Sienna

So one day we went to Sienna which is this crazy city where it is a big circle that all comes down to a piazza (which I managed not to get a picture of...bummer), but it is so amazing to see things built just into a slope...

There are these tiny streets that use switchbacks to go up the side of the hill...which means you are always climbing up in one direction or the other.

These homes give all new meaning to "spitting in your neighbors window"...

That round window belongs to a church...surrounded by neighborhood houses...
It was hot that day...really really hot...and I paid $15 USD for a coke and a bottled water while waiting for Matt to check some things out. Then we got stuck in the parking lot because our ticket couldn't get us out...Matt couldn't talk to the guy in Italian, so we had to wait until someone came to our aid...who drove Matt clear across the city to the parking office to get a new ticket, while I waited peacefully (good thing for me Mateo was in the car...kept my thoughts in my head, instead of coming out of my mouth). We finally got out and went back to the villa...exhausted!

Playing in the Park in Greve in Chianti

One of our favorite days was playing in the park with Cole & Ellie while Dad went to Florence and saw the Uffizzi...you know how Mom feels about museums!! :)

Mateo is addicted to slides, and he always wants to do them himself...

This was a really cool and safe teeter-totter...Ellie was a big help!!

Jim & Marnie went out on a date night to a restaurant they had eaten at on their last trip to Italy...this time it was not quite as good.

San Giamanano

Matt was proud to have the guard of the Torture Museum model a Mountain View Construction Hat...it matched Mateo's and made quite a trek to be pictured here

Mateo's new favorite friends, Cole & Ellie, outside the fountain in the center of the Piazza in San Giamanano...

The view from the top of the tower...Matt made the hike...

The bottom of said hiked tower...it was way taller than it looked...

See previous comments about how our family looks so goofy in family pictures...Cielle is looking marvelous as always...

Love from Oregon, Sarah

More from Assisi

Cielle and her beau Dario, resting on a ledge overlooking the Umbrian landscape...

Matt & I at a restaurant in Assisi...we would go to dinner at 7:30 and be the very first ones at the restaurant...

Cielle & Dario waiting to eat....

Teresa and I were so struck by the entry ways in Assisi...

Mateo loved chasing pigeons in the piazza, but he especially loved when Dario helped him feed the pigeons. Can we say shrieks of laughter abounded??

Interruption on Italy

So some of you may know that I have a new job with the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department...I am currently on a 9 city in 12 day road show tour through Oregon on some feedback forums for our stakeholders. Matt & Mateo came on this leg which includes Bend, Medford, Roseburg & Eugene. Matt & Mateo got to play near Crater Lake today, while Mom worked in Medford...the pictures tell quite a story.

At the lake...

Dutifully pondering a small bug or something like that...

Daddy, I said NO MORE PICTURES!!!

More Italy photos this weekend we hope...but these were too good to pass up.

Hugs from The Roseburg Sleep Inn...Sarah & boys