Mia and Noah-Field Trip to Pismo Beach

The two cousins have been hanging out non-stop every day while Aunt Sara watches the two so that I can work. Jeff had to go back to Georgia to teach and Aunt Sara and all the grandparents have become Noah's new surrogate dad.

One Sunday, Grandpa Danny and Grandma Anne loaded us up and off we went to Shell Beach. The two had a blast at the park overlooking the ocean. Then we headed down to Pismo Beach for Mia's first real beach visit. She LOVED it!

Weekend Trip to Huntington Lake with Marc and Sarah

The day we got back from Italy we turned around and drove up to Huntington Lake, which is up near Kings Canyon, for Marc and Sarah's bachelor/bachelorette party. We stayed in condos above the lake for 2 nights. On Saturday we hit the lake and rented a boat and a jet ski and then headed out to a tiny island in the middle of the lake. We had a great day on the water and I discovered that I LOVE jet skiing! That night we cooked ourselves the feast of a lifetime and had a great time hanging out together while watching Michael Phelps win the first of his golds. It was a great weekend.

NOAH'S FIRST LIFE JACKET FASHION SHOW

MARC AND NOAH KEEPING IT REAL

Leaving Italy-August 7, 2008

The last of the summer programs ended on August 5 and Fede, Jeff, Noah and I were back alone again after 5 weeks of having students and staff everywhere. We headed up north to Milan, having coffee with Fede's parents along the way and meeting Arthur (our boss) for dinner in Milan. We flew out the next morning and after a long, but fairly easy-going trip, arrived back in LAX.

The summer in Italy flew by this year since I worked as the Florence Program Director in addition to being the Country Director. I had a blast being with the students and staff and will miss having them around all the time. It was a great summer!

Take a look at the Florence program blog that I posted for the students and parents throughout the summer. It will give you a good idea of what we did.

http://www.abbeyroad-florence.blogspot.com/

Hanging Out with the Florence Program

Brady and Noah

Noah taking a stroll down the bus aisle


Lindsay and Noah at Viareggio

Rome

The Colosseum

Relaxing in the clovers outside of Bocca della Verita`

Villa Borghese

Cinque Terre

Noah, Jeff and I hiked to three of the 5 towns along with the program group. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was hot, but it made for a great hike and then refreshing cool down at the beach in Monterosso.

Monterosso

San Gimignano and Siena

Hanging out in Piazza del Campo in Siena


Piazza della Cisterna in San Gimignano

Wine Tasting in Tuscany

Jeff, Noah, Fede and our close friends Matt and Jenny all headed out to the countryside one afternoon for some spur of the moment wine tasting. We found a winery villa and had a fantastic time picnic-ing and tasting. Matt and Jenny live next door to us in Athens and they came to visit us in Florence. We had a really great time and loved showing them Florence and the countryside.

Cappuccino Time

VIVA IL CAPPUCCIO FIORENTINO

L'ORA DI CAFE

San Miniato al Monte and Piazzale Michelangelo

VIEW FROM PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO

VIEW FROM SAN MINIATO AL MONTE

CHIESA DI SAN MINIATO AL MONTE

Visit to the Certosa

The Certosa is a monastery outside of Florence where the monks live in silence. They are only allowed to speak for one hour each week. Fede, Jeff, Noah and I took a guided tour and Noah stayed quiet the entire time! After the Certosa we drove to a nearby town in the countryside for a glass of wine before heading back to Florence.

OUTSIDE THE CERTOSA

INSIDE THE COURTYARD

COLLE DI VAL D'ELSA