Staying in and then then leaving

 An easy way I structure this blog is by uploading all the pictures I’ve taken since the last post and just talk about them. It works pretty well, but can sometimes be a jumble. But I’m going to do it again anyway.  Pictures just say a lot more than I could. They’re worth, like, 478 words or something like that.

We don’t always have exciting adventures every time we go out. So I’m not always inclined to bring my camera. But then, of course when we do, I probably don’t have it. Like last night! I wish I could have captured the street performers playing in Piazza Navona last night. They were awesome! It was a guitarist, an accordionist, and a hammer dulcimer-ist. They were amazing. All very talented jazzers and tearing up their solos playing Gypsy jazz. But I have no proof of that one. O well. I’ll try again.

Like I said, sometimes we just stay in…so here’s some of us staying in and Skyping our family.

"Hey I know that person!" -Stella 

talking to grandmama

 So cute.

Since we don’t have a ton a toys right now the girls have fun playing in random parts of the apartment. Like the kitchen cabinets.  And the washer.

 Stella usually can't get down from this one.

If this were me, I'd be playing drive-thru window. "I'll have a large Whopper and a curly fry please!"

"Come out of there, I dare ya!" -Stella

This could be a professional model shoot

Then, sometimes we go out. This is how we use the bus.

It's not always this spacious, trust me. 

Yesterday we were so crammed on a bus that I could barely get far enough so that the doors didn't hit me. And we were a foot away from a teenage loving couple who were so close it was practically mandatory to make-out. And then caress Stellas face. And then go back to making out. I can just imagine her thoughts, "Everyone is just so beautiful!" They continued when they got off the bus where we did also, so I guess it wasn't the closeness of the sweaty bus-mates that brought them together.

Then sometimes we go to playgroup. Here's some random shots there:

We made ladybirds the first week. I thought that was just a made up bird, but they really mean lady bug.

The one and two year olds were champs and glueing and not eating the product.

Here's Stella traveling at warp speed.

Then one time, I left my camera at playgroup and had sick kids and so we just stopped by for a minute to grab my camera and then we went here:

Piazza del Populo

Ya, that's an awesome 360 degree shot.
It was very cool and full of statues. Like a lot of Rome.

Next to the Twin Churches.

Don't forget the pretty dump truck

This one was taken because I wanted to use my zoom all the way across the Piazza. But I thought I'd stop it this far to give a more complete shot... of the whole picture. :)

Then there are real hieroglyphics (thank you spell check) on big pole thingies in the middle.

I think our churches should have more ducks in them.
You know, for the children.

Again, thank you zoomy zoom camera.
You couldn't see them this well from the ground.

The beginning of Ancient Christian nose jobs.

As we continued our walk to Villa...something from a rich rich family long ago, we passed these:

I want one in my garden

My great-great-great-great grandfather.

I love the angels all over the place.

After that , my camera died because it had been sitting at the playgroup for a couple of days. Too bad, cause it's a fantastic park.

Then at home, sometimes we nap. Here's proof.  (he he he)

This girl has grown so much!
I want this side by side of a "napping with daddy" shot from a year ago.

Stella waking from a nap.

"I'm just blinking I swear"

See?

Very awake

Oh! Eyes! Almost!

We got these off of a most wanted photo. 

Have you seen these criminals?

Actually these were our over-priced passport photos. We had them done professionally. They guy touched our chin to adjust our faces one millimeter, just to look official I suppose. Cause he could have done this with out even looking at us. They actually have booths here that you can pop into on the streets to get passport shots. For 2 euros. 

These are the professional shots
after they went through the wash.

It was really quite a feat that Emma let the man take the picture while actually looking straight at him. I forget how much candy we promised her. Oh, wait! It was because we went to the shop twice, said she was getting a picture the first time, but then we left without getting hers. So naturally, that's all she wanted. We did have to go back to get both girls and these were the results. Super cute.

So that was something of life in the past week. Maybe this week I'll remember to take my camera out. I didn't today and we visited St. John Lateran, the main Papal Cathedral. It was awesome. More to come on that later.