Birthday Parties Italian style

We were invited to celebrate Spencer's friend Ludo's birthday at his parents country home just outside of Florence. It was a gorgeous day, great food and we had such a nice time.

Rome...first weekend of May

The boys had a three day weekend the first of May so we headed down by train (along with every other Italian) to Rome. We had such a great time seeing the most amazing buildings and history. We also were lucky enough to get a small glimpse of the Pope!!! The only bummer was our camera lost juice so we only have a few pitures.

Sports Day at ISF

Brendan and Spencer just love their school. They had the annual sports day and had so much fun running and playing with all their friends at school.

Susan and Sydney come to visit

Susan, who was my college roomate at UCLA, and her friend Sydney came to visit it us late April. It was Susan's first visit to Italy and we had a great time having them both!!! We definately plan on living life to it's fullest where ever we may be. y be!!

The boat

We were invited by new friends of ours to sail the Med with them for three weeks in August. It was such a great invitation so the first nice weekend we decided to make a test sail up the coast from Carrera (where all that beautiful marble comes from) to Cinque Terre. It was really fun and although it will be tight with 11 of us on board, we are going for it!!!!

Spring

I can't get over the stunnning beauty that Tuscany reveils in Spring. The colors are absolutely stunning. Here are some photos that we have taken.

Julie's visit

My dear friend Julie came out to visit us for a week. It has been 20 years since we were here together and it was at that time that I fell in love with Italy.

Andrea and Diane

Andrea and Diane had all of us over for a bbq in their home which they have been renovating for the past 3 years. We cooked meat in the fireplace and of course drank Chianti!!!

Castello di Poppiano

Our friends Camillo and Flaminia invited us all out to see the Castello di Poppiano where they produce wine and olive oil and to have dinner at his parents villa next door. It was really a special night for all of us. We don't get to experience such history in California and it was fun to see where and how the wine is made and then drink it!!!!

Siena and San Gimignano

We drove out to Siena and San Gimignano for the day and than Marcella came over and helped us make a delicous meal.

Dad and Kathy arrive-April 6-13

We were very excited to see Dad again and also to have Kathy with us. We had a great week together...cramming in as much as possible. The first couple of days they went to the boys school, had dinner at our friends home and walked around.

April is here-Springtime in Florence

The flowers are so beautiful here. They are popping up on roadsides, gardens and hillsides. It is as though you are living in a picture book of Italy.

Hotel Terme di Medici-Fonte verde

Mark and I went to the hills of Siena and spent one night at the nice hotel that has fantastic thermal spas. These are natural water sources that come from the ground. It was a great experience and the hills were gorgeous!!!

Easter with the Russells

The explosion of the cart at Easter is sort of fortune-telling ritual dating back to the end of the 11th century. Four oxen draw the cart to the baptistery. A metal wire is run from the cart all the way to the choir of the cathedral. A small dove-shaped rocket is lit and shot down the length of the church. When it hits the cart at the fireworks go off and square becomes alive with smoke and sparks.

The Russell's visit

Laura, Glenn and Jimmy Russell came to visit over Easter. It was so gret to see our dear friends here in Florence and show them a bit of our Italian life. We took the kids on Easter morning down to the Duomo where we stood outside and watched the procession of the cart and than the exlosion of it.

Brendan..our artist.

Brendan has become so creative while living in Italy. We are really amazed at some of the things he has created. One day he took the camera and went into the garden and came back with these shots of Spring.

Skiing in Abetone

We met an Italian family here in Firenze that invited us up to the local mountains to ski. Mark took the boys and they had the best time. Camillo and Flaminia showed them special slopes and the weather was fantastic. The boys are becoming quite the skiers.

Dad's visit.

It was really great to have Dad here for 10 days. I took some wonderful pictures of Firenze. We are looking forward to his spring trip with his girlfriend Kathi.

Valentines Day 2008

We went with Dad and our friends, the Braheems for the day to Portofino.