Sabaudia beach

The husband took a day off the other week and we headed southwest to a coastal town called Sabaudia. We had to walk a lot of stairs to get to the beach (and we were totally stupid to bring the stroller, hoping that the Bambina would nap in it in the afternoon, because, really. Those stairs? A bitch to get down while carrying a stroller, a beachbag full to the brim with all the crap you need when you’re with two toddlers and also holding one of said toddlers under your arm. And the sole of one of my flip-flops came un-glued making the trek, oh, so much easier.

It was so worth risking life and limb over though, because the beach was beautiful. And not too crowded. And clean.

Here are some photos from our day.

The mountain in the background is the national park of Circeo.

The Bambino loved his newly purchased float-thingies.

They DO love each other, surely they do? You know, when they’re not fighting and trying to kill each other.

The Bambina gave her floating device a chance, but decided that she didn’t like it at all.

The only photo you’ll see of this mama in a bathing suit this year, I reckon. The “Get in shape for Beach ‘09″ – project didn’t quite work out.

The Bambina is just too cute in her sun hat and I took way too many photos of her in it.

Oh no! Mommy, mommy, the water is attacking me!

I’ll leave you with this parting photo. Life is good.

So, Sabaudia was a hit, we might go back, or we might try another beach someday soon. You’ll just have to wait and see.

Ciao tutti!

A walk in the sunset

Again I’ve let time slip by between my posts. Life has been rather hectic, with a trip to Geneva (post and pics coming shortly) and the sickies and tons of injuries. Fun all around! And there’s just something about 35 degree weather that fries my brain and makes it a non-priority to try to string more than three sentences together. Today’s a cooler day so here I am!

A few days ago I left the Husband to put the kids in bed by himself and took a walk about the neighborhood with my camera. I think it just dawned on me how soon we are going home and that I will really miss a lot of things here and I wanted to snap shots of the everyday things I see around me.

This is the street outside our building. Normally it’s busy as hell, totally congested and with lots of honking friendly communication going on. The town perched on top of the hill is Rocca di Papa.

I will miss all these Mom & Pop stores.

Another view of the hills and Rocca di Papa.

This is our Piazza. Our building is the last (third) one you see, barely, on this photo. There’s a Farmacia (very convenient), two cafés/bars, a porchetta stand, two schools (which definitely contribute to the traffic hell that this Piazza is during the daytime) just out of view to the left of this photo. Wish I had a wide angle lens. Or that I had figured out how to make panorama photos in Photoshop. (Note to self: learn it, now).

I love this place. There are plenty of beautiful fish in the fountain and the Bambino and Bambina say good morning to them every day.

Last pic, as it had already gotten quite dark. In the evening this piazza turns into a meeting place for the younger crowd of Grottaferrata, thanks to the lack of any kind of entertainment, aside from one small movie theater (which shows only dubbed films of course, so we’ve never set foot in there).

Well there you have it. That’s my neighborhood. One day I might invite you along a guided tour of the, oh so big, center of town! I know, the excitement is breathtaking, isn’t it?

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.