this is how the kids and I spent our day

Ryan and I always say that once you've worked as a server in a restaurant, you have the "tipping disease". Meaning you always have to leave a good tip whenever you eat out. So true isn't it? Well I have come to realize that I have a different type of disease. Since I grew up by the beach and spent most of my days as a teen at the beach, I now crave it when it's been too long. I can feel the salt water levels in my blood getting low and with pregnancy it tends to be a stronger urge.









if only it was more convenient to get here. The kids love the beach and we could stay all day every day.

all i needed to do was exchange a pair of flip flops for brody in the city. "Quick errand" doesn't exist with 3 kids. But I was mentally prepared, so no biggie.

Abbey playing hop scotch on the cobblestone

i think this may be the only picture we have of the kids in front of the duomo. And a cute one at that.

attention seasoned child bearers-the natural way

I'm looking for some advice/pointers. With this pregnancy I've decided to go "natural", meaning no drugs. The whole idea started because when we get home, we have no insurance so I'm trying to keep the cost down. If you know what I mean. And the epidural was the first to go. But now I've embraced the idea and am looking forward to the experience. For those of you in UT, do you have a Dr. or midwife you recommend? I'm not brave enough to deliver at home, though the thought has crossed my mind, so I will need someone who can deliver in a hospital. And for just the general audience, do you have a birthing method that worked for you to kind of ease the pain. If that's possible. I am actually really excited about this. I've been reading up and it's such an amazing experience. I've been called crazy because on my 4th child I'm dumb enough to go natural. But sticks and stones..... And, do you still have to have the I.V's if your not getting an epidural? I hate those things. My labors go pretty quick, so I figure I'm only in for about 4 hours of serious pain. Big deal, tomorrow's a new day and I'll have a sweet smelling newborn to make me forget all about the bad stuff.

Bringing a taste of UT to my Italian mormons

I am the Enrichment leader in our branch, I know I was shocked as well when they called me, and thought the ladies might enjoy doing a very common UT activity. My friend Jess (who actually lives in AZ not UT) has a vinyl lettering machine and I had her send me some phrases for our activity. I tried explaining it a dozen times to the presidency and they just didn't get it, or it could have been my Italian. But the ladies LOVED it!!! And it wouldn't be Italinized with out the gawky stickers.



Sister Zobell (from Tennesse) one of my favorite sister missionaries. And next to her, some Italian hairy armpit.


Cloe working with Sister Barth (Bountiful) who was nice enough to let Cloe do most of the work.

Clo with the finished project, flower glitter stickers and all! But proud of her hard work.

Usually no more than 15 sisters show up to Enrichment on a good day, so I had 40 "stickers" of the phrases and 35 tiles. We ran out of tile. The President was thrilled and amazed that so many people showed up. That's what happens when you name drop! Courtney Brown was on the announcement. Not to mention they want to order more.

now this is a fun tag!

I got e-mailed this tag and thought it would be more fun to blog and have my fellow readers participate.

1. Go to www.flickr.com
2. Type in your answer to the question in the "search" box
3. Use only the first page
4. Copy the html and paste for the answer.


1. What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?


3. favorite dessert

4. favorite hobby

5. favorite drink


6. Where did you grow up?


7. one word that describes you

8. dream vacation

an elephant never forgets

If I tell Brody we'll go somewhere, do something or I'll buy him something, he never forgets. If only he found the alphabet that interesting. I made popcorn one night and since we don't have a microwave (yes, I've lived 18 months with out a microwave), we did it the old fashioned way. He thought it was pretty cool and always asks me to make it for dessert. One time I must have said, "okay, we'll do it later." Later eventually came after constant reminding and here he is in action and with his proud product. Another thing about him, he LOVES to help me cook! More than the girls do.
He also wanted me to sing with him, "Popcorn popping on the apricot tree" as the kernal's began to pop.

without a doubt, the thing I will miss the most about Florence is the Cascine park. The main reason is because of the beautiful tree lined paths where I go running. The park is huge and has big shady trees everywhere. This is also where the river is, and where Ryan goes to play outdoor basketball. So the Cascine park has much to offer our little family

when you give a mouse a cookie

Florence is full of immigrants, like myself, and also a lot of illegal immigrants at that, like myself. Because they are illegal and jobs are hard to find in Italy, they do what they can for work. But I am going to focus on the Africans. They are very nice and trustworthy unlike most immigrants. Usually they sale the knock off designer purses, watches, belts, shoes and they also stand out in front of bars, grocery stores and the such selling things out of their duffel bag.
I'm having a bit of a moral dilemma.
I have no problem buying from them when they are selling something that I might need and occasionally I will give them my spare change. A few times I have had a feeling to buy them some food for lunch while I was in the store. If you recall the story of Cloe and Brody giving them sandwiches after school. But there is one particular African that gets on my nerves. He is almost always out front of our grocery store trying to sale things or just asking for change. Fine. But I started to notice that he was totally ripping me off when he would try to sale me things whereas the others wouldn't. And so I just completely stopped. And then once he saw me in the store and asked me to buy the food he had in his hands. And I did. But the straw that broke the camels back is the most recent. I bought my kids a little bag of chips to share for the walk home and as we were walking out of the store, He asked little Abbey, who was carrying the chips, if he could have some! And mid asking, stuck his hand in the bag and grabbed a hand full! I was quite shocked and a little irritated. Then the next day as I walked in, he asked if I wanted to buy something, I said no and then he asked me to buy him some food and a drink. I did not.
But on my walk home I was bothered by this because I was so torn. It is freaking expensive to live here, the dollar is worthless and he is asking for my help. What does he think I am? besides a rich American of course. But then I kept going back to "what would Jesus do?" Who am I to judge? I've been more blessed than him, shouldn't I give to those who are less fortunate because I've been blessed?
Can you help me out here?

disclaimer

we are more than excited and more than ready to come home. But at about "8 weeks left" I found myself counting down and time was going by slow. I didn't want to get home and look back on our last couple months and wish I would have enjoyed it more. That is the reason for our "favorite things in Italy" type posts. Katrina thought I was a little nostalgic. No, I'm ready to go home.

the river

has offered my kids hours of entertainment. And all they do is play with rocks. Who knew. My kids will for sure miss the Arno River.




Today was gorgeous and the riverbank was green and overgrown with wild flowers. I love all the red poppies this time of year.

And yes those are sun bathers in the background, we were surrounded. Italians really like the sun. It's hard to teach your kids about modesty when there is a topless lady near by and everyone is okay with it.

as our time here gets shorter, I've started to think more about the things i will miss about Italy. Today at the park, the grass was overgrown and it seems all the parks have large trees with tons of shade. I had to snap a photo with my phone because I will miss being at the park and sitting in the shade from all the trees. No burning hot slides at 11 a.m. here :)

you can kind of make out Cloe playing in there somewhere.