some words on a sicilan summer

Ciao family, friends and fellow bloggers! I wish I had access to more photos that we have taken on our yearly Sicilian summer trip; I sent the previous photo from Gio’s phone as he left for the airport. I only have my film camera and Gio has the rest on his phones; meaning who knows if you will ever see them- sorry, but it could be true! Making plans to come to Sicily was in our minds, but there were plans to travel to the states earlier in the summer and arriving in Sicily just as summer would be drawing to a close; however, our plans quickly changed and before we knew it we bought a flight leaving just a few days later! Giovanni is headed to Korea for work soon and with nothing to do in Milan but sweat, I chose to stay with the kids in Ragusa to hang out with Italian family and play in the Mediterranean. While here we have gotten a lot of Sun time, eaten the BEST fresh ricotta cheese, collected beautiful sea shells, indulged (at times more than once a day) for amazing gelato or granita (a granita is like a slushy, but as in true Italian style like eating/drinking an iced fruit or nut just picked from a tree- pure BLISS, some of our favorites are: toasted almond, pistachio, ricotta, pear and coconut with chocolate pieces) taking walks to admire Ibla (the oldest part of Ragusa)or along the board walk at night with the rest of the beach goers, homemade fresh ravioli thanks to Zia Maria, shopping the sales, playing with cousins and kittens at the farm house, wondering the local markets and celebrating birthdays with Nonni! It is such fun to listen to Charlotte speak Italian that is improving by leaps and bounds converse with everyone here, she pretty much refuses to speak to me in Italian, but that is ok by me. Isaac too, has quite the growing vocabulary! He seems so advanced for being 16 months (today he is 16 months, really already?) but what else would you expect his mother to say. We are truly enjoying our time here. Even if we miss Giovanni.

Dressed up in the City of Lights

For some time now I have been taking a backseat to blogging. At first it was due to some technical difficulties (ie. phone being stolen, hard drive crashing, ect...) but now I am just being lazy I guess!
The last week of OCtober Giovanni had a big International participants meeting up in Como for EXPO and I decided since he was going to be gone most of the week to head to Paris to visit with our friends! We had a GREAT time! Giovanni joined us for a long weekend and we packed in much fun along with lounge time! Here are a few photos of Halloween. I will post more about the rest of the trip at a later time.

We celebrated Halloween by attending the American Library in Paris activities, including Charlie Brown's Halloween and trick' o treating through out the library.
As you can see we had 2 insects! A Yellow Butteryfly and a Spider that LOVES to crawl!

the past 2 weekends

I have been holding out you! Rude of me right? We have been doing a tiny bit of traveling around here and I have not shared any of it with you. Don't hold it against me, I have been lazy and not in the "sharing mood".Please understand, I am sure most all of us go through that from time to time!
I came to my good senses and figured who ever you are that checks up on us here probably wants to see what happenings are going on around here and how the kiddies are growing. I hope not to disappoint!
This last weekend we were in Como to see our friends Ilaria & Alessandro get married! The ceremony was held in a beautiful church decorated with white flowers and candles, perfect! The reception was in a villa off of Lake Como just past Belliago. The kids were a bit under the weather and spent most of the time sleeping... so don't mind the "glazed eye" look they are givin!



(first 3 images were taken by our friend Marco, he has a MUCH better camera then I do, Sorry! this is the biggest I could get them!)



The weekend before that we went to Torino! It was a QUICK trip, but fun to be back! Giovanni and I met 6 years ago Sunday, June 5th, 2005 in Torino & we just happened to be there again on SUnday, June 5th, 2011!!!
Here are a few highlights of that little get away! (P.S.) our friend Cary came with us) After a quick trip to Porto Palazzo (Europe's largest open air market) buying plump, juicy cherries and some yummy asparagus for a STEAL we then walked around the center.
One place I had always heard about but had never visited in my many trips to Torino was a little cafe called La Biscern. Supposedly they have some phenomenal hot chocolate (among some other drinks of which we did not try due to the alcoholic ingredients). This place is truly storic!When we first walked into the square where it is located we saw a few tables outside with people enjoying their drinks... and a line of about 10 people waiting to sit! It was quite tiny inside, maybe 10 little tables crammed with chairs around them green walls lined with silver cups and teapots. Glass jars filled with candy and yummy gianduia chocolates(a hazelnut chocolate, think nutella flavor)! Most people popping in to try a glass of something and leaving again quickly. We were among this group. You can see Charlotte enjoyed it!






There are more adventure to share, but I am too tired right now... until hummm, i dont know, soon!

Postcards from PARIS

Almost last minute we decided to head to Paris for Easter Weekend to visit with friends and enjoy all of the blooming beauty that spring offers! Leaving Friday night we arrived a little down due to Gio loosing his phone on our first flight and being unable to track it down (sad), however we were so happy to be on a mini vacation and see our dear friends that 1 phone less was no big deal. We spent our time relaxing and walking most of the major sites. When we spent 3 months there 2 years ago I was able to "see and do" most all the touristy things- (Gio unfortunately worked)so we just wanted to take it easy. We watched some movies and Gio got in a few games of Chess with Richard! Our gracious hosts treated us so well while there- THANK YOU Elaine and Richard we Love you!
Check out a few of our memories below. Have you been to PAris? What was your favorite memory?
Highlights:
*Trying Escargot and liking it!
*Charlotte eating a chocolate Easter egg 4 the first time
*Playing on the lawns at Trocadero and enjoying the view of the E. tower
*Brunch nearly everyday
*Chess matches
*Eating Crepes on the streets
*Great weather
*showing Charlotte around

Peek of Rome

Here are a few pictures of us at TREVI fountain where Lottie threw her first "wishing to return to ROME coin"- she loved it! Especially throwing it over her shoulder!

un- pack

Since Little C and I arrived home I feel as if I only pack, unpack, lander, pack, ect... About 48 hours after touching down in Milan we were in a car on our way to the Dolomite Mountains to hang out with Gio's parents, sister and aunt. We had a great time spending a few days eating freshly picked apples while breathing crisp mountain air and looking for waterfalls!








As soon as we got home I once again cleaned, laundered and prepared for cousins Angela and Tim to arrive. They only stayed a day with us, but what a fun day it was! A morning of sightseeing around Milan lunching on famous Luini panzerotti and geltao, naps then back out to Milan's fashion district for Vogue Magazine Fashion night out! We were squished together with many other Milanese and visitors walking the red carpet down Via della Spiga and window shopping the well know designers. We even stopped into Roberto Cavalli for a refreshing Free cocktail (juice and ice for us). Lottie was dressed in her Armani, but that is not the only reason people found her irresistibly adorable! Some Japanese tourist even wanted her picture! It was a fun day!
A new week has started and I am trying to get back to our "normal" but am thinking of taking off mid week to go back to the Dolomites to finish the week off with the Crisione family while they are still in the North- oh my I nearly forgot! My FIL Aldo turned 70 this past summer- he has conquered his fear and finally flew as a passenger on a PLANE!!! we are very proud of him! not to mention the possibilities that await him now that the sky is literally the limit!