Chopsticks Times 6: May 2023

I love getting pictures from teachers when the kids are on a field trip at school. Hudson was out at a park this day.

Rome has it's perks :) We get the opportunity to see friends who are passing through. It's been several years since we have seen Anne and I was happy to pick her up at the airport. A day isn't long to catch up on that many years, but it was good to see her again!

With Anne in town, we had to treat her to gelato, right? Regan was supposed to be on the same flight as her, but Regan's schedule got changed by a day because Kai's paperwork was late getting to her.

Katherine had an assignment to show herself in a picture with some things she has made. This represents her many loves of all things handmade!

Lauren and Hudson were both part of Euro in Canto...Flauto Magico by Mozart. It was part of their music class at the school.

It's travel time! Regan and Kai are at the airport ready to fly to ROme!

The weather has started to be really nice recently in the afternoons. Everyone keeps finding their way onto the balcony :)

We never got a chance to hide eggs on Easter, so I let the kids do it on Monday.

Lauren and Hudson were invited to Kevin's 14th birthday party! We were shopping for a last minute gift. I called his mom to see if he already had what we had picked out. He did. Then she said, "If you must get him something, just make hime a cake. He loves your cakes!" Then Lauren said, "I completely forgot he said that!" So I called Jonathan and he started making it while we made our way back home. We got it finished 5 minutes late, but his smile was priceless when we walked in with it.

Confetti

I was teaching SS about David and Goliath. I had no idea that someone was videoing. They sent it to me later. This little one wanted to try to shoot Goliath with the slingshot I had made (we had fuzz balls to use in the slingshot and a huge Goliath face 9 feet up on the wall)

It was time to get a new Bible for this girl....kid's Bible set aside, adult Bible in hands.

Hudson got some new glasses! He also got a new hat from the owner of the glasses shop! He was trying to decide which pair he liked best, these or a pair at a different shop. The owner of this shop said he'd buy him a new hat if he chose his glasses. I didn't think he would really do it, but his wife was there and said that he better write it down on the order form!

I bought some flowers for the back balcony. Unfortunately, the bag of dirt I bought was bad and killed the flowers, but they were pretty for a little bit.

Playing tennis

The dogs went up to Diana's for a play date! She has a newish dog and wanted our dogs to meet...because she loves our dogs and still wants them to come over, but her dog is bigger so she wanted them to meet during her dog training class. They did great! No problems at all.

Scout had his own little spot in the back next to Katherine.

I used some of my birthday money to buy a folding chair that we can put on the balcony. Now people can sit more comfortably out there...aka, I can sit more comfortably out there ;)

Just another Sunday heading to church. It's hard to believe that this is the same area that 2 years ago we were taking pictures of the kids here and we were literally the only ones there! I guess it's safe to say that the tourists are starting to come back.

Diana's dog, Pan.

He's a cute dog...and strong!

Benjamin and Katherine eating at the wrap place

Scout just chillin

Wow! This is a rare treat! Jonathan and I just had a double date at the movies!

It still makes me laugh that they have intermission for every movie here...bathroom breaks and they bring the snacks to you ;)

Swanns and the Sheddans

Someone is comfy on my bed

just a little accordion music on the metro

The Holy Stairs...people are only allowed to climb up on there knees

Love the beautiful mosaic tiles on the floor of the church

I've shown people this basilica often because it's one of the main 4 in Rome and it's closest to my house. This was the first time I have noticed the red lights on the confession booths meaning that the priest is inside.

The last time Katherine saw Anne she was 7...I'd say she has grown just a little since then.

Some yummy treats!

This was a big surprise! Another friend, Stephanie, sent us some surprise goodies with Anne when she found out we would be seeing each other! A box full of peanut butter, cereal, crackers, and snacks!