Wednesday 29 February 2012

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!)


Wednesday 22 February 2012

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!