The other day as I was hurrying the kids to school, I noticed a sign in the window of a store, "ciocolato senza zucchero". Which means "chocolate with out sugar"! You better believe I made a mental note of that store! Today I made a stop and besides having sugar free dark chocolate, it was the cutest candy store. But after eating 2 pieces I realized it wasn't that big of a deal, I mean to be eating chocolate again. The taste was great and wasn't lacking flavor it just didn't do anything for me to be eating chocolate. I've cured myself and exorcised the sugar demons, they no longer posses my body. Until Palm Sunday of course.

Last night while visiting teaching (a 3 hour process for one visit!), the ladies house that we were at "reads" eyes. What is that called again? I have very clean retina???? And she also told me things about my personality, kinda cool. And I need to live by large oxygen sources, like the ocean, mountains, etc. I can agree with that.

Ryan has been going back and forth on the decision of when we go home. At the beginning of December he was talking like he was in his last trimester and we were going home first of January. Then he started a new trimester in January and said it was his last one and we were going home April 10th. The price of the euro will do that to you! But he has finally realized that he should stay till the end of the trimester in June, and because they FINALLY gave him a scholarship. Which we both feel good about staying. I've made some good friends here and I enjoy my life here and am not in much of a hurry to leave. But the price of a euro keeps me focused on going back to America. SO, for those of you who said you were going to come visit and haven't, it's getting down to the wire. And those of you who haven't made promises but want to come, mi casa e' tu casa!! We love having company so please come visit!

I'm now down 8 lbs! finally safely below my post Utah weight from this summer! Costa Vida and peanut butter m&ms can really do a number on you ;)

Here are some of Ryan's recent works. And they are always for sale and buyers are always welcome.

my baby turns 3

The 20th was Abbey's birthday and she's always thrilled to wake up on her b-day because she has seen what Cloe did 2 days before, open presents. I have found that singing "happy birthday to you" in your sleeping child's ear, wakes them up in no time.
I took her to her playgroup because they were having a party for her and then we went to Cloe's school.
birthday princess eating her snack

decorating her cake

making a wish

sitting pretty
Wednesday is the day for celebrating birthdays at Cloe's school. We took in some cake and juice and all the kids sang to Cloe and Abbey. She felt pretty special being sung to at the big kids school and loved feeling like she was at school with Cloe and Brody.



this is their lunch room and all the kids.
That evening she requested hot dogs and french fries for dinner, easy enough. I went to the international store to buy cake mix and spent 5 euros! Yes, I have a recipe to make cake from scratch but didn't have the time with all the celebrations. When I asked her what type of cake she wanted, her response was "a dark blue one!" That is her favorite color, dark blue. We sang to her again, and she finally got to open her presents.



her favorite present, "frankie". She is such an animal lover and loves anything that is a dog or cat.


Then I put my baby to sleep.

want to live in Florence this summer?

I came across these jobs today and thought I'd share for those interested.

one-day bicycle tour company looking for a full-time tour guide. English mother tongue and driver's license required. Please send resume to info@bicycletuscany.com


Photographers, hairdressers, babysitters required. Long established London-based Tuscan wedding planners require the following for spring and summer 2008. Babysitters: experienced, English-speaking sitters to care for children of all ages. Independent travel and full references essential. Hairdresser(s): Highly qualified, English-speaking hairdressers to offer a full wedding service to our clients at the venues. This would include hair, make-up and manicures. Photographers: highly experienced, English-speaking wedding photographers to offer full photographic service. This would include liaising with the couple, and discreetly photographing the entire event in a variety of styles (reportage, photo journalistic, traditional)including the production of an album. Quality is of the essence. Independent transport and references essential. Only experienced photographers please. Please contact Anna on anna@loveandlord.com or phone 0044 7872 635090. www.loveandlord.com

Temporary Tour Managers required for American university groups in Europe this summer. Minimum 4-6 week period between mid May and mid July. English native speaker and fluency in at least one other European language essential. Experience working with students and knowledge of European travel/history/art desirable. All accommodation and transport costs provided, salary dependent on experience. Apply with CV and covering letter to lbennett@aifs.co.uk clearly stating relevant experience and availability. www.aifs.co.uk

train with lindsey
and mention my name!

CLOE TURNS 6

first in English

Then the kids and missionaries sang in Italian

make a good wish!

and blow! The missionaries made her that cute crown.

her presents received her approval

Yesterday was Cloe's birthday and what a good day it was. We have a tradition that whose ever birthday it is, they get to choose the menu for the day. Cloe woke up and was thrilled to have her special day ahead of her. We had pancakes covered with syrup, powdered sugar and of course rainbow sprinkles. Then we were off to school (it wasn't President's Day in Italy) and Cloe was greeted by "happy birthday to you" in Italian and then in English. Of course she couldn't pick her lunch because they all have to eat school lunches. That evening, the sister missionaries came over for dinner and FHE. Cloe chose spaghetti with meatballs and then chocolate cake with coconut frosting. Because I think brownies taste better than cake, i took the liberty to make her brownies (sugar-free!!) with frosting. I made myself a few muffins with the leftovers so I could enjoy w/o the sugar frosting. She got some great presents and had a good time. When I was putting her to bed, i was talking to her about her day and finally asked "what was your favorite thing about your birthday?" she said "tutto!" ("everything")


I looked back on our blog from her birthday last year and we had asked her what she wanted to accomplish this year. Her response: Learn to read, learn Italian and go to Disneyland Paris
way to achieve your goals girl!!!

This year she wants to: go back to UT

showing some LOVE

because I'm on a diet, i asked my family what THEY wanted for dinner on V-day because they definitely wouldn't enjoy so much what I would choose. One request made by Ryan was cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Not only am I on a diet, I'm not eating sugar. (it's been over a week and still going strong, most of the time). So, to show my love, I made them cinnamon rolls with pink frosting. Twice as I was mixing the frosting, it flicked onto my finger and I resisted the temptation set before me by the sugar devil to lick it. I actually washed my hand off, yes, I wasted that sweet cream cheese frosting down the drain! I better lose at least a pound this week! ;)

This blog is our journal/scrapbook from our time here in Italy so some of the posts are done for that purpose. And may be just a slight uninteresting to you. With that said, I shall continue with a journal entry for my children. Since we've moved here, I've been able to refine some of my "duties" as a mom and wife, a benefit of living a slowed down wife. We used to be terrible at having Family Home Evening, the main culprit, basketball, but since moving here, we have it regularly without other conflicts. I am very grateful for this. One learning tool I often use for our lesson is my kids religious story books. You know, the bible ones from the dollar store like Noah's ark, the good Samaritan and the creation, etc. One of the books my kids really liked to talk about was "The Good Samaritan", and when they did something nice for each other, they would say "Mom, was i being a good Samaritan?" I think one of the best ways to learn is through your own personal experience so I try to not only be an example but also give my kids opportunities to do the things we teach them.
Yesterday on my way to pick Cloe and Brody up from school, I saw an African that I know form the grocery store. Just a background, almost all Africans here are straight from Africa, illegal and they sale things on the street out of their duffel bag. This one in particular kind of gets on my nerves and I've started to try to avoid him. He always try to rip me off and is constantly asking for change. example: He tried to sale me a belt for 10 euros and I bought it at the market for 3. So I small talked with him (since that's all I can do) and then continued on. I then saw 2 more siting in the park. As much as he can bother me, I had a feeling that I should buy them all lunch and let the kids do it.
I picked them up and we went to the bakery. I told them what we were doing, helping someone, and let them pick out the sandwich (of course w/o pork because they're Muslim). I told them on our walk how they were going to be good Samaritans and do what Jesus would do, etc, etc. Cloe was holding the bag and Brody wanted to hold it with her, they were quite excited. We got to the park and they weren't there but when we were almost home, we saw them. Cloe gave them the sandwiches and told them it was tuna and Brody insisted on giving them flowers/weeds. They enjoyed the whole thing and I was thankful to have given them the experience.

This reminded me of my friend Holly.

looking for something to do this fall?

how about painting in Italy? taught by who other than the best!

i promise,

I'm done changing my layout.

the season of lent

Lent is not part of my religion but I always love to participate in it. I love the idea of giving something up for 40 days. It's an easy goal to accomplish (most of the time) and the end is close in sight. And every year I give up the same thing, sugar. Only 39 more days to go! So this year I will miss, 3 birthday cakes and what ever delicious dessert I decide to make on Valentine's day. Oh well, there's always next year. And the next 9 months after lent to indulge.


Before Lent was the big celebration of Carnevale. It is def one of my fav holidays. All the kids get dressed up, pretty much halloween but minus the spooky, scary, evil stuff. Those are all replaced by fun, happy, confetti throwing, silly string spraying and dancing with the nuns. Last year Carnevale was fun but this year I really grew to love it. Since the kids were older and in school they had parties and they were so crazy for a school run by nuns.



Sunday we went to the parade in Florence and I packed EVERYTHING. Ryan didn't go with us because it was raining. But I had snacks, confetti, cans of silly string, these fun strings you blow and I don't know how to explain them, umbrellas, blanket and once we got to the parade, no camera!



I had the video and point and shoot right by the stroller and forgot it! So I captured moments with my "high res, quick snapping" phone. The kids had a great time, the rain miraculously stopped and the parade was shorter this year, mom liked that!

shout out to the missionaries.

When you live in a foreign country, American missionaries are great. When we first got here they helped us a ton and we became good friends with them. Then they'd get transfered, new ones would come in and we would have to start the cycle all over again. So we started to not put so much effort into it and not get so "attached". Don't get me wrong, we still have them over for dinner often.
Today I had to take my sisters old bike and Ryan's bike into the bike shop with Abbey. 2 bikes, 1 adult and 1 toddler, doesn't add up. So Ryan called the Elders and asked if they would help me. Sure enough they came over and walked one of the bikes for me and did all the talking because there is no way I know how to describe bike problems in Italian. I was so grateful for their help and we went our separate ways. A while later at home I got a call from the sisters asking if I wanted to go get ice cream with them. I really fought this since I'm dieting at the moment but didn't want to turn them down so I agreed. All 4 sisters came over and we ended up going to a pizza place, then they wanted to hang out longer so we went to the big city market. I felt like I was taking up precious teaching time but they said they thought I could use some english conversation. But eventually I did need to get home to get things done before the kids came home from school so they offered to walk home with me and then they offered to help me. What??!! Seriously? Of course in my mind I know the polite thing to say is 'no' but I also don't want to deny someone the opportunity to serve and they were very sincere about the offer so I said 'okay'. They detailed my kitchen and organized my shelves and swept floors and i was able to go through my kids toy box and do other "jobs" that get put on the bottom of the list. I felt so much gratitude for these missionaries and it also was a great feeling to receive their service. love them.

"at least it's not snow, at least it's not snow"

On Saturday, the rain seemed to have let up and it felt a little warmer. To avoid keeping the kids couped up all day and to enjoy the break while it lasted, we went to the park. We were meeting a friend so we went to a new park, in between our houses. Just to give you an idea, we had to take about a 12 minute bus ride and then walk about 10 minutes. This will make sense later. The kids were playing, having a great time and our friend was an hour late. But that's a benefit of having more than one kid, they play with each other and don't get bored, so no big deal on the late friend. Well, because it's a tad warmer, Mom's wearing a jacket, not a coat, a jacket. It starts to sprinkle. "no! I'm so not prepared for this." I tell the kids to get under this little house on the playground. You know, those 2 ft by 2 ft play houses that are about 4 ft tall. We huddled under with the stroller taking up most of the room and it proceeded to rain harder, then it began to hail, then went back to raining hard, hail again and then a constant rain, but not a pour. In my mind I told myself "at least it isn't snow, at least it isn't a snow storm." I called my friend to tell her not to come and she suggests we come to her house. She lives 2 busses away from us, so you know exactly what I wanted to say but for my kids sake said, "okay, how do we get there from the park?" We were out of bus range and walked. We stayed in our little shelter until the rain let up a bit and Brody said "We are alone, is there going to be a flood?" We walked in sprinkling rain and then half way there it stopped.
Then on our way home, it was still sprinkling but it didn't bother me because we were going home, we were walking along the beautiful Arno river and I thought it looked peaceful outside.


eating a little snack while they wait out the storm


the crackers made Abbey a little thirsty

success.

Cloe and her dog

the Carnevale stuff. Confetti, silly string and rings of paper that you blow and it comes twirling out into a long string



Abbey's cute bum bum.



now refer to post below so these photos make sense.

if only i could load the photos with this post

Cloe is our little entrepreneur.  She always wants to sale things she makes.  Back in June she made accordian fans out of construction paper and colored pictures on them.  They were very handy on the bus and in church in the hot humidity, so she thought she could make a profit off her great idea.  She kept asking if she could set up a table outside of our building and sale the fans to the Italians.  We live on a tiny street that is a dead end both ways with no traffic.  We tried to tell her that she wouldn't know what to say because she didn't speak Italian and the wonderful parents that we are just kept saying "maybe another day".  Then we went home for the summer and at my moms she asked my little sister if she could make cookies and sale them to the neighbors.  They  made cookies and she went door to door selling them to the neighbors.  And then in December she painted some pictures and wanted to sale those.  She even gave Ryan and I one and said we owed her 700 euros.  Ryan had a chat with her that she doesn't have to worry about making money and that she can earn money by doing chores.  So she went on a chore kick and it was wonderful.  She was CONSTANTLY asking me what chores she could do and nothing was too big of a chore for her.  She earned a few euros, put them in her wallet and then hid her wallet from her siblings.  Smart girl.  She has wanted theses little TINY animals that have a diaper that you put in water and they change color to tell you if it's a boy or girl, thank you commercials, for quite a while.  I've told her to wait until her b-day this month.  THEN at school, some of her friends had them and were playing with them in class.  Since then she was always begging and asking when she could have one.  I then rememberd her earned money and told her to go get it and count it.  She had enough (3 euros, what a rip off!) so we went to the cartoleria.  She had her money in her pocket and kept breaking out with little burst of excitement, she was so proud.  She picked her animal and handed the lady her money.  As soon as we got outside, I opened it for her and she was thrilled.  Brody asked if he could hold the wrapper, Abbey got to hold the playing card and they were just as excited as her.  As Cloe pulled out the little towel that came with it she said "mom, how cute is that?" and then she let Brody and Abbey take turns holding it on the walk home.  

We had our first book club meeting and they named the club "bitch and wine".  I didn't bitch nor wine, but I still joined the club.  This month we're reading "the Commoner", it's suppose to be a follow up to "Memoirs of a Geisha".  Should be good, I always like learning about other cultures and history through a good novel.

Carnevale is almost over and I still don't quite understand how the dates of the holiday work.  I just know it has started when there is tons of confetti left all over the ground EVERYWHERE.  It makes me uncomfortable to have my kids throw confetti on the ground and just walk away, but the Italians are cool with it and honestly, I don't want to pick it up.  Sunday is the parade in Florence,  here's Brody with the goods.

I couldn't help but snap a photo of Abbey from behind.  She was running through the hall to get something and last time I'd seen her she was clothed.  First I patted her bum a couple times, pinched it and then squeezed it.  They are just so cute and chubby.  

And I have to put a plug in for my friend Lindsey.  her link is to the right.  She just got certified as a personal trainer and she is training me from half way around the world and I have lost 4lbs in the last week.  So no excuses, I'm in Italy w/o a gym and foods w/o food labels.