It is only appropriate that these pictures (intended to show the gray, wet weather) were taken out the window of our house, because they are a perfectly clear representation of where I have spent the majority of my week. Since I didn't have Italian class this week, and the weather has been cold and rainy every single day, I have to admit that I have spent most of my time this week in my cozy little room. I finished South of Broad by Pat Conroy, started Eat, Pray, Love (and already finished the Eat part, set in Rome- which I loved, was able to relate to, and laughed out loud at so many times), watched movies (Purple Violets, My Best Friend's Wedding, Good Will Hunting, and Roman Holiday), caught up on emails, etc...I told you- LAZY week. I went out on Tuesday night with my Australian friend Rebecca, and met a lot of friends that she has made so far- lots of Americans, which was actually a first for me since I've been here. We met up with Taylor Whitmire, who was celebrating his last night in Rome before returning to Atlanta. We had a great time, and it ended up being a much later night than expected! Other than having lunch with my friend Kristy from school one afternoon, that has really been it for my social activity this week. Last sunday, I had the day free and went shopping with a few girls from class and went to a great dinner with Kristy at the mozzarella bar, Obika, that Meredith and I went to my first weekend here. We both couldn't help but feel like we were on "holiday" (as everyone says over here) as we sat outside in the square of Campo dei Fiori on a cool fall night, under the heaters, drinking our red wine, eating fresh mozzarella and tiramisu for dessert, while we listened to the music of a classic Italian sidewalk band. I want to go back just thinking about it! I have really enjoyed getting to know Kristy- she is a great person, we get along really well, and have really enjoyed our time together.
The kids got to dress up for school today for Book Week. Liv went as a ladybug and Jasper was a sailor. Not the sailor you're thinking of dressed in white...but the sailing gear he has for his sailing camp. He is SO into sailing and it is so adorable how passionate he is about it. Liv was the most adorable ladybug I have ever seen. Shana spent all afternoon, evening, and night making Liv's ladybug costume and a sail for Jasper to carry. I was so impressed with her; she called me into the living room to ask my opinion on whether or not to "double up the fabric" for the sail, and right after she said it, burst out laughing at herself for going to such lengths just for dress up day of Book Week! I told her my mom would've done the same, remembering this fabric that I just adored in middle-school (my passion for design started at a young age!), that my mom got and sewed into all new bedding for the twin beds in my room, so I woke up Christmas morning to my newly decorated room! We both agreed that it's something you just can't understand until you're a mom!
Here are a few pictures of them, mainly Liv. This morning, the glue around the shoulder straps of her costume came loose just as she was putting it on; so, when we got to school, I had to SEW (using a needle and thread for the first time in my life...which I didn't mention to Shana when she asked the favor of me) the straps back onto the costume! I'm curious to see what it looks like when I go pick her up in an hour...
Shana and Tommaso left for Israel this morning. They are there until Monday with some friends, so I am "mom" again. Luckily, things went so smoothly last time, and we have a busy weekend planned, so I'm not sweating it too much. I have some time off this afternoon while the kids are with their grandparents, so I am going to walk to the center and look at a few Pilates studios. With the bad weather and my lack of motivation, I have not been exercising much lately- thank goodness for so much walking in a big city. Lazy week has got to end!
I almost forgot to mention the most exciting part of my week! I booked a flight to Brussels in two weeks for a weekend trip with Meredith, Burney, and Burney's friend from home, Molly, who is an au pair in Switzerland. I am looking so forward to it, and have already spent a lot of time researching things to do in the city (if anyone has any recommendations for us, please comment!). I missed the last weekend they all got together because I was in Paris, so I'm really looking forward to catching up with everyone...in BRUSSELS!
