Well seeing that it has been just about a month and a half since I last updated this site I have a lot to write about.  I’ll save the best news for last (don’t you skip down to the end either…)!

Xavier

What can I say about a little boy that is nonstop talking and playing.  Yesterday at Derrick’s football game he almost fell off the benches and he laughs and says “Whoa, that was close! Did you see that?”  He started karate a couple months ago and he looks forward to Tuesdays when he has class. When Geno or I pick him up Tuesday afternoons he shows us his new moves.

He is, of course, looking forward to Christmas. EVERYTHING he sees on TV he wants.  I’ve quit making a mental not only because it’s EVERYTHING!  I keep having to explain to him that Christmas is in 2 months.  His response “It IS two months!”

Next week Derrick and Xavier have a doctors appointment.  I’m excited to see how much he has grown.  I recently found a paper from an old website I had and I had documented his growth since birth.  I still have a hard time believing that he was ever so small.

Last Sunday Geno, Xavier and I went to a friends farm. Xavier really wanted to ride, Reno, a beautiful horse. So our neighbor, Tanya, got him up there and he was a natural.

DERRICK

In a couple short weeks Derrick Alexander Schaefer will be a teenager! That’s right on November 12th he will turn 13 years old.  We haven’t decided what we are going to do for his birthday just yet - I suppose I should get cracking on it though.

Derrick is doing well in school.  Geno and I are able to look at his grades online anytime we want.  So far he’s getting two B’s and the rest A’s.  We have to work with him on making sure he turns in his homework but otherwise we are proud of him.

Football is another story. His team has yet to win a game and has only scored 2 touchdowns out of the past 5 games!  It’s not the players though, it’s the coach.  I won’t get into it but his coach shouldn’t be coaching.  Derrick is playing on offensive and defense.  I can’t remember what his position is on defense but on offense he’s playing running back.

LILLY and CITRUS (aka Hoops)

Well, first let me explain the kitten’s name change. It turns out that our little orange kitten isn’t a “he” but a “she”.  We were told that orange female cats are rare and she is definately a sweetest there is.  Although, the 3am wake ups are quite annoying.  She will meow and claw at our door if she senses the slightest movement or notion that someone is finally awake.  She just had a vet appointment and she’s 2.8lbs!

Lilly is also doing well.  She is currently at the vets having some tests done. She has been drinking a ton of water constantly and the vet said it wasn’t exactly normal.  She weighs a whopping 52lbs (I think it’s slightly more because she didn’t sit still on the scale long enough).  She’s very good though and hopefully, nothing serious is wrong.

ME (that would be SARAH)

What can I say - SCHOOL!  I only have a little over a month left and I can’t wait.  This quarter has been very difficult - emotionally and mentaly challenging.  Right now I’m doing well in all my classes, even Micro and BioChem!  I haven’t decided if I will be taking classes next semester, if I do they will be online only. 

I’ve been running also. It’s been chilly here so I’ve had to go to the gym and use the treadmills.  For some reason time seems to go at a snail pace on a treadmill. The best part is afterwards I sometime reward myself for a job well done with a banana/peanutbutter smoothie afterward. YUMMY!

GENO

Geno is doing well. A few weeks ago Geno and I went offroading with a Jeep group from his unit.  I made a video of our adventure.  I’ve put it at the end of this update. 

For the big news… I can’t remember if I mentioned it last post but Geno switched units.  This new unit isn’t supposed to deploy to Afghanistan until sometime early fall (September/October).  The good news and the BIG news . . . Geno will NOT be going with them.  He has received orders for a NEW duty station.  That’s right - the Lolli Family is moving! To where you ask?… ITALY!  That’s right, Vicenza, Italy is our next duty station.  For those that may or maynot remember we were supposed to go in January 2007 but didn’t.  This time we are going!  We are to leave in May (can’t give the exact date due to OPSEC).  This is going to be a GREAT opportunity and we are so excited!  I will be making a new page on here dedicated to Italy sometime soon.  The boys are also excited. Derrick was nervous at first because he thought that he would be going to an Italian school but he will be going on post.  Since he will be in 8th grade and close to high school we need to make sure that he gets the correct classes to ensure he graduates on time.  Xavier on the other hand will be attending the Italian schools.  I’ve started trying to teach him a little Italian, about as much as I know.  We will be getting the Rosetta Stone - Italian free from the Army so hopefully when we arrive we can hold a decent conversation.

So that’s about it.  I just got a call that Lilly is ready to be picked up so hopefully the news is good.

Offroading - Jeep fun!