Vika turns 1!

This was a big weekend in our household. Vika turned one. It was a wonderful gift that Ami and Papa could be here to celebrate with us. We started out earlier in the day opening a couple of the big gifts at home. The celebration continued with a small party at our favourite pizza place. I think it was one of the loudest renditions of "Happy Birthday" I've ever heard. Dominic (the pizza chef) say at full volume all the way from the pizza oven. acroos the restaurant. In fear of Vika ruining her dress with the butterfly cake I made I took it off (and it was way too hot for that dress anyway!). Then she proceeded to eat in such a perfectly dainty and girly girl way she hardly dropped a crumb! It was almost a disappointment to see a one year old have the perfect mess opportunity and not take full advantage of it!
The next day, Vika's actual birthday, was spent seeing Ami and Papa off at the airport and joining friend at Carney Park (the US Navy Recreation Site near Naples). We spent 5 hours in the pool there! We ended a wonderful weekend with a lazy dinner with friends before heading home - sun kissed and very happy. A perfect way to spend a first birthday!

So it's official

Brian's assignment in Italy has been extended. As much as we've found many challenges difficult here in Italy, we're very excited about having the opportunity to experience the "viva dolce" (sweet life) for a while longer. We're still waiting on some details - like how long we're actually going to be here for. It looks like we could be here into next year! We've just returned from a fabulous 4 day weekend at the Cinque Terre with Brian's parents and now I can start planning so many more adventures!

I guess this means I'll expect a few emails from those of you who keep threatening to visit! ;)

I'll post (with pics) again soon to share our Cinque Terre adventure with you all! Keep checking back!

Caserta Palace

During my mom's visit we spent some time exploring the gardens at Caserta Palace. The Palace construction began in 1752. The palace itself has over 1200 rooms and almost 1800 windows. (It was built to rival Versailles.) It was actually used in two of the Star Wars films (The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones as Queen Jamillia's Palace) and in Mission Impossible (the scene where the Lamborghini blows up). The gardens run for three km!!! There is actually an aqueduct the length of them that brings water from the cascading falls in the hills to the palace. It is a beautiful place but it could be absolutely amazing. It really could take a page from Disney's book. That said we all enjoyed our time there and Kyle still finds it quite amusing that the fish ate Vika's entire baggy of Cheerios!