Who Knew Carrots and Bananas Could Cause Such a Stir

It was big day for soft foods in our home. First off, Jameson had a plate full of cooked, diced carrots at lunch. I literally turned around to put Maddie's pasta in the boiling water and he had turned himself into a walking, or high chair sitting, if you want to get technical, carrot. He had a grand ole time, though, crying when I started wiping away the detritus of his fun.

Katie left for school this morning with two loose teeth. It has been a while since she has lost any teeth, but four have gone the way of the tooth fairy so far. We only noticed the loose teeth last evening, but one on top was quite wobbly. When I met her bus this afternoon she gave me a sideways grin, exposing the gap left by the tooth that fell victim to her banana at lunch. Apparently after one looses a tooth at lunch, though, no other food can be consumed. And now, as she sleeps, her tooth is stored safely in a jar next to her bed for a mouse to come and take. This is some Italian tradition, and I'm sure we have it really wrong, but that is the story she came home with. I'm just glad it's not the tooth fairy and this mouse...could get expensive.

Now, this last bit has nothing to do with soft food, but I thought the picture was funny; and let's be honest, I don't want to leave one kid out of the blog. Maddie has been doing spectacularly with the potty. She has only messed up twice, and that has been in the middle of the night. Anyway, Jameson got a piano for his birthday (it's from us and we decided to give it to him early) and Maddie loves it. Loves it so much that she likes to give her pee an accompaniment as it exits her body. Now we hear the tinkling and the tickling of ivories at the same time.

Why am I Shaggy?

So some of you know that the kids went as the Scooby Doo gang on Halloween. More specifically, Katie was Velma, Maddie was Daphne (and she still is, if you ask her), and Jameson was Scooby-Doo. Anyway, there is still great love for the Mystery Gang at our house and the girls frequently revisit their alter egos to solve "mysteries" around the house. This morning, however, Maddie told me that she is Daphne, Katie is Velma, Jameson is Scooby, Daddy is Fred, and I am...hold your seats...Shaggy. Do you think she is making a comment on my daily state, or my need for a hair cut, or my love of Scooby Snacks? And so rises the eternal question - Why am I Shaggy?

Florentine Fun

We are back from our short trip to Florence, or Firenze, as the Italians say. It was a short 3 hour drive and soooooooo worth it. It was a pleasure to get out of Rome and see the sites in a city that is a favorite for both Chris and myself.

While a little chilly and wet, a good time was had by all. Katie really enjoyed the art and Maddie talked an awful lot about The David. They were also both excited to see 3 paintings, one being "The Birth of Venus," in the Uffizi, as they are in a kids art book that we have here at home. As cold as it was, no one complained about the walking, other than Katie and Maddie both mentioning on the last day that their feet were starting to hurt. Katie also proved to be quite embarassed by the lack of coverage over private parts in much of the painting and sculpture. :)

Personally, I loved the Duomo - the exterior is so beautiful. I enjoyed the Boboli Gardens outside the Pitti Palace, where Chris had the girls pose like statues... I also enjoyed the museums, and appreciated that we had small children with us so that we didn't have to stay too long and look at art that did not really interest us. It was peaceful to feel the slower pace of Florence and to take the time to walk and enjoy the surroundings. I am finding that Chris and I fit in more these days. In one day I was asked twice for directions. Once was by a young Korean man whom I was able to help. I also told him that I lived in Seoul at one time and that I was in the Songpa-Ku area, to which he responded "Oooooohhhhh!" I am still not sure if he thought that was good or bad. The second person to ask me for directions was an Italian man and his wife. They approached me in Italian, which made me feel good because I must not have looked like a tourist, and because I understood them and was able to help them, too.

While both girls were probably, honestly, most excited to find a Disney store near the Duomo piazza, Maddie decided that her favorite part of the trip was rubbing the pigs nose; Katie liked the Uffizi, the beautiful church - the multicolored Duomo - and she also said that she liked "spending time on a vacation with her family." AHHHHHHHHHH! I have to second her sappy statement.

HE WALKED!

Well, it wasn't full fledged walking, but he did take his first unassisted step today! YEAH!

Maddie Makes Her Contribution

Maddie has apparently recognized the ecomic crisis and environmental threats that now face all of us. In an effort to do her part, she has decided to be potty-trained. She woke up this morning, I gave her a cup of juice, without a lid, and she proclaimed that she was a big girl. She remained dry all day, pottying several times on the "little girl potty" all by herself. I even walked in on her, mid-pee. She was so excited about it all that she would ask anyone in the proximity if they could hear the pee "coming out of her body!" We are very proud. Because of her efforts our diaper budget has been slashed considerably. Because of her efforts the environment will not feel the pain of her disposed diapers. It is a big day.

Part of me feels the baby in her is gone, though, which is bittersweet. She is so funny and such a girl, but she still feels little. I look at her everyday and see the baby slipping away so that it is almost unrecognizable. We were cuddling today after she napped and as I inhaled her sweet/dirty smell - you know how little kids sometimes smell like a lollipop, one that has been dropped in the dirt - I tried to hold the moment so that I could remember it. It won't be long before she won't want a handshake from me, let alone a cuddle.

But today she smelled good in my arms.

Okay, so today I DO love some things...

Well, it may not be a complete reinfatuation with Rome...yet, but I did find again some reasons to totally embrace our foreign home.
1) Today the landlady for our building, her sister, the owner of the apartment above our's, the housing office representative, and a worker from upstairs came to "inspect" the damage to our unit. Well, long story short, the land lady and her sister were aghast at what was going on. So, too, was our portiere, Bruno (who has a special "Buongiorno!" relationship with Maddie). They were also upset that the construction was happening during quiet hours, 1-3 p.m., and that they were starting every morning before or around 7:30. It was so nice to have these lovely lovely women come in and coo over the children, call me signora and obviously commisserate with the mess, and then coo over the children some more. The warmth of the Italian people hit me again this morning. It was nice. Because it was one of those times when I could really equate the lovely terra cottas, mustards, oranges and browns that they use in the colors of their buildings with the goodness and warmth of their hearts.
2) It is so nice that we are able to give Katie horse riding lessons here. What can be prohibitively expensive in the U.S. is much more affordable here. Katie was tossed off her horse while riding a few weeks ago. Scared though she was, she got up, went to the restroom to wash the dirt out of her mouth, and then got back on the same pony. I was so proud...and scared, truth be told. And I'm still scared. Hate every second watching her ride now. Except when she is sitting so proud and confident on the pony. Except when she so tenderly and lovingly pats, hugs and leads her mount. Except when she gets in the car after lessons and tells me that she does not want to wash her hands because she doesn't want to lose the smell of the horses. She is fearless when it comes to animals. Her love for horses, especially, is eternal.
3) Again, I am so happy that we are able to give the kids the chances that they have had and will have to see parts of Europe many never see. We are taking the kids to Florence next week as there is no school because of winter break. Chris and I have talked about what we'll see and do and all Maddie will say she is going to do is "Rub the pig's nose." (Google it) I love that we can share this with the kids.
4) Great wine. Chris and I had a delicious bottle of red with our salad and foccacia dinner tonight. Sometimes I miss my favorite American cabernet, but Italian wine is nearly impossible to beat.

Enough musings for now. Buona notte.

The Day the Ceiling Came Down on Super Dragon the Bird Keeper

So, I had promised myself that I was going to make my next post about something I like about Rome; unfortunately the construction crew upstairs has conspired against me.

For several months now, probably close to 5, a construction crew has been doing a COMPLETE remodel of the apartment above us. Several months ago, I came home to be greeted in the parking lot by a gentleman who spoke no English asking which apartment I lived in and trying, obviously, to convey something important to me. I could not understand any more than the basics, but when I walked into my family room, I quickly saw the problem. A hole in the ceiling. Well, since then we have had many holes made in the ceiling. I guess I should say, in order to be more precise, the plaster and some of the cement has fallen in. The housing coordinator has sent someone out once to fix the problem, but more holes have occurred since then. We currently have 7 active fissures in our ceiling. I have been patient, but now I'm mad.

Today the banging got so loud - and the banging is loud; so loud it makes Jameson cry and Maddie walk around with her hands over her ears - that I became concerned. I walked into our bedroom, only to be assaulted with falling plaster. I yelled, hoping to stop them upstairs, but they only paused. This was quickly followed by another new set of cracks in the bedroom and then the BIG KAHUNA. The kitchen. I noticed the banging was loud in the kitchen, went in, and watched the eruption in process. At present the hole is at least 3 feet long and a foot wide and concrete and pieces of ceramic blocks have fallen, too. And they're still banging. It is not safe to have kids running around in this.

Everytime I go into the city center, I drive through the ancient walls that used to surround Bella Roma, and still stand today. I want my ceilings made out whatever those walls are made of.

Oh, and then to top it all off, while modeling a new purse for Maddie, I asked her if I looked like a super-model. She giggled and said, "No, you look like a super-dragon." Ain't youth grand!

Oh, and then to top it off again...Katie came home from school with pictures she had drawn of the whole family. There was something next to the drawing of me and I asked her if it was Jameson. She said no and told me that since I don't have a job she drew a picture of me taking care of birds. From the mouths of babes....