Happy Thanksgiving!

We celebrated Thanksgivign at our house. I had to order the turkey in advance only a couple days before, he said he got the smallets one which was 13lbs. It looked pretty big to me and it almost didn't fit in the oven! Here is the table set up for 11 people.

Gimmy cutting the turkey, I never got a good picture of the turkley when finished because I was cooking like a mad woman but I can tell you it was very good and looked perfectly roasted ;) It took almost 5 hours to cook, and everyone said they liked it. I admit, was pretty pleased with my first turkey. 

Our guests getting ready for the meal.

Sisi, with Auntie Allison (my American friend) 

and Allison's mom (who was visiting Allison in Florence from Texas), Gail.

Gimmy still cutting the turkey and Nicola checking it out.

All of our friends at the table with all the food covering every bit of table. We had the turkey, stuffing, wild rice dish, glazed carrots, green bean caserole, sweet potatoe casserole, and the Waldorf salad. For desert we had my Aunt Sue's ~famous~ pear pie, chocolate/coffee date cake, and chocolate gelato pie. 

We ate a lot. 

After dinner entertainment by Sisi

Sisi with her Babbo

The turkey at the end of the night...we had left overs for about 6 days. We had fun, but I did miss all my family back home thinking they were probably all cooking like mad too. Haha! Until next year! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween

Happy Halloween! Sisi dressed as Tinker Bell. Last minute I hade to add the white pants and sweater to the outfit because it was pretty cold. 

I made all of our costumes...Gimmy was Capitan Hook and I was Peter Pan.

I took Sisi to St. James ( American Chruch) where they held a Halloween party for all the American/Italian kids. Sisi is still a little young but she seemed to have fun with the kids, coloring and eating some snacks. 

The next day we went to my friend Allison's house for a Halloween dress up party, this is us all ready to go.

Tinker Bell and her magic wand!

Tinker Bell and Capitan Hook 

At Allisons house:

Freddy Cruger, Dorthy, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, and Capitan Hook

Oh, Dorthy! 

Dorthy and Freddy

Gimmy trying to calm Sisi because she was really terrified of Angelo's mask and hat... He actually was really scary! Poor thing!

Sisi really didnt like Angelo's costume, but when he took off the mast it was like nothing ever happened.

Sisi and Giacomo, his parents were dressed up as Devils but I didnt get a good photo of the costumes.

Peter Pan

Playing Left Right and Center ( a funny little game)

Sisi and Giacomo, so sweet!

Sisi's 2nd Year Birthday Party

Sisi turns 2 years old! Happy Birthday Sisi! 

She is going to preschool now, so I brought in cookies for the kids in her class for a littel celebration.

That evening we had a little party with some close friends. Sisi was the only child, she did not mind at all, and had fun entertaining the guests by dancing around to music. 

Gimmy helping Sisi open her presents

 Sisi opening Mickey Mouse (her new favorite thing...)

Simone, Angelo (in the back) and Ottavio.

Allison and Jacqui.

Simone, Rosita, and Giorgia

Sisi and Allison

The birthday cake, chocolate with marshmallow frosting.

Cutting the cake

Sisi and me with her presents, thanksl for the nice gifts! Sisi really likes them.

Random funny photo of Gimmy and Sisi inside our tent, we set up on our bed to take a measurment of the inside space.

ROAD TRIP Part 3: Paris!

PARIS

We made it to Paris to met our old friends Gloria, Lauren and Michael!

Notre Dame

Sisi and Nonna and the Notre Dame behind them.

Gargoyles

Having dinner near the Boulevard Staint Germain

Zia Gloria and Sisi

I had to put this photo in becuase it makes me laugh!

Zia Gloria and Zia Lauren

The Centre Pompidou, the museum of modern and contemporary art,

 is a cultural institution on art, design, music and cinema.

My mom

Nancy and Gloria at the top of the Pompidou

Michael and Lauren, Eiffel Towwer in the distance.

In the escalator.

Sisi playing on the Philip Stark furniture and outside playing in the water near the giant gold pot...

 security was mad for that.

The cafe on top of the Pompiduo, see the giant gold pot,

appropriately desiged and decorated for the museum.

The photo on the right is another that makes me laugh, Gimmy pointing, my mom reading a map and Sisi sleeping with her poor little head falling to the side..

Part of the Louvre (building in the background)

A band playing music along the side walk.

Lauren and Michael

Photo on left: Opera House, and a really cool retro scooter.

Photo on Right: Entering the Galeries Lafayette 

Here is a photo with part of the dome a decorative architectural elements, and Lauren and Michael checking out the theater style center.

There was a mob of people trying to get into the building at the same time we arrived, which made it impossible to shop or even walk!  So we ran to the roof top for some fresh air and to admire the views.

The back of the Opera House

Sisi, Gimmy, me and the Eiffel Tower

Laurens Birthday Party!

Gloria had bought a fresh strawberrys and cream cake from the famous Tanty's bakery

 (which was a block away from our hotel)

 I cant even explain how amazing tastey that little cake was!

Sisi thinks its for her..

Lauren opening her presents.

Me, Sisi and Lauren

Later than night, Lauren and Michael and Gimmy and me went out to the canals of Paris where it is the new place for locals to hang out in the evening and at night.

We first walked along the canals. At night time there are tons of people sitting along the canal eating a drinking, playing music, games and just talking. It was a cool experiece.

Photo from here

Then we found Chez Prune, by chance, which turned out to be a very popular local bar. We had a few drings and asked the friendly bartender a bunch of questions and he pointed us to a great resturant where we went for dinner.

Photo of Chez Prune

Hotel Du Nord. The resturant were we had dinner, we were the ONLY tourists in the place, the waiter was very nice and the food was delicious! After the dinner, we went back to Chez Prune and talked some more with the bartender. 

Photo of Hotel Du Nord from here

Then the next morning, hung over and all, we ( Gimmy, Sisi and I) head out for the next part of our road trip and in the direction of home.