a weekend in Brescia

after months, no, years of hearing how beautiful the land of Brescia was, our neighbors Valeria and Marco organized a trip to show us the finest this mideastern region of Italy has to offer. It all started with a slab of Polenta.....

the next day, a passaggiata to admire Lago di Garda, Italy's largest lake, 200km across (according to Marco)

and a mere "puddle" according to Valeria

Luca hunting for salamanders

picturesque Verona

family portrait, include panciona!

Visiting Solive Winery

Luca reading outloud to Mati and Alberto about the wineries history.

nice!

just when Luca was getting bored, a forklift was discovered!

lots of gorgeous wine to stock

and a vintage tractor Luca's size!

Finally, some refreshment

A beautiful weekend, and the best part, Luca slept the whole ride home!

Thank you Este's and Nonni di Alberto for hosting us so graciously!

Carnevale

This poise may look familiar, but this time it's for the SEATTLE........SOUNDERS! Last year Luca was a fisherman for Carnevale, and this year, a soccer player. Other than his red shoes, he's ready to hit the field.

Luca trades his soccer ball for Matilde's magic wand....aka beating stick.

 I don't know how Luca ended up with a pink poodle....

Like father, like daughter

number one, next time

Mark's beloved Patriots lost in the 4th quarter to the Giants this past Sunday. 

No matter the score, Luca assured us with this photo, we know who really is number one.

boom!

Seeing things go "boom"and making things go "boom" is very real in our lives now. Whether it's a tractor salting the roads, making pasta at the pasta shop, a fresh cappuccino being brewed at the bar, Luca knocking down a tower of legos or anything in the house for that matter, or grabbing icycles and watching them splinter into a million pieces on the pavement, it's all very exciting. Fortunately for Luca and Mamma, he's spreading his 'boom' philosophy to preschool now in the mornings. Now we have a new problem, he never wants to leave school.

snow, snow, SNOW

Finally on January 29th we had our first day of snow, and the weather seemed to be making up for lost time. Here's the view from our balcony at 8am on Sunday morning, after 16 hours of snowfall.

Luca takes to the streets in his one horse open sled.

"Swede" our new volvo station wagon feels quite at home covered in white.

Luca's first "real" faceless snowman. Last years was only 2 feet tall. The pasta shop was a little to busy to give us some carrots to finish him off. 

He may look miserable, but he's laughing with joy on the inside!

Luca's hero, the Tractor clears out the upper parking lot

downhill, that's more like it

the day after

We had our last dinner with nonni Coletti last night. It seems like it was just yesterday when we hung the Thanksgiving turkey banner, attracting the unwanted attention of our landlady. Now 2 months, and too many brioches later, Henry and Ellen are on their way back west.

After dinner last night, I will fully admit to having a little break down. Sure, some of it could be the hormones raging from baby "nutella" now 5 months along, or lack of sleep, but when I really started reflecting on my in-laws time here with us, it brings tears to my eyes. Upon their arrival, they were 100% grandparents and loved playing, reading, watching, listening, singing, and talking with Luca. This morning I didn't know if I could handle his reaction to walking past their door and outside without their companionship. However, Luca made it easy on me by beating me down the stairs where I had to stop him just before walking out the gate and into a precarious driveway. Every stop we made, people asked about "i nonni." We went to have our cappuccino, and Luca his daily bread (piccolo croissant), and I was reminded of how difficult it can be to pay the bill, put his coat on, chase him with a hat, and put my own coat on before he runs out the door. The beauty of having 4 extra hands and watchful eyes!

After our walk, we headed home, and it was time to clean out their apartment of the last remaining items. We had enjoyed the space an extra apartment affords a little too much. I think it will take me the weekend to sort through and store everything that I left in their closet. As soon as we opened the door, Luca made his way to grandma and grandpa's bedside, where he was known to offer grandpa his shoes and clothes, a little hint that it was time to get up already! However, this time the bed was stripped, no grandparents, no ipad, no clothes. He turned on the light, and I said "grandma and grandpa went bye bye." Luca said appropriately, "ciao!"

So, for now, Ciao! Henry and Ellen. It was a real treat having you for as long as we did. And it's comforting to know that in a few short months you'll be back to give kisses, and get kisses, roll play dough balls, build towers of legos, go on passaggiate, share a brioche, sing Pavaroti, and play Angry Birds.

Much love, M E L & N

Good Morning Video

Chef BoyarLuca

Ever since Luca discovered his kitchen hidden in Nonni Coletti's apartment next door, he has been sauteeing legos, rolling out play dough to make ravioli, and getting cups full of water to boil on the stove top. He is very generous when it comes to sharing his culinary delights. Here are some of my favorite shots:

making ravioli

 organizing the cupboards

 Luca finds himself a stool

 taste this

legos are especially fun and colorful to cook with