Roma . Giorno Tre

Wednesday morning we spent an hour or more at Campo di Fiori, one of Rome's oldest open aire markets. It's a lively mix of fresh produce and incredibly delish-looking pasta/sauces. There are also many tourist-oriented cheap souvenir stands with bobble-headed Popes and cheesy t-shirts.

Cheyenne was a quick favorite of the older local men, scoring free cherries, strawberries and melon bites along the way...

Believe it or not, this is actually a photo of Cheyenne saying, No I do not want to pose with these flowers or carry them home. ha ha ha...

Jim & Laura (our fantastic hosts, whom I still have yet to photograph) were so sweet and took Cheyenne for the whole afternoon so Stef and I could wander the city. We crossed the river over to Trastavere in search of "the best pizza place in Rome" (according to Katie Kelly).

We found Dar Poeta a bit off the main drag in this tiny back alley. I love how almost all Roman dining is al fresco. While the pizza was good and they had the most topping options of any place I've been yet, I have to honestly say I don't love true Italian pizza. It's super thin, you have to ask for them to use tomato sauce, and it always comes entirely uncut - leaving you to try and hack it with a steak knife. Um, hello... anyone heard of pizza cutter here?!

We walked off lunch, visiting the Piazza del Campidoglio ( I don't know how to pronounce it either! ), designed by Michelangelo.

I wonder if the old folks from Canada knew they were gonna have to wear matching bright orange vests before they paid for their tour. I would have demanded a refund.

Final stop before hitting up the gelato shop was Italy's version of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. This monument is massive, just look at those tiny guards at the bottom for reference.

Roma . Giorno Due

How can your day NOT be fabulous, when you wake up to this view?!

Well, except when you wake up with a gnarly migraine and can only manage to barely eat breakfast before going back to bed for three hours. Ugh. Fortunately the nap cured me and we ventured out for lunch in the Campo di Fiori. 

In addition to the seagulls, I'm entirely surprised by the commonality of graffiti that covers the doors and building facades. It's very sad to see how people's need to temporarily "make a name for themselves" outweighs their desire to cherish their city's rich history and gorgeous architecture.

The church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, where Galileo was found guilty of heresy for claiming the universe revolved around the Sun (instead of the Earth), thus spending the rest of his life under house arrest.

Rouge street art. The sign is typically just the circle with the white line, but some artist found it humorous to add the figure...

De Ritis - for all your clerical robe needs.

Our main stop for today, the Pantheon. Originally built in 27 BC by Marcus Agrippa as a temple "to many gods," as it's name indicates. But it was ultimately used as a Catholic church and is the resting place of Rome's first and second Kings, as well as the Renaissance artist Raphael. 

Can you see me?! (I'm the tiny one leaning against the right pillar)

The Pantheon's ceiling is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome and the oculus (opening in the top) is the only source of light within the building.

On our walk back from the Pantheon, we stopped by the Torre di Argentina. This is where the Theatre of Pompey had been, where Julius Caesar met his murderous end.

Roma

We arrived in Rome yesterday, mid-afternoon, to a light drizzle. The rain was our perfect excuse to spend the rest of the day relaxing and attempting to fight jetlag. This morning the sun greeted us bright and early, but we still made a lazy morning of it. The city is a bustling hectic place with it's tiny alleys and wicked fast scooters that WILL run you down. The combiniation of consistantly tall buildings and narrow, meandering cobblestone streets make navigation quite tricky. I was surprised to see so many seagulls, but with the Tiber river just a few blocks down I suppose they've migrated from the Sea. And, with a Catholic church on nearly every block, I'm loving the crisp sound of old bells clanging every hour. 

The apartment in Rome - Via Della Barchetta, No. 12

My amazing loft with private bath and a rooftop balcony view of St. Peters.

An early afternoon photo shoot with Miss Cheyenne!

 Post lunch gelato, Nutella flavor - delish!

The Treve Fountain

Tossing my coin...

Stef modeling the latest in apron fashion.

Campo di Fiori - very close to where we are staying.

Avery's Antics 2.1

Sitting in her highchair eating a snack. I leave the room for a couple minutes and come back to all the pretzels broken up on the floor. "Avery, why are your pretzels on the floor?" "I's just feeding the hippos." 

"Mommy, I fix your hey-ache with my magic wand..."

After doing business in the big potty, "The toilet paper says, hi pee pee, nice to meet you!"

We often talk to Avery about things she can't eat because she's allergic to dairy. Right before naptime she says, "I can't nap. I'm allergic."

These family silhouettes are hanging in the stairwell and Daddy's face came unglued. Avery's response? "Maybe he's tying his shoe"

Make new friends, but keep the old...

Last weekend, Avery and I visited Arizona for a few days; partially to see old friends and also to secure new renters for our home. Hard to believe we hadn't seen our AZ friends in two years, but just like all good friends, it was as if no time had passed at all...

Mr. Tim was an immediate hit with Avery with his Mr. Potato Head collection! (Can you guess which one she made?!)

I learned that Avery is NOT a fan of drive-thru carwashes.

Mr. Tim also had a huge selection of storybooks and Avery loved reading with him (and Abbey) each night.

Catching up with some Hart gals over breakfast!

We even got to see Aspen!!! She looks so good and is clearly happy with her new family.

Brandee, Bella, Lindsay, Kenny, Easton, Joan and Tim all joined us for a great Sunday picnic!

 I consider myself incredibly blessed to have friends that, despite distance and time, are still as awesome as the day we left!

Easter

Easter this year was low key, but lovely. To avoid the crowds, we went to the Saturday night service at church. Sunday morning Matt had to leave early to drive to Nevada for a month of training, but was home long enough to see Avery score some sweet new sand toys from the bunny.

Avery and I then joined our San Diego fam, the Pettits and Baranowski's, for brunch. These two did a great job with the backyard egg hunt!

Check out this decadent dessert "tasting tower" the bunny hostess whipped up!

Unfortunately, the weather was overcast and chilly. But no Pettit holiday would be complete without some serious rocket launching at the park. Avery's new buddy, Jack got to join in the fun too... (No, we did not get a dog! Jack is a Pettit.)

All the flowers around the Pettit's place were so gorgeous! Love this shot of the lilies, minus my big ole feet at the bottom!

Business Blog

Hi friends and fam,

Just wanted you to know that I've created a new blog just for Custom Climbers! If you wish, you can now keep up with my little business adventures here...

www.customclimbers.blogspot.com

Or you can find a blogger button directly on the Custom Climbers website that will take you there!

H.

Lately...

'Cakepops' at the farmer's market...

Hello Kitty bandaids and kisses for headaches...

An update on Aspen! Healthy and enjoying her new shitzu friendship...

A 2 year old who's learning to use the trackpad, yikes!

Popsicle stick families ...  (eating all those ice cream bars a real sacrifice on my part)

Daddy home from 3 weeks of traveling (and Avery insisting he cut short his much needed nap to play popsicles!)

Avery's Antics

Our budding conversationalist has had Matt and I in stitches lately. Just for posterity, I think I'll occasionally record her random funny comments here...

Cuddling up next to me on the couch she exclaims "Mommy's got a big booty!" Much to the delight and encouraged repetition of my husband. 


After looking all through the house for her daddy - "Daddy's not takin' a deuce... he's in the shower."

Standing in line at the zoo, the teenager behind us has a gnarly black lip ring. (Very loud) "Mommy, what's on her face? Look Mommy, what IS it?!"

Apparently every illustrated man with a beard is Jesus, including the captain depicted on her box of fishsticks. "That's Jesus!"