Two Years Ago Today: March 31

Arrivederci to Tuscany

Bye Bye BMW!

And Ciao To Cinque Terre!

My family playing in the sand as the sun sinks near to the horizon.  This picture makes the beach look kind of gross.  But it wasn't.  At all.  It was warm and clean and while the sand was course, it was so colorful.  (Which is why they are all digging around.)

(Read more about today here!)

Two Years Ago Today: March 30

Collodi

Visiting Pinocchio Park in Collodi.  It turns out Pinocchio is a pretty weird story.  With a lot of characters we couldn't explain to the kids.

Had to include this one because although in my mind Carter was a perfect angel until about 3 months ago, this expression looks very, VERY familiar.  (Right, Allison?  Just add a hood!)  I think this was the cricket.  (Give a little whistle!)

A smoking snake?

The donkey boys.

A victorious heroine?  Maybe the blue star fairy girl?  Not sure- everything was in Italian and our guidebooks weren't adequate in deciphering excerpts from novels.

(Read more about Collodi here.)

Two Years Ago Today: March 29

San Gimiganano and Volterra

Going through pictures reminded me what a lovely, wonderful day this was.

Starting out with San Gimiganano, towers and views.  (And gelato!)

No idea what this was (or why), but it was pretty cool, just outside of Volterra, I think.

Next through the Italian countryside- a Saturday morning and hundreds of motorcylces on the road.  Apparently racing up and down and around is a popular past time in Tuscany!  (I can see why.)

After playing (and posing) in the park in Volterra, we threw together a yummy dinner (we still dream of the olive oil) and watched the sun set on the Tuscan hills.

(Read more about today here and here!)

Two Years Ago Today: March 28

Lucca and Pisa

Spring in Lucca

Wall in Lucca- that's the wall we biked on.

Joel, soaking in the Leaning Tower of Pisa

(Read more about Lucca and Pisa!  Here, here, and here!)

Two Years Ago Today: March 26

Florence

That would be my crew eating pizza (what else?) on the steps of the famous Cathedral in Florence.  (El Duomo.)

Read more about Florence here, here, and here.

Two Years Ago Today: March 25

Loving Tuscany.

Our 'hamlet', Barberino.  Loved everything about this place.

Breathtaking Siena.

Carter loved chasing the pigeons.  This was in the huge, main square.

Read more about today here and here!

Two Years Ago Today: March 24

Goodbye Rome!

Entry to our sweet apartment

Our children (who now seem very very small!) on the patio.

 

One look back.  We loved the Rome apartment, but were so excited to get OUT of Rome!

Read more about it here and here.

Two Years Ago Today: March 23

Easter in Rome

Long walk on Easter afternoon.  Started out sunny!

In the Fountain at the bottom of the Spanish Steps

Sissy, ensuring her return to Rome by throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain over her shoulder.  G was asleep in the stroller and C was asleep on my back.

Read more about it here!

Two Years Ago Today: March 22

Rain in Rome.  (And disappointment!)
Took 2 pictures on my camera this day- and both were similar.

Garrett counting money.  The reason this was the only one?  Because this day stunk!  Read more about it here!  (And here!)

Happy 4th Birthday Carter Mac

Carter woke up this morning and climbed in bed with Joel and I.  We snuggled and told him about the day he was born.  He grinned and giggled the whole time.  After, we were talking about needing to get up and get the big day started and Carter said, "I'm going to to need a chocolate!"  (Chocolate milk.)  I laughed and said, "You're really going to play this whole birthday thing up, aren't you?"  He shrugged and answered, "Well, yep I am!"

Dear Carter,

It is definitely hard to believe you are four.  When your Sissy was four, Garrett was one and we were moving into this house.  When Garrett turned four, you had just turned one and we were in Disneyworld.

And now you are four.  Officially a kid, definitely not a toddler anymore.  I still call you my baby, but you aren't a baby at all- you sleep all night long, you drink out of glasses instead of sippy cups, and when I hold you in my arms, your legs spill off of my lap.  More than the everyday things, we are reminded how big you are when you express your opinions, your wants, and your needs.  Sometimes 'using your words' is still a little overwhelming for you, but most of the time you can explain yourself quite clearly.  And VERY uniquely!  I love how you shrug your shoulders and say, "Well, sure!"  I love how you motion with your hands whenever you are explaining things.  Your vocabulary amazes me, as does your memory.

You've grown so much this past year.  Your personality has exploded, as has your independence.  While there are times you WEAR ME OUT, I always am so wild about you.  I think you are funny, good natured, curious, smart, and (usually!) sweet.

We are so very blessed to be your mom and dad!  We love you so much and can't wait to see what this year of your life will hold!

Love,
Mom and Dad

Carter turns 3.

Carter turns 2.

Carter turns 1.

Two Years Ago Today: March 21

Carter turned two in Rome.  We had a lovely day, starting with sweets, spending the morning at the Children's Museum in Rome, (we were the only Americans there!), getting pizza, and visiting the Rome zoo in the afternoon.  In the evening we ate dinner and had cake and a few presents.  While the prospect of Carter turning two without all our family and friends surrounding him made me sob my eyes out (several times), we ended up having a wonderful, wonderful day.

Read more here, here, here, and here!

Two Years Ago Today: March 20

The Roman Forum and Colosseum.  Caught in a rainstorm (the story of our entire week in Rome).

Read more here.

First Grade Update

Garrett is having a great year.  It's so encouraging to watch him and be around him- he is such a happy boy these days.  Way back in December he was awarded Student of the Month.  I didn't write about it then because I got bogged down by the holidays.  But he was happy and I am proud of him.  (Even though, I really think St of the M is icky and completely inappropriate.)

He's recently lost both of his front teeth.  It is so stinking cute.  He has a little lisp when he talks now and I really really love it a lot.

Now there are 2 gone!

Soccer has started back up.  Spring soccer that is, which equals lots and lots of rain.  But what a happy boy out there.  And some how, he located a store of focus and aggressiveness, and he's been like a different kid out there on that field!  He's scored 2 goals already this season, which for him is a big deal!

This is after a goal- he was BEAMING, but it doesn't really come through with the pouring rain dripping down his face.  Notice the missing teeth!

Stinking cute bench!

He's number 9- orange shirt, red shorts.  (His dad okayed that combo, but it's growing on me.)

Sometimes I think about all the times I cried on the way home from restaurants when he was 1 or 2 because of how HARD he was.  I think of the playgroups I had to carry him out of, kicking and screaming.  I think of the time he missed the gymnastics 'show' because of the fit he threw at the Community Center and how I had to carry him out under one arm, kicking and screaming, and had tiny baby Carter in the carrier hanging on my other arm.  I've always loved Garrett fiercely, and we had so many fun times when he was little too.  But it's just such a relief that he's so happy and fun and not hard.   It's a relief that he likes school and that he has a hilarious sense of humor.  It's a relief that even though I still love him fiercely I can let down my guard a little bit and just let him be.

He's a good boy and I'm so so so blessed to be his Mama.