It's an Italian Thing #1

You may have the stereotypical image of crazy Italians driving scooters like maniacs, weaving in and out of traffic and defying death at every turn. So far for me, the real thing far surpasses the stereotype.

We have noticed a fascinating phenomenon here amongst this certain species of brave/crazy Italians. Some of them are so confident about their driving and so socially oriented that they jam their cell phones in between their ear and their helmet and have heated conversations while navigating Roman traffic. I dearly wish I had a photo to post but these creatures are so elusive that I have yet to capture one in a picture, even though I have seen them quite often.

The best part is that more often than not, they are using their "free" hand to gesture passionately as they thread the needle between the three cars they are passing and oncoming traffic.
Mamma Mia. If I ever get a photograph I'll be sure to post it.

Simple Pleasures

Life is good here in Rome. Really good. We are enjoying lovely fall weather and taking part in the simple pleasures of life...taking an after-dinner walk to get gelato, a sunday morning stroll to have cappuccini and croissants, driving up into the mountains a mere 2 hours away. We are finally feeling somewhat settled and enamored with our surroundings in a big way. And enamored with our little family in an even bigger way. Here is Erik serenading his girls, with a little help...

More Summer Fun

We are back in Roma now and so happy to be with Dad and enjoying the very perfect weather. We have been getting out of the city too which is great! Makes us appreciate living here even more...the ocean is 30 minutes to the west and the mountains are an hour to the east. Hooray! Here are some random shots from our summer...


Hanging out with our peeps at our favorite place in South Dakota.


Reading with Nana.



Playing with Gramps.


At the beach!



This is a wonderful place on the beach in Fregene where they ring in the sunset with a gong, play "O Sole Mio" as the sun is setting and then play the gong again once the sun has disappeared. All while sipping a mojito. It's magical.


In ancient Tivoli, a little town outside of Rome that sits atop a big hill. A nice place to wander and watch Ocia light up the world.

Blowing Kisses

Ocia is already famous for her enthusiastic kiss-blowing.

Kickin' it Stateside

Here is a hodge-podge of photos from our time in North Dakota/Minnesota...we're having fun but we miss daddy terribly.

Here is Ocia experimenting with how many sweet potatoes she can fit up her nose...

Ocia is intrigued by going "under" just about anything.

The regal Nugs.

Ocia with Uncle Dan and his girlfriend Emily.

Uncle Dan's birthday!

Oci and Aunt Carrie hanging out on the beach.

Oci and the Nugs remember each other from way back when...

Happy Birthday Ocia!

Ocia completed her first year on Friday, June 26 2009. We decided that it was as much of a celebration for Erik and I surviving our first year as parents! She is such a delight right now. Here are some photos from her special days, we celebrated on Friday and Saturday both!

This is Ocia opening her packages from Nana...lots of adorable new clothes!

We chose the festive green and white polka dots for the big day.

Playing in the park with our new friend Stefania, our yoga teacher.

This is our motley crew of pals that we see everyday in the park down the street.  Umberto, on the right, is teaching me Italian.  Slowly.

Our neighbor, Giussepina, gave Oci a pink ball and made her a plum tart!

Who wouldn't want to kiss this vision in polka dots?

First taste of banana gelato....yummmmm.

Very cold.  Strange. I think I like it.

The Birthday Girl in her throne.

I love my birthday sweet potatoes!

The Many Faces of Ocia.  This one leaves me speechless.

Always so happy to be with her dad.  Out shopping for toys!

Being serenaded by Dad.

A Week in the Italian Alps

We spent last week in northern Italy on Lake Maggiore, near the Swiss border in the Alps.  Erik had some work to do nearby so we turned it into a mini-vacation by staying in Stresa, a resort town on the lake.

We traveled by train which was really fun, convenient and easy with the babe.  Just an 8 minute walk to the metro, 5 stops to the main train station and get on the super-fast (300 km/hr) FrecciaRossa to Milan (4 hours).  The bar car is nice and makes the time fly.  Then one hour on the slow train to Stresa. Easy!

We took a day trip to Macugnaga at almost 14,000 feet with the Monte Rosa glacier within view.  It was a winding drive up a steep valley through tiny mountain villages.  Magical!

These shots are from Stresa including our hotel and the view of the lake and mountains...