A long weekend

Last Thursday was a holiday in Italy (Workers Day?). Most took the Thursday and Friday. So many so that Boeing Employees (they didn't get the holiday) were requested to work from home so the factory could close for the long weekend. Hmmm...Brian working from home with two little ones running around. Doesn't sound like much of a challenge - NOT!
We did pretty good Thursday. We actually met some neighbours and got ourselves invited to their birthday celebration! (Good thing my Italain friend Mary Grace was with us to help with the language!) We enjoyed a great dinner out with Brian's colleague's family at our favourite pizza joint - where the pizza chef gives the kids pizza dough to play with. Friday, well things were a little more difficult. Brian ended up coming to the beach for a little while. Although Vika has been to the beach plenty of times she's never actually put her toes in the sand. She got to put her toes in the sand and she LOVED it! She giggled and giggled and then started to crawl - top speed - in every direction laughing the whole way - until she decided to taste it.
Saturday we headed off on one of our "adventures" and drove north to the coastal town of Gaeta. It is much more laid back than here, even though it's only an hour away, and it is very beautiful. We walked around the historical center. Of course the highlights of Kyle's day were watching a boat be painted and a new motor mounted and the construction guy sending buckets of concrete to the top floor of a building using a rope and pulley. (So he wasn't hard for mommy to watch either!) The cement mixer was a hit too! We had a great lunch at a restaurant that the locals obviously enjoyed. Kyle is constantly getting better at trying new foods and ate a plate of Penne - but not until after I changed the name to "pipes". Vika - well I think she just likes anything that gets her out of a strapped seat (carseat and stroller!)

On Sunday the kids went off on an adventure of their own with daddy that included a visit to Leroy Merlin (think Home Depot) - nothing makes Kyle happier - and lunch at McDonald's while mommy scrapbooked. We also found some time for some finger painting and playmobil playtime!

Kyle-ism:
(See the picture of him sitting on the anchor)
"Why is that anchor there when there's nothing there to anch?"