Venice: Part Two

More Venice? Of course! My parents and the kids joined us for more adventures before we all had to fly back home. Luke was of course content in chasing every pigeon in any piazza we came upon, Hannah was determined to ride a gondola, and Mike and I were excited to share our new favorite city with everyone. Still traveling like rock stars, we all loaded into another private water taxi and entered the city with style (if luggage, strollers, backpacks count as rock star!) Changed hotels to an extremely lovely boutique hotel with its own amazing views down a smaller canal and street off the Grand Canal. Ate more delicious food, visited more beautiful churches, strolled (or chased small children) through more piazzas and successfully kept everyone inside the gondola!


Sad to say goodbye to this beautiful city...we will see you again Venice!

Venice: Part One

Ok, so a bit out of order but still makes sense to finally post on our Venice trip. (Pretty much the best pre-Christmas gift ever!) Mike and I arrived like movie stars, speeding into the city on a private boat approaching one of the most beautiful skylines? views? not sure what to call it, just breathtaking. Our hotel was fabulous, a few blocks down from St. Mark's square, right on the water, with views of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute right from our balcony. Mike did well, I had no idea where we were staying, the Westin was gorgeous! We were greeted and met by a wonderful staff and whisked away for Prosecco on the deck bar to take in the view. Our afternoon was spent wandering the streets, visiting Piazza San Marco, Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica, drinks at Harry's Bar (know for the Bellini, a most scrumptious drink!) and both dinner and lunch in the most fabulous and unassuming restaurants, one tucked behind the opera house, and the other in a tiny narrow alley (excellent recommendations by our concierge)! AMAZING! I cannot even think of how to describe this city, architecturally stunning, magical, romantic, all of the above, truly you have to be there to feel and know and taste your way through it!


The Grand Canal is exactly that, Grand, everything you look at left and right is gorgeous...the sheer size and grandeur of the buildings, churches, bridges, blows you away - and I don't care if it sounds cheesy, the gondola's floating down every canal are so beautiful to watch, absolutely a must! The whole city is so peaceful, a laid back vibe that Rome lacked, no cars, taxi's or motorcycles zipping around everywhere, all you hear are voices and singing and music - no one is ever in a hurry in Venice!





I am so thankful to have had such an amazing trip (the entire Italy trip of course, and especially the Venice trip I had with Mike), thanks to my wonderful husband for planning such a great Venice weekend, and thank you of course to my parents for keeping the kids for us in Italy, allowing us to have such a romantic weekend!

A Merry Little Christmas

I bring you good tidings of great joy,
Which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day,
In the city of David, a Savior,
Which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11

The kids Christmas gift to us was sleeping in! Hooray! We began opening presents around eight o'clock (WOW), and the kids were both excited to see what Santa brought as well as opening gifts from my parents, Nana & Papa, who graciously helped Santa find the best gifts! Hannah was beyond thrilled to find her very own Queen Elsa dress, shoes, Frozen DVD, and a play-doh set - the exact items she asked Santa for! Little Lukey was thrilled with his matchbox cars (sometimes it is the little things!) and loved the new baby doll stroller Hannah received...luckily he also loved his new little helicopter & new books too! The new red barn was a big hit with both kids, Lukey loves his farm animals! My mom & dad got him his very own everywhere chair,so hopefully now he will stay out of Hannah's!!!











We got packed up, although it was tough to get kids to leave! (Maybe next year we can stay home in jammies and play all day with our Christmas stuff!) and headed to my in-laws for more presents & lunch. Lots of commotion while opening gifts, tried hard to grab some pics! Golf clubs (plastic) were a big hit from Aunt Katherine, and so were the musical instruments, and new DVD player (we lost one on our flight to Italy) from Grandma & Granddad. Thanks everyone!





Our last stop on Christmas Day was at the Towns for some appetizers, desserts, and more presents! Gracelyn, our Goddaughter, was ready to play and open gifts - we brought her back a very special rosary from the Vatican! Kids were silly, a little rowdy, but mostly happy as we ended our busy Christmas Day!