Day 1: Welcome to Pozzuoli

Okay, here we go. A recap of our European Rendezvous!

Geoff met me in Rome after my day of flights to get over there. I'm sure I looked like I felt, mostly tired and run down but SO FREAKIN' EXCITED to see him again~

After the train rides from Rome to Naples we set off to explore Geoff's neighborhood. First stop the Colosseum. Who would have guessed that the third largest amphitheater in Italy is right in his little neighborhood? He said he had driven by it almost every day without even knowing it was there. It was amazing. I was with my husband and we were walking though history! Pozzuoli is even mentioned in the Bible, Paul landed there and stayed for 7 days on his way to Rome- Acts 28: 13-14. I quickly realized that Italians have so many ancient relics and artifacts that they don't even bother with a lot of them...

Next stop, Sulfetera. His hotel is located right above Sulfetera and at first glance I thought it was a quarry, turns out its a volcano. The crater of a sulfuric volcano. The Romans thought it was the entrance to Hell and the sign reads Burning Danger: 320*F-160*C.. and yes, it stunk.

Not bad for an afternoon's work, huh?!? We headed to the hotel and soaked in the view from his balcony and the sunset. I am SUCH a lucky girl (and let's be honest, this is his view everyday, he's pretty lucky too- we just wish it wasn't half a world away)

A Picture Worth 1,000 Words

Laura + Geoff + Naples (Vesuvius in the background) = Big Smiles!

Ready Or Not...

Here I Come!

This Is The Stuff

These are the lyrics that spoke to me today. I think alot of you reading know that we've entered the FabulousFour's with Grant (and yes, fabulous is sarcastic. I actually use another F-word, but didn't think that would be acceptable to put into print for every single reader -Hi Grandma) I am trying to have patience, trying to know that its a phase and he is not a spoiled, ungrateful, and vengeful child but sometimes that patience and understanding is lacking. These lyrics helped me take a breath and realize that someone else has things under control... and thank goodness someone does...

This Is The Stuff- Francesca Battistelli

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world

Oh Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff You use

Gunship Grant & Cannonball Carter

Meet Gunship Grant

he was on a Pirate Adventure in Manteo, NC.

He, along with Cannonball Carter (pictured here saying ARRR)

and their other mates, boarded the ship

captured Pirate Pete, stole his keys

and followed the clues and map to find his treasure!

Our Week in iPhone Pics

so, as our time at the lake drew to a close and we moved on, I thought it would be nice to keep everyone posted as to the latest happenings. My host-sister from Austria (Claudia) flew over to the States to join us. As any good Austrian would do, she represented her country by giving the boys, what else, Lederhosen. Genuine Austrian leather pants and matching ones at that! I am SO freakin' excited- and Geoff does not get it!

Then we celebrated 100 years since Henry William Bartholomay settled at Alden Lake (Long Pond) in PA. Claudia and I made and decorated sugar cookies in honor of the occasion. --the recipe is AMAZING from bakeat350 and usually I like to use her frosting but we were lazy and used this instead. They were scrumptious if I do say so myself!

Then we packed up and hit the road, dropping Mom off in Richmond and headed towards the OBX (Outer Banks to all y'all non-NorthCarolinians) We've set up shop in Kitty Hawk and plan on a few days of beach-lovin', sun-worshippin' and NC-appreciatin'. The trip is off to a GREAT start because we just had dinner at the Outer Banks Brewing Station and it was fabulous. (America's first wind powered brewery!) Maybe the best crab cake meal I've ever had and let me tell you, I've had A LOT!

p.s. contrary to what the pictures portray, Carter is in fact along with us for this whole adventure, it just has been a rough couple of days where he has decided to be nocturnal so there hasn't been a whole lot of quality iPhone photo ops. I'll work on it these next couple of days! -there are PLENTY when I get around to doing the real camera photo dump though...

Happy B-Day Granddad

Happy Birthday Granddad! We hope your day is SUPER

Making Whoopie... Pies

We're in the heart of Amish country this month and one of the specialties we can count on when we visit Aunt Dorothy and Karen is that they will have Amish made fresh Whoopie Pies for us. These things are heavenly and melt in your mouth. I also learned a great trick that because the icing is in the middle, Grant has to eat the cake part to get to it instead of licking off the frosting and handing the cupcake back to me (I guess he is his mother's son)...

We were excited to see that Pillsbury had a Funfetti Whoopie Pie kit for the summer, we tried it out and it was good but with their standard icing as the filling it was almost too sweet. (I know, who could believe it)

So without buying a kit I learned you can make your own Whoopie Pies with:

1	box Devil's Food Cake Mix
3	large eggs
3/4	cup water
1/2	cup Vegetable Oil

then for the filling you can blend cream cheese and canned frosting, make your own buttercream or our favorite:

1

cup butter or margarine, softened

2

cups marshmallow creme

1.5

cups powdered sugar

1

teaspoon vanilla extract

Silly Grant

Grant about Carter: "Mommy whats he saying? I don't speak alien voice"

Mommy Humor

maybe its because Grant is getting to the stage where you can actually make out what he is trying to draw, but I came across this online today and I just laughed SO hard. so for anyone who could use a laugh today... here you go!

Separated At Birth

Grant Summer 2008

Carter Summer 2011

By The Lakeside

The time has come for us to beat the summer heat, get some help with the boys and escape to the lakehouse for a few weeks... we wish Daddy were here to play bombs-away (Grant screams as he jumps into the water) and to play board games with. Watchout everybody, Grant can play some mean CandyLand and Sorry!