7 quick takes: a boy who spits, a date, and an early bird

1. Lost front tooth. Don't get too close ... he spits.



2. Last week, just before they wheeled my husband into surgery, we heard a little girl tell the following joke as she was being wheeled into surgery: Q: Why did the chicken cross the playground? A: To get to the other slide. Maybe we were simply nervous, but for some reason we thought it was incredibly funny ...

3. This year the Easter Bunny brought the boys their own Cuponk games. They are a HUGE hit. HUGE. Ping Pong balls are flying everywhere ... bouncing off ceiling fans, down the stairs, and even on my forehead. That is one smart Bunny.

4. Did you give up sweets for Lent? Go here for thoughts on continuing along those lines ...

5. Because my husband has been housebound for over a week, tomorrow we are getting out: first the bookstore, then lunch at P.F. Chang's. Dates during the week are the best.

6. Today is my nephew's birthday. Christopher is my all-time favorite nephew because he reads my blog and thinks his Auntie Bia (that's me) is funny. He is also handsome, responsible, and smart. Buon Compleanno, Christopher!

7. In case you haven't noticed the time ... it's just after four in the morning. Yes, I got up to watch the Royal Wedding. Now, if you'll excuse me I'm off to make a cup of tea.

For more fun Quick Takes, visit Jen at Conversion Diary. She has been hosting a series of guest posts on the Our Father, Word by Word.

Shhh! Don't tell my family that ...

today's dessert is chocolate mousse made with ... tofu.

Love: Yesterday and Today

FACT: My mother spoke a little English.
FACT: My father spoke even less Italian.
FACT: Celebrating 45 years of marriage.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MOM & DAD!!!

7 quick takes: salty tea (bleck), my very own bed and breakfast, a godfather marathon

1. My husband has to have outpatient surgery next Wednesday. Nothing serious, but he will have to take a week off work to recuperate. I'm looking forward to that week ... we have plans to watch ALL the Godfather movies.

2. Yes, our two oldest boys are teens and, yes, they still get Easter baskets. Do you have any good Easter basket ideas? I presented the question on facebook and received the following suggestions: patron saint medals; a catholic/christian t-shirt, ball cap, or cd (Casting Crowns, Third Day); gift cards (iTunes, movies, fast food); gum/candy; books about athletes (Michael Oher's book, I Beat the Odds) ...

How about you ... any ideas to share?

3. Two of my lifelong dreams are to run a quaint Bed & Breakfast, or to own a corner coffee shop. Not sure why I'm mentioning this other than the fact that on the way to Orlando last week I had an eight hour car drive to think about the different types of homemade muffins I would serve.

4. Speaking of vacations, I daydream too much.

5. Tonight I had two saucepans boiling on the stove: one w/ salted water for pasta, and one w/ plain water for iced tea. In my hurry, I dumped the pasta in the unsalted water and poured the salted water (to which I added sugar) in the iced tea pitcher. Bleck, ick, patooey.

6. Holy Week is coming up and I'm trying to plan some family activities to keep it ... well, holy. Some ideas: making a "Palm" Sunday family tree, decorating an Easter candle for Easter Sunday, having a silent Friday night (no television, speaking softly), and re-creating the meal of the Last Supper.

7. Easy summer salad: hearts of romaine, coarsely chopped (it has to be this type of lettuce since the consistency is important); juice of 1/2 lemon (or more to taste); drizzle of extra virgin olive oil; salt to taste; toss and serve. That's it ... a light salad that goes well with anything.

Now, go visit Jen at Conversion Diary; yesterday she did a post on makeup essentials. Who doesn't like makeup?

I heart Vacations

While vacationing in Orlando last week, every evening we played a card game called Liar. It's a simple game, but because it requires a lot of bluffing it can also be very funny. We're talking side-splitting, roll-on-the-floor, mad-dash-to-the-bathroom laughter.

The game also provided an ongoing joke because sometimes I would win, sometimes Joe, sometimes Nicholas, and sometimes even Timothy ... but never Jonathan. Ever. He made a big production of it: every night he was determined to win, and every night he didn't. It got funnier and funnier.

It's memories like this that makes me love vacations. Sure, we play games at home. We laugh, tell stories and create memories. But there is something about these things happening in a different city, town, or even country that makes them stand out. It's as if our senses are exaggerated. We laugh louder, play harder, and feel more when we're on vacation.

After every vacation I come back a new person because, really, how can I walk in our nation's capital, witness a splendid sunset over the Bay of Naples, or walk with ghosts on Ellis island and not be changed? How can I see the Pope, have a charming conversation with the old man at the mercato in Tuscany, watch a bullfight in Spain, or even meet Mickey Mouse and not be a different person?

As I travel, I pick up seeds of creativity that I bring home to plant and nurture. The geraniums in my terra cotta pots, my new recipe for insalata caprese, the manner in which we entertain, and even the simplicity of our master bedroom are all ideas I picked up during our vacations both here and abroad.

It's a great big world out there ... a beautiful world ... and to experience it means we sometimes have to head into the unknown armed only with a map, some guidebooks, and a spirit of adventure.

And along the way, memories are created and stored.

On the very last night of our vacation, we decided to play Liar again. Even though it was 11 o clock at night and we were all tired, we just had to play one more game - one last game - for old time's sake.

This time we laughed because the joke was on us.

Finally, finally Jonathan won.

Finally.

Whispering Canyon Cafe
Jonathan, being a good sport with our waiter

VACATION Q & A

WHEN DID I GET SO SHORT???


IS THIS NOT THE SEXIEST (DISNEY!) ELEPHANT YOU'VE EVER SEEN?


CAN WE THROW AWAY THE KEY?


DO YOU HAVE A VERSION OF THIS CLASSIC MAGIC KINGDOM PHOTO OP?


RAMBO????


RATHER IRREVERENT OF ME, BUT IS GOOFY ...
A. PICKING HIS NOSE? or,
B. GIVING US THE FINGER?