Oh how I love Spring. The lighting is lovely, I wake more easily to birds chirping, the days are longer, the violet wisteria takes over our front door, everyone is in a better mood and finally say "Tutto bene" (all is well) instead of "andiamo avanti" (we will survive) when you ask how they are, and the cherry blossoms. This is why we've lived in Pecetto for almost 8 years. Spring.
wall watching with Adriana
the 100th Camminata, 6,000 people strong
easily lapping the old ladies on his scooter
our Torre in the distance
speaking of Torre, Forza Torre!!
spring picnic at the Estes
Luca's birthday gift from our Pecetto gang was a trip to the Zoo Safari. The kids loved the animals and the rides. Two theme parks in the 3 weeks! I think we're good for the rest of the year.
7 families packed into a single train cabin
excited up front
the stare down
back at home and free to roam
more daylight with wheels
our aromatic front door
and on April 18th, my nephew Lou Byron was born after only 40 minutes in the hospital.
Happy.
Reactions.
Only two more month and then Auntie E will be there!!
After a seven hour drive through 4 countries, the ABC game, and lots of crumbs we arrived in Munich at the home of our vicini lontani. Doeke and Anna's smiling son, Senne met us and eagerly showed Ella and Luca all his "autos". Little welcome packages with rainy day legos were on each of their pillows and we felt right at home. Tom Hardman, another dear friend from the early Pininfarina days flew down from England for the weekend. The days were filled with sandy playgrounds, a Daddy son/daughter tour of the BMW museum, a good dose of Asian food, a shopping afternoon for the gals, and a few beer gardens for the guys.
On Easter Sunday we were all invited to the Kottmann's home for Easter brunch, former Torinesi. We munched on Weisbrat (authentic white Munich sausages), easter eggs, italian colomba bread, and pastries of all shapes and sizes. The kids enjoyed a chocolate themed egg hunt outside, and we came back inside just in time for the snow to start falling.
On Monday we said our goodbyes to the DeWalles and headed west to magical Legoland. The theme song from the Lego Movie, Everything is Awesome was blaring at the main entrance in German and English on constant rotation. Luca was over the moon and naturally darting from one thing to another like a ping pong ball. Highlights: Lego Miniature villages (at the Munich Football Stadium camera's are flashing, the anthem is played and team flags are unscrolled in a packed stadium), a ride with Ella on a very fast merry go round, she was squealing the whole time, and then watching Ella run up to every person in costume and give them a big hug! I can only imagine what Disneyland will be like.
Perhaps even better than Legoland is Lego Village. Our themed cottage was the Racer. How appropriate! There were several playgrounds, paved paths perfect for Luca's scooter, 2 tricycle test tracks, a bowling alley, a tree park, putt putt, and every restaurant was well equipped with a Lego playroom. The Kottman's with their two kids Theo & Edda joined us the next day for one more run around at Legoland. By 3:30pm we got some last group photos, some tears were shed due to too much fun, and we headed home to Pecetto.
On the way home Luca asked if he could stay at home the next day to put together his new Lego boat. "I have a big job to do, plus I have to sleep." Who could say no to that?!
