6/52 (and a walk around our Italian town)

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The 52 Project: a portrait of my children once a week & every week in 2014.

Lena: She’s such an acrobat these days! Her light, strong little body is figuring out how to do so many amazing things… which is part terrifying and part amazing. The phrase I hear most frequently is: “Yook, Mama, yook what I can do!” (Also, “What time is it? What does that mean?” and “Can we make something yummy in the kitchen?”)

Gil: I finished his sweater yesterday just in time for him to wear it to church! I’m so proud of it. Be warned: you might be seeing a lot of it between now and warm weather.

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I had kind of a frazzled morning. (Snacks! Coloring! Screaming! Nap time! Reading! Clean up! Tears! Laundry! Repeat!) When we finally decided to go on a walk and headed down the hill, I felt like a fresh breeze blew through me. I felt light and strong as I munched an apple and let the weight of the stroller carry itself down the hill under my hand. Crisp air filled my lungs, and suddenly everything seemed sharper and brighter as my mind took in the sights and sounds: the bustling piazza, the old men walking in and out of the municipal buildings, the farm trucks filled with produce harvested that morning, the glittering beauty of Mt Etna rising in the distance.

“We live in Italy,” I realized with a jolt. “Live here. Not just visiting.”

And so I started taking pictures as we bought produce, snacked on bread sticks and pizza from our favorite panificio, and played on the playground. Later we added artichokes, balsamic, basil, sausages, arancini, and wine to the stroller basket. We shall eat well tonight in celebration of living in Italy!

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My stroller is as big as a Fiat!

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Prettiest house (and potted plants) on the street.

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A view of the castle outside our house as we round the corner for home.

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And home sweet home. Oh Italy, we love you!

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14 Responses to 6/52 (and a walk around our Italian town)

  1. Autumn February 10, 2014 at 4:02 pm #

    I love Gil’s sweater! Lena is looking so stylish and pretty these days. Also those breadsticks?! ugh I want one

    • Becca February 11, 2014 at 2:31 pm #

      Haha, I always think of you when we get breadsticks at our favorite shop! Remember the ones from the Afghan bakery that we used to eat all the time in Pakistan?? You loved those things!

  2. Alica February 10, 2014 at 4:13 pm #

    Your stroller might be as big as a Fiat…but the occupants are much, much cuter! :) Gil’s sweater looks great, by the way! Now I want to live in Italy! (as I listen to the chipper/shredder outside my window, grinding up branches from the ice storm last week!)

    • Becca February 11, 2014 at 2:32 pm #

      Hilarious that you mention the chipper/shredder, Alica, because we have a junkyard/wood lot below our house where men chop would EVERY DAY. They sell most of it to pizza ovens in town, but they also sell quite a bit of it to us. The chopper is so, so loud, though, and the acoustics of the cliff make it sound like it’s right outside our door. Definitely one of the not-so-pleasant things about this house in Italy.

  3. esther February 10, 2014 at 5:07 pm #

    My absolute favorite is the two of them in front of the FIAT. Could be an add, for sure!

    • Becca February 11, 2014 at 2:33 pm #

      Aww, thanks, friend! I can’t believe I haven’t taken this picture before, honestly; those cute little cinquecento Fiats are everywhere here!

  4. Carrie February 10, 2014 at 8:03 pm #

    Lovely photos. Isn’t it amazing how much getting outside and going on a walk can help to bring fresh perspective? I find myself doing that a lot these days.

    • Becca February 11, 2014 at 2:34 pm #

      Yep, and I need to do it more. I’m working on a big blog project in our home and it’s really stressing me out, so the sunshine and exercise definitely helped so much!

  5. Jess February 11, 2014 at 5:20 pm #

    Gil’s hair!!! ah!! haha needs a chop chop!

    • Becca February 11, 2014 at 10:15 pm #

      Wow, you’re actually the first person that’s ever said that! Everyone tells us, “You can NEVER cut his hair!!!”

  6. Maggy February 12, 2014 at 3:08 pm #

    Oh Becca I love this post! I can totally relate to the “ok wait a minute, I LIVE here” moments when you get a fresh perspective. I’m so glad it came at a nice time! Your kids are just beautiful!

    • Becca February 12, 2014 at 3:23 pm #

      Yes, I’m sure you can relate more than most! I love where you live, too!

  7. Katie @ The Surly Housewife February 26, 2014 at 9:52 pm #

    My husband is a huge car freak so I have to share with him the stroller and Fiat picture. What an adorable town you are blessed to live in. It’s kind of sad we don’t have towns like this in the States. I also love a nice breeze when you can just take in everything around you. It really centers you :)

    • Becca February 27, 2014 at 8:59 am #

      Amen to that!

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