fresh air Chamois

All this talk of Torino being the 8th most polluted city in the world makes you want to head for the hills....or more properly, the italian alps! We went to a little paradise today that was a 90 minute drive from Pecetto. In the province of Val d' Aosta, we caught a gondola up to Chamois, the only italian town that prohibits cars. After a picnic and run around the local playground, we caught a chairlift up to a delightful little lake. So pristine, you weren't allowed to touch it (bummer.) But that was okay. The kids made their own fun and we relaxed!

 

Chamois Slideshow

we've got another walker!

Ella surprised us last night. I had just carried Luca to bed after he fell asleep upright in the desk chair, and was fixing to put Ella down, when Daddy came home, and she decided to put on a show for us. One day shy of her 14 month birthday she's converting from all 4 to 2. Brava Ella-bug!

Ella Bug Walking

school's out for summer

We've been getting creative with our summer vacation. Mamma's making Limoncello, and yesterday with lots of help, we made Gnocchi all' Americana.

Luca making a mountain out of the cooked potatoes.

Ella, in charge of swatting flies and testing the product

Luca made a gnocchi birthday cake

gnocchi looking promising with some butter and sage to drizzle over

oops, looks like we're having mashed potatoes! Oh well still tastes good.

Later Luca with the scissors, gave Ella her first hair cut. He chopped off most of her wispy curls in the back. He said they were "schiffo" (disgusting) so they had to go evidently. Oh, it's just the beginning!

Tree Party

We went to the raddest fifth birthday party yesterday at the Tre Querce adventure park. Luca was unsure at first, but after seeing kids fly through the trees on the zip line and a few pieces of pizza he was ready.

Ella was a trooper as she followed Luca through the course and cheered him on. Keeping this in mind for 2 years from now.....

CaMogli

It's been 2 months since our last trip (Napoli), so it was time for a weekend away. With 4 days to spare, we headed to the seaside. Just north of the Cinque Terre there's the Promotorio di Portofino, and on the edge of this rocky green scape, Camogli. Legend has it that this little fishing town got its name from the wives who were left behind to run the town, while their husbands were away at sea. Camogli "Casa di Moglie" or House of Wives". We showed up just in time for lunch on Friday, greeted the owner of the room we would rent and moved in for the weekend. It was in a refurbished cantina, with vaulted brick ceilings and naturally cool. It faced a quiet courtyard, and one staircase below you had a view of the sea and an unbelievable smell of the freshly oiled and baked focaccia, dripping in melted cheese "strachino". Focaccia is famous in this region of Liguria. And having two small children, we ended up eating it for breakfast, lunch, merenda, and dinner everyday. We enjoyed playing with rocks on the beach, swimming in the turquoise sea, watching the boats coming in and out of the busy port, biking the alleyways in the heat of the day, hiking to San Rocco, and down to Punta Chiappa (Point Buttcheeks!), and then taking the lovely boat ride back. It was refreshing to leave the confines of Torino, and be at sea again.

CaMogli Album

Summer Breeze

Makes me feel fine....blowing through the jasmine in my mind. Come back to us summer breeze! Everyone's always complaining about the weather, too much rain they say. Now that we've had 5 days of consecutive sun, with temperatures never falling below 70 degrees, I'm thinking, is this what everyone has been waiting for? I've got to keep Luca and Ella indoors between 11am and 5pm to avoid the aria di Africa. Well, before I complain about people always complaining, I'll share some nice photos from June, thus far:

Belgian friends, Ann Sofie, Kris, & Emile pop in for a visit and a dip in the pool

Ella checks out Pecetto's star drummer, Paolo Pininfarina! Who knew.

Making it big time. Luca's school opens the festivities of the cherry festival with a parade and poem.

Our little cherry.

Erin & Ella enjoying pool time with the other international mammas.

A new super soaker fan, at Davide's birthday.

Naked Chef, part 2

Luca's Debut

Ready for action

Ever since Luca started going to preschool, I've been waiting for the day he would have his end of the year show. It's probably the main reason I wanted him to go to preschool. I can only imagine how hysterical I'm going to be when he plays his first soccer or teaball game. Mark and I were sitting with Ella in the front row. All of us brimming with pride, and camcorder going until it ran out of space on it's 8GB disk. Luca's shy front quickly dissolved, and he jumped, ran, threw, and dove like a champ. He only paused to pick his nose or look our way, and we would respond with shouts and clapping. American parents all the way.

Here's a video showing the highlights of his performance (he's the one in the bright orange t-shirt):

 Preschool Video