Weekends...

Gianna's 6th birthday party in Dunsmore Park and Wading Pool (August 23)

BBQ at our neighbors Rob and Lisa (August 29)

Biking at Clover Park in Santa Monica and having dinner at Il Forno Trattoria (August 30)

First days of school!

Ennio had his first day of school yesterday: Monday, August 17! His last year of preschool! His teachers are Ms. Angela and Ms. Astrid. Ennio was very much looking forward to going to school again! And even though last year was not the easiest for us, I have to say that the school has always supported us in each and every way. We are hoping for another great year at WCC!

Lily had her big start today! She's off to first grade!!! Unbelievable! Her teacher is Mrs. Kehoe. Lily was a bit nervous last night and this morning. I can't wait to hear about her day when I pick her up later!

Camp home

I enjoyed my days alone in Los Angeles tremendously, but was also excited to go pick up Marcus and the kiddos at the airport on Saturday, August 8. They arrived safe and sound, and were so so very very happy to be home again. Lily especially was extremely relieved to see her own bed again! (she takes after me, I also love nothing more than my own comfy bed :-)) This upcoming week would be all about getting over jet-lag and getting enough rest to be ready for school (starting on August 17 for Ennio and August 18 for Lily). I still had some Steve and Kate's Camp passes, but in the end, we kept the kids at home, so they could just relax and play with their toys that they had missed for one whole month. Fortunately, Marcus could stay home that week (he was supposed to work out-of-town, but the schedule had changed - yay!) and I was also off for 2 days, so we could cocoon and have fun at home!

We had an early dinner at Hugo's in Studio City one night:


 
 
 


Lily went rollerskating with her friend Lola:

On Friday, there was Visiting Day at Ennio's school (orientation to see his new classroom and meet his new teachers):

I had to be in Down Town that same day, so we took the kids and stopped by the water splash pad in Grand Park and then had lunch at Kendall's Brasserie near the Music Center. For once, the kids behaved well at the table!!! Lily wanted "a chicken on the bone" (she learned to eat that in the Biergarten in Germany) and thankfully, the restaurant had rotisserie chicken on the menu! Ennio ate well too (with the promise of dessert afterwards if he would finish his food - that sometimes helps...)

On Saturday, we celebrated Kathryn's Birthday and had a fun afternoon in very international company. There were Germans, Irish, Swedes, one Lithuanian, and some Americans (but they were the minority ;-)) Interesting conversations, I loved it!

Monday, July 17, last day of the summer break!
Lily had a healthy lunch with Marcus, to get the energy necessary for school! She had a big bowl of Pho from 9021pho. She ate it all!

Free time in Los Angeles (for me) and in Germany (August 2-8)

While I enjoyed a week off in Los Angeles (I did go to work, but didn't have a household to run, so I consider this time off!!!), Marcus, Lily and Ennio spent some more fun days in Germany. Thankfully, with plenty of rest and playtime, Lily's fever subsided and she looked like her old self again when she came home on August 8!

Visiting cousin Mia's family! (as you can see, there was a heatwave going on!)

Mia and Lily getting a haircut

Visiting a farm: Der Sonnenhof

Europa-Park, the biggest amusement park of Europe

Killesberg Park (Lily feeling a lot better!)

No idea where or when these were taken... (Oma Eva sent the photos), but they're cute!

More playground fun! (Germany has awesome playgrounds!)

Brothers...

Cousins... these two got along really well! Mia is planning to come visit us over Christmas. We really hope it will work out and can't wait!!!