Florence

I have really wanted to go to Florence before we leave Italy so, RT and I decided to take a trip down there last Thursday. There were several things about this trip that made it interesting. For one, this was the first time that we have taken a train since we have lived in Europe. I know that sounds crazy because the train is one of the most used modes of transportation here in Italy. This just happened to be the first time that I have ever actually ridden a train at all in my life. (Exclude the one that goes around Stone Mountain). It was also the first time on a train for RT and of course Emily too. This was quite the experience. Emily was SO excited that she was going to get to ride. Well, when we got to the train station she got a little scared at all the real life noises that the trains make. RT had to comfort her. However, once we got on the train and started moving, she was such a champ about it. Second, we didn't realize that we had booked the trip on an Italian holiday simply because, well Italians have a holiday about once every three days. I mean really! They have more "holidays" than any other country in the world. We only planned to be in Florence for one night and two days. The "holiday" kind of messed some things up for us because some places were closed on Friday. Third, we decided to try a different route than a standard hotel. We went for a hostel. Also a "first" for RT and myself. Interesting experience. We did get the private room so we were not actually sharing with strangers in true hostel fashion! It was a fun trip and a neat experience. We took about 100 pictures so I am going to try and choose some of the better ones. Here goes...

This is at the start of the trip. Emily and Daddy are patiently waiting for our train to arrive at the station.

It is about this time that Emily hears all the crazy screeching and crunching noises that the trains make when they come into the station. She was saying "I'm scared, I'm scared". So, then RT kicked into "daddy mode" and had to explain that he would never let anything hurt her and that she was safe with him. Too cute!

And all is well. We are on the train and on our way! Emily was having a good time looking at all the sights out the window.

Me and Emily outside of our Hostel.
Lighting candles in the Cathedral.


This was a museum that we stumbled across. We both wanted to go through the museum but did not want to take Emily in there. It is an entire museum dedicated to serial killers. We talked to the guy that worked the front desk about it and it sounded so interesting. I just thought it was unusual and thought I would share.
I know that this is vulgar but it is typical Italian sentiment. You see these kinds of things painted on walls and bridges in a lot of places. Most of the time it is not this hateful but you get the idea...
View of the square.


Ponte Vecchio. This is the famous bridge in Florence. It was so hot and we had been doing so much walking at this point in the day.

This is one of my favorites! The wind was blowing and Emily's hair was everywhere. I love the look on her face too.
This is such a pretty shot from the bridge. RT took this picture at such a good time in the evening.
They had a merry-go-round in town and Emily got so excited when she saw it. This is the two of us riding on it.
Getting a piggy back ride from Daddy.
The most famous thing to see in Florence is Michelangelo's statue of David. You have to go inside an actual museum to see him. Of course we did this and we saw him in person. He is massive and it is so amazing to see in person. It really was something I will always remember. You cannot take pictures inside of the museum so that is why I do not have pictures of the original statue. They do have an exact replica of him in a courtyard and this is the picture of the replica. I wish I could let you see the real one but this is the best we could do picture wise.
There were police in the courtyard as well and they had horses. Emily adores horses so RT took her to look at them up close. She was so excited that she got to pet one of them.

This is all three of us in front of a huge fountain. This fountain is dedicated to the "god of the sea" and has been here for hundreds of years. It is really an interesting fountain up close. There are a lot of details and peculiar creatures.
Here is Emily at the train station just before we left to come home. She was posing in front of one of the trains. She wasn't scared of them this time.
We are finally on our way back to Vicenza. Emily stayed awake for about 20 minutes and then crashed pretty much the whole ride back.

The Safari and Zoo

The other day RT and I took Emily to a safari and zoo that is about 45 minutes from our house. The safari is really cool because you literally drive your car through and not a single one of the animals are caged. They roam free around the area and you are told that they have right of way on the road! You really get to see animals very close up that you might not otherwise get to see. It is amazing to see Giraffes and Zebras that close up but even more exciting are the lions (yes I said roaming lions), hippos and rhinos! Emily loved it!!! We then went to the zoo which is pretty much like any other zoo in the states. It is so cute to see Emily's face and reactions to the animals. I love that the small things in life make her so happy.
We got some really good pictures from this day. We allowed Emily to sit with me during part of the safari because you have to drive so slow and she was having a hard time seeing out of her car seat. Besides, if an animal did try to eat us at least I would already have her out of the car seat and in a position to where I could run with her!!! Although I am pretty sure there is not a single animal I could have outran except the ducks! Ha ha!!!


Emily sat with Daddy for a few minutes too.
Emily and a few Zebras in the background.

Here are a few of the animals. I Swear the Llama is just resting and is not dead!

Here is one of all three of us!

This is inside the actual zoo. They were looking at the kangaroos. I asked RT how he could look at those cute little animals knowing that he had eaten one the other night at dinner??

This is towards the end of the trip. She was so exhausted and we didn't even finish seeing all the animals because she fell asleep.




Me and RT. I missed doing things like this with him while he was gone. I am SO happy he is home!

Interesting Italian Cuisine...

Last week a large group of us decided to go out to a nice dinner. RT and I have never been to this restaurant and it was quite interesting for us. For one, this is the absolute first time that we have left Emily with a babysitter while we went out since we have lived here. It went ok because her best friend, Ethan, was with her. The babysitter watched them both. Second, I have yet to really find a good wine that I like. I am not really into wine but here in Italy, they drink it like it is water. I am not kidding you when I tell you that wine is cheaper at restaurants here than water is! I did have one glass with dinner and I actually liked this wine. RT had his fair share along with some of the other guys at the table! I think the craziest thing about this experience was what RT ate for dinner. I went with what I knew was safe, vegetables! RT on the other hand is certainly the more daring of the two of us. He ate ostrich and kangaroo. He said he really liked them both but that the kangaroo was a little tough! I just couldn't bring myself to branch out that much. Here are a few pictures from that night.

Josh's reenlistment

RT's two best friends here in Italy are Josh and Torrez. Josh decided to reenlist once he returned to Italy last week. RT was one of the two guys that held the American flag while Josh said his oath of enlistment. I am so proud of all these guys. I love watching things like this because I know how important it is to make a decision like this. Josh's wife, Athena, was able to make here for his homecoming and reenlistment. Torrez and RT both did their reenlistments while still in Afghanistan. (I hope to have pictures of when RT did this soon!)

Another milestone...

The week that R.T. got home we decided that it was time for Emily to move to a toddler bed. This is sad to me because it is just another reminder that my baby is growing up really fast. We bought a set that included a toddler bed, a toybox and a table with chairs that all match. They are very girly and pink and have Disney princesses on them. She loved being able to crawl into the bed by herself. The problem is that she can also crawl out of the bed at night! We put her baby gate up at her door so she couldn't get out and fall down the concrete stairs in the middle of the night. She is doing well and I think she is finally adjusted to being in a "big girl" bed.

Vacation with Dad and Brittany!

I know that this is back tracking a little but I wanted to post some pictures of Dad and Britt's trip. They came over and stayed for a week. We had a really good time and Emily loved spending time with both of them. We went to Switzerland, Venice and a water park while they were here. We also got to eat out a few times and they got to experience real Italian Gelato! Emily asked for them for days after they left. I wish they could come back again before we move back to the States.
These are from the first night that they arrived. We went to dinner at a wonderful place on top of a small mountain type place called Berico. The view from here is amazing and the food was delicious.


This was in Switzerland. I LOVE this place. I have been here twice now and I truly think it is one of the most beautiful places in the entire world.
We took a boat ride on Lake Lugano while we were in Switzerland. It was so calming and pretty on the water.



This is Emily and Brittany in San Marco square in Venice.
One of the famous things in San Marco square are the crazy pigeons. They are everywhere and they will land all over you. I had one try to take the sandwich I was eating and I freaked out. I don't like them to touch me. Dad didn't mind so much...


This is all of us in the Square.

Dad really wanted to experience a Gondola ride while he was here. We all piled into one and took a ride. Our guide was not really what we wanted, he didn't sing or anything like most of them do. It was still really fun.