ruins

This is at the Colosseum which wasn't even called the Colosseum when it was being used for what it was being used for.  It was called...uh...something else.  

Anyway.  I do remember that people started calling it the Colosseum because of the HUGE statue that was moved next to it of Nero? I think.  The statue was called the Collosus.  I think... 

Well...never mind.  No history lesson for you.  

The sun was in my eyes and super bright so it was a kind of "I'm going to look down and hurry take the picture when I look up and open my eyes for the second of time I can possibly keep them open" type picture.  And I'm standing in front of...uh...ruins.  

Crumb.

Palentine Hill?  Hmmm...

Oh Wait!  This was on Palentine hill where all the leaders and rich people lived and that is actually the Colosseum behind us which wasn't called the Colossem at the time it was being used for horrid stuff.  But I already told you that part.

Those trees are super cool though, eh?

Trevi Fountain.  Awesome.

I know something about this fountain that is cool but it just isn't coming to me...

Did you know I am getting pretty old.  I even make moaning noises when I stand up and stuff.  

I think I even need reading glasses.  gasp!

Do you recognize that place below?  Can you remind me what it is?

JUST KIDDING!  

I know this one.  It's at St. Peter's bascillica.  (right?)  

We're at the top of the dome.  It's windy.

Check out his feet.  He just finished putting those bad boys on.  

Zoom Zoom.

THIS BAKERY!  Was right outside our B&B.  It is in a little basement thing and my sister's rooms window opened to a courtyard that their back door opened onto and she smelled baked goods all the time.  YUM!

Our room had a bad toilet problem and smelled of sewer all the time.  But I kept the door closed and sprayed OUST all over and it was tolerable, I suppose.  

SO!

Have I convinced you to visit Rome?  I bet your interest is piqued.  

You'd like to learn all the cool stuff I alluded to, wouldn't you?

Well, that was on purpose.  If I told you all about it then you would have no reason to go.

What a disservice I would have done to you and the Rome tourism market.

You can thank me later.

*

Poof! It's Tomorrow!

Welcome to the second part of our vacation.  Did you forget?  


I know...it's been a month of tomorrows.


I have one word for my excuse.

CAMP!

I'll post pictures.  Tomorrow.

But for now!  ROME!!!

See there.  To the right.  Tortellini.  Mmmmm.  Hello Italy!

However!  There was more to Rome than tortellini.  I'll show you.

See.  I told you!

That Gnocci that Cally had was to DIE for.  It was a gnocci with pears.  THE best one we tried our whole trip.  And we tried a few.  For sure.

One more.  I forgot.  I don't know how, but I did.  For just a moment.

Soooo yummy.  I WISH you could see inside this Gelato shop.  There were counters that wound around the perimiter of the store and it was tearfully amazing to behold the colors and flavors and mayhem of customers trying to procure their treat.  

I just tried to find a picture in my sister Cassy's gallery thingy because her hubby was the trip photographer of sorts, but alas...no weaving counters of creamy goodness.

BUT I did find other goodness in the gallery.  

Back story:

We had just finished our trip to the Vatican.  Amazing.  Awesome.  You should go.

We were heading down this georgous staircase, well, it was a ramp actually, 

when the three sisters (me, Cally, and Cassy: seen in the Gelato picture above.) 

decided to stop and have a gander around.

Well,  Cally and I gandered but Cassy saw Seth with his camera and posed.  Cally and I didn't see him at all!  We were just being normal and natural.  Seriously.  

I think Cally spotted Seth about now.  and who is that long haired man?

I still haven't seen the camera.  So natural.  Ohhh...the long haired man stopped right by us.

He must think we are stunning and natural looking.  Mr. Curious Man.

He's done being snoopy.  And Cally has boot scooted out of there.  I wonder why?

He never even knew I was there.  A HA HA HA.  The fun that is Rome.

I'm glad I'm still alive.  Man.  Risky business being mischevious in a foreign country.

I hope you're not bored yet because I'd like to show you some photos where I am aware of the camers and looking pretty.

Like this one at the top of St. Peter's Bascillica.  

And these two:

And another:

And a quaint little triptic:

(I learned that word from watching a design show.  Triptic.  goruping of three.  I think that's what it means.)

What?!  We were being serious?  They should tell me the feeling to be protrayed in a photo shoot.  My interpretation of the moment was, I see, different, apart, unique.  

Not in this next photo however.  We adjusted our demeanor in unison to portray a more somber and serious tone. 

And another triptic that was result of a little misnderstanding, but turned out well in the end.

It was a lovely trip.  And our husbands were a lot of fun to have along.  Really!  

And Rome is lovely.  More than just food.  

Maybe I will show you the old cool stuff in my next post.

BY THE WAY~~!

Happy 200TH post!

awww.

It seems like only yesterday...

*

We had a great trip, but check out her hair!

Madeline got a new haircut.  She has been talking about it and researching it for a few months and I was hesitant.  We did some pre-counseling to prepare for an "I hate it" outcome and got a few conditions in place about upkeep of self kind of things and went for it.

She LOVES it. 

She's a brave girl.  

And that is her first pink t-shirt since she was 5!

She even wore a skirt to school today.  With purple tights.

She is morphing.

I want to update about my trip, but I am not a lover of editing pictures.  I love editED pictures, but I don't like taking the time.  I am not a photographer by nature.  Cropping, rotating, playing with the colors and stuff... just don't know what looks good.  However!  My sister does.  So maybe I will link to her post (when she gets it up) if she includes enough pictures of me, of course.  

I do have the "Joey's dreams come true" picture montage that she (sister) does not possess, yet.  Those pictures are good as is.  Maybe I'll go that route.

It was, as always, a great time. 

 Healthy kids.  Lots of crowds.  Sunny days.

And Butterbeer.

Oh, Butterbeer.

Hhhuuuuuuh!

*

stuff we're doin'

Man that creek water is cold, cold, cold!

Meet Dodger.  G & G's new deer chaser.  

He keeps the deer out of the garden and the girls LOVE him.  

The boys are warming up.

We went into Waterton for ice cream and the traditional sight seeing.

Cameron Falls 

It's hard to get a good picture there.

We always show up when the sun is right in our eyes.  

This, below, is Gopher Village.  Unofficially named.  

Gma sat us down with a bag of Cheeto puffs and we fed those little varmits.

It was kind of disgusting, but the kids sure loved it.  

This is Carter deciding wether to follow the rest of the crew 

into the chicken coop to look for eggs.

He did finally go.  Quickly.

This is the Cardston Temple.  I love it.

G & G were married there.

To Grandmother's house we go!

Happy faces on our flight (after waiting out a storm on the tarmac and a layover in St. Paul) to Great Falls where Grandma will pick us up and drive us 3 more hours north into Canada.  It's cheaper this way.

We had quite a late arrival in Great Falls.  

The next day, after a night in a comfy hotel and our long drive to Beazer,

we headed out straight away to Lee Creek.

Then we stopped off to see some goats.

Madeline, Erin and I loved it!

The boys... not so much.  

We're having a great time!  

I'm not 'kid'ding!

Miss you, Brian.