Bonjourno Firenze!

 

Bonjourno Firenze!  We absolutely loved our time in Rome, but were happy to arrive in Florence a couple of days ago.  Between closing up the flat in Rome and some train rescheduling issues, tracking down new our place, meeting the contact in Florence, and making sure the heat and hot water were working for us it was an all day event.  We are warm and settled and have a small fridge stocked for the remainder of our short stay in Florence.  

The city is, in many ways, what I remember it to be.  But memory distorts reality and, in our heads, places weren't in the exact same places and we discovered very quickly new sections to the city we didn't even know existed.  This time, rather than staying right downtown, we opted to stay in the "less touristy" area of Florence up on the hill and pretend we were locals by shopping at the supermarket, making some of our own meals and practicing our very limited Italian.  Earl and Derek (who both seem to be well acquainted with the language) have been helping us out quite a bit.  As aside, I would like to say that I have perfected my Italian accent with the very few Italian words that I do know! 

It is quite a bit cooler in Florence and I am sort of wishing I had brought my winter jacket, mitts and hats for both of the children.  But we are making due with blankets and layers and layers of clothing.  The evenings are incredibly damp and so we've opted to stay inside rather than make ourselves any more sick by venturing out in the cold, which is too bad, because cities are truly gorgeous in the dark, I think. 

 

Traveling with grandparents is the best!!!  So happy for the company and the extra hands to help and give us relief, especially with two sick little people, many broken nights and heaps of laundry.

We have been fully enjoying it during the daytime, walking around with the littles asleep in the stroller or in our arms for hours.  Yesterday we spent most of our day on the famous Ponte Vecchio, a bridge spanning the river with shops on either side all the way along (see the first/top picture), the Piazza Uffuzi where a replica of the well-known "David" stands and the market and piazzas around the gargantuan Duomo--one of the largest, most architecturally unique and memorable churches I have ever seen.  Jordan and I remember literally almost walking flat into the backside of the Duomo as we came around a corner in the dark of midnight on our way back to the hotel 10 years ago.  We were vastly impressed with it then and were again yesterday.

With babies asleep, we had some pizza outside on the square with the Duomo in the background.  A little date between the two of us, we might say.

Proof that Maggie did come with us, although she slept most of the day in the stroller.

Outside a Ferrari store, looking at toy Ferraris.

More adventures today as we continue to explore this beautiful city.  It really is incredibly busy and I would even venture to say it was busier yesterday than it was in the summer when we were here last!

A Roman Holiday

Christmas Day in Rome was a slow, quiet pace compared to other Christmases.  The trip from Toronto to Italy was a big enough present to ourselves; however, we did decide to get a few things for the kids to stick under the tree for Christmas--new toys to spice up the meager handful of toys we brought on the trip.  Grandma and Grandpa brought some amazing toys from their trip to Egypt--some canvas tents and handmade camels for the kids to play with.  They were amazing!  And the kids loved them.

We've had a few minor bumps along the road for our trip to Italy--we couldn't seem to figure out how to work the hot water in the apartment and took daily cold showers. We couldn't find scissors for cutting wrapping paper and the only knife in the apartment was a bread knife so my presents look like they were wrapped by piranhas! But most notably Jordan was a bit sick, Gabriel came down with the flu around 1am Christmas morning, Maggie spent most nights awake for several hours chirping and playing (and therefore so did many of us) and I have developed a chest cold that causes me to cough a lot of the night...  which is not helping the general sleeping situation. AND...  now Magdalene also has the flu.  I know...  it's hard to feel bad for us, being in Italy and all.  I had a feeling this trip was all going just a bit too smoothly.

So Christmas morning, we actually (believe it or not) all slept in until 8/10pm-ish.  Which doesn't sound so bad, right?  The day was pretty slow since our little family didn't feel like going much of anywhere (despite being in rome).  And Gabriel fell asleep at the dinner table--first on the table, and later in my arms.  Sweetest little present from my boy.

Another little bump in the road was that the apartment didn't have an oven!  So, we could not cook a turkey like we normally might.  So we had to improvise.  Earl made a lovely dinner of pork chops, mashed potatoes and various other goodies.  It was delicious!  And a lovely chocolate dessert from a nearby patisserie.  

Later, with littles in bed, the "adults" left the grandparents with the grandchildren and went for a walk to see the Colosseum knowing we would not have a chance to see it in the morning before heading to Florence.   I think in some ways I actually prefer to see these beautiful structures at night.  So quiet and serene and beautifully lit.  A fabulous ending to our Christmas day.

Hope yours was lovely and filled with laughter and excitement of the little people in your lives!

Favorite Cottage Moments: Clear Lake

So we are back from Winnipeg and have moved on to other adventures, just had a few photos left to share from our visit at the cottage.  I'm all tapped out for stories, but here are a few favorite moments, captured in photographs left to share.  Family, I am sure there are more memories and stories and moments, so feel free to add to this!  Here goes:

This girl and her many outfit choices... all with some sort of beach theme.

 

Playing games and reading with Grandma and Grandpa--Pierre et le Loup.

Time outside playing mini golf--for the first time ever.  We sort of mini-golf hole surfed.  

The many ice-cream dates altogether as a family at the many ice-cream shops in Clear Lake. 

Uncle Harrison teaching Gabriel to fish.  Harrison is just the most natural teacher.  So good at it.  Gabriel is now 100% obsessed with fishing rods.  The whole concept keeps him busy for HOURS.

Silly/memorable moments around the cottage....  like when I tried to make strawberry Daquaris without strawberries or a blender....  They ended up being really chunky, watery looking peach bellinis....  Might have been in the top three worst recipe attempts in my career as a creation-making mama.  Somehow we all finished off the concoction, but not without a lot of teasing and slagging in the family fashion.

All those hours spent outside, on the boat or at the beach.  The mosquitoes were a little bad.  See exhibit A, Maggie's eye/face which made her head swell all across her brow. 

A wonderful week with family--all of us together for at least a couple of days!  So fun!   Can't wait to do it again! 

Oh, and here are a few photos of Amy and Harrison's new cat, which we like to call "Little Lady."  Gabriel was IN LOVE with this cat.  So cute to see him holding her and cuddling her.  Someday.....