Buon Natale! Merry Christmas!

Better late than never!

Got started a little late this year on X-mas decorations.... but I think I made up for it!

The finished product

This year my tree top is a butterfly to symbolize freedom, the greatest gift of all.

My growing Christmas Village tradition. This year I added the nutcracker & the sugar plum fairy under the tree.

Fireplace set-up

Cousins & Nieces, aren't they cute??

Sunday Lunch

Wednesday Dec. 2nd was my mother-in-law's birthday, but since it was in the middle of the week, not all of the family was available to celebrate on the actual day. For her birthday (on wed.) Enrico & I invited her over for dinner to our house, where I for a change, cooked for her! We had a nice evening together.

On Sunday, we all went to restaurant on a farm and ate lunch there. The food was sooo good! Everything was genuine and the pasta was hand-made. I didn't get pictures of the food because I was too busy eating! We had a great afternoon that soon turned into evening at my sister-in-law's house where Carlotta insisted in decorating the Christmas tree all together... so x-mas tree it was!

Marinella & the cake

Carlotta REALLY wanted to use my Canon Rebel... so of course I let her and these are the pictures she took! Not bad uh??

Carlotta & her Mom Cristiana

Simona, Carlotta & Cristiana

This little munchkin (who will be two on the 16th) put on quite a show for us! He was HILARIOUS!

This (freaky) Santa Statue was at the entrance of the restaurant and Carlotta wanted a picture with it... and I would of though she'd have found it creepy. Kids! Go figure!

Sweet, sweet Carlotta.

Can't Wait!

In Italy it's tradition to start decorating on the 8th of December.... I might not be able to wait!

Yup! Once you pass 30, it's true!!!

Happy Birthday To Me!

Yup, It's time to give thanks!

Anyone going to New York Soon?

Well if you are, (I'm not) I'd like to suggest going to the Museum of the City Of New York to see an AWESOME exhibition:

Notorious and Notable

At MCNY Through January 2, 2011

A newsworthy exhibition of clothes and jewelry worn by New York's most tantalizing and trailblazing women.

Sunday Stroll

This last beautiful Sunday, we went for a stroll to Masua, and old mining town, to see some friends and have a BBQ lunch!

This is what they see from their home...

Good friends & good times! (Julia with P-Chan the cat)

BBQ Masters! Diego & Matt.

Some of the grub!

Just thought it was beautiful!

Only 12 people live in this tiny old and abandoned mining town and there are few buildings to go with it!

What was once the local snack bar.

One of the lived homes.

Gee-gee-the-dog (it's his full name) is missing a front tooth!

Just gotta love this dog! How can you not!

Time has stopped, or actually, we've gone back in time to the 70's again. Just sitting on the curb watching the guys go down-hill on their long-skate boards....

I was able to put some of my (very little) photography skills to work...

I thought this sign on the snack bar was cute!

Some ruins remaining ...

...

...washed-up stuff on the shore... kinda looks like cupcake sprinkles...

interesting uh?

and my night time shot!

Our Pumpkin!

My husband is so talented!

He looked for a pumpkin face design on the Internet, and copied it EXACTLY!