Our first Christmas in Sicily...

Some of our Christmas pictures went out in the cards we sent, but here are some other shots.

Jason and Aidan in front of our tree. It was hard to get them smiling at the same time.

Reading a Curious George Christmas book.

Family photo.

Aidan and me.

Aidan getting ready to open a present on Christmas Eve.

Aidan and me opening books.

They were Disney princess picture search books.

Christmas morning... Baby Cabbage Patch doll.

More books... Dr. Seuss.

Aidan got puzzles and Princess dolls...

Hello Kitty wallet, backpack and umbrella...

And clothes.

Presents came to an end and then it was outside to play with the big stuff. Those pictures to follow.

Time to say good bye and Merry Christmas! Buon Natale! Ciao!

Aidan's first haircut...

As with most children, there comes a time when it is just easier to get them a haircut than to deal with the brushing. Curly hair is maybe worse then straight because of all the snarls. Aidan went crazy when it came time to brush so I knew it was time to let go and just get it cut. I was afraid she would lose those lovely curls, but I was tired of the daily struggle with her and her hair. So to memorialize her long and curly hair, here are the before, during, and after pictures of Aidan's first haircut.

She was very excited to go to the salon.

Sitting up straight to show her pretty hair.

Making faces...

Last time for her hair to be braided.

Had to bribe her to sit still by feeding her Skittles.

Her Italian hair stylist.

Aidan wondering how much longer she is going to have to sit still.

Finished!

Not quite as short as we wanted, but it was all she was going to put up with. She was checking herself out in the mirror.

Well, that is all. Just a new hair cut before Christmas. Until next time, Ciao!

Halloween...

Here is our little social butterfly headed out for Trick or Treatin'. She wasn't so keen on the picture taking before hand and just wanted to go and get her some sweets.

Here she is pointing the way.

She was very happy when we said it was time to go.

"I'm waiting!"

Here she is with Jason in the tree costume she decorated and made by herself (almost).

And me too... She finger painted hand print leaves, made little tissue paper leaf bunches, and crowns to top it all off.

She had a great time! Jason took her for a few minutes around the block and then handed her off to me. We continued around the neighborhood. She ran into several of her friends for school and ballet. She liked all the different costumes. A few scary masks weirded her out, but she just looked at them in awe instead of running away. She got to jump in a giant bouncy house at one of her friends houses. It took a lot of effort to get her out so that we could keep moving. We finally made it back home, and none too soon. She was on her last leg when we made it to our little park and crossed to our yard. She was happy to be home and to take stock of her treats. We limited her to only a few pieces before her bath and bedtime. All in all, it was a very eventful, satisfying, and fun-filled Halloween for us all. We hope that everyone had as much fun as we did. Until next time... Ciao!

A little late, but here is Florence and Pisa...

So here they are... better late than never. After our two days in Rome, we drove north through Umbria and into Tuscany. We stayed in this 10th century villa in a town outside of Florence called Donnini Reggello. Villa Pitiana was at the top (or nearly on top) of a hill over looking a beautiful valley. We were amazed by the grounds, the views, the food, etc.

The gated entrance to Villa Pitiana.

The view of the villa from the lower gardens and the pool.

Side view of the main house.

Another view of the main house.

View from one of the side gardens down into the valley.

This is the gate house... we were place here because of Aidan. I really wish we could have seen some of the amazing rooms in the main house. (Go on line to look up the villa... they have pictures of the rooms.)

Meredith and Aidan walking down to the pool.

This is the private road that led from our room to the main house.

Aidan and I taking a swim.

Having fun and relaxing after the long drive. There were several French families and a few from the Netherlands staying at the villa... all at the pool when we headed down.

Aidan showing off her big, pruney feet.

When I reserved the room, they said there would be two beds... only got one double that Meredith and I shared, and this porta-crib. Aidan is far too big those and the bottom was very flimsy. She ended up sleeping in the bed with us.

At the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence... No pictures allowed. Meredith was taking covert (and voyeuristic) photos of Michelangelo's "David."

Slightly better shot... like I said, covert.

This is the only sign to let you know you are at the museum. Of course there are lines, but the Galleria was in an old building on a normal street in the middle of town.

This was the street the Galleria was on. Tight and busy with kiosks and tourists.

This is at the Uffizi Gallery. The complex was huge. Two three story buildings (u-shaped) that are each about the distance of a city block.

Another view of the building as we waited in line to get our tickets.

This is part of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore which lies in the middle of town. Very busy!

The basilica is in the Gothic style. Building started in 1296, but wasn't completed until 1436.

It was beautiful. If we had more time, I would have liked to go inside. The crowds were hectic and we were on a mission to go to all the places on Meredith's list... this not being one of them.

More basilica.

The doors of the basilica.

One of the domes of the basilica... unfortunately, we didn't get a picture of the large duomo.

Another of the basilica buildings.

Arriving at the Boboli Gardens.

Aidan and I taking a rest... The lion reminded me of Aslan in the Narnia Chronicles.

The lion.

Maybe Aidan is trying to imitate the lion's expression.

Meredith was having fun with the camera while I was off getting tickets for the gardens.

Aidan and her dog Avers.

And another.

Inside the Boboli Gardens.

The ceiling of an antechamber.

The museums at the gardens. We didn't go in to see any of the exhibits, we just walked around the gardens.

Aidan finally got to walk around instead of sitting in the stroller.

One of the lower gardens.

Me, in front of the main building.

Aidan trying to grab the orb at the top of the obelisk.

Just playing around.

A fountain at the top of a really steep hill. We took a rest here and Aidan ran around.

More steps. We didn't go any further than this. We were too exhausted.

The view down to the main building.

Aidan convinced this nice Italian woman to help her clib the hill to chase pigeons.

But the bird got away. It did entertain the woman though.

More birds.

Jumping and throwing rocks.

One of the few shots of us all together.

A closer shot of us.

The Ponte Vecchio.

Aidan and I on the Ponte Vecchio... It is packed with gold and jewelry merchants down both sides.

View downstream from the bridge.

The crowds were crazy...

Meredith on the bridge.

A distant view of the Leaning Tower of Pisa (this is the only view I actually got).

Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Top of tower.

Tower and buildings.

Sorry about the picture angle... I forgot to rotate it before uploading it.

Meredith at the Tower of Pisa... Aidan and I stayed in the car. Timing just wasn't right for all of us to go. I am sad to have missed it. I guess that just gives me a reason to go back again.

Well, that is it for now of the Roman holiday and Tuscan adventure. I hope you all enjoyed the photos. Sorry that there are so many. Until next time, Ciao!