Fashion Week 2011

We are in Milano. Today for lunch we had Gelato and apples. We took the Metro to the Duomo and found that it is Fasion week! My watching of "America's Next Top Model" and "Project Runway" made me realize that I was in the midst of a wonderful and high-brow event! I had to take a picture on the pink carpet to show I was there. We of course didn't try to see a fashion show.

This girl is famous. At least we assumed so from the amount of fans that were lining up to take a picture with her. I think it is Thandie Newton.

The highlight of the day was a visit to L'Duomo. The Cathedral in Milan is my favorite of all I've seen in Italy. I love the soaring heights of the pillars.

Nice France

Yesterday I arrived in France. Our French accountant happens to be located in the French Riviera so I got to visit the lovely city of Nice. The plan was for me to check into my hotel and then my co-worker (who is living in France with his family) would pick me up later. I was feeling so proud of myself because I found the information desk, bought my bus ticket and boarded the bus all without much trouble. I was proud because, to be honest, I was a little bit worried about traveling by myslef.

The trouble came when I saw my hotel come and go on the other side of the street. I thought perhaps the bus ran on a circuit and would circle around and "drop me right in front of my hotel" as the man at the information desk said. No, they took me to the end of the line and made me get off. I figured, "I'm smart, I can grab a taxi and no one will ever have to know about this little "oops"". I ended up walking through the middle of "Carnival". There were floats and more confetti than I have ever seen. People were shooting silly string everywhere and it was a fun, jovial mood. Jason, my co-woker, called while I was making my way through the carnival and I was happy to meet up with him and be "found" again. I think I'll stick with taxi's from now on- even if they do cost more. At least they will take me straight to my desination.

Jason's wife had her mom and three sisters visiting and they were so kind to take me with them on their excursion for the day. We went to the City of Eze (said like Oz). It is a picturesque city built on the cliffs overlooking the Medditeranean Sea. After wandering around a bit, we drove on to Monaco. I didn't know that this is a country of its own within France. In Monaco we stopped to the the Monte Carlo casino, set of the "Casino Royale" James Bond movie. It was oppulent and beautiful - and the expensive cars parked out front!!!! Wow! After seeing all this Jason took me back home to the family dinner. They were surely good to me and it definitely was better than eating alone in my hotel. For dessert we shared a chocolate bar, clementine oranges, and a cheese platter. I was afraid but decided I would try them all. Boy, there are some HORRIBLE cheeses out there. I was pleased that I didn't gag on any but there were several that I wouldn't care to try again, for example the camember (I know SP?) was a cheese that tasted like stinky feet and I don't ever have to try that one again.

This morning we had our quick meeting with the accountant (I was afraid I'd throw up during the meeting - jet lag affects me that way) and then it was off to the train station where I boarded a train headed for Milan.

After 5 episodes of "The West Wing" my train arrived and I successfully got myself to a cab (not a bus!) and checked into the hotel. I had two other co-workers from Utah that came to Italy yesterday so I met up with them and we had a lovely dinner and gelato for dessert. A lovely end to any evening. So, that is all, I am going to call Scott at work (it's only 3pm in Utah) and then go to bed. It is 11pm here and I am happy to go to bed in my small twin sized hotel bed. I am hoping the streetcars below don't keep me up as the rumble down the street every 15 minutes.

Buddy

Hey Katie. Maddy walked around all morning as we got ready saying over and over again "Dalton, Buddy." I guess we need to plan a play date. She misses you guys I think. I miss you guys too.

kissy, kissy

I know, everyone is crafty these days, but, this is an accomplishment for me. I went to "Wood Connection" and boy was I overwhelmed! All the ideas were so cute (and there were a million of them). I probably am actually able to do most all the projects they had, but it was really, really hard for me to pick something. I spent way too much time wandering around. I'm not sure why. At any rate, this is my craft for February. I know anyone could do it so I'll show off the cute idea (I love that little Hershey's kiss dotting the "I") rather than the accomplishment itself. Also, I should admit, I stole the entire idea - blocks, paper choices, paint choices- all of it!

for posterity

For myself and for the grandparents, I'm putting on a video of Maddy. I wanted to capture how she sings Jingle Bells ("bee ba bews") for posterity. It may be too long of a video for the casual observer but I enjoy watching it!

UPDATE: I've been trying since last Thursday to get this video to upload and then I actually read the fine print and found that my video is too big. So, never mind on the video - next time you are at my house, if you have the desire, I'll show it to you.

I thought since this was a "for posterity" post, I'd add in a few journal-type updates so Maddy can read them later.

• Maddy is 1 month short of her two year birthday. She has definitely entered the terrible twos. She gets frustrated at everything and immediatly breaks down crying, says "ow-ie", and throws herself to the floor. Scott's having a hard time with this stage. He can't take it that girls get upset for what he perceives is no reason. Where logic might work to calm me in my 'moments' it doesn't make a dent in Maddy's tirade.
• She does have a great personality when she's not mad. I think her vocabulary quadrupled overnight and she is communicating so well that we actually have real conversations.
• her favorite color is yellow - well, she doesn't really care that much for things that are yellow, she just likes to say yellow. Ask her what color anything is and she'll say "yeyyow". I think her favorite color is actually purple if I go with the shoes she picks and the crayons she picks.
• I can't sweep or mop the floor when she's awake unless I'm willing to let her help. She won't push around the swiffer unless I put a wet pad on it.
• Maddy loves to do puzzles. She knows to turn the pieces around until they fit (maybe all two year olds do that but it seems pretty amazing to me!).
• She is finally getting used to nursery and will generally not cry too much as I leave her. We had a few weeks there where I had to haul her off my leg . . . made me feel sad - but loved.
• She loves her day care family the Buhlers. When she spots them in sacrament meeting she'll shout out various family members' names and their 3 year old will reply back with a great big wave and a "hi Maddy!". Luckily, our ward is so starved for kids that they all think this is cute rather than distracting.
• "Gulp-gulp" means drink but generally only water these days. More often than not, she asks for "apple" and sometimes "milk" or "orange juice". Not sure why she'll say the word juice on the end of orange but not apple. Kids.
• Her favorite shows are "Hot Dog", which is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (they do the hot dog dance at the end of each episode so that's where her title came from) and she also really loves Spongebob Squarepants. She calls him "Bobby".
• Maddy's been a pretty crappy eater as of late. She really likes green beans and I can get her to eat those, but she discovered that you can peel them apart and there are little seeds inside. Last time we had beans she ate all the tiny seeds but would no longer eat the rest of the beans. She likes red sauces on pasta and pizza (takes after her spaghetti loving mom) and does okay with chicken nuggets and loves hot dogs and cheese.