march candle madness

There were so many reasons to celebrate this March. Three birthdays, Father's Day, and a new family!

starting with a personalized crostata by Valeria using her mamma's homemade apple marmellata.

Ella can't wait to steal one of the stars

Mamme iper-tecnologica (-Angela)

Benvenuta Yi Lan! Yi Lan shares her "faccia brutta" face. Giovanni & Elena are in love.

Buona Festa di Papa! Notice Ella's face is covered in flour after experimenting in the kitchen.

Alice & Luca celebrating 5 years together with Rice Krispy treats

Luca's 5....and we're going to Legoland!

We celebrated the big day by doing exactly what Luca likes most. We had a big strawberry/blueberry crepe breakfast with neighbors Alberto & Giorgio. Then built Legos all day until it was time to go to Caterina's baptism. Played silently (not really) during the 1 hour mass, and partied hard with his best friends from Pecetto, fueled by Fanta, cake and potato chips. In the evening it was time to call the Nonni on Skype. A Skype treasure hunt ensued. They gave him clues to find his birthday gifts hidden in the house. Grandma had to be reminded of her clue, but in the end, treasures was found, and all was enjoyed. We watched a little bit of Despicable Me (Ella calls it "Pickle Me") and then Daddy read the bedtime story with a flashlight!

"Luca, how does it feel to be 5?"

"Good."

"Mamma, when I'm 7, I want to be a babysitter."

"Really? Why?"

"Because when I'm 7, I can drive a big truck and drive all the babies around."

To think it was only 5 years ago that our lives were enhanced greatly by this little bundle of energy. In a way it feels like a lifetime, and in another way, a few days. Luca still has the same zeal for life at 5 years that he did at 5 months old. Mark and I feel trully blessed to be the chaperones.

Notre Dame Weekend

6 families, 11 bambini, snowpark, sunshine, spa, skiing, la grolla, a wedding = happy!

finding the Matterhorn

I think it was more exciting for Mark & I to see and ski under the Matterhorn this weekend than it was for our children who have no idea of the magical fake one in Southern California and Orlando. We headed to Cervinia with the McGraw family in search of the real one...

Alice, Luca & Evan before heading up the gondola to our hotel at 2,555 meters (8,400 feet)

Bridget & Brian and blue skies appear

Mark & Luca head off to the real ski slopes

After a couple wrong turns, Luca and Mark arrive all the way at the bottom. Luca still smiling after the 1,800 foot descent. Mark did have to carry him a few times, but he still wanted to ski the next day. I was proud!

Alice patiently holds Ella's hand down the bunny slope. This was her first time on skis. They made it the whole way without falling. I think she'll be skiing the blues by next year!

Matterhorn shows herself, and now it's mammas turn to go!

Famiglia Coletti, minus a tired Luca

Brian & Evan on the Swiss border at 3,332 meters (11,000 feet). 

That night we enjoyed dinner while the kids ran back and forth from the playroom, and then from 8:30pm the classic italian "animatore" appeared to entertain the kids with "baby dance." While Luca and Ella danced to Shakira, they passed Bingo sheets out to the adults and we managed to all stay awake until 10pm. 

A look out over the slopes. In the distance is Valtournenche, where I skiied with Amy & Eric back in 2008 in subminus freezing temperatures: 

totally equipped for minus 20 and wind chill

yellow yeti!

my valentines

we're one big happy family....most of the time.

crying it out in the Alps

Valentine's Dinner Dates, Mark & Ella...

Luca & Mamma

ready wrestle with Daddy

Princess Soph-ella ready for her Carnevale party at school.

The sparkly paper crown lasted 5 minutes, and this is a good example of Ella's new "cheese" face.

Rim to the Lips: Italia!

Part 2 of the European vacation started on January 4th. We sadly said goodbye to Valhalla, Cuncle Chad, & Erika, but gladly left the pouring rain of Chamonix. We hit sunshine and 65 degrees as we headed south to Pecetto.

Out of the hills and into the sunset

Poppie, Happy as Pie, at Ristorante I Sibilla

starting the day properly with a cappuccio at Ristretto

and then cappuccio #2, where everybody knows your name.....

stroll through Torino

wine tasting at Borgogno

No Name, a protest against the unnecessary bureaucracy surrounding wine labelling & certification

(There are 12 controls in Italy, and only 4 in France)

a few more rides in the glass elevator, free entertainment while the adults taste

souvenirs

Siblings in Barbaresco

the real Santa Vittoria!

Mom ending on a strong note at the Pecetto's Ciliegia d'Oro. :)

Thank you Mom & Dad for making it all happen, and to all of you who made the effort to come to our neck of the woods. Family that plays together, stays together. Love you all!

Rim to the Lips in Chamonix: Snowcats, Fondue & Midnight Sledding

What do you give your 60+ year old parents for Christmas? This of course.

Our army truck came barreling down the icy road, just in time to give us a lift.

some bewildered faces as we make our way blindly up the slopes to Refuge Tournieux

We step out after a bumpy 20 minute ride in the dark to this lovely looking place.

Everyone say cheese fondue

M&Ms provide the perfect combo of sweet and salty, an ode to Klemme

bellies full of wine and cheese, perfect time for a head lamp lit sled ride down the mountain

our instructions in french, and patchy english mean we are ready!

I think I laughed the entire way down the mountain. It was a 4 km sled ride, in absolute darkness, with a bit of fog. Poppie & Nonnie were troopers. The best moment was probably seeing my husbands cut out in the snow when he flew through the snow embankment. We can all laugh, because fortunately, he didn't get hurt!

Rim to the Lips in Chamonix: snow adventures

We eventually left Chef Carter and the crackling fire to explore....

a short sled to town

window shopping with the newlyweds

the Villanueva's at the central station

first day on the slopes!

Marco shredding like he's done this more than once in the past year 

Ray, Amy and her bun in the oven at 2,700 meters

italian Colettis in the french alps

Day 3 in paradise on top of Brevent gondola

i was thinking of my mother in law Ellen Coletti, and how much she would have enjoyed this ride.

our band cover shot

Eric's 30th birthday jump

down below, more sledding fun with Nonnie Bee

The start of the Vallee Blanche 26 km ski run that we'll have to do next time

Meanwhile.....it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Luca on skis!

June gives Luca a congratulatory hug after he graduates from ski school. So proud!