Venice

It all started on Saturday at about 2:00. I caught the shuttle from the Milwaukee airport to O'Hare in Chicago. The air conditioner was on the fritz. It got a bit warm We arrived a bit after the scheduled time but not bad. Then the driver skipped my terminal. I walked back. Luckily, I had packed for my week in Italy in a backpack. (Wouldn't be the first time I was grateful for that!)

After checking in I went through security, placing in the bins the appropriate items: shoes, jacket, liquids (I didn't check my bag since I knew I had some tight connections), cell phone, etc. Made it to my gate and found a seat. And sat. For a long time. In the sun (windows were full west.) All I could think was that by the time I made it to Venice I was going to look really worn.
It made me sigh. Appropriate for the Bridge of Sighs. At least I wasn't crossing it from the Doge's Palace (which I didn't get to see since I arrived in Venice so late) on my way to prison!

The flight was delayed due to the plane arriving late. Then it was delayed for technical problems. Twice. And that was it-game over-I would miss my next two flights. I finally arrived in Toronto and after going through customs and getting an unexpected stamp in my passport I was put on a new flight to Frankfurt, Germany. But she couldn't print my boarding pass for my flight to Venice for some reason.

Crossed the Atlantic and arrived in Frankfurt. Stopped at the first customer service desk I could find and found out I wasn't booked on the flight to Venice. After some calling around because no one wants to pay for the mistake I finally have a seat on a flight to Venice. I passed through customs again and got a Germany stamp in my passport (I think I might have offended the customs agent when my reply to "How long are you planning to be in Germany?" was "Hopefully, a just a couple of hours." but he stamped it anyway!) and then I have to pass through security again to get back to the gates.
I guess I was a little naive (it was my first time in Europe!) but I didn't really think I would have to do customs and security in each country I flew through. Anyway, thankfully, after crisscrossing the airport I found my gate and made my flight.

I landed in Venice and didn't have to go through customs. No Italy stamp in my passport.

Change some money (another adventure-the ATM tried to eat my debit card!) and find the right ticket for the right bus. I only had to ask around a little:)
It is now about 4:30 on Sunday and I am on a vaporetto watching for my stop. I don't think I had ever been so happy to see these two faces as I was at that moment! I was tired and travel worn and so glad that I didn't have to try and find the hotel on my own. I thought I could do it, I had a map and everything, but I was really unprepared for the little alleys that constituted streets. They smiled and hugged me and gave me a crepe filled with nutella and bananas.

After dropping my things at the hotel we set out to see some of the sights. Elise and Mom had arrived in the morning and luckily knew enough (by then:) that we didn't get lost the whole rest of the evening!

I was pretty restrained with my camera because Elise had hers-it's way better and she knows how to use it! (1500+ pictures by the end of the trip...my copy should come in the mail...soon:) I will probably add and edit each post with more pictures later but for now I am just putting in what I have.

Basilica de San Marco

This picture was actually for my kids, but if you are a Magic Treehouse reader you might recognize the great winged lion that carried Jack and Annie out to sea so they could speak with Neptune and save Venice!
I was too late to get in the Doge's palace but since I didn't spend money on the entrance fee there we decided to spend more money on a gondola ride. Everything I had read before coming pretty much said that gondolas are the most tourist thing ever.

It was but it was so worth it. Amazing. I learned a lot that I have since forgotten about the dates and number of islands and bridges and water depth and flooding but it was serene and peaceful and beautiful and so worth it.
We finished our evening with dinner (spaghetti carbonara-delicious) and gelato (two stops and two kinds:)

My stop in Venice was short. We woke up the next morning and headed back to the train station to head to Florence.

Recent History

Some items of recent history should get me caught up on the goings on of our family.

It took me a week or two, but I crocheted Chris a new scarf. He had been complaining that the one he had was too short and kinda boring. I offered to make him one.

I looked up patterns and found one to approximate. It is red and black and turned out...kinda long.
But maybe that will come in handy!

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Our good friends invited us bowling for the cost of shoes, gracias a applesauce coupons.
This was a first for our family and the kids had a great time!

Even if the ball sometimes went so slowly there was time to get comfortable...

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Sage has been sick a lot the past month or so. She started with a cold that turned into a big, bad double ear infection diagnosed at the urgent care on a Sunday after waiting for a few hours and reaching temps over 104.
One week after finishing up those antibiotics we were back at the pediatricians office for pink eye and another ear infection. A week later (and three days before finishing this round of antibiotics) we were back because she wasn't really seeming any better. With no visible improvement on the ear infection we switched medicine (to the tune of $100!) and did three more days that finally put her to rights. For now...

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One of my New Year's Resolutions has to do with holiday celebration. For Valentines Day I couldn't bring myself to make any pink food but felt a little spurt of pride that I actually planned for heart pancakes!

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My kids have the funnest dad ever!

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Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was able to book a trip to Italy with my Mom and sister. They are going to stop in Paris first but just Italy fit our budget and schedule better. I depart in about two weeks! I have to admit, I am kinda nervous. Any international travel tips are more than welcome!!

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Yesterday, we took delivery of a new sectional. I have been waiting a long time (about a year) to get this new seating in our playroom/family room. I am looking forward to all of us being able to sit together and read scriptures at night, lounge comfortably for family movies and all the kids (9!) having a place to sit for watching shows during date night babysitting.
Oh, and it has already proven useful for an afternoon nap!
And that is our recent history. Come visit for a pop quiz?

Ian is 4!

Ian had a veritable festival of a birthday!

Several days prior to his birthday Grandma Mar and Grandpa Jim's birthday card and gift came in the mail. It was a generous gift card from Target (which ironically, the boys are pretty convinced that Target is the source of ALL birthday gifts!).

We had to go right out that day to pick out what he wanted. It was agony waiting for Daddy to come and home and be a part of the outing.

After much hemming and hawing, examining everything in every boy toy aisle, a motorized Diesel Ten train (from Thomas) and Star Wars puzzle were chosen. He was so thrilled!
For his actual celebration Ian chose to invite two friends and go to the Jump Zone. His birthday very conveniently fell on a Saturday and we planned to play in the morning, have a pizza lunch and cake and ice cream after that.

It was all planned!

And then Sage got sick. And then Fynn got sick. And then Ian James and Audrey. And then Ian Christopher wasn't feeling so hot either. Since all the families involved had sickies we opted to postpone till the next Saturday.

But I had already made the chocolate pound cakes I was going to use to make his birthday cake so we figured we would sing, eat cake and open the presents from our family.

He really liked his cousin's Trio blocks at Christmas so we thought they would be a safe bet. (Who says having a birthday close to Christmas isn't a good idea?)
A set of Trio blocks is fun but a gear set just expands the possibilities!
So, finally the day of his party arrived. The fun started at the Jump Zone.
All of these pictures were will my phone and so not all that great. I couldn't even get one of all the kids! But I promise he had friends there!
We made it home for pizza, cake and presents.
A Diesel 10 cake was the request this year. It turned out well enough for Ian but I was reminded once again I have no artistic talent. Who can't even draw a good Diesel 10 face?



A good time was had by all (I hope:) and we loved having multiple opportunities to celebrate him.

My Treasure

Isn't in a treasure chest, won by sword. It is warmer and sweeter and makes me much happier.

Noah grew 2 inches in the last year.

I was up early with Sage on Sunday morning because she was sick and Noah and Ian came up for their chocolate milk. Noah was already in his church clothes and said "Mom, I got all dressed before you could ask me too." He then gathered his quiet toys, scriptures, and got his own breakfast.

He helps Ian zip his coat. He holds my hand as we walk back to the car after I pick him up from K-5.

His goodbyes when we drop him off for school have gotten longer. He must say goodbye to me Sage, Ian individually. Ian must tell him goodbye and then remind him that he should follow all the rules of kindergarten. Then he tells me goodbye again, that he loves me and that he will miss me. I reciprocate and then he says goodbye to Sage again who is still waving to him. Finally, I start to close the door and he will run off to the school door.
Sage's vocabulary includes 'ma', 'da', 'wee' when on the swing, 'go' when sledding, 'num-num' or 'numeeeee' when eating and 'my' when she is feeling possessive!
Her first time out playing in the snow didn't come until January. I brought her out all suited up and Chris said "she isn't going to last very long."
She made him eat his words, staying out the whole time that everyone else did-at least and hour or two. Chris called her a "true Wisconsinite."
Sage's new skills include climbing up on the cafe height kitchen chairs and up and down the ladder to Noah's bed.
We were out for the first time while it was snowing. When a little, puffy white flake would land on Sage's cheek she would say 'owie' with much alarm and face wiping.
Ian grew 3 1/2 inches in the last year. (How that is even possible when this kid lives on toast, yogurt, cheese crackers and wheat crackers is beyond me!)
N: Mom, Ian peeled the banana all by himself!
M: Awesome! Ian you have some serious skills!
I: Yeah, I do. Noah I have skills.
N: I want some skittles. Can I have some skittles?