I'll be back....

I know, long time no post. The graphics card went out/burnt out in my desktop computer {which is where all my photos are stored} so I won't be blogging for a bit. This week is also the start of school so we're busy busy! I'll update as soon as I can!

One of my favorite Italian towns...Lucca!

 On Wednesday we made the short drive from Pisa, to Lucca. I love Lucca...I'd say it's my favorite walled city in Italy. We (or course) rode the bike around the wall, then after sight seeing, we hit up the market that is there each Wednesday followed by more sight seeing, riding the carousel, lunch, shopping and gelato.

 It was a long, hot hot day, but we all did quite well. And the silence on the drive home was wonderful! 

How about seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa on your 50th birthday Mom?

Alternately titled : Yes, I am the coolest daughter in the world. 

I kid, I kid. But seriously, there are some perks to having your daughter move half way around the world!

On Tuesday, Nanaw's 50th Birthday, we woke up, she opened up a LOT of cards and memories from her nearest and dearest friends that I had mailed here, as did my Dad for his belated birthday. {Thanks again to everyone who helped!!}

 

Then we hopped in the car and drove the almost three hours to Pisa!

 

 Happy 50th Birthday Mom!!

After Pisa, we headed to the beach:

 After  bit of swimming and playing, we packed it up and headed to dinner. We wanted to watch the sunset while we ate...

Hope you had a great birthday Mom!

Exploring Italy with Nanaw and Papa: Venice!

On Sunday we opted to stay near home. We went to the big open air market in Camisano, then Papa and B went to see the new Batman movie. We were all still a little tired from the day before and we knew that Monday we were going to....Venice!

I love Venice. I don't love the crowds or all the tourist crap, but I do love the back alleys, the canals, the gondalas...it's adorable!

While we had been to Venice before, this was our first time taking a gondala ride and I have to say, we loved it! Our gondalier spoke English and talked enough to point on interesting buildings but not so much that it took away from the experience. We rode in one gondala and my parents rode in the other. It was fascinating to see them maneuver these long boats through tiny canals alongside other gondalas and boats. It was on my ''must do/bucket list'' while in Europe and I'm so glad I can cross it off. I'm not sure if we'll do it again as it's pretty pricey but it was well worth it for the experience!

Another pricey but well worth it stop in Venice was Hard Rock Cafe. I love Italy, I really do but I'm a Kansas girl. I'm used to meat and potatoes. I like pasta and pizza and tomatos and paninis but there is only so much one can eat before practically shouting ''I JUST WANT A CHEESEBURGER". A bacon cheeseburger that is so juicy it drips down your arm when you take a bite, kinda burger. Not a frozen patty ''maxi burger'' that they sell in other restaurants.

So when I was telling a friend about my craving she said "go to Hard Rock Cafe, it's truly American and their cheeseburgers are perfect''. So while in Venice, here I am insisting on a cheeseburger. {I do justify this by saying, it's not like I'm a tourist only here for 10 days seeking a burger...we've lived here almost 8 months, I just wanted a taste of home!}. We get there and it's like I stepped into a HRC in Chicago...I no longer felt like I was even in Italy! The staff spoke English, Styx was on TV and I was given a buzzer to wait til the table was ready! We were seated very quickly and I immediately opened the menu and there it was! The "Legendary 10 oz Cheeseburger" is €16.95...or almost $22. For a burger and fries. I didn't even care. I ordered it, cooked medium, and waited. When it came...oh my gosh was it everything I had hoped for and more! I didn't get a picture of it, I was so excited to dive right in. And I'm not even ashamed to admit that I ate damn near the entire thing. I don't think it was the lack of having had a burger in so long either ,as it was truly delicious.

So we ate at Hard Rock and wandered around St. Marks Square:

 

 All in all, we had a blast in Venice. And it wasn't even that crowded!

Sissy is 22 months old!

Sissy this is the first time I have forgotten to take your monthly pictures on the fourth; we were in Germany and I completely forgot until we returned home and I realized it was the fifth already. Time is flying by! At 22 months you....

• are finally weaning. You're down to nursing just one time, about every other day! I think once your brothers start school and our routine changes, you'll be done all together. 
• use your silverware correctly and without being reminded (most of the time). 
• know all of your body parts; including tricky ones like ankle and elbow.
• love to play pretend. In your playhouse, with your kitchen or with your dolls you will bring me a 'ringing' phone, you will make your brothers eat the cookies you 'baked'. You will meow like a cat and crawl around or run real fast like a car. 
• are moving up to size 6 shoes. Still in 18-24mos clothes and size 3 or 4 diaper though.
• can say 'ciao' 'arrivederci' 'gelato'
• still aren't a big talker but you're getting better! You can say ''where's *insert name here*" you say ''i love you'' ''night-night'' ''want that'' ''what they doing?" and foods such as ''apple, banana, juice, milk, cheese". we're working on saying ''please and thank you'' clearer. you can say objects like ''car, bug, shoe''. 
• are bossy, and demanding and spoiled rotten but you're also very lovable, gentle and kind.