This is how we roll...in Italy

Everything is smaller in Italy.

The shower is smaller.  Our kitchen sink is smaller.  The washing machine holds fewer clothes.

The packages of grapes sold in the supermarket are smaller.  Even the yogurt containers are smaller, and we’ve been buying our beer in 3-packs.

Nothing here seems to be supersized.

Nothing, that is, except for our mode of transportation.

A rental car is provided to faculty members as part of the compensation package.  Due to our large family size, I anticipated that we would end up with a large station wagon or a small minivan.

Instead we ended up with what is essentially the Italian version of the 1980’s conversion van.  It seats nine. And since everyone in Italy drives a tiny Fiat or Peugeot, our van is noticeably, conspicuously big. 

Every time Chris backs out of our tiny garage---a garage in which said van barely fits—I can’t help but laugh as the size of this thing is simultaneously embarrassing and hilarious. 

Christmas 2008: By the Numbers

Miles Driven: 664.43
Iowa City to Harlan to Defiance to Harlan to Webster City to Zearing to Webster City to Iowa City

While a minivan is a decidedly uncool mode of transportation (see Famous Last Words), I am grateful for the ability to watch DVDs on long car trips. That said, if I hear Bob the Builder chant, “CAN WE FIX IT?” anytime soon I will probably snatch the tape from said DVD player and stomp it into tiny pieces.

Christmas Celebrations Attended: 5

We celebrated our family Christmas the weekend before the actual holiday and then hit the Weis, Chamberlain, Johnson and Hyland Christmases between December 24 and 26. It was great fun to watch Cate and Ben this year and we’re glad they had the opportunity to spend time with family members that they don’t get to see often.

Winter Storms Navigated: 0

We somehow managed to miss all the bad weather that stormed through Iowa that week, narrowly missing an ice storm that pummeled Iowa City the day before we got home.

Number of times we slid back down our driveway upon our return to Iowa City: 2

Love the new house. Hate the new driveway.

It is steep. So steep that under normal circumstances visitors gingerly reach for the emergency break when attempting to park in the driveway. So steep that Cate and Ben should probably wear bike helmets just walking down the damn thing. So steep that the mailman wears crampons when hiking up the driveway to deliver the mail…

We return from our holiday to a driveway covered in a sheet of ice and two inches of snow. Chris takes one look, revs the engine of our MINIVAN, and says, “Let’s give it a shot.”

Twice.

We park in the street.

Number of neighbors who witnessed us sliding down our driveway upon our return to Iowa City: 2 (that we know of)

Although they haven’t said anything, I could see them peering out the window as we slid down the driveway.

Famous Last Words...

(Brad Baldwin, this post is for you).

5. I will never have a baby without an epidural.



4. I will never hold a baby above my head and sniff his/her rear end.



3. I will never bribe my child with M&Ms to get him/her to ward off a tantrum.



2. I will never wipe my child's nose with my sleeve in public.



1. I will never, ever, ever drive a minivan.

Having children is nothing if not humbling.