Halloween

Today we went to the Museum of Natural History for a huge Halloween event. There was live entertainment, trick-or-treating stations where the kids could get candy and lots of characters roaming the museum. Luca had a blast! So many great animal and marine wildlife exhibits that he loved. He was so comfortable in his costume and we were surprised that he didnt try to rip off the hood. Dadda showed up after work and Luca gave him a tour of the dinosaur wing. Gioel managed to teach him some new Italian vocab words re:dinosaurs, dolphins and other animals. The whole event was lots of fun and LOTS of people. Exciting, yet very overwhelming (for me) pushing thru crowds and observing the many costumes - some adorable kids, some mothers dressed WAY too inappropriately (think stripper nurses and goth witches). Speaking of adorable - check out our buddy "the other Luca" who was a precious lion!

Photobucket Album

Halloween Trial Run

Today we did a test drive with our Halloween costume to ensure smooth sailing tomorrow before our planned events. Luca, fortunately, LOVES wearing the costume. We were suprised the hood didn't bother him. Maybe he was too distracted by the mittens?
(There is a video posted after the picture so scroll down and click on the black box if the image doesn't show)

Pizza Pizza

We took a trip over to Brooklyn to visit the aquarium and then visited the legendary pizzeria Di Fara. The institution has been there for over 40 years and one man does it all. His son works there too, but isnt allowed to touch the pizza. Interesting. Guess they dont believe in nepotism.

The pizza is thin crust with three types of fresh cheese: parmigiano, buffalo mozzarella and cows milk mozzarella. Also topped with fresh basil and drizzled with olive oil. He makes it at a glacial pace while a crowd of hungry spectators watch silently, entranced. The wait is always at least one, sometimes two or three hours!


As soon as we walked into the pizzeria, Luca sensed something special and started chanting "Pizza! Pizza!" He was so patient and waited with us for over an hour before we got our pie and he enjoyed every bite as much as we did!

"Pierce? Where are you?!!!"

Luca and Pierce playing before bath time
(Click on link to blog site to view video, it doesnt show up in email message)

Twins?

Today we watched Pierce for a few hours while his mommy went to a preschool tour. The boys played with all of Luca's toys, got pushed thru town in a loaned double stroller and then attended music class. As a mother, I have never felt so loved as I had TWO boys constantly hugging me, hugging each other, holding hands and having fun. (Ok, my Luca did resort to a little innocent hair pulling and light slapping then said "not nice!" about his own behavior - but must have been gentle aggression since Pierce just smiled and seemed to understand it was out of love...)

Final Days in Italy

Well, we are finally home in New York after a fantastic month enjoying everything Italian. Here are a few pictures from our final days. Click any picture to see it larger, full size in a separate window.

Riding the merry-go-round with Nonno


Roasting castagne at Nonno's friend's house. We just collected some of these fresh from the property!


Playing in the meadow


Standing with Nonna in a poplar grove




A day trip to Omegna for the chocolate festival


Di solito Luca e' in spalla!


Check out the lintel behind us - a little sketchy?


Bathtime in Gignese


Happy on airplane. Awake and VERY energetic for 8 out of 9 hours, but at least happy!

Il Menu

This past month in Italy has been a constant feast thanks to Nonno, il massimo esperto chef. Here is a list of the various dishes we sampled throughout our stay and a few images so we can look back and cry when we are eating take out and leftovers here in America.

Is he thinking: Do all babies get fed this good stuff?


scorpion fish


mussels
sardegnian pork chop
sardegnian roast

ragu al sardo


bruschetta


sauteed sole
ragu normale

pollo di bresse


bresaola
jamon iberico
salsiccie
tripe
filet of branzino

risotto con funghi (porcini mushrooms)


nice Piemontese bistecca
cosce di quaglie (little quail legs)
minestrone
pipa (my favorite simple "filini" noodle pasta cooked in broth)
rana - zucca e carciofi - con burro e salvia (ravioli with pumpkin or artichoke cooked in butter and sage)
spaghetti alla matricciana (with pancetta and tomatoes)
lamb roast
roasted castangne (chestnuts)
noccino (like lemoncello, but made from walnuts)
limoncello (homemade by Nonno)
strudel di rosa (apple strudel made by cousin rosa)
porchetta (young pig)
pesce persico (perch filets)

tons of fresh fruits and veggies!

Il nostro bambino parla molto!

Well, 3 weeks in Italy with a very chatty 15 month old is amazing. Luca is a total sponge and he has learned so much here in a short time and we still have almost a week left! Below is our latest list which is probably 80% Italian. I have taken the time to translate many of them. He still knows to speak mostly English to me and Italian to others. For example - if I tell him Nonna has his water, he will turn to her and say "acqua!". But some things he knows in only one language or the other, so its only "cetriolo!" when he eats cucumber and his lovey is only "puppy!" no matter who he is with. He has been the same voracious eater here as he is at home - who wouldnt be? Today we went to an ancient restaurant out in the farmland outside Milan for a traditional meal, where we discovered that Luca likes rabbit and loves pasta puttanesca, particularly the capers.

boo boo (he is still fascinated with the little blister he has left on his hand from 3 weeks ago)
mano (hand)
naso (nose)
dente (teeth)
gamba (leg - says this when trying to swing his leg over a little bike)
spalla (shoulder, says when riding nonno's shoulders)

occhio (eye)
batti batti (clap clap your hands)
canta (sing)
balla (dance)
pronto (hello when mock answering phone)
giu (down, get me out of highchair! put me down! getting in elevator)
su (up)
andiamo (let's go!)
buono (good)

zio (at pictures of Jason)
zia (at pictures of Micol)
Allison (at pictures of Aunt Allisunshine)
"bizzy bizzy" for the bisnonna

(aunt) ceci
(uncle) eric

gatto (cat)
pianta (plant)
barca (boat)

tende (drapes)
luce (light)
"logio" (orologio - watch, was this on last list?)
sasso/sassi (rock or rocks, knows difference b/w sing. and plural)
scarpa (shoe)
chiave (key)
crema (cream)

datteri (dates)
limone (lemon)
uva (grape)
latte
acqua
schiuma (milk foam on top of cappuccino)
pane (bread)
pasta
forchetta (fork, duh)
knife (ok, thats english)
cucchiaio (spoon)
biscotto (cookie)
uovo (egg)
zuppa (soup)
pollo (chicken)
gelato (if you dont know what this is, i feel bad for you)
cetriolo (cucumber)

ADDITIONAL NEW ENGLISH
oh boy! oh boy oh boy! (exclaims when gets something yummy put in front of him, too cute!)
not nice
weeeeeeee

ride! ....when being pushed around on cart or sitting on something like this canon in Santa Margherita

yummy
bath
shampoo
hot
juice
corn
ketchup
hanger
wallet
piggy
"alla" (alligator)
soap
scissors (how does he know this, we dont know!???)
bird
stars
moon

night, night!

Barcelona

Luca enjoyed a few days with Nonno and Nonna playing in Milan while Gioel and I went to Spain for a little get-a-away. We had this planned for at least a year, all based upon our El Bulli reservation, thanks to our friend Brad. The meal was definitely memorable. We were joined by Brad's friends Ruben, Adrian and Christina.

http://www.pbase.com/gmolinari/elbulli

http://www.pbase.com/gmolinari/barcelona