Back to Reality.... Carrie

Kids Drink for 9 weeks

We have only one more day left in Italy and we head home after nine crazy, wonderful, up and down, exciting and overall TREMENDOUS weeks! We will have been in Rome for about four days and I have truly loved this city. It is huge and busy and extremely hot, but it has so much history to it. It was 37 degrees Celsius (that is literally 100 degrees, wow that is hot and humid too boot!) for two days. We all just walk around Rome in a constant sweat.

I can honestly say we saw all of this city - we did bypass the Vatican, only because we did not think our kids would be up for it (and there were crazy long lines and it was just too hot!)

View from Pincio Gardens

Pincio Gardens

Yesterday we shopped and walked and walked some more and shopped a bit more. We have found it is easier if we pop in stores and cool off - this way the children are not as grumpy and whiney en route to see a bit of history:) We ended up walking to this sweet park called The Pincio Gardens. These gardens sit up above Rome and it was so nice up there away from the traffic (no cars allowed) and busy city. We have found some really great little markets tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Gelato @ Trevi Fountain

We have figured out we need to research restaurants before we head out, just to have a few in mind. The last few nights we have had some great dinners. One was in an Irish bar where we were able to watch the Olympics and see USA place in several sports! The next night we went to a Beer House that had more of a German theme to it. A lot of locals eat there and the food was really good. Last night we ate at a Tavern with the best pizza and butter sage raviolis I have tasted since being in Italy. After every dinner, while in Rome, we decided to end the evening with Gelato at the Trevi Fountain. Josh came up with a little game to see which child can get us to the Gelato store (best one yet) and then to the Trevi. So far they have all been pretty good navigators, you can't go wrong with Gelato as an incentive in the end.

Today we walked to the Tiber River and it felt more like Paris than Rome - Eli was actually the one to point that out:) We have been filling our water bottles with the water from little wells around the city. I have been saying a prayer or two every time we fill up (please do not give any of us dysentery, please do not give any of us dysentery.....) We have been drinking a lot of water too, so far so good!

After walking most of the morning and afternoon, we decided to split up, Josh took Isabel to get us a bag (because we have been minus a bag since Milan about 4 weeks ago) and I took the other two home to begin to pack and organize our crazy apartment. Which, by the way, is the size of my pinky and has looked like a tornado hit the place since we arrived in Rome.  For the last hour I was actually able to get all of our stuff in five bags again (mind you, Josh came back with a much smaller duffle than I had imagined) But it all worked out in the end. There are several pieces of clothing from each of us that will not be making the trip home. We are so sick of our clothes at this point, I do not care if I see any of them again!

Piazza Venezia

We take a flight tomorrow evening to Paris and then the next morning, fly home. I had a fit of insomnia the other night and it hit me, we are truly at the end of our trip. I am very sad, in a happy sort of way. These last nine weeks have been so special, there have been ups and there have been many downs as well - but overall I would not change anything about the last two months. I have gotten to know all three of my kids in a completely different way than I ever thought possible. I learned so much about who they are and what makes them the unique little people they are. Granted there were several (more than several) very trying moments with all three of them, but I will always cherish this time the five of us have had together. I feel very blessed to have had this opportunity.
Josh and I have grown as well, we have actually communicated more and better on this trip than we have in the last five years. We have had so many laughs, I need to write those hilarious moments down, I do not want to forget a moment of any of them - side cramping, crying eyes funny moments.

Guards at 100 degree Heat

I asked the kids last night, what their favorite place or experience was. Each of their responses was very interesting, we ended up talking about it for the rest of the meal. The end consensus was they could not choose just one thing. I was thinking what some of my favorite moments were and I had so many favorite places, memories and moments. I just cannot pick one or even ten, for that matter. I am anxious to get home just for the small things. I miss my bed, my shoes, my car, take away coffee (and anything else take away in general), but I am truly going to miss this time with my family. Hopefully we will keep the bond and not fall back into our crazy, busy lives and forget what the last nine weeks meant to the five of us.

Josh and were talking this morning about our return and we were trying to figure out transportation for several events on Sunday, a birthday party, soccer practice....... awe, back to reality.