Welcome, Fall!

Things here in Italy are going pretty well! The weather has finally started to cool down, so we can enjoy more time outside without fear of heat exhaustion. I think Fall is on it's way!

Italians love their fireworks. They will use just about any excuse (holiday, festival, cousin's sister's aunt's daughter's report card) to do a fireworks show. We see and/or hear fireworks about 4 out of 7 days from our house. Sometimes the fireworks are during the day (like this morning at 7 a.m.), sometimes they are at night (on a random Wednedsday evening at 11:30 p.m.). We don't usually know the rhyme or reason behind the fireworks, but it is usually a pretty good show! Unless, of course, we are trying to sleep!

This past weekend we relaxed at home. Allison was feeling a bit under the weather and it was a bit rainy so we didn't do much. On Sunday we went to our friend Oliver's 3rd birthday party. The kids had fun playing and of course, eating cupcakes!

So far, contrary to all the horror stories we'd heard before arriving, driving around here has not been too scary. It takes some getting used to, because there seem to be essentially no rules. The other night we were on the highway (called the autostrada here). As you can see, there were no lane markers! Everyone was driving at about 65 mph on their own merry way.

This week the kids started their new Italian nursery school. The first day went pretty well. There were a few tears, especially from Allison, but I think that's to be expected when your mom leaves you at a school filled with people who don't speak the same language as you :) . They were both happy at the end of the day when I picked them up, though. We'll see how day #2 goes tomorrow!