deadline

Recently I started working again for the hospitality design studio in Torino. Which has meant taking Luca to town occasionally to be watched and adored by friends in town while I run into the office for a power meeting. At home, it depends on the day, but I've been able to put in between 3-5 hours of work between Luca's naps and his autonomous playtime. He is so patient and creative. But today I had a deadline at 3pm, so mommy was doing everything she could to stay concentrated while Luca played around the house. This is what I found when I finally submitted my work!

tp-ing the bathroom

living room and foyer warzone

tengo famiglia

tengo famiglia is an italian saying meaning that you have a family you are responsible for, and if you live here, that means you're the father of the household and will be called upon to save the day when little Luca starts playing sports, wants a car with his license, and eventually when he marries, a nice little house where he can settle down and "tengo famiglia". For now our famiglia is sweet and simple. And our 15 month old is only demanding of playtime, and anything that's behind the closed bathroom door. 

My aunt captured these photos when they were visiting earlier this month. My how time flies! Just one more month, and we'll be on our way west again to see many of you. A presto cari nostri!

out for pizza, glad that's not my white linen tablecloth!

Luca looks like the mature one in this photo

some cars

Before I forget, a couple of weeks ago we got to see some pretty sexy cars in a spectacular setting. It was time for the annual Villa d'Este. We hit the road just before 9am to make the 2.5 hour ride to Lake Como. Luca, having eaten an entire croissant for breakfast and then some, was feeling pretty good, or so it seemed. Twenty minutes later, on the Autostrada, everything came up, and he was soaking in breakfast croissant! We took the first exit available for a service station where I had to strip Luca naked and scrub him in the sink with hand soap. Next it was under the electric dryer, and then the same drill for his clothes (didn't exactly have an extra outfit). Back in the car, and by the time we pulled up to the old villa, Luca's clothes having been dried on the dashboard and out the window of Doeke's car, we were set!

 the coletti three

 Renault's flashy concept car

 this is more my style

 Luca and new german girlfriend

 Mark and Doeke's choice for some reason

nothing like playing in a big field of cars

cote azur

Thanks to our favorite next door neighbor in the world, we got to spend another gorgeous weekend at his vacation home perched righteously above Monte Carlo in the medieval town of Roquebrune. We enjoyed 2 nights of appetizers on the balcony, the local Balo de Mais, and some midnight fireworks in honor of the Formula One race going on that weekend. Mark enjoyed the qualifying races on Saturday, while we basked in the sun (shade for Luca) on the Golf de Bleu.

 our humble view

 good morning!

 free as a bee

 kathleen and aperitivo

 constellation di monte carlo

luca's new favorite past time