Fall is Here!

Here are some of the most recent photos of Ellie and Sophia. We had a great time on Saturday taking photos in the garden of an Italian farmer here in the Naples area. It is so nice to have the change in seasons already, its cooler, the sky is clear, we are getting some rain, its gorgeous!

Ellie is getting very excited about Halloween this year. She has chosen an Alice in Wonderland costume. This is the first year I will not be making her costume...I am too busy right now! Next year I will make costumes for sure. Sophia is going to be the cute ladybug costume I made. It should be fun.

Ellie is also talking about her birthday all the time. Luckily its getting closer! We are going to have a jungle themed party with her best friend Hayden. I have already designed the invites and am working on decorations.
It should be a wonderful fall.

Back to School!

Ellie started back at school this week at Children's Garden of Learning. She is going three days a week, she is so big! This year she is in Ms. Jolene's class, which is very exciting! Ms. Jolene is a friend of mine, and she is a wonderful teacher, friend and person. Ellie is already coming home with a spring in her step! I can't believe how big she is, and how much fun and happiness she brings to our family. I feel very blessed to be her mom!

Sophia is doing well also. She is saying lots of new words and she is always a big hit at my volunteer meetings. She has a very charasmatic personality and I love all of her silly faces! She is my girl who loves to cuddle, so that makes me very happy too. Chris and I both feel so grateful to have two amazing girls!

Summer Days...

I love summer. Actually, I love all the seasons...but here is what I love about summer in Italy...for one, spending time with my girls reminds me so much of my own childhood. I remember spending hours outside...playing, swimming, dreaming, biking, climbing...whatever.

So, to watch my two girls exploring the world around them brings me so much happiness. I really don't feel my age most days, and I am glad I can still remember summers as a child.

Here in Italy we have a very small yard...when I say small, I mean postage stamp sized yard. We make the most of it, but we really miss backyards and such in the states. The past few days since the pools have closed due to school starting up again, we have been spending a lot of time in our wading pool out in the yard. The girls love it, and of course we always have a popsicle outside afterwards, and its so cute watching Sophia try and eat a popsicle. She loves the pool and often brings me her swimsuit during the day and says 'pool, pool.' She is getting new words all the time.

Ellie loves to be outside as much as she can, and both the girls love to help me water the plants. Its nice since we dont pay for water, I dont worry about how much water goes on the lawn or on the trees...very different mindset than living in the desert in California. They love to spray eachother and by the time we are done 'watering' the plants everyone is usually soaked. Its great. :)

The girls are so fun together... they giggle and play all the time. I am so glad that they have eachother.

We have a blog!

Okay, after 7 years of marriage, Chris and I finally have a blog! We are excited to be able to keep in touch with family and friends, and share our experiences. Right now our little family is in Naples, Italy where Chris is working for CNE-C6F. It has been a wonderful experience so far with both benefits and challenges. No matter what, we know this has been an opportunity we couldn't pass up. We love serving in our branch, and Chris is speaking the language so well. (That Spanish background really helps). Our two little girls, Ellie and Sophia are a joy to us. We love being parents, and they teach us so much. It is so much fun being able to experience Europe together.

Recently we had visits from my Mother, Shirley Enns, my Aunt Linda Clevery, and my Uncle, John Smurthwaite. It was wonderful! The last few days my mom and aunt were here we took a trip up north to Tuscany; to the towns Siena and San Gimingnano. We also visited Pisa while we were there.

The views in San Gimingnano were amazing. It was incredible to walk that medieval town and see the green countryside. It was also fun to eat some Tuscan cuisine and shop in the fabulous ceramics shops. We enjoyed the Campo, a famous piazza where horse races take place every year. Its a great place to sit, have a meal and people watch. Its quite the gathering place.

San Gimingano is an Etruscan hill top town, established in the 3rd century B.C., in north central Italy, in the Tuscany region. One of the most noticable features of the town are its 14 towers, which are visible miles from the town.