This is the gorgeous house we came to after braving the skies. Aaah, see the laundry? We can still feel the light breeze. Seriously, how could we not meet them, when they were so close (according to American dimensions)? Yes, Ben was definitely too little to travel, especially given the fact that I went alone with my two lovely kids (who did extremely well!) and even had to switch planes in Munich. But we just couldn't wait until Lia and Lorenzo would have forgotten their first love.
The two love birds babbling away. So much to tell! Where the hell have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you!
The secret reason for visiting. Maria's homemade gnocchi.
And homemade fettuccina for that matter.
Lia helping Nonno Angelo on the farm. Normale.
It felt like old times. With more peanuts and much better food. Yum. We were picked up at the airport by Nonno Angelo, who held up a sign that read "Peanut"!! Such a cute and nutty welcome. And as I don't speak Italian we simply smiled at each other all week in Italiano. Ben and Fran? Ben was still too young to properly admire his oh-so-cute girlfriend and her lovely chubby thighs, but certainly fell in love with Nonna Maria, who was actually so funny that he laughed out loud for the first time! I guess he has an Italian sense of humor. Lia and Lorenzo? The same old devils. A bit more toddler-ish. I don't know how often we heard the sentence: "That's miiiine!" But whenever Lia got the opportunity, she stroked and hugged and touched her best buddy. Nirite and Brandy? Same old devils. Talking and laughing and gossiping until late. Ever so often drying the tears. Making plans for the future. Nonno and Nonna? All I can say is: grazie, grazie, grazie. Normale. They did so well looking after four wild grandchildren. All the while taking care of the farm and cooking for the lot. Arms always reaching for the nearest nut.
Of course it would have been easier to stay at home. But the things we would have missed! Rome's public transportation, a pizza party at midnight (grazie Manu)! And not to forget sweet Auntie Mara whom Lia kept calling 'Tante Dana'. Her Italian Tante Dana. She's so right. So here we are, a bit wiser, but not less daring, already scheming the next crazy trip. To? ISRAEL! Here we come.
