2 months already...

ludovica just beat me in checkers.

circeo rooftop

oh just a little bored one afternoon

tonia. wonderwoman.

ludo waiting for the pool to open

andrea took this one of his dad cleaning the closet

everyone drinks coffee during english lessons

matteo and andrea trying to sell /trade toys with neighbors in the residence.

they're already businessmen!

matteo reminding everyone to not touch the merchandise

luca's 50th

gelato, cannoli, chocolate...

and then ludovica poured everyone a glass of beer for the birthday toast!

boys getting ready for lessons

tif washing dishes in roma

near piazza farnese, roma

em and tif -- saint mary's humanistic studies grads

hotel punta rossa in circeo

things could be worse.

Midsummer Update

tif and dario's kitchen window in rome

tonia always "saves" her morning coffee for the afternoon

swimsuits drying in the tub

mine's the one with the basket

laundry on the roof top terrace in circeo

dad sent a package full of books, magazines, and fruit roll-ups for the kids

matteo and tonia at lunch

walking home from the pool

andrea in the morning. he likes hot tea and cookies. always.

front porch

my reading spot

andrea and ludovica at the pool

pushing ludo in the water

sometimes we practice "swim team dives"

then ludovica took the camera and got one of me...

and then one of herself... ay yi yi she's already an italian model...

taco night on via roccaraso. it was a big hit. andrea is helping himself to some chicken... tonia (our ukranian maid) is questioning my cooking skills...

andrea and his book!

matteo's rainforest poster is in there somewhere

ludo/my desk.

some of the fam enjoying TACOS.

matteo and ludo got out of their classes to join us for andy's author celebration

andrea took a picture of me drinking espresso. this pretty much sums up my day.

more solo aka uno

andrea chatting on my cell phone

andrea's school play. i was the only non-parent there.

the whole fam reading andy's story about the scarlet macaw from the rainforest. genius.

Elisabetta's beautiful kitchen. this was the first thing i saw when i came to the house... greeted by oranges hanging from the ceiling. i knew i was in the right place.

living room

laundry on the terrace. always.

marymount international school. these kids have it pretty good.

just watching the history channel before bed. no subtitles!

"mary grace, can we make a pizza?"

matteo. the fierce goalkeeper.

soccer on nonno's terrace

look at these two play around! i practically started crying.

picking up magnolia leaves for nonno

anguilara hillside

lago di bracciano

i loved his fireplace

nonno's villa in anguilara

grandpa augusto's view

ther's something about italian doors. they're incredible.

some lunch.

there was a triathalon right bellow us!

nonno's view of lago di bracciano

kids with bunny lola on the terrace

ludovica... taken herself.

oh andy... you silly goose. ("mary grace! what's a goose?!")

the view from nonno's villa

sometimes you just gotta dance.

it doesn't take much to make this kid happy.

andrea... taken by himself.

andrea took one of me shuffling. he calls it "the thing that clowns do at the fair"

this kid loves his pajamas.

american/austrian/english party

dinner with a few other au pairs

so italy.

luca's office, check out the surfboard from california

andrea beating me at solo aka italian UNO

this guy gets paid to put on birthday parties for kids... i know.

ludovica ready for some birthday cake

action shot of matteo playing soccer... er... football

matteo in between two friends from school

ann's adorable kitchen

mmm. italian coffee.