Blog Makeover!!!

Buon giorno, tutti! As you may have noticed, there are a few new features on our blog, including the Blogarithm tool which you can use to be notified via email when our blog is updated, my favorites list through Amazon, and a list of post labels so you can view all posts related to a certain label, e.g. holidays, Ella, friends, etc. I am currently working on adding a slideshow of our pictures that will run continuously. More to come!

Unfortunately I will not have as much time to idle away on the computer everyday since I will start working as a teacher's aide in a Sure Start classroom this coming Monday through the end of the school year. Ella will be watched by our Italian neighbor and friend, Pina, so I know she'll be in good hands while I am gone. This was a tough decision to make, since I have been out of the work force for nearly two years while staying home to raise Ella, but it feels like it's time to get back out there.

We hope you enjoy the new look of the blog. Please continue to check in with us!

Arrivederci!
Aja

Easter Egg Hunt 2008

Don't stop hunting, Ella! You can eat the treats later!

Don't mess with Ella's eggs, or you'll feel the wrath of the Hulk Fists! I've heard of "Stage Moms", but "Easter Egg Hunt Dads"? C'mon Phil, just let the kids have a good time!

Hmmm, is there an egg in that watering can, Ella?

The hunt continues in the McKown's yard.

Buona Pasqua!

Okay, so I guess getting to eat this chocolate bunny was worth having the "scary" Easter Bunny creep into our house last night to leave my basket.

Hmmm, is the Easter Bunny trying to turn health conscious, or is this just a plastic carrot filled with candy? Further investigation may be required!

All dressed up with someplace to go! We're having an Easter lunch with some new friends today.

Here are some delectible treats from our neighbor, Pina. She made the smaller cookies using homemade almond paste, which Pippo (her husband) opened every almond for by hand from their trees, as well as lemons from their yard. The larger cookies are a traditional Easter egg cookie, which I think are a Sicilian tradition. Ella ate a bit of hers this morning while she rifled through her basket, and we passed the other cookie onto Jack.

Some additions to Ella's list of things she loves...

Ella took this picture, no lie!

I don't know how these two were missed last time, because they are so obvious! Mama, or Mommy as I have now become, and Daddy.

Her John Deere tractor and RED firehat, because the yellow one is completely pointless (her opinion, not mine) and only good enough to be offered to Jack, even though he wants the RED one too!

Don't be messin' with a girl's John Deere!

Her awesome shades, both practical for eye protection and stylish for fashion's sake. This is Italy, after all!

In like a lion, out like a lamb...

Hates the bunny, LOVES the bunny arts and crafts!

...that's MARZO!! Crazy, rainy weather one day and blue skies with sunshine for miles on the rest! Spring has sprung here in Sicilia, so yesterday we headed down the ol' bunny trail to sneak a peek at our favorite Easter candyman, the Easter Bunny. Now, the Easter Bunny is right up there with Santa Claus as far as Ella is concerned, meaning that she hates them both equally and would like NOTHING to do with them, thank you very much! So, here is a picture of Jack and his mom Carrie with the Easter bunny and a bit of Mt. Etna in the background because my kid wouldn't go for this photo op!