Mini trip to Ski Country

Last weekend we tried a"family mini-trip." Again, I think this is all good practice for our three and a half week trek this summer. As all trips begin, ours started with nagging kids to pack, bickering, yelling to 'hurry up!', and one false start when Zac realized he forgot his sunglasses. Once on the road, there was still some whining, "I'm so uncomfortable!" "I'm hungry." Fortunately I left the house prepared: pillows? check. snacks and drinks? check! And best of all, an audio book that the whole family will enjoy.

Finally we were out on the open road, heading north. The last couple of days were so warm, we worried there wouldn't be enough snow. However, once we hit Maine, a furious snow shower hit us, getting us in the mood for skiing.

The three hour journey sped by as we listened to the mystery on the CD player and everyone's moods improved significantly. Finally, we reached Woodstock, ME and my cousin Lynne's ski cabin in the woods. What a gloriously cozy home, but large enough to comfortably fit two families.

Very quickly we were ready to go skiing. I warned Lynne that she and her fashionably-clad children may want to pretend not to notice us Cataldos in our mismatched winter ski wear. But she laughed saying she was proud to ski with "the Griswalds."  High praise.

Well, after a few more stressful confusions at the rental station and getting all the kids suited up, we found ourselves high above the trees on the chair lift. It was a beautiful day, not too cold, calm winds and terrific easy runs with spring snow. From the beginning, we all remembered how to ski (Me too, even though it had been 25 years since I skied.)

Then something amazing happened. We were all having fun! Together. At the same time and doing the same activity. There was laughing and racing. We mixed up our chair lift partners and had a glorious day. Lynne and her kids were the perfect hosts, not teasing my slower start and keeping us company on the easier trails. I haven't had that much fun since....well since I don't know when! Jaramie always tells me that I have forgotten how to play. But I remembered last weekend.

The rest of the weekend was equally fun, and relaxing. Hanging with our cousins. Feasting, lounging and playing a competitive game of Scrabble (not an app- the real one with a  lazy-Susan-board and wooden tiles.)

By the time all the bacon was crunched the next morning, and our bags were packed, we hugged our wonderful hosts (xoxo Lynne and Dino, Sam and Julia!!) and patted ourselves on the back for a successful family mini-trip. And we were all still smiling as we pulled back into our driveway. Home.

Lessons learned:
1. family + activity = fun. (even if it is tough to get there)
2. bring snacks

Practicing dinner out

On Friday it hit 60 degrees, and we all were a bit giddy. We decided to go out to dinner altogether as a family. We don't do this very often since...

a) It's pricey 

b) We're not always at the same place at the same time and 

c) Usually we are also with Papa and Donna or Nana too. (back to "a") 

So, off we went to our favorite place in Amesbury, MA, the  Flatbread Pizza Company. It has yum yum yummy creative and organic pizzas, interesting beers and drinks, and to-die-for desserts. There was a bit of a wait, but the mood among all the patrons was festive, as we had all emerged from our hibernation caves on that very day. 

We sat at the perfect table, right by the cavernous wood fired oven and pizza makers. Laughing, joking, and telling stories, we ordered the works and enjoyed not only delicious food, but also the company of none other than... ourselves! If you can believe it, no one whined or pouted the whole time. There was only a minimal amount of texting, and we didn't have to "take anyone for a walk" while the pizza was twirled on floury hands and baked. It was weird.... Suddenly we were "that family" who could all go out to dinner and have a fun time together.  And good thing too, since we're going to have a lot of togetherness on our European Adventure in a few months. 

After dinner, we took a walk on the sidewalks with mill-building overhangs dripping with melting snow. We took a look at the roaring waterfall that careens through the square and the kids all strolled arm in arm in arm around town.  On the ride home, I popped in a CD we got for Christmas, and we listened and practiced saying, "Hello"...."Ciao" and "Please repeat"... "Ripetere per favore?" Maia taught us all how to roll our "r"s and gave us a neat trick if we weren't sure how to say something in Italian. Maia shouted, "Just say, 'Mi piace linguine pepperoni penne pasta pizza!'" 

Although the night was warm, and we were in our Honda Pilot instead of a sleigh, we "laughed and sang" all the way home.

Snow, Snow and More Snow

At dinner last night, over bowls of steaming beef stew, we were discussing what we all were looking forward to the most about our summer vacation. Jaramie said she was excited about "riding in the plane" , Maia and Jesse both said, "the food!" and I mentioned how interested I was in being able to walk "into" a glacier. Zac looked out the window and replied, "Really? I could arrange for you to do that right in our yard."

Good point.
But hopefully, by the time June and July roll around all this snow will be a distant (albeit dark) memory.

Switzerland and Italy Hotels!

Brunnen, Switzerland:  

http://www.waldstaetterhof.ch/index.cfm?lang=E

Saas Fee, Switzerland:  

http://www.hotel-britannia.ch/haupt.php?id=start&lang=en

Orta san Guilio, Italy:   

http://www.orta.net/leondoro/

Torri del Benaco, Italy:  

http://www.hotel-gardesana.com/

Venice, Italy:  

http://www.aiduefanali.com/en/information/index/1-0.html

Vernazza, Cinque Terra, Italy: 
http://www.acadanonna.com/

Smart phone posts!

I want to learn how to upload posts and photos from my Droid. That will be awesome!

This is the apartment we've rented for the last week of our European Vacation

Our Paris Apartment http://www.parisaddress.com/paris-apartment-rental/apartment/france/paris/saint-germain-des-pres/2_bedrooms/GUEN.html

...5 months to go and counting...

Well, we've been dreaming of taking the kids to Europe for years now. In fact, when Jaramie was about 2 years old Zac said he'd had enough! We were going that summer! But then we realized how implausible that was...money, small kids...money... So, with a sigh, we called it off.

Then two years ago Papa and Donna told us their plan. They would take each of their children, along with their families, to Europe with them on their annual summer excursion. One family per year over the course of three years. Well, that was winning the lottery for us. And perfect timing too!

First, Chloe and Chris got to go, turning their trip into their European Honeymoon. And what a time they had. I loved the way Chris kept us connected during the trip by sending Facebook messages and pictures through their 10 day vacation. That got me thinking..... about how to document our trip. That's when I first dreamed up this Blog idea. Many of my friends had blogs for various reasons, so why can't I? (Except for lack of time, creativity and experience...)

So here goes...

This is 2011, the year that Zac and I and our three kids: Jesse, Maia and Jaramie get to fly across the pond and begin our magical dream. We can't wait.