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