Daddy's little girl

We've had a most amazing weekend celebrating Arianna's first year birthday. So much so  that I haven't had time to post, but this beautiful poem from Mike must be shared immediately!  We can catch up on everything else later ~
click on picture to enlarge

First Holy Communion

This past Sunday Mikayla made her first Communion! We are very proud of her for her commitment and ongoing interest to learn about her religion.  We had to endure some tongue lashing and a few moments of disapproval from Sister when we missed some Sunday masses and a couple of classes due to travel, but through it all, Mikayla stayed the course and enjoyed her very special day.  Better pictures to follow from our other camera!

Fashion blunder of the week

Well, since I'm on a roll talking about things out of the ordinary for me, I thought I might as well poke a little fun at this beauty I caught galavanting around in our little town.  If the picture is too small to view, you can click on it to make it larger and see her fabulous ensemble of curlers, frock and go-go boots along with white shades to match!  One of these days I'm going to take some pictures at the grocery store and show you a real treat.  Its like they get ready for the clubs ten hours too soon, so they go and do some food shopping while waiting for the night to come.  I promise you are going to love it!!!

Izzy

Meet my little friend Izzy
This is Izzy, and this is what I did to Izzy a couple of weeks ago. So…I had the opportunity to go to the range, and suddenly, all those years I’d dreamed of wanting to be a sharp-shooter in an alternative life frightened me to pieces. Whenever I go to a carnival or amusement park, I am always most interested in the shooting games rather than the ring toss or hoop shots. Even when it’s just the water gun and balloon game - I don’t even care about the prize, I just like hitting the targets with precision. My most favorite game has always been at the BB gun shack which allows you to fire out the little red stars hanging from a piece of paper. So, when I found myself hesitating at the offer to fire some live rounds, I was feeling completely puzzled. This was the real deal here and I was feeling intimidated and frightened by the thought of using a “real” gun. I finally talked myself in to going, but I swear I don’t think I spoke one word the entire car ride to the range. I didn’t want to blow my opportunity to go, so I just pushed on and tried to act cool as I learned to load the cartridges and hold the guns properly. Not only was I a little worried about totally fucking up and shooting a toe off or something, but I was struggling with the idea that I was holding a deadly weapon and it didn’t sound at all like the real me that doesn’t particularly like any kind of violence. But that’s when I realized that it was better to have this knowledge than to fear it. Not that I plan on packing heat any time soon, but at least, if ever in a situation where I would need to know how to use them, I was now completely confident in Mike’s expert knowledge and safety precautions. I took my first shots with a 9MM and I hit my target! Once I got the hang of the push and pull of the hand position, I really started to enjoy it. In the end the only thing that still freaked me out a bit was the spent bullets that fly at you from the shooter on your left. They are hot as hell and a little distracting when you’re trying to focus. Someone just asked me today if I liked it. I said I still wasn’t sure, but now that I’ve had time to think about it more, I did like it and would definitely go back and try it some more. I wasn’t a perfect shot, but I’m pretty sure I could be. And as far as coming to terms with weapons, I’d rather know how to use them than not know and wish that I did.

Through the eyes of an 8 year old

A couple of years back, we bought Mikayla a Fisher Price digital camera - which turns out to be one of the best gifts she ever got.  At first she took lots of pictures of stuffed animals and her favorite television personality - Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer.   I didn't realize that she had moved on to more interesting subjects until yesterday, when her battery started running low, and I had to download the pictures before they were lost forever.   For a little kid's camera I must say I'm pretty impressed.  The teeny screen on the camera reveals very dark and grainy photos, but once they were downloaded I realized I've got a budding photographer on my hands.  My favorites here are the two chairs out in the backyard and the one of Max with his big ol' cheeks resting on the floor.   The way she got down on the ground at face level is genius!  Of course I was delighted to find we now had a few more priceless pictures of our beloved Cadie girl as well.  The basil plant seedlings made me realize how much of the natural world she has been exposed to and has developed an appreciation for.  I've been thinking about upgrading to a more semi-professional camera for some time now and had decided I would start taking some photography lessons too.  Seeing these photos has cinched the deal for me for sure.  Not only will I upgrade, but I may not have to look any further than Mikayla to get the most valuable lessons on viewing and capturing life - through the eyes of a child.

Decisions

As the weather grows warmer these last few days, I find myself torn between heading to the mountains or out to the sea.  In fact, I sadly had to decline an offer to go on a wreck dive the other day in spite of all this indecision.  You see, I had to wait for my first delivery of packing boxes instead, a fact that makes me want to jump in the car and take a long road trip immediately.  I've got a serious case of wanderlust brewing and I've got it bad!  There are still  a handful of monestaries and wineries that beg to meet me on a much needed day trip.  I still have to catch a glimpse of the elusive goat-like creature they call a Mouflon in the foothills of the island and the turtles will be returning to the beaches in the next few weeks.  I'm sure I accepted their offer to meet under the light of the next full moon and cheer them on as they find the perfect nesting site of the season.  Yes, soon enough we will be living from our suitcases again, as new chapters of our lives are begging to be told, but this epic journey is not over yet, and I've got a full tank of gas and an empty memory card on stand-by.  I've got an archaeological dig planned, and the next few Saturday mornings I will attempt to perfect my new found skill of pole jumping (not dancing!!!) on one of my favorite horses - Sparky.  We've got Mikayla's first holy Communion this weekend, and I will make my final debut working as the temporary Community Liason Officer while the "real McCoy" is away next week.  The calendar is filling up - just the way I like it.  And in all honesty, no, I am not ready to move on yet, but it is out of my hands.  I'm going to do what I do best and enjoy every damn waking second I can!  So stay tuned for a lot of great photos and stories as we wind down and prepare to move on.  I hope you find yourselves in the throws of just as many good times as the days get longer and the nights stay warmer.  xo

Mother's Day Gifts

Not only do I get the most beautiful girls as daughters, but the most thoughtful too.  My sweet Tara Bella surprised me with this compilation of my happiest moments - being with the loves of my life!  Mikayla surprised me with a handmade card and grape flavored Lik' a Stick candy, and Arianna gave me a big wet drooly kiss along with her biggest and bestist four-toothed grin.

Of all the things I've ever accomplished, being a mom is my greatest achievement and most rewarding life's work.  Thank you Tara, Ryan, Mikayla and Arianna for making me the happiest Mom on earth.  I love you guys! xoxo

Buon Giorno!

After years wistfully regretting not paying attention to my Nonna as she patiently tried to teach me her native language of Italian, I have signed up for an online course.  As it was in our home, very little of the language was spoken.  My dad only knew a few "choice" words and my mom and Nonna only spoke when they didn't want me to understand their private conversation, at which time my ears would perk up, but alas only the "choice" words stuck with me as well.  So far I have just completed the first two lessons and it seems  that although I never actually spoke the words, they flow from me easily and I am finding the meanings are easy to remember.  Albeit, it was just the basics, but I am feeling encouraged and excited.  Some may say that French is the language of love, but the passion and beauty of the Italian language stirs my soul.  I want to return to Italy and never utter a word of english while I am there.  I want to read the paper, understand the street signs and sing the songs.  I want to re-connect with my roots, my ancestry, my heritage.  I want to share it with my own children to share with theirs.  I suddenly realized that if I did not undertake this challenge it would be lost within one single generation - how truly sad a thought.  So forgive me if I bore you with my salutations of Ciao and Arrivaderci, but I've got a big job ahead of me right now.  I need to save some family history before it is gone forever.     Do you wish there are things you had learned but kept putting off?  As they say, there is no better time than now.  Get fired up and just take that leap, it feels great! Che bella e la vita... How beautiful life is.

May 1st - "May" Day - Vappu!

The Finnish celebration of May 1st has so far been one of my most favorite Spring parties.  On this day the city streets are closed to traffic as practically everyone in Helsinki comes out to play.  The celebration begins at the Havis Amanda statue by the pier, where students put a graduation cap on this bronze beauty and wash her down.  The year we were there, a couple of hard core partyers were also swimming around in the fountain that surrounds her.  Everyone wears their graduation cap for the day (they looked more like sailor's caps to me), and some were quite yellowed with age.  There really isn't any organized agenda after that, just a lot of meandering through the streets with friends and booze - LOTS of booze.  I think it was the only day I ever really saw Helsinki as a whole completely unreserved and noisy as hell.   Everyone is smiling in anticipation of the warmer weather and longer daylight hours.  You can finally put away your happy lamps for a couple of months and get some real sunshine into your eyeballs.   Its no wonder is one of the biggest celebrations of the year.  The following day families are camped out on every piece of green landscape available for the first picnic of the season.  The place looks totally trashed by the end of day 2 and you find yourself wondering how a whole country of people known for their reserved nature and pride of clean and pristine land only exhibit this behaviour one day a year?  Its like 11 months of pressure cooking for this one big bang.  But drive down the streets on May 3 and everything is back to normal.  The rubbish is all cleaned up, the empty bottles have all been recycled and an unusual quiet has returned...that is of course, only until June 21st, my second most favorite time in Finland...Juhannus!

Happy "MAY" Day everyone!!!