Mac Day

Although Mac is our pet guinea pig, he is considered by the kids as the sixth member of our family.  Okay, so in all honesty he IS the cutest little guy with a lot of personality and much intelligence.  How can he not win anyone's heart?!  April 28th was the celebration of Mac's adoption to our family.  It has been one year and I am grateful to say that the excitement and novelty of having a pet has not worn off in the slightest.  We all will really miss him this summer.  That is if we can find a summer Mackie-sitter so we don't have to pay 2/3rds of an adult ticket price just to stow him under the seat.  So ridiculous!  I degress.  Mac did indeed get a cake and birthday song and the kids were tickled about the celebrations.

The kids really wanted you to see a video of Mac.  They are not the most skilled videographers yet but this snippet was the the least nauseating segment I could post.

Easter Vacation

This year the kids had a total of six days for Easter vacation.  We stayed close to home although we would have liked to get away for a day trip it just didn't happen.  The weather was kind of touch and go with rain and much cooler temperatures.  Being home is a good thing too and we had lots of crafting time leading up to Easter.  Emma created Easter baskets for her and the boys and was constantly asking what else she could make.

Eggs made with wrapping stratched string around water balloons

Emma's Easter basket creations

Sock bunny

T-shirt scarf (Better than trashing a too big tee)

Learning how to iron and loving it

We enjoyed Easter with our colleagues, Catherine and Melissa.  It was a relaxing day as all the food prep was succesfully accomplished on Saturday.  

He is Risen!

Easter Eggs

Sundried Tomato and Basil Deviled Eggs -- ooh, so yummy

Our new teammate, Melissa

The Monday after Easter "Pasquetta" is a holiday here as well.  It is a day for picnicing in the mountains or grilling with friends and family.  We were invited over to the Farina's for a cookout and so we spent the afternoon there with them.  It was a pleasant day with friends and good food and we are glad we took them up on their invite.

Tuesday was the kick off for our first home group meeting and meal for "Percorsi".  No matter how simple I try to make things, it always turns out to be an all day preparation for me.  So Tuesday was a busy day.  Once I get in a rhythm of preparing a meal for 6-8 additional people each week, hopefully I will get faster and hit my stride.  The study went well and we were pleased with our time of interaction and reflection on the material.  Granted I was in and out trying to manage 6 kids in the other room.  Thankfully, last night was an exception to having 3 kids come so hopefully next time I will be involved in full partcipation and discussion.  We survived though (and our house survived their energy too).

First thing this morning I headed out to house hunt with Melissa.  She is placing a proposal on an apartment tomorrow and hopefully will receive a positive response by next week.  Six weeks until we hit that June 1st move date, and it would great to not have to postpone that move.

Lots on our plates and things seem to be compounding as we move closer and closer to that June 9th departure date.  I think I can, I think I can...I know I can, I know I can...by God's grace and strength!

Luca's 6th Birthday

Luca turned six years old last week on March 29th!  Seriously?!  I think I am still in shock that my "baby" is such a big boy.  He is definitely still Mamma's boy--no doubt about that.  For all the 100% boy in him, there is this tenderness especially for his Mamma.  He loves to cuddle, picking me flowers, being a little helper, giving me kisses and just in general likes to hang out with Mamma.  I'll take as much as I can get for as long as it lasts!

Luca had a daily countdown to his birthday since March 1st.  And he made sure everyone knew.  He is super good with numbers loves math!  He even at one point was counting down the days until I would start to make his cake.

 T-1: Helping with the cake instead of rest time was A-OK by Luca

I was expecting one out of control boy for his birthday, but actually he was rather pensive and quieter than I expected.  Don't get me wrong, he loved his day...it was just greeted with a bit of timidity with all the attention.  He wanted to eat his cake first thing when he woke up because he was sure that he could not be six until then.  Funny boy, but he was serious in thinking that was the magical moment of age change. 

 I'm SIX!

Luca celebrated with his friends at school along with another classmate who shares the same birthday.  He actually ate the cake we bought this year, so yeah for trying something new.  For lunch we took him out to eat at Old Wild West and then to a movie.  Then it was home for presents, cake and birthday dinner.

A special gift from Uganda - thank you Papa!

Star Wars was the theme and #1 request for this young Jedi

Need help with Star Wars trivia, just ask our boys

Star Wars Venator Attack Cruiser

Not many options to choose from Luca's approval list for a birthday dinner, but pancakes and strawberries it was.