Jack and Sophie find Italy's house and the Sea!

The good news is that we are finally settled here in Catania. It has taken some time getting used to the area, and our new hotel.  Jack has found Italy's house; surprisingly, it is located at our hotel in Catania:)  The kids are now back to their napping and sleep schedules and are doing great.

The months of July and December are the shopping months here in Italy.  EVERYTHING goes on deep discount.  Some reductions are only 30% but there are many that are 50 to 70%.  I have found some great deals but the Italian shoe discount may be 50% but leaves you with a tab of $500, which doesn't make a lot of sense when you are running after this little lady:)

Wake up time:)

Jack loves to wrestle/hug on his sister.  She is becoming one tough little cookie and is starting to take him on!

One of the funny (yet annoying) cultural difference is the Italian view of time.  Everyone tells us things take a quarter to a half the amount of time than they really do.  For instance, I decided to explore the sea by Catania.  The hotel staff said it would take 20 minutes to walk there.  Forty minutes into the walk, I finally stopped only to be told that it was "20 minutes" away.  I was so flustered.  Thank goodness it was really on 20 more minutes away.  When I got to the beach, I found a really cool beach club.  The club allowed day passes for 7 euros ($10) which allowed Jack, Sophie and I to use the bounce house (made me Mom of the year at our house), playground and the sea.  Carl came and joined us after work.  We had a blast!

Jack testing out the bounce house!

Playground area!  Sophie has figured out how to climb up the slide from bottom to top.  Jack likes to swing off the top of the slide!

Carl and Jack find the Ionian Sea!

They didn't go swimming because there are huge rocks when you walk out.  I do really miss the Florida sand but the water here is bright green

Jack loving the bounce house!  He has no fear and would jump into the sides and want to flip it over.  Thank goodness I kept a hold of it all.

Jack and I have been working on his letters while we have been here.  We play the letter game with M&Ms.  It is our fun mommy and me time.  He is really interested in pretend play and likes to talk on the phone to me, and tell me that he is at work and is coming home.  I ask him what he wants for dinner, and the answer is always pizza, pasta or fish (the three main things that we eat here).  

Jack is constantly telling me how much he likes Italy's house.  There are trackless trains everywhere to ride, gelato and granita (Italian ice) and lots of strolling throughout the city.  What's not to love?!?!

We went out to an authentic Italian fish dinner.  Carl and I had great fish meals, and everyone loved the grilled vegetables.  Sophie has now joined the rest of us, and wants to dip all of her bread in olive oil.  It is SO tasty!

As you can imagine, vino is super cheap in Italy.  It has been so hot at night that we have been opting for a lot of vino bianco.  

Here are some pictures of our suite at the hotel.  It really is beautiful.  The ceilings are hand painted, the bathrooms are covered in mosaic tiles and the decor perfectly suits this area of Italy.

Ceiling in living room

Living room

Other side of living room. We have two large pack and plays.  I wish they had these size pack in plays in the U.S.  They are much longer than the graco ones.  

Our bedroom ceiling

Bathroom

One of the highlights of the first week was our playdate  with Bethany, Morgan and Sicily.  Bethany's husband works on base, and they have been living here for over two years.  Morgan is 4 and Sicily was born here and is 13 months.  They have a beautiful apartment in the city which is huge and houses a fabulous Little Tikes playhouse in the middle of the living room.  Jack and Sophie were in heaven.  Bethany fully embraced the Italian culture, sent her daughter to preschool here, and went to Italian school to learn Italian.  She has had a tutor for her entire time, and speaks impeccable Italian.  She has also learned how to make a mean Limoncello and pasta!  I think she is just fabulous.  The kids had a great time playing together, and they introduced us to granita and brioche (Italian ice and bread which is eaten together as a lunch).  Jack's new favorite is lemon and strawberry.  HEAVEN!!!

Jack hanging out in our bed

Jack and Mommy at dinner.  We went to another fish restaurant by the beach.  This time we followed Bethany's advice and got pizza with lots of grilled vegetables and also arugula on top!

Sophia and Mommy are both happy to have found a restaurant with a REAL high chair

Via Etnea...the main street we walk everyday

This is the square that we walk down every morning to get to Via Etna.  it is quite steep but worth the trip

Sophia is still giving me a run for my money. She wants to walk everywhere and is very independent.  She tells me "no" that she wants "tv" and "ipad" and is only happy when she is walking wherever SHE wants to go.  She is 15 months going on 15 years.

Carl had to go back into the base late one afternoon so we joined him.  Here is Jack and Sophie eating subs at Subway in Sicily:)

The infamous cart at the base commissary