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!

A Visit from Grandpa Tim!!

Supercalifragilisticexpyalidocious! My Grandpa Tim is here in Sicilia with us for two whole weeks! We've been taking him to all of our favorite Sicilian hotspots, but I know his favorite thing so far has been watching Mary Poppins with me at least two times a day!! It's my latest obsession.

Picture Perfect View from the Greek Theatre in Taormina taken by Grandpa

"Oh, how you flatter me, Grandpa! I know I AM your favorite grandchild and all, but come on!"

To view more pics taken by Grandpa Tim on his Sicilian adventures, check out our Dropshots page at www.dropshots.com/ajaandre . Ciao!

The Loves in Ella's Life...Happy Valentine's Day!

JUMPING!! Up, up into the air! Mama's pretty good at tossing her into the air, but Daddy can throw much higher and do fancy tricks like 180(s) and 360(s).

Darn that crappy camera! Can't seem to get her hold body in one shot!

Again! Again!

WATER!!! Sometimes for hand or dish washing, but mostly just for the pure joy of feeling it slip through her fingers and drenching her clothes!

RUNNING!! In lieu of her regularly scheduled Tiny Tots gym class on Thursday, the base gym hosted a Cupid's Run for the little ones. They were each given a number, ran around the indoor track a few times, then refueled with little cups of water and stretches.

Cousin Isaiah...he's one year old and growing!

Sooooooo big! This must be how they get him to stretch out!:)

Cute as a Button!

Isaiah and his mama, Mo

La famiglia ANDRE

Phil, Ella, and Aja

Ella, self proclaimed and stained "Warrior Princess"

(Don't fret, it's only washable marker!)

Ella, aka "Chatty Cathy"
(Seriously, that girl is always on the phone!)

Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!

Christmas Rocks! 'Nuf said!

Hmmm, do you think she likes the kitty cat?

Retro Kitchen and.......

...lots more! What a lucky girl! Thank you for all of my presents!

Getting into the Holiday Spirit...

....with COOKIES!

A Strictly "Quality Control" taste test. Mmmmmm, that's good!

Carrie and Jack doing the "icing squeeze". Cookie time allows for great bonding time between family and friends.......

....but mostly it's just an excuse to eat a lot of frosting right before bedtime. That's my girl!

Frantic, last minute Christmas shopping, in sweats and rain boots, of all things!

Hmmmmm...what to buy for mama and daddy?

Some like it HOT after a long night of shopping! This girl LOVES to eat bell peppers like an apple!

"Stay at Home" Moms--Get Your Office Holiday Party On!

Just a lil' bit o' something here, and a lil' bit o' something there! Perfect!

Ella and Currier make their first attempt at a domestic decor partnership.

Delightfully Tacky! Think Hansel and Gretel would be tempted by this concoction?

"What do you have there, Ella?" asked Currier. "Might I take it off your hands for you?"

As we sipped on mimosas and supervised the kids' decorating a gingerbread house yesterday, my good friend Coleen pointed out to me that this was our office holiday party, since we technically work mostly out of our homes and are responsible for our children 24/7--Cheers!

I love my Mama and Dada so much!

Couch Potatoes!

Give me a hug, please!

Give me the camera, Dada, and there won't be any trouble!

All in a Day's Work

Ella arrives at her "office" at 9:00 sharp every morning.


Then it's right to work on the household budget.
She has to keep Mama and Dada's spending in check!

Now it's on to the park for some R & R.

She feels an inspiration to write, so....

...she takes immediately to pen and paper!

Voila! It's all in a day's work for Ella Louise!