Alessandro's 2 years birthday weekend 8 -10 Oct.

Marcos sisters had announced their visit for the birthday so the house got cleaned well and the frig stuffed with food.

Friday: Catching up

Chiara and Gianluca with Camilla arrived midday Friday. Last time Chiara saw Iris she was only around 6 weeks old, so she had a lot to catch up with her.


We picked up Ale from kindergarten just after nap time, and while he played with Camilla I went to the airport to pick up Cristina, Guerrino (Im sure I spelled it wrong - lets call him Jerry instead ;-) ) and Emanuele.

Oh what a noisy joy with 4 kids playing along in our living room.


Chiara also had to cuddle with Ale since it was half a year since she saw him last time. He enjoyed it very much.


Camilla equipped herself with false nails with the help of Lego. Preparing to make competition with zia Cri in the future?


Emanuele was happy to play with all the toys.


Saturday: The birthday!

Alessandro woke up happy on his sunshining birthday morning. After getting dressed we went down and found a living room full of balloons. Alessandro love balloons!


However cousin Camilla didn't feel safe with the long worm-balloons even after some counselling from zia Cri. So the worms was send to the garden were they died in the afternoon when Camilla went there to play.


I just couldn't think to serve a birthday cake early in the morning or to postpone the giftgiving to the afternoon, so I made a birthday-rolls-boy to go along with the brunch we had planed. Two things had to be said here. 1) According to Italian rules (or Frittajon rules - Im not sure), you can't give gift without serving the cake first (so in this case birthday-rolls). 2) Italians are not used to breakfast so in order to get people to eat we went for the brunch instead (which they are not use to either but I though at least they must be more hungry by then ).
Notice the birthday train on the table. He got that from Bedstemor Vinni on his 1 years birthday.

The kids got birthday hats which they loved.


Both Camilla and Emanuele had practiced at home on the birthday song and were ready.


Hhmm no pictures of the opening of the gift. Anyway it went well.

Ale got a tunnel and a nice carpet from his two zias. A three-wheel-bike from his nonna and nonno (whom we missed! - but they gave us a call), and a kitchen from his parents.

As a small present he also got a airplane while Camilla and Emanuele also each got a small present.

Since we served brunch we hadn't planned for lunch but those Italians.... they got hungry anyway so a quick lunch was served as well.

And then we played and played and played. Bedstefar called to congratulate Ale with his birthday but Ale was too busy playing to want to talk in the phone. However we appreciate the call.

Here Jerry are having fun with Emanauele on the Pilate-ball


And the same had Gianluca with Camilla.


Iris just had a great day with a lot of attention and kids to play with.


In the afternoon we went for a walk.


The fathers introduced the big kids to the horse. And they loved it.

Alessandro loved it so much that I already starts to worry about expenses for horse-ridding-classes in the future.



Here you see the three-well-bike Ale got for his birthday. There was a fight to use it and Camilla won it for most of the tour.


We had planned for homemade pizza for dinner, but because we did a late visit to Bad Homburg in the afternoon the votes went for ordering pizza instead.


This is Iris first pizza (or a least the first pizzabread), and she loved it and the fact that she was eating the same as everyone else.


Sunday: Going for a walk in the forest

We have access to the forest within walking distance from our home. We are very lucky because just at the beginning of the forest the "forest-kindergarten" have made a lot of things for the kids to play with and to discover the forest with.

So after breakfast we went there. The weather was sonny and the temperature nice (in the sun) but a little chilly in the shadow.

There was time to play and to watch.


There were time to be 100% with the family (Here Camilla with Gianluca and Chiara).


And it gave a little exercise as well.


Sunday: At the playground

We have a very nice playground only a few minutes walk away from our home. A nice way to get there is to bring a ball along. Then Alessandro have no problems walking all the way on his own.

Here he and Camilla are playing with the ball.


Of course there are swings at the playground. Iris love to be swung.


But so do the other kids as well.


This is the first time Ale tries to walk on the robe alone and succeeded with it. How proud not just he was but me as well.


Here is the carousel-stick (or what ever they are called). Im getting motion-sick just by watching but both Alessandro and Emanuele loved it.


Iris also loved this swing. Especially the part were she can crawl around on it and get it to move. Ale and Emanuele saw all the fun she had and came to do her company.


The rest of the day the kids played at home while the grown-ups prepared for departure during the evening (Marco), night ( Camilla+parents) and morning (Emanuele+parents).

What a nice birthday weekend we all had!

This is Iris enjoying the peace after the weekend.


Alessandro however still had some celebration left. Because he was first celebrated in the kindergarten the Tuesday after, where he brought a chocolate cake looking like a clown (candy make-up) and some juice along. Forgot to take pictures but it all went well.