Sunday by the Fireside!

We had a wonderful Sunday exploring the forest and creek. It is amazing how easy it is to just walk to the creek now after it has been cleared, we can truly appreciate the beauty and enormity of our land. We topped off our day by roasting marshmellows on the fire. After the kids were bathed and put to bed, Vittorio and I went outside to the glowing embers to sit under the stars and wonder how long we would get to enjoy this stillness and beauty.

It's Cake Time!

Our Baby Girl is 2!!

It is so hard to believe that the youngest member of our family is already 2! It seems like yesterday that I flew on a jet plane to Addis Ababa to bring her home. She is such a joy in our lives. Her favorite things are princesses (especially cinderella), dress-up, dancing and playing hide and seek!

Vittorio is pain free!!

Yeah! After a successful procedure where cortisone was placed in his bulging discs he is now pain free for the first time in weeks!!

It was Election week at Gianni's School

Gianni's class at the Parish school had elections to see who would be Kindergarten Class President (Unfortunately Gianni did not get the nomination, but he took it like a good sport).

This is a list of the problems that his class felt would make the world a better place.

Problems That Need Solved:
1. wars
2. problems in Haiti, Africa and America
3. A dirty planet
4. slaves (born of their discussion of Abraham Lincoln. Although they understood there is no longer slavery in America they were sure it was a big enough problem that they wanted to make sure it wasn't happening elsewhere in the world)
5. fighting about stuff
6. Endangered species and cutting down habitats
7. No food
8. Bad laws and bad guys that make bad laws

I think it is incredibly insightful for 5 and 6 year olds! The following is a letter that Gianni wrote to the President. I love this boy

Channeling our inner Erykah Badu

Play-doh bonanza!!

Some of my favorite days with the kids is making play-doh from scratch, adding food coloring and then spending hours creating the most preposterous creatures!

not just a fingernail!

After struggling to clip Gianni's nails last night (we do not attempt this activity as often as we would like because we need to recover from Gianni's fits about it before attempting to do it again), he had an "Eureka" moment. He ran to Vittorio saying "Daddy, daddy, since you are a scientist, take this fingernail to your lab and look at it under the microscope to see what it is made of." I think he is still hoping we will find that he has cells from a mutant spider or more importantly Midichlorians(microscopic lifeforms) that would prove once and for all that he is indeed a JEDI NIGHT!

Gianni's Valentine to Gabi-----the card says it all!

Valentine Parties Galore!

Valentine week is always adventurous, trying to find the right valentines to give for each child, having to purchase treats for their classmates, treats for the teachers, getting your kids to write their names on the valentines, furiously putting together the gift bags for each child in Gianni and Gabi's classes. UGHHH...at the end of the week, I am sick of the holiday and it hasn't even happened yet!

A not so sweet Valentines day......

Our morning in Austin started out great, I ran my 1/2 marathon in 2 hours (would have liked to have completed it in less than 2 hours, but the hills were insane!) We were then looking forward to heading home for some Sunday relaxation, but my gallbladder had other plans and I ended up in the ER. OUCH!! Gallbladder attacks are not fun and I would not recommend them for any Valentine day fun!

my beautiful girls

This morning at breakfast, Gabriella says to her daddy: "Daddy, when you and mommy get old, you will become babies and I will take care of you." Lets hope she still feels this when she is 16! :)

100 days of School!

Toady was Gianni's 100th day of Kindergarten! We are so proud of him and all that he has accomplished so far and how hard he is working every day. He continues to amaze us daily. At the end of the school day all the kids released balloons into the air and then chased them. We just love the school where Gianni goes, he is so loved.

Reading Time

Well, I am not sure that this is what I had in mind when I told Vittorio to read to Gianni.

A Real African Princess!

Here is our beloved Tia, who loves to dress up and imitate everything her sister does! She has started talking so much and loves to cuddle and kiss her mommy and daddy. She also has started imitating animals and will get down on all fours and chase me around the kitchen and bark ( Hmmm... I'm thinking she watched the movie "Lady and the Tramp" a few too many times :)).

Did not have the blues Sunday, but rather the painting "Blues"

We did not have a bad day Sunday (Mom), we got a lot done! Check out this beautiful Blue Room of Gianni's! I love this color so much, it is like diving in the sea or a big beautiful lake up in the boundary waters of Minnesota! Such a calming effect when you are in there! Let's hope that this calming effect also passes down to Gianni-Heehee!