funny conversations

I'm staying at my Dad's house this week.  I heard my little half-brother, Tommy, yelling "there's a misquito!  There's a misquito!"

A few minutes later he comes out with a dead object on a fly swatter and he proudly announced that "I killed a fway.  Don't look because it's gross." 

So his two sibblings took a peek and they said, "that's not a fly.  It's a lady bug!  Look, it's red with black spots."  I could tell by the tone of their voice they were a little sad that the lady bug died.

Tommy, in a very cheery voice replied, "yeah, but it's insides were yellow!  They're always yellow!"

the zoo

 Saturday we went to the zoo.  As we pulled into the parking lot Aaron said "hey!  I remember we used to come here when we lived in the United States!"  Indeed we did.  My good friend Karla came with us and I was so grateful for the good company and very enthusiastic children.

 Every animal we came to my kids would shrill, "there's a ...!" and jump up and down with excitement.

 The new part of the zoo with the seals and polar bears was one of our favorite parts.

Home sweet home!

 Home is where your heart is.  So I left home to come home.  Ironic but true.  My heart is home with my husband, but it's here with my family and friends too.  One of the first places I went to visit with my kids was the temple!

The flight went amazingly well.  Only 15 minutes of screaming on the first flight ( 1.5 hours long) and the first and the last 15 minutes of the second flight (11 hours long).  That must be some kind of record for Isabel- to not scream for such a long period of time.  Thank you personal screen TV's and Disney.  I owe you big!

 I've had something going on most days and I've just been SOAKING IT UP!  So much so that I haven't taken pictures of anyone, almost anyway.  It's just been so good to be with friends, and spend some good time together that I haven't remembered to take pictures of them. 

I've been able to see my mom, my sisters, and a brother and their families.  I've seen lots of friends,  and have more to come!

 Big news is that Aaron lost his 4th tooth.  He was soooooooo excited!  Unfortunately for him, he decided to eat most of the kinder chocolate that I had bought to bring to family and friends, so he had to pay me back for the chocolate he ate with the dollar he got from the tooth fairy.

With cousins at a local parade.  Best part by far (for my kids): free candy.  It was fun to see them wave enthusiastically to all the people passing by.

bugged out

There are a few things in life that I don't love, not too many, but a few.  BUGS is one of them, especially especially these critters.  It looks like a cockroach, but it's not.  It smashes pretty easily.  The other night our calendar fell off the wall it was taped to.  The next morning when I went to pick it up and re-tape it, this big bad guy was stuck to the tape.  I had no idea that they were coming into my house.  Try not to barf thinking about it.  My gag reflex goes into overdrive just thinking about it.

 Jordan had his end of year school program last week.  This kid is getting so big!

Jordan batting

 Today (June 2nd) is Italy's national Independence day (or something very like that).  We had a baseball tournament all day in a city called Rovigo.  It was hot and long to be chasing Isabel around in the sun.  But it was worth it to be together as a family for a whole day.  We don't get many of those, and considering I'm about to be gone for 2 months with the kids, it was just what we needed!

Aaron catching

team photo at the end of the day

 Today was one of those days where you just need a popsicle!  It was sooooo refreshing on such a warm day, and in the sun for so long.

 I love this picture because Jordan took it of his daddy.  I'm realizing more and more how much I'm going this man of mine while we're gone, and not because he's such a good help with the kids and around the house.  I'm going to miss his companionship, his hugs and kisses, his strength that he brings to me and to the kids.  Sigh.  It's a sacrifice, but at the same time I'm so happy to be going home.  I also feel like I'm leaving home too.  It's a weird sensation.