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Gratefully Grateful 25

Despite the sadness of losing my children’s only great-grandfather this past week I can’t help but feel so grateful for the time we all had together. We have been so fortunate to know and spend time with this amazingly dynamic man who put family in the centre of his life. His enthusiasm for everything from art to travel to the goings-on of his very large immediate family was contagious (as well as his famous giggle). We’ll miss him dearly but have many lovely memories to remember him by.

Some images that made me smile despite the sad news this week:

The best reading corner in the house on a sunny day. Also perfect or a sun-spot nap.
Last days of summer hats and dresses.

Trying to paint a kitchen with a large clumsy cat in the middle of it all actually makes it much more fun. For me at least.

I run into Idyllic little scenes such as this every single day. I love living in Italia.

Have a great week!

Gratefully Grateful
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Tags: daily life, grateful, gratefully grateful, italia, italy, living in italy, photography

Comments 15 Comments
Categories Creative, daily life, Family/Kids, grateful, gratefully grateful, italia, Living in Italia, Living in Italy, photography

Gratefully Grateful 24

8 Sep

I’m going to be honest up front here and say that September is not my favourite month. After the summer holidays and being with my kids day in and day out I always find September and back-to-school such a lonely time of year.

I need to re-adjust to being solo for the most part of my days. I need to re-adjust to having an empty and hauntingly silent (and tidy) house. I need to re-adjust to having time for myself and doing groceries and errands without three chatty kids with me.

In the end I just plain miss my kids during the 10 months of school each year. I even offered to home-school them at a certain point but was politely told that it was never going to happen.

But I know in a few short weeks I’ll have my life more organised, lots of activities scheduled, projects lined up and my feet back firmly on the ground.

Anyone else out there feel the same way around this time of year?

Here are a few images from our summer vacation. Even if we had record breaking bad weather it really was a great one.

Evidence that my daughter is a lover of stripes. Just like her Mama.
*taken in Albissola Marina, Liguria*

So grateful that we can arrive at the Meditteranean in less than two hours. My kids spent our days there body surfing in the warm water, eating gelato and foccacia and doing crosswords under the parasol with their Mama.

I will always and forever love geraniums. Amen.Bikes in a charming courtyard in the centre of Milan.

Lovely memories of eating at this little wine bar at a local lake. Their cheese plate served with champagne jelly is life changing.

Wishing you all a lovely week ahead.

Gratefully Grateful
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Tags: family life, grateful, gratefully grateful, italia, living in italy, photography

Comments 11 Comments
Categories Creative, daily life, Family/Kids, grateful, gratefully grateful, italia, Living in Italy, photography, Travel

Gratefully Grateful 21

23 Jun

Oh June. You’re a month that knocks me off my feet. The end-of-year parties, going-away parties, birthday parties, school parties, bbq parties, recitals, plays, events and just about anything else you can think of have been keeping our days (and most evenings) BUSY.

Not to mention the World Cup which is all everyone is talking about over here in Italy. Usually we’re a family that knows absolutely nothing about football (soccer). We don’t understand the game, wouldn’t recognise a player if he walked past us nor really ever cared about who was winning or losing. But somehow that has all changed and my Belgian husband and kids have become crazed. You should have heard them screaming when Belgium made the winning shot (goal?) in last night’s game. Hilarious.

Here are a few images to add to my Gratefully Grateful series…

Test shot for our upcoming photo booth at a local pyjama run in support of kids with cancer. A few years ago we folded those paper cranes (actually 1000 in total) for a little friend of ours who was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He’s doing really well at the moment and we couldn’t be happier. (holy top knot!)If you follow me on Instagram you would have seen a similar photo to the one above. I bought these golden raspberries at a local farm and have fallen head over heels for this fruit. Sweeter than the traditional red ones but with a with a slightly different taste. Can’t wait to make an Italian Crostata with Golden Raspberry Jam in the coming days.Happy to have this little guy back after 4 days away from home. He had a blast in the mountains with his class but was overwhelmed with joy at the Welcome Home banner that his sisters made for his return.
Last week our new couches arrived and with it 5 huge cardboard boxes. My kids got out the paints and spent hours playing with and decorating those boxes. Love that. Who says tweens are miserable and always bored? Mine definitely aren’t.

Have a great week!

Gratefully Grateful
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Tags: family, grateful, gratefully grateful, italy, living in italy, photography

Comments 18 Comments
Categories Family/Kids, grateful, gratefully grateful, photography

Gratefully Grateful 3

24 Jan

This week, I am grateful for…

…this little fur-face named Birdie who spends his days attacking my ponytail.… colourful little sunny spots such as this that are to be found all over my house.…yellow striped guitar cases and the little guitarist who carries it around with pride.