Advent

Wishing you all a blessed season of Advent! We had our first real snowfall last night, and the kids couldn't be more excited. Maria refused to go to Kindergarten today in order to maximize her playing in the snow time. Thomas is very cute, because he doesn't pronounce the first two letters of the word, so he points out the window yelling, NO! NO! NO! What Thomas?, 'snow'? JAH! NO!

Die Kuche ist da!

It seems that while I was on the computer yesterday complaining about the lack of a kitchen in our new apartment, Lisa was trying to cut some meat with a dull knife. She went upstairs to borrow a sharp one from a neighbor, saw a man installing a kitchen in an empty apartment (i.e. where there is nobody yet living), and basically burst into tears. By mid-afternoon our kitchen was entirely installed, minus a few tiny details that we don't hinder our use of it in the least. A woman / mother under great stress is a force to be reckoned with.

Thanks for the prayers!

News and Notes

Our move to the new campus has temporarily cut us off from the internet, which means not only are postings here even more irregular, but talking via Skype has also become rather difficult. We've had great news, though. We've received a grant/gift type thing specifically to cover the cost of installing wireless internet in all the new student housing apartment buildings. And the rumor is that this may even happen sometime within the next couple of weeks, although our experience of the kitchen installation process makes us inclined to doubt such swift efficiency. Speaking of which, however, there has been some minimal activity from the kitchen installation folks, but we're trying not to get our hopes up.

Day 19 without a kitchen, and counting...

Update

Here are some pictures of our new home on the School Campus:

This is the grassy area between our flat and the road. There are stables across the street, and the kids love watching the horses walk by. Next are a few shots of the Living / Dining Room.

Below is the kitchenless kitchen (we're still waiting). That electric griddle is sure earning its keep, but I hope I never have to see another sausage.

This is the entryway:

Maria is very excited about having a bunk bed now. And Thomas likes making his lower bunk into a fort with blankets.

Here's the only shot of the master bedroom that hides the mountain of laundry which has amassed since we moved:

Bathroom:

And, very exciting, a WC with a sink in the same room!

That's it for our place. The new campus is great and even includes little guest apartments, so should any of you care to take an Austrian vacation, we're well equipped to take care of you while you're here!