We got the kiddos all gussied up for Easter mass at the Basilica. They looked pretty darn cute!
At the end of the mass, the priest chided the congregation for chatting and talking the whole way through the service. I hadn't noticed it, but we were sitting in the back and I was concentrating on keeping our kids from being "THOSE KIDS." He told them that they might as well not have come if they were not going to listen to the young people in the choir singing their hearts out to the Lord, or listening to the wonderful story of Easter. Everyone was quiet after that!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Easter Sunday
Dyeing Easter Eggs
We had Grandma Patti get decorating kits and send them back to Italy with James on his last trip to the USA. Then, Easter-time came and Nonna reminded me that all eggs in Italy are brown! Oops!
Well, we tried to dye them anyway, and they actually turned out pretty well. There is a date stamp on each egg that boiled off (luckily)--then we just dipped the eggs as usual and got some interesting colors.
Coloring Easter Eggs
Norah and I printed off lots of Easter Eggs for her and the boys to color. I thought they might color them for 10 minutes and then be on to the next activity. However, they sat there for about 2 hours and colored every last one! Nonna even got to color a few!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Entertainment
We were walking around Varazze one day and in a small piazza we found this pair of entertainers: a juggler and an accordion player. They were really fun to watch, and the kids had a great time watching the show!
Cousins
Norah and Ethan had a great time (most of the time) playing together on this trip. It was really great to see. We will sure miss him and Nonna when they have to go back to the USA.
"Now laugh about something!"
mamma 014, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.
Nonna and the kids laughing about "something" so that I could get a good photo!
Favorite thing
Luca's favorite thing to do at the seashore was, hands down, "throwin' rocks." He would have done this all day if we'd have let him! And, he might end up being a lefty like Chiara because he throws and kicks with his left arm/leg.
Varazze again
We went to Varazze, near Genoa, for a few days last week. Nonna wanted to show Ethan the sea, and he absolutely LOVED it! The kids played on the seashore morning and night, and at the end of the day, they were always exhausted. The weather was a little chilly, but at least there was sunshine and not rain! As a matter of fact, it was raining when we arrived on Sunday night, and it didn't rain again until Thursday morning when we had finally loaded all the kids and our stuff in the van to come home! What good weather!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
3 balls
A legend in Bergamo is that one of the military leaders from the 15th century, Bartolomeo Colleoni was so brave and strong that he must have had 3 balls. The symbol is on his coat of arms and people who come to Bergamo rub the three balls for fertility, strength, and good luck. In 2001, James and I came to Italy and visited Bergamo. He rubbed the balls then. Now, 11 years later, we have 3 kids! I told him NOT to rub the balls again, but he just wouldn't listen!
Espresso
Turns out Luca likes the taste of Espresso. Before you call CPS, there was nothing left in the cup but some foam and a little sugar! But hey, how else were we going to get him to walk back DOWN the mountain?
Love
Susannah was a third wheel in our couple's shot, but it was too much work to take her off! She's cute enough to stay, I guess!
Water fountain
There are water fountains all around Bergamo, with nice spring water coming out. The kids, of course, had to try each one!
Walking the wall
We walked around the wall of the old city for a while. Susannah looks like she's thinking: "Why am I not in that stroller?"
Bergamo Alta, Nonna style!
We spent one Saturday in Bergamo Alta, which is the old town of Bergamo. To get there, you can drive a car, or you can hike up a STEEP set of roads and stairs. Nonna remembered it being "not that bad," so we hiked it...with a stroller! We were winded once we got to the top!
On a side note, Susannah rode in the stroller for most of the day. Luca walked all the way up this hill, plus all around Bergamo Alta, and only rode in the stroller at the end of the day. He was a trooper!
While Norah's away
Norah had school so Ethan, Luca, Susannah, Nonna, and I went to the park. Another sunny but cold day!
Brunate
Norah and Ethan and the ladies took the funicular train up to Brunate, the town up above Como. They had a nice clear day with a great view!
Duomo di Como
Norah is telling Ethan about the Easter story here. My mother tells me they stood here and discussed it for quite a while!
Lago di Como
Norah and Ethan went to Lago di Como with Nonna and Zia Raffaella one day. They had a lot of fun running around the city of Como together!
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