Looking Back...Zoey's Birthday Continues in MIchigan!

Zoey's birthday continued with family once we were back in Michigan!  Zoey was SO excited to be home celebrating with the family that she really does miss so much.  Although Kevin wasn't home, yet, to celebrate with us, he Skyped during presents and cake so that he could be a part of the celebrating.

Zoey's "birthday party morning" began with long overdue snuggles with Jules on Mommy and Daddy's bed.  These two were thrilled to be back together again!

And once family arrived in the afternoon, we opened more presents...

And just had to try on the dress-up clothes from Meeka!

We sang Happy Birthday (for the third time since her birthday!) and Zoey decided we needed to use all 20 candles for her Elsa Castle cake (one of G.G.'s famous birthday cake creations - made with so much love).  Four candles just wouldn't do!

Zoey fell on the playground at school a few days before we left for Michigan.  The scrapes on her face make for beautiful pictures, huh?!?  But still all smiles with her Castle cake!

These cakes will always be so special to us!  Eighty-seven years old and G.G. still makes our little ones beautiful and delicious cakes!

 And by the end of the night, Zoey was all dolled up in another birthday gift...looking absolutely adorable!

Looking Back...December 9...Zoey's Birthday Dinner

Zoey's December 9th birthday seemed to last for weeks this year!  When you live in two places, you're bound to celebrate your daughter's birthday several times.  And so we did.

Zoey's birthday always begins with our visit from Elf!  Somehow, he always knows to show up the morning of Zoey's big day and then sticks around until Christmas.  This year, Elf decorated our dining room table light and was perched up on top.  He even spelled out Happy Birthday in one of Zoey's favorite things...M&Ms!  What a fun sight to wake up to on your birthday!

Zoey made goody bags to pass out to her classmates (little notepads of paper, a pencil, stickers, and a small pot of playdoh) and brought in Snickerdoodle cookies for her class.  I heard they were a hit!

And for dinner, we kept with what felt right and just celebrated at home with The Guscott's.  I made dinner and cupcakes and we had a Birthday in Pajamas Evening.

 We opened a few gifts...

And sang Happy Birthday...

And ate delicious, Betty Crocker boxed-mix cupcakes!

Notice how Kaia doesn't take her eyes off of the cupcake!  Yes, she got one...how could I say no?!?



Happy 4th Birthday, Zoey!

And the next morning, Elf had moved...

Looking Back...Thanksgiving

So, I've decided that I have way too many pictures not to be posting them and documenting "life in Italy" in a more detailed way.  So, I'm going to try to look back and fill you in on all the other things that have kept us busy and filled our time here....

Let's start with Thanksgiving!

By the time Thanksgiving rolled around, we had been in Italy for about three months and the reality of "missing American things" had set in.  So you better believe we were homesick for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner!!!  Now, I would have gladly cooked a Thanksgiving dinner -- if I could have found the ingredients for all of the favorites!  But no, you can't find turkey or stuffing or sweet potatoes around here (at least not easily!), so it just wasn't going to happen.  But, fortunately, it was brought to our attention that Zoey's school hosts a Thanksgiving dinner every year for families and staff!  We definitely had to get our names on that attendance list!

We didn't know what to expect...which is pretty much how we've felt from day 1!...but it was a lovely evening!

The cafeteria was packed with families and staff members!  Tables were lovingly set and it felt like IST really wanted to make it special for all of us.

The younger kids sat at "kid tables" just like they do at lunch.  Zoey and Kirsten quickly got down to business...coloring!

I've learned to ALWAYS have paper and markers on hand!  It kept these girls busy while they waited for their food...and it kept them out of our hair for a bit!

Just like lunchtime at IST, the kids were served by the wonderful IST cafeteria staff.

Kaia sat with us -- and we conveniently chose a table right near the tv that was airing the Detroit Lion's game!

Supporting his home team...

There was plenty of wine at dinner!  And, yes, this Mama had a little taste.

Food...paper...markers...stickers...busy, busy, busy.

So dinner left a little to be desired - it was no homecooked, family meal like we were used to - but the desserts made up for it!  A whole dessert table with plenty to choose from!

A long (HOT!) evening celebrating our American holiday with family and new friends.  We surely missed our family back home, but were thankful to have a place to go in Italy where we felt cared about.  As long as the four of us could be together, we were happy.

Innsbruck, Austria and Verona, Italy

Now before I go too far backward in time, let's start with our last weekend getaway...Innsbruck, Austria and Verona, Italy with our wonderful friends, "The Guscotts".  Four days, four kids, four adults.  Two countries, two cars, two families.  Memories galore!

Upon arriving in Innsbruck, we had to get a good view of the mountains!

Zoey and Kaitlyn...standing still for 30 seconds!

Daddy and his girls

Happy to "be away" - even if its only for a weekend!

Zoey and a street performer

Dinner our first night - "Prost, Daddy!"

How do you keep two girls busy at dinner?  Have them decorate every coaster you can find!

  Day two in Innsbruck was spent exploring the mountaintops.  Cable car rides, sunny skies, cold winds at the top...

Kids perched looking out the window of our first cable car ride.

Up, up, up we go!

Sunny skies...sunglasses...smiles...

Brr...it's cold up here!

Climb!

Much colder than it looks!

Bundled up!

The warmest of us all!

We left Italy...but didn't leave the pasta!  Zoey ate spaghetti for lunch and dinner!

Sweet, sweet girls

Mama ordered a deliciously large sundae...and look who begged for bite after bite!

Before leaving Innsbruck and heading for Verona, we decided to take a walk around the AlpenZoo - Europe's highest altitude zoo that is home to Alpine animals.  We didn't know what to expect, but it was well worth the few hours!

Unfortunately, the beavers and the otters must have been hiding.  But look at these cute girls!

Searching for animals...ducks were the highlight here.

The quick little moments when Daddy gets to share a fact or be the "zoo guide" for Zoey make me smile.

Look at that fish!

Some "off the beaten path" climbing

Daddies and Daughters

"Look Zoey!  Daddy was put in the zoo!"  She was flabbergasted!  She had no idea how he got in there!! 

The petting zoo was Zoey's favorite part.  No fear!  Our little farm girl!

The AlpenZoo overlooked Innsbruck...with mountains all around.  Beautiful!

Here we all are...well, almost all of us.  Kaia was cuddled up and asleep in the stroller.  Never wake a sleeping baby!

Shoulders...for a better view of the moose.

This bear was lazily napping when we first walked up.  But, a moment later, he decided to come and check us out!  Very cool...the girls loved being up close and personal!

 After leaving the AlpenZoo, we drove almost three hours back to Verona, Italy.  By the time we found our hotel (for some reason, its never easy!!), everyone was starving - and getting crabbier and crabbier by the moment!  We asked the man at our front desk where we could get dinner - quickly! - without much fuss.  He recommended a restaurant only a few minutes down the road.  So, we threw on our coats and headed out...only to find that every table was reserved and there was no way we'd be eating there "quickly".  Carry out???  Smart thinking!  The guys ordered and the girls and kids headed back to the hotel to let the kids burn off some energy in the lobby.  When he heard our dinner news, the front desk man opened up the hotel breakfast area for us and set the table so that we could all eat together.  "I have four kids myself," he told us.  "They're all grown up now...but I know how it is."  Talk about "just what we needed"!  It was just what we needed!  Carry out pizza, pasta, and beer...our own "restaurant"...plenty of space for four kids to run, climb, and crawl!

The next day, we set off to explore Verona.  We only had one day - a rainy one - so we promised to make the most of it.  Luckily, our travels were with a family whose philosophy of traveling with little ones matched out precisely.  Make the most of it.  No pressure on what sights are seen.  And always stop to eat...sometimes only after an hour after the last time you stopped to eat!  Just keep the kids happy!!!

Heading into the city...thank goodness we brought umbrellas!

Matching umbrellas - twins in an adorable city!

The Verona Arena

While the Daddies toured the Arena, the Mommies and kids kept dry at an outdoor cafe.

View of the city center from the cafe

Coloring always keeps them busy and happy!

Inside the Arena - all the way at the top.

Can you see the girls?  We're sitting outside at the orange cafe.

Piazza Delle Erbe

Was Juliet only a figment of Shakespeare's imagination...or was she real?  La Casa di Giulietta - behind us is the balcony where we can all imagine her standing as Romeo declared his love for her.

The statue of Juliet - behind it is thousands of love notes and padlocks that tourists attach to "Juliet's Wall"

Tourists rub her right breast for good luck!

Piazza Delle Erbe

What are they doing?!?  Dancing, I think!

Best friends...great travel buddies!

Daddies and Babies...finally out of their strollers!

Goodbye Verona.  But here's to many more adventures together!

We loved the weekend getaway with The Guscotts!  It was so nice for the kids to have friends to make mischief with - and its always nice to have other Moms and Dads to share the good, the bad, and the ugly with!  A memorable trip...and more to come!