The walk

This is how Tosa walks!

Coffee

I have just had my midmorning coffee and I'm enjoying the momentary burst of energy that comes with it. I have also made up my mind: today I'm posting a big update to make up for the last 5 months in which I did not have the time or the energy to write. The kids have continued growing. We have gone on holidays. We have had visitors. Too many things happened that I should have written about. After reading this post, you should be up-to-date on the latest developments in the Proietti family!

June 2012

June was the last month of school for Italian kids and also Auro successfully finished his first year of kindergarten. The school held it's yearly recital with Pinocchio's story as the central theme. All the children got a part in the musical and Auro, together with his fellow freshmen, skillfully represented the waves of the sea in which Pinocchio jumps to look for his lost father.

one of our tickets to the recital

Auro as a "wave"

With the arrival of warmer temperatures, unfortunately, Tosca's slightly atopic skin developed a contagious skin infection (impetigo). Antibiotics, skin cream and nearly one month later the blisters finally started to disapear from around her ancles, legs and hands.

July, August 2012

The warmer months of July and August, we basically spent traveling back and forth between Genoa and Cesenatico. We went to the beach and swam in the river. We ate in restaurants and had people over for lunch. We also, and this was my favourite part of the holidays, spent one week in Andalo (Trentino, North Italy)... just the four of us!!

Wendy and her family visiting from Belgium (in the garden of my in-laws)

Nicholas, our Australian visitor from Japan

the swimming pool in the garden of my in-laws

the beach of Cesenatico ( Auro and Tosca with their nonna)

Tosca with her cousin Zita (visiting from Belgium)

Auro and Zita at the laghetti del guado (40 min drive from our home)

Auro all happy

mountains in Andalo

cable lift

cowboy Auro

mountain flowers

happy hikers

mother and daughter :-)

religous procession of San Martino di Paravanico

change of crucifix bearer

September 2012

In September, we went to meet a friend of mine in the city. She and her family were on a cruise and last Saturday their ship docked at Genoa harbour. A great occasion to go and see them!

However, September 2012, more than a month of having visitors, will be remembered as the month in which Tosca started walking and Auro threw the best birthday party ever seen in San Martino di Paravanico.

On the 15th of September, 2 days before Auro's birthday, Tosca finally let go of my hand and walked about the house freely. She still prefers to hold my hand when she walks, but at least we know she is capable of doing it all by herself. Let's be honnest: it was about time. After all, she is nearly 19 months old. When I found out that Remo's sister didn't walk until the age of 2 and his aunt until the age of 3, I admit I got a bit worried. What a relief that she is not all Proietti ;-) 

On the 17th of September, Auro turned 4! We went out to buy him a bicycle (he choose a red one) and the next day we sent him off to school with the invitations to his first real birthday party. Last Saturday, we set up a rented inflatable castle, prepared some tables with drinks and snacks and celebrated his birthday together with some of his classmates and all of our neighbours. The kids had the best time jumping up and down the inflatable jungle and only came out from time to time to quickly pop something in their mouth. The parents were over the moon about the inflatable (apparently nobody ever thought of putting one), because they didn't have to run after their kids and could actually sit, relax and enjoy the party. Good job, Proietti family!

Mina. Renske and Auro on the pirate ship (galeone) in Genoa

the morning of Auro's birthday

the invitation (Special thanks to Wendy who gave me the idea to put Auro's photo. We got many compliments on the originality of the invitation! And thank you, Nicholas, for taking the photo!)

the inflatable jungle

good for hours of fun!

at times there were so many children inside, we had to run to stop it from tipping over (which obviously made it even more fun!)

this little one safely remained on the outside

the birthday boy ready to open his presents

some were difficult to open... luckily there were many helping hands

"Who's present is this? Thank you!!!" (such a well mannered boy... I'm so proud of him)

undoubtedly the best part of the party for Auro

Auro and his mate Lorenzo

Mother's Day

Little things

The other morning, I was outside when a truck, that had clearly lost it's way, backed up in our little street. When the driver spotted me, he asked me if I knew Rossi's butcher shop. He, of course, had no idea he was asking a vegetarian, so with a big smile I pointed him towards the only macelleria I know. About 10 minutes later, I was in the garden collecting wood for the fireplace and the same truck passed by again. The driver slowed down, honked his horn and greeted me. Satisfied that I gave him the right directions, I came back inside with my wood and could not stop smiling while I prepared the fireplace. Happiness... it really is in the little things, isn't it?

The big day

Tosca wore her birthday crown the whole day (Auro coloured al the flowers)

 On Monday, Tosca turned one! 

I can not believe how fast my little girl is growing. 

Anyway, for the big day, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law came down and we had a little birthday party, complete with birthday crown, birthday cake and birthday presents!

Auro had to wait a long time to give Tosca her birthday present and was relieved to finally do so.

A doll

Tosca and her nonna

Ginevra and Tosca

Birthday cake

Another big fan of birthday cakes

Carnival

Last Sunday, we took the kids to see the carnival parade in Pontedecimo, a neigbouring town, less than 10 minutes drive from here. Even if it wasn't quite what I had expected, it was still quite spectacular. Auro didn't want to wear a costume at first, but when I showed him the Japanese happi coat I had been saving for him, he changed his mind immediately! I got the happi coat in Japan many years ago. I can't even remember the exact place nor the occasion, but I have always kept it neatly tucked away in some cupboard, hoping that one day I'd have a child that could wear it. Dream fulfilled ;-)

Auro in his Japanese happi coat

Tractors pulling the carnival floats

The grand finale (for the kids): a huge pentolaccia filled with candy!

Auro waiting for the candy to fall (Unfortunately, we couldn't get to any of the candy that had fallen on the ground because of the many people, but a nice lady saw Auro's disapointed face, opened her purse and gave him a bag of chocolate coins!)

Smile!

I almost forgot to share this news: while Tosca was trying to fight off her cold with a high fever, tooth number 7 showed itself! With 4 teeth on the top and 3 on the bottom, we nearly have a full smile! Time to start brushing!

Tosca and her 7 teeth, ready to eat and put on that lost weight!

Meltdown

the icicles on the rocks are slowly melting and dripping into the river

It seems that the temperatures finally have decided to stay above zero. And as much as I love gazing at the fireplace and I absolutely adore the kind of warmth it spreads throughout the house, I really really hope spring will arrive soon!!

Since the last time I wrote, both of the children caught some colds again and Auro stayed home from school for nearly 10 days. After 6 days of high fever, I couldn't look at that little pale face anymore and we gave him antibiotics (the 2nd time this winter). He is fine now and started going to school again the day before yesterday. Tosca caught the same feverish cold from her brother and was attacked by high fever that kept her awake many nights. I was about to throw in the towel after 7 days, when on Monday we finally saw the fever dropping. She still wakes up during the night because of a very persistent cough, but the colour has returned to her cheecks and her appetite is slowly coming back too. My goal is to make her eat as much as possible now, so she can put on the weight that she has lost. Not just because she is turning 1 soon and I want her looking healthy and chubby in the pictures, but also because, on the 9th of March, we have to go back for her vaccinations. The last time we went (2 weeks ago and right after 8 days of antibiotics and another 4 or 5 days of tummy bug) we were sent home because Tosca had lost too much weight!

Tosca with her 2 bears. She can NOT fall asleep without the pink one ;-)

Tosca discovered how to stick out her tongue. If you show her yours, she will show you hers!

A top model in the making? I think so!!!

Auro on the beach in Pegli. This photo was taken on the only Sunday in February we were all healthy enough to go out!

Yesterday was Martedi Grasso and Auro returned from school with this mask and a bag full of candies!