daughter leaves for the Christmas holidays, hence leaving the couple to celebrate Christmas alone. The couple then plans to leave on a cruise and skip Christmas altogether. A movie was made based on the book, Christmas with the Kranks.

I have to say that last night it really hit me that Kyle and I would be skipping Thanksgiving this year. That meant no grandma's houses or playing with cousins. No Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or football games. No sneaking Christmas decorations just a little early. As much as I'll love Italy, I will miss these nostalgic traditions I've grown up with.

We leave our house tomorrow at 4:30 a.m.! I honestly do not remember the last time I was awake at such a terrible hour of the day. Our flight from leaves at 7:00 and we'll hit SLC and Chicago, then straight to Milan. We'll arrive Nov. 16 at 7:30 a.m. Italian time. Kyle said the trick to beating jet lag is to sleep on the plane and stay awake the entire next day. It might be easier in theory than actual practice!

I have everything ready at work, but not many things packed at home. The only thing I've packed thus far is my carry-on. Zoiks! as my pal Scooby would say.

Thanks to those who read my blog. It's nice to know people care enough to read about what you're doing. The next time I post, I'll be in another world! I'll keep you posted!

2 Days Until Italy!

Only two days to go until Kyle and I take our trip. We are so excited! Last night we started packing our carry-on bags. With all the new TSA regulations, it has been more of a process than I expected. I've double and triple checked that we only have 3 oz. liquid containers in our 1 quart zip top plastic bags. What ever happened to just packing what you wanted and leaving? I guess that doesn't exist anymore. Luckily, Kyle and I are going through security in Idaho Falls, which should be deserted at 6 a.m. (I'm hoping anyway!) We should have an easier time going through security than if we were to go through Salt Lake City.

So I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous. I've never been so far away from home in a place that is so different from Idaho. Thanks heavens for Kyle, though. He'll make the transition easy and fun.

Our first planned stop is Bologna for the weekend to revisit Kyle's old friends. Then we're off to Rome for 4 days and Florence after that for 2. We'll make a few side trips to Venice, Verona, Siena, and San Marino before heading back to Milan to come home. Two weeks sounds like a lot, but I'm sure it will come and go faster than Christmas break for school kids.

A lot of people have asked me what I'm most excited about. To be honest, I'm not sure. I think the place I look forward to the most is the Vatican. I learned we can hike to the very top of the dome and look out over the entire city. I'm counting on that being a breath-taking, once in a lifetime experience.

I plan to post while I'm there and keep a travel journal. I'll try and post pictures when I write as well. Until next time, arrivederci!

Assassin Update

Oh yeah, I killed five more Box Elder bugs today.

Halloween...and I got a trick

Bad news for me today. The job in Boise I thought I was a sure contender for didn't pan out. Again, the employer said it was "bad timing" because I couldn't start until December. I think "bad timing" should be my new nickname, as it is the story of my life.

Sorry, no rays of sunshine from this direction today. I guess of all days, Halloween was pretty fitting to find out bad news.

There's a Saturday Night Live skit with a character named Debbie Downer. I feel myself morphing into Debbie more and more, which scares me! I didn't used to be so blue, but I really let my circumstances get me down. Something to work on, I suppose.

Hopefully a happy post coming next time.

Box Elder Bug Assassin

Those readers who know me understand my complete horror when it comes to anything creepy, crawly, or otherwise disgusting. For the past month at work we have had a horrible Box Elder bug infestation. I literally kill 5 or 6 a day.

I disposed of one just now. Gross.

Good News

Today has been a good day in a muddle of less than good days. Kyle and I have decided it is time to venture out into the real world--Boise for us. Kyle only has one class and an internship left for his master's degree, so we decided to head in a direction with more opportunity and growth than Pocatello. Feeling the need to stay close to our families, we opted to stay in the state and go to Boise.

Job searches have not been the best for me in the past year or so. Needless to say, there was a lot of trepidation searching for opportunities in the Boise area. Bored at work one long afternoon, I started searching through jobs on careerbuilder.com and found a position in Kuna as a technology teacher. I immediately e-mailed my updated resume to the principal, and not even an hour later, I had a response. She was excited by my experience and really wanted to interview me. I came clean about my projected start date, December. I could tell her spirits were immediately dampened, but I tried whatever coaxing power I possess to get an interview. I found out this morning that she does want to interview me and I think I have a fair shot at the job.

That would mean Kyle and I will move in December. I might move before him to start work, but I think we'll be glad to have a fresh start--new place, new people, new jobs, new opportunities.

Kyle has found a position in Meridian he is applying for as an assistant planner. It's the perfect entry level job for his career goals. We're really crossing our fingers we can both get the jobs we would love! It seems like we've both sacrificed a lot of time in less-than-ideal jobs to get through school, but now we actually have the means and abilities to do what we WANT to do instead of what we HAVE to do.

Wish us luck and pray for us. We can use all the help we can get!

Opening Day

Today is the grand opening of my blog. I'm techno savvy and young and hip, so I figured it's time to get going with blogging. Hopefully this will be a good way for me to keep the fam and friends up-to-date.

I'm going to Italy in 22 days (radical!) and I will be sure to post some awesome pics here when I return.

Until then, I hope to use this blog to talk about things I learn, aspects of life that inspire me, and the doldrums everyone experiences for various reasons. Hopefully there will be more of the inspiring and less of the dull-drums. :)

Now, I christen this blog and wish it great success.