Italy Italy, can't get enough

Strike out. Bummer, maybe when I'm older
Like when I'm 4.

Graham tries to pick up the older girls by showing off his Tools..

"Stella" ... Julia's castle just up the hill.

Italy: From my camera ;)

Ok, Gramma Grace, get ready! These are for you...over the next few days I'll post photos taken from my small Nikon... The children and Gian Carlo, a dear friend of ours..Oh, and Terence is there too!

The three musketeers

I love my brother!

Daddy's girl

Life is sweet

Isn't she sweet?

One of many pappardelle and tomato sauce/fish/eggplant dishes eaten throughout the month!

Our host and Terence

Graham and Daddy and our Host

But I like it here! I don't want to leave

Really--the view is great, the cookies are delectible...I am not leaving!

I don't care what you say, I'm not budging!

As ever, in Italy--when you are with two adorable children, you seem to attract elegant, loving people. These are our newest friends, who had us over for cookies and lemonade...Graham and Julia just could not get enough of them!

Italy...more. What's not to love?

Julia and Pietro

Graham, Terence, Julia and yours truly

"Kika" ... Graham and Julia's 'mermaid' friend in Porto Ercole--this little 5 year old swims so gracefully!

Oh, hey! That's Kika! HI FREDERIKA!

Hey! Is that my girlfriend?

Graham was quite the little flirt on this trip...picking up 16 year old girls at the pool (Italy is truly the best place to be with small children! They seem to have infinite patience with children! More than I do, for sure)...Graham shared his trucks, trains--you name it--with the girls in the pool.

Julia and her 'three princesses' water wings...for a girl who has never seen a Disney video, it's amazing how much she knows about the names of the princesses!

Lookit me! Lookit me! Graham LOVES his water wings!!!

Graham and his friend, Pietro, age 4

Happy Wild Man

Julia, my Julia!

Full moon over Porto Ercole

As our time wound down in Italy, our annual Porto Ercole August 'full moon' greeted us--a bittersweet time, as it indicated that, indeed, it was time to leave...I feel there is no place like Porto Ercole, the Margini's terrace overlooking the Mediterranean...the way the wind sounds late at night--whipping through the cliffs, teasing out voices of long lost sailors and shipping vessels...secrets from the Etruscans and the Roman Empire whispering from Rome in the South...and the mainland...

It becomes such a part of a person's soul, Italy does...as Italy is such an ancient soul.

Ferruccio and Graham

Graham, a Buona Forchetta..or, Mr. Good Fork, as our Host called him.

Julia too!

The 'boys' ... cooking up something, no less!

Daddy, Julia, Graham

Paula Margini, our amazing hostess

Yum...can I eat the fork?

I'll try, but it won't fit in my mouth!

Me...Just me.

Bubble Girl