Need cheering up?

So, an Internet friend of mine asked if I’d like to contribute to a new website that he wanted to launch, and of course I said yes. Because I’m kind and caring and supportive like that. Yes, I am so shut up, yo.

This website of his is about cheering people up (and who doesn’t support that?) and bringing a smile to you on an otherwise dull and dreary day. We can all dig that, right? Right.

So.

Take a look at my contribution (Ahem. Alright, my kids’ contribution) to this endeavor!

Cheerupnation

Now, I know I am totally biased, but DAMN, I make pretty babies.  I should totally have a few more, right?   Take a deep breath, Husband! Breathe.  Breathe. There you go, all better now.

Now, hop on over to this site and leave a comment letting everyone know just how damn sweet and cute this is and I dare you to tell me that didn’t put a smile on your face!

Complete randomness

It feels like time rushes by me at warp speed and before I blink another day has gone by.  So instead of  sitting down (for a really, really long time) and trying to figure out a topic for  a blog post among all the things that has been going on in our lives these past weeks, I decided to make this post a mix of completely random bits.

#1 We are having a fantastic summer! We spend our days at the beach, on different playgrounds, and on playdates.   The weather is gorgeous, warm and sunny and we’re enjoing every minute of it.

We’re spending a fair amount of time at the L’ombrellino park in Frascati.
This photo was taken in April, before the heat settled in.

We live about 15 minutes from Lago Albano, a beach that doesn’t look very inviting (think trashes, black sand and muddy waters), but we do go there a couple times a week to play, swim or walk/run around the lake. The kids love it there.

#2 The kids are growing like weed. Seriously. The Bambino’s favourite game is to ask me what different animals eat. Two things are evident: 1. He is a curious kid and I love it and 2. I’m an idiot who doesn’t know what turtles eat and I’d better figure this shit out before my boy realizes just how dumb I am. The Bambina is happy as long as someone plays peek-a-boo with her and luckily I know how to do that.

#3 I signed up to do a Worldwide Photowalk in Rome in July and now I worry that I’m so going to regret this. Don’t know what a photowalk is? Check this out. Anyway, I worry that I am going to be the only happy amateur in the bunch and that all the others are going to be super professional and come toting the most magnificent of camera gear and all I’ll have is my Canon 450D, with the kit lens.  Oh, the shame… Still, I’ll just be brave, and  stare all those boys down with the  sternest of my mommy-stares.

#4 My beloved FC Barcelona won the Champions League finals a couple of weeks ago and I don’t know that I’ve come down from the high of it quite yet. They beat Man U to pulp and they did it beautifully. Another fantastic thing about the match? The ref actually did a good job.

And I think I might have a crush on Iniesta. Or Xavi. Take your pick.

Now I’ll go into my customary football withdrawal until the season starts up again. Maybe I’ll download the CL finals match and just watch it over and over again. It was that exquisite. Except for the part where, you know, Man U played like crap. But still.

#5 It was my birthday a few days ago and husband wanted to make a cake. This is what I got.

He figured he couldn’t go wrong with pancakes and fresh strawberries. Best cake ever.

Take care and thanks for stopping by.

Ciao!

Minna

YES YES YES!

Barca is in the Champions League finals! I am over the moon extatic! But what a horrid match. Really nauseatingly bad football from Barca. Can’t remember the last time they played this badly. But when it mattered the most, two minutes into injury time, thy pull it off. Holy fuck, I think my heart stopped for a few seconds.

And I can’t believe I am going to say this (because I can’t stand Chelsea, never have, never will – as far as english football goes I’m all for Arsenal), but Chelsea was the better team tonight. The ref was a disaster, but at least his errors of judgement went both ways. Abidal should not have been dismissed, he barely, barely, touched Anelka, who so took a dive. On the other hand Chelsea missed out on a possible penalty. So, yeah, the referee didn’t do a good job.

BUT BARCA IS IN THE FINALS!!!!

So there. I am content. Not happy though, because let’s face it. Barca played like crap tonight; fumbling, hesitant, with only one shot (Iniesta’s goal) on goal. Dani Alves didn’t know his feet from his arse tonight and Messi’s magic was sorely missed.

But they did it.

Still. A tiny (really tiny, minute, barely recognizable) part of me thinks that maybe they didn’t deserve it.

Home and back

We’re back from a longish stay in Sweden at my parents’ summer cabin. What a fun time we had! We spent hours each day outdoors, even on days when the weather wasn’t super great. My parents are elderly and not as healthy anymore, so we ended up helping them with the yard work. They had had some huge pine trees felled and it took us the better part of two weeks to take care of them. And when Husband and I were hard at work, the Bambini had free run of the backyard.

I miss this when we’re in Italy; the closeness to nature, running around without worrying about being hit by cars, or keeping tabs on the closing time of the park. Italy is drop-dead beautiful, but I often feel that people don’t appreciate what they have all around them. It’s as if they regard “nature” as something strange, alien, not quite theirs – does that make sense? Heck, one isn’t even allowed to walk on the lawns most of the time, so maybe it’s no wonder if they think that a forest is something to be avoided, lest it comes and bites you in the ass or something.

Obviously I took lots of photos. And, as I am just that nice, I will share “some” with you. You’re welcome. Heh.

The Bambina learned in no time how to climb up the ladder, thank goodness, because it was driving me freakin’ crazy to have her shrieking for help when I was not standing by her side.

The Bambino wanted to help me with the yardwork, but half the time he was chasing his little sister with the branches instead. So helpful.

But to be fair he did lug many of these things all across the yard, without hitting anyone on the way.
Good boy.

In case you were wondering, I didn’t put my boy to work and go have a cup of tea…

The kids liked watching their mamma and granddad hard at work.

But mostly they ran around having fun. And yes, I hauled all of those away. And yes, my back hurt.

She melts my heart to a little puddle.

This branch was a sword for awhile. Then a dragon. Then a whip (no! don’t swing that at your sister!). Good times.

We made time for rest and fun too, amidst all the work.

A girl and her father.

A boy and his mother.

My good friend Anna came for a visit with her two kids and her mom.
It was wonderful to see her again, god I miss her.

The Bambino loved playing with these kids, but he is clearly not amused by all the photos. Mom, enough already!

Snack time!

The Bambina is on a treasure hunt. Score!

We spent a couple of days as guests at my friend Anna’s house before returning to Italy and it was heartwarming to see the friendship that was beginning to develop between the Bambino and Anna’s youngest. I hope that they will become good friends once we move back home in the winter.

Well, I’ll let that photo conclude my post.  Thanks for taking a look!

Ciao!

Night time terror

Well, I have a new experience of terror: waking up in the middle of the night to my home shaking violently and my child crying next to me, clawing at the wall for support, asking me if the house is falling down. No three year old should have to wonder that.

Earthquakes. Gods, they’re scary.

L’Aquila (in the region of Abruzzo, some 90 km northeast of us) was hit hard by the earthquake last night, which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale. The death toll is still rising, but an estimate lands at around 100-150 dead. Many are children, one apparently a wee 8-month old. It breaks my heart.

Before moving here I had no idea that Italy, especially the southern half, is an earthquake prone area. Now I’ve learned that Italy experiences these tragedies every so often. And while the rescuers are trying to find people still trapped under the remains of their homes, politicians are already trying to place blame on someone for not predicting this quake, for not taking safety measures, for not issuing public warnings. They’re like vultures smelling blood.

And all I can think about is that 8-month old baby. I need to go kiss my sleeping babies one more time.

Stay safe, wherever you are.