We're In!

Well, we are finally all moved into the new flat in Porta Romana. There is stuff everywhere! I'm not posting pics until we clean this place up!! We went to IKEA last weekend and got some rugs, and lamps and stuff, but our car is not that big, so we need to go back! We still need another rug, and some step stools (some of the cabinets are very high up), and more lamps (there is no overhead lighting)... and I'm sure we need other stuff...

I'm wondering why I brought all the clothes with me that I did! Why do I need all of these clothes! There is no where to put them!

Moving to Porto Romana Area!

The movers are here today to move our furniture into the new flat in Porta Romana. Exciting! I'm really not sure how they are going to get the furniture up to the 2nd floor (2 levels up), and then how they are going to get some of the furniture through the doors! Should be interesting! Keep your fingers crossed on that!

Anyway... we haven't been up to too much this week. Connor and I went to a coffee for newcomers in the benvenuto club here. And of course, we went to playgroup on wednesday. Yesterday we did a walkthrough of the new flat. It is definitely different then having a brand new house in Texas! I guess we will get used to it...

Day Trip to Bergamo, Italy

This weekend we took a little trip to Bergamo. Its about a 45 minute drive from Milano. David had rented an automatic transmission car! An alpha romeo hatch back. It was nice. Connor was great! He napped on the way there and on the way back in the car! A first!

Bergamo is a walled city that was built on a hill (Cita Alta). The lower city grew larger and more modern and eventually they connected the 2 by a finicular.

It's a nice little place. They have lots of shops. Its pretty quiet, but picturesque. They seem to be known for their little cakes that are called something like 'polenta de olei' or something like that. They are sweet and coated with sugar. Yummy!

Now THAT is a pigeon hole!

Learning Italian Nursery Rhymes

Connor and I are trying to learn a song in Italian at playgroup... I finally found the words. I was helped by the fact that national geographic uses it in a commercial here... Its about noah's arc...

Ci son due coccodrilli
ed un orangotango
due piccoli serpenti
un'aquila reale
il gatto, il topo, l'elefante
non manca più nessuno
sono non si vedono
i due liocorni.

(There are two crocodiles
and one orangutan
two little snakes
a real eagle
the cat, the mouse, the elephant
nothing else is missing
except we can't see the two unicorns.)

You can hear it at this website:
http://www.cisonduecoccodrilli.it/

Buddies

Connor and the Kitty having a private moment...

San Valentino in Italy

Ya, good luck trying to find a Valentine's card or even wrapping paper in downtown Milano. I totally struck out. I had to just give David a little gift unwrapped and no card. Oh well. He got some Dolce and Gabana cologne. I wanted to give him something Italian.

Connor and I went to the Benvenuto club of Milan on Tuesday. Its a bunch of english-speaking women who get together. They even have a club house! cool! They have 'nursery' services. Which means they have a room with a baby sitter at the monthly coffees. Connor played there while I was at the meeting. He was the only kid there! But he seemed to have fun. He started crying when I came to get him.

Connor and I got our first Italian hair cuts yesterday. That was interesting. Try explaining to someone who doesnt speak English that you want your hair thinned and layered and not to make it too short on top. It came out okay though.





Ciao!

Our Sunday at the Park

Today we went to the Public Gardens in Milan. There were a ton of kids there and dogs too. Connor really enjoyed himself. Now that he can walk (some times), he can play at the playground. He still tends to get down and start crawling once in a while (which can be quite dirty)... but he is learning.




One of the kids there let Connor play with his soccer ball. That was nice. Connor is learning how to kick the ball and stay standing at the same time. Its pretty funny to watch. He is such a big boy. And he's tall. Not sure where he gets those genes!!




Here's Mommy and Connor going down the slide! Wheeee!

Pictures from Carnevale

Okay, so yesterday we went to the Carnevale parade. Connor was in the new backpack carrier that we got, and he was dressed up as a monkey! Fun!

Doesn't Connor looks like he is having fun! Ha! Anyway, the parade started out with just a bunch of kids and stuff dressed up, but then there were some more interesting things near the end like people on stilts and dragons and stuff... check out these pictures...

This was a crazy looking lady on stilts...

Check out the dragon.

Carnevale Ambrosiana, Milano

Buona sera! Today we went to Piazza del Duomo for the Carnevale festivities. Apparently, they extend the carnival season here until the Sunday after Ash Wednesday. There is a reason, but I can't think of it right now. Anyway... there were TONS of kids down at the Duomo dressed in costume. Connor wore his monkey outfit. They had a parade and a truck-load of confetti. The parade started out pretty cheesy, but the last few things were pretty good. There were some cool dragons at the end.

Earlier in the day, David, Connor and I walked down to the Castello to go to this large sporting goods store to get some soccer (calcio) stuff for David, who seems to have found a team to play on here. While we were there, we picked up a back-pack carrier for Connor. Its pretty cool.

I will try to put some pictures up in the morning. I'm too tired to bother downloading them right now.

Ciao!

Carnevale 2008

Strange thing about Milano... they extend Carnevale until the Sunday after Ash Wednesday. I guess they just didnt want the party to end. Connor dressed as a monkey at the playgroup party. This weekend we are going to try to go to the events at Piazza del Duomo for Carnevale. I think it will be very crowded... but we shall see. I will write about it after we go!

Adventures in the Alps

So, this past weekend we went to Valtournenche on the border of Italy and Switzerland so that David and his work buddy could go skiing. The mom's and babies hung out in the little towns while the dads were off doing their thing. The views were spectacular. Truly amazing! I only got to about 6000 feet, but David got a lot higher when he went up skiing...

David went up and over into Switzerland, and then got stuck there when the lifts were closed due to wind! Its a 4 hour drive back to where we were in Italy. Needless to say, the moms were a little annoyed at this inconvenience! And we can't drive standard! So David and Stephen had to take a taxi back! Oh well!

Connor went sledding for the first time in his life! This is his first experience with snow! It was really fun to see him all rugged up in his gear!

David brought Connor around the town of Cervinia in the sled. Connor had a fantastic time! It was sooo cute!! We will certainly remember this trip!!

Trip to the Italian Riviera

Two weekends ago (January 26 and 27), David, Connor and I took a trip to Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino on the Italian Riviera. It was absolutely beautiful. The weather was gorgeous on the Saturday.Connor really enjoyed himself eating pasta and checking out all the babies and birds that were hanging around... What a fantastic place! It really may be the most beautiful place on earth!

We stayed at a really nice place called the Lido Palace. I would recommend it to anyone who was going to the area. The boats were shut down for winter, so we took a bus (about a 10 minute ride) to Portofino. It was really nice. We climbed the hill to Castello Brown, and then came back down and had a drink right at the water.

On the way home, we stopped in Genoa and took a harbor boat ride. The tour guide spoke all in italian, and since none of us speak italian, we have no idea what he was saying... but we still enjoyed the ride!

Ciao! From Milano!

Here we are in Milano Italy. Its a long way from home... But I'm not sure where 'home' is anyway. Connor is enjoying the pizza and pasta over here. Culture is very different. Milano is kind of a unique place within Italy. I've been told by some english-speaking people here in Milan that people in Milan are little snooty-er than in other parts of Italy. So far, not many people have gotten off of their butts for me to sit in the subway, or helped me with the door when I'm pushing the stroller... But we shall see...

We've been here for almost a month now... still no washing machine. I've done several of Connor's clothes in the sink... Hopefully we will get into the apartment soon and not have to be in the hotel. I think our furniture should get here in about 2 weeks... fingers crossed!

I've included 2 pictures... One of one of our cats, China, taking a break in the bidet... funny! The other is of Connor in front of the Duomo in Piazza del Duomo in the center of Milano. He LOVES the pigeons! He things they are great. We spend a lot of time chasing them around in the stroller!

Also, they dont have cheddar cheese here! Can you believe it? I'm going to miss that! Grocery shopping is an adventure here... Just thought I would mention.