Monday, June 20, 2022

Pisa


These two took a Daddy-Daughter day trip to Pisa! There isn't much time before she heads back to the states for university life, and they just needed a day together. I will get her a bit longer than Jonathan as I will be helping her move in this summer. They got a kick out of the "Italian version of the Sun Yat Sen statue in Zhongshan" :) This statue is actually, Vittorio Emanuelle II and many things are named after him. He was the first king of Italy.
walking the streets of Pisa
a cathedral
a statue of Galileo
The site that has been on Regan's list for awhile...the leaning tower of Pisa!
They climbed to the top of it and said it was really wild climbing it.
At the very top they have a guard rail so that you don't fall off. They said the lean really messes with your brain and perception of things.
My hubby...always admiring the architectural models of places
In the piazza
At a restaurant eating Tuscan food
view from the top of the leaning tower of Pisa
more views
The bells at the top...just like depicted on Little Einsteins when Regan was a little one...haha!
walking back down

Inside the cathedral
They walked along the city wall. The graves are outside the city wall. People are not allowed to be buried within the city.


another view from the wall
It wouldn't be complete without trying the gelato!
 
A little fun
She's so strong to push it over like that!
It really leans a lot!
Inside




Sunday, June 19, 2022

June Things

Lauren got her photos back from her dance school. I'm really proud of how she was so patient in us finding the right place and for her hard work in her class/performance after an 8 month break. 
She really loves going to class and dancing!
She is looking so grown up, too! 
The dance school also sent a few pictures form her perfirmance.



 
Katherine has been busy making a special flower for each of her teachers and all the cleaning ladies at her school. She only takes a few at a time.
My tutor was able to come in person again! We've had to be online for the last little bit. To say that the dogs missed her is an understatement...they are 100% not allowed on the table! haha! I hope they obey when we get back from the states! Diana is puppysitting them the entire time and couldn't be more excited about it!!
Some more paper flowers for her teachers

Babies open so many doors ;)

Hudson got a certificate for passing his elementary Chinese language exam with a perfect score! 
These next few pictures loaded out of order, but I'll just write about them how they are. I took Hudson's picture because his first order of business in having a room all to himself (because Benjamin flew to America for the summer) was to deep clean his room and bathroom. He worked so hard. He said that he had no idea deep cleaning could be so tiring :)
Shadow helping Regan with her blanket
Benjamin is packed and heading to the airport for his first solo trip across the Atlantic!
He's super excited (and maybe a bot nervous)
There he goes! Heading through airport security.
This is the picture I received at 12:30am from my sister...proof that he arrived in one piece :)
Before he left, we tried to get as much of Katherine's play done as possible.
We got a postcard from a friend in London!!
The last day these two will be together in Rome...so we got them gelato!
Benjamin asked if we could get these wrap type sandwiches for lunch.
Our friends came over on Sunday afternoon to celebrate Regan's graduation. It's a little before her actual graduation ceremony, but we wanted to do it before Benjamin left so that we were all together.
Silas loved playing the piano with Hudson.
The card from me and Jonathan and Benjamin
The other kids made Regan a card.
From Katherine
From Lauren
We got a kick out of the plates. "Congrats doctor" is the translated version...because in Italy graduation is only a college thing. My tutor said that she saw graduations in movies but didn't think it was really a thing. Now she knows :)
We bought a few little appetizers to enjoy while Jonathan cooked some dinner.
Our friend sent me this picture. Regan has been babysitting all month for them. So cute!