Elbows Out

Today we went to Explora where there were a number of school field trips in session. I was surprised to observe Julia hold her own and not give up one inch of her territory.  She carried around that step stool and elbowed her way into any place she wanted to be.

Give this girl a piece of scratch paper and you will get it back with a face sporting lopsided hair and really big ears.

My Little Artist

A Jaunt About the Neighborhood

Contrite? Hardly.

Julia's ghastly behavior at the supermarket this morning has ensured we will spend the next two weeks hungry.   Although we were not "officially" banned from the store, this mamma can only return with a paper bag over her head.  Julia's list of misdeeds began the moment we closed the apartment door behind us and reached heights I never imagined possible.

While she appears to be enjoying a lighthearted game of peek-a-boo (while refusing to enter the apartment building) she is simply working off the sugar high that came after cashiers and several customers showered her with candies and lollipops in an attempt to redirect her abhorrent behavior.

Ahhh, yes. I knew something was missing.  A good lick to the filthy building door is the perfect way to cap off our lovely experience.

Explora with Antonio

We spent the evening at the museum with our dear friend Antonio.  The event was preceded by an entire day of Julia running to the door with her boots and coat, screaming "Onio!" She could barely contain her excitement, but when we finally arrived we saw very little of our friend as she was only interested in systematically weighing every piece of produce in the supermarket.

Martedì Grasso

 ...Or Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, whatever you call it - yesterday was the last day of Carnevale.  No more strapping on the butterfly wings to grab some milk at the store.  No more tossing confetti from the stroller as we run errands.  We threw on the cat costume for one last hurrah and closed it out in style.

Sunny Day

Just because the sun finally made an appearance after weeks of clouds, does NOT mean we leave the house without hat, scarf and gloves.

 When I saw sweat beads form on her upper lip, I knew I had done a good job.  When I finally relented and peeled off her woolen cap, I found soaking wet hair.  That...my dear sister Lara...is how it is done.

Julia Cat

When Julia began assigning us animal names and and started referring to herself as "Julia Cat", I was left with no choice but to oblige when Carnevale rolled around.  Gio Owl, Daniele Lion, Papà Eagle are just some examples.  Her mother is touched and flattered to have been given the crowning title of "Mamma Bunny", as her devotion to bunnies is unwavering.  We had our Carnevale party at Ladybirds today and we all converged onto the Piazza to throw confetti and make merry.

Back at the Museum

Carnevale Part II

I never gave it much thought before having a kid, but Carnevale kicks Halloween's teeth in.  For more than two weeks it is acceptable, nay - encouraged to walk the street in costume.  No more hassle in choosing only one costume to wear for one night. You can wear as many as you can pack into two weeks. Basically Luke's dream.  

Huge bags of confetti are sold on every street corner and it is acceptable, nay - encouraged to fling it about at everyone and everything.  Julia can't actually say "coriandoli" as confetti is called, but she has taken to making a theatrical tossing motion each time we leave the house.  She thinks this is the way things are now.  Going grocery shopping?  Where's the confetti?  

Here she is in last year's Belle costume that her wonderful Zia Eva gave her.  This year Zia Eva added the luxurious fur coat lest she catch a chill.

Last year's carnevale:

Carnevale

We met our good friends Emma and Valerio at the park to celebrate Carnevale and toss confetti, as is tradition.  If you are questioning the validity of Woodland Fairies in woolen scarves and down coats, you are clearly not familiar with the Polar Woodland Nymph variety.

At a certain point Julia pointed at Emma and said, "mamma, friend!"

In the first 3 minutes of our bus ride home, just before the glassy-eyed crash.