I just got a message from a seller at Etsy that I won anything I want out of her shop for simply doing her poll.
It was hard to pick an item but I thought that this item would be most practical for me...
Sparrows in Green Basket Tote Bag
I of course, could not pass up getting a new bag and this would be so cute for casual days. Ok so my everyday is casual but heck, It's so cute and springy-feeling.She also makes cute little girls dresses and shirts and the sweetest slippers. Check out her shop here.
We have friends who live in Sarnico (near Bergamo) that we haven't seen since before we moved to Canada. Giovanni finally had a Saturday off that worked out (well sort of) with them so we could get in a bit of a visit.
It was a perfect day! We got in the car early in the morning and headed out of this gloomy, grey, overcast day to spend the day at the lake. When we got there the sun was out, it was warm (ok except for the ever so slight breeze off the lake). We met Marino and took a little walk along the lake so Isabella could feed the swans... we remembered to pack old bread this time. She loved it!
Isabella and I played in the leaves for a bit.... Giovanni was worried about us stepping in the "poopies" from dogs.... people should just learn to pick up after their dogs so little kids (and moms) can enjoy playing in the leaves... I said who cares and we went on about playing...
This little walkway went out over the water... really this town is so nice... I told G we should move there... we'd be closer to his sister as well plus we'd maybe get a bit nicer weather other than the permanent grey we get all fall and winter.
We stopped for lunch with Marino. Elena (Marino's wife) joined us as well as their son.
Then Marino showed us the playground nearby so Isabella could have some fun... 
even Sofia enjoyed her first swing ride. Yes, her first. There aren't any playgrounds near our house with swings (don't even get me started on the playgrounds in our town!) Needless to say, Sofia LOVED the swings. Can you tell by the 2 tooth grin from ear to ear?
This playground was so nice... first off it was fenced... not like the big playground in our town which has tall grass and is not fenced... did I mention ours is right on the state highway running through our town? Yep, we've never visited THAT playground. Anyways, this playground had all rubber on the ground and well kept playgound equipment (unlike the "new" playground near our house which is only 2 years old and the merry go round is already broken and my 2 yr old can't even go on it... but I digress). It has 3 little areas - 2-4 years and 5-10 I believe and 11 and up.... very nice playgound, heck I'd move just for that! Also there's a cute little gazebo shaped coffee house right inside the playground. Perfect for cool days like that Saturday. We went in to warm up and for a hot chocolate.
We had just a tiny bit of bread left.... so we had to feed ALL of the birds and swans again. Another man with his daughter came and let Isabella throw in some of their bread too.
There's a giveaway going on 
I pass this yard all the time when we go shopping for groceries... but the other day it was particularly more beautiful than most days...
They are super cute measuring cups! I found them on La Alicia's blog (she popped on by and left a note.) She found them on 
Isabella helping me mix the ingredients.
Yummy bananas and castagna (Italian chestnuts)
This is what the chestnuts look like when you buy them... you need to roast them or you won't be able to get the shells off.
The mixture of all the ingredients minus the nuts.
And this is what the chestnuts look like after roasting... you need to cut them open just a tad or you'll be having chestnut fireworks in your kitchen. Just use a sharp knife to make a little slit in the shell on one side. We also have a special pan designed for roasting nuts. Oh yeah, remember to open the windows and turn on your fan so you don't smoke out the house. If you have a BBQ - even better!
And this is what we do while we are waiting...
And waiting... and waiting for the bread to finish baking....
And voila! Doesn't it look scrumptious? This stuff doesn't last long in our house! 2-3 days tops!!!
What do you have to do?
Giovanni and Isabella checking out the "fishies" in the canal in the center of town. They were both down on their knees looking at the little crabs all climbing on the canal walls and watching the little fish swim by. They even tried to feed the fish Ritz crackers... but the fish just swam away... apparently they don't know the yum factor of Ritz crackers like my kids do.
Sofia had to get in the shot as well... sorry hunny, you're too small to get on your knees to check out the fishies, maybe next year. She is pretty cute rockin' out in the stroller though.
So when Sofia and I were walking along the pier to get over to where Giovanni and Isabella were playing on the beach we had to walk past these little fishing houses. See the brown one there? They were enjoying the sea's bounties for lunch... they kept dropping the net and pulling it up. I saw them feasting out on the deck with full platters and yummy bottles of vino! Now if it was Thanksgiving here, that would be an awesome Italian way to do it!
Isabella and Giovanni hard at work building the Fortress of Champions. Giovanni would build and Isabella would destroy whilst trying to help.... I guess you could say we had our own mini war attack on our own Castello. Giovanni evenually had to give up the fight and retreat.... for a nap that is. Momma was in charge of helping from here on in.... and thus the result was this:
Isn't it pretty? Now that's a castle fit for a Queen and her 2 Princesses. Isabella did 90% of the decorating. She even got soaked finding shells in the water. We originally tried to keep her dry but the sea was calling and when that happens to my little Pisces there's no fighting it. Heck she didn't care, until it was time to change and head back to the bus that is.
This was our lunch as there was no room for the stroller at the restaurant where we were supposed to eat with the group. Instead I went and got some french fries at the restaurant on the beach and we finished that off with some bananas and persimmon we bought earlier. Sofia thoroughly enjoyed the persimmon... we heard many a "numm numm"s coming from her little mouth. Of course this picture I had to post despite it not including Sofia.... I was trying to take a picture with me in it for a change and look at the lovely turkey face my husband makes... haha... thought you were funny hey?
And finally, after all my bellyaching (as my husband would say), I finally got in a family shot. I'm usually on the other end of the camera so it's nice to finally be in at least one photo for the girls scrapbooks. Aren't we just so beachy cute? I'm rockin' out my brand-spankin'-new pagmina I bought for 5 euros.... not a bad deal... it's pretty blue and soft... perfect for beach photos.
Are they not just the cutest you've seen? And they are great toys to pack up in your purse cuz they really aren't that bulky or heavy. They are so bright and fun as well!
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