For those facebookers out there, you already know we truly took a trip of a lifetime this month. We headed to Italy (by ourselves!!) to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary (Aug 13), and my 33rd birthday (June 7th). This is a destination that should be on the bucket list for sure.
We flew overnight 
The best part of Venice was the glass blowing tour. They had an arrangement setup with our hotel to give transport to the island and tours. After the tour, they walked us through the gallery and put on the hard sell. We bought 13 (in case one breaks) napkin rings (10 EUR each) and got out of there fast!
So definitely worth seeing, but you really only need one day in Venice.
Next we took the train to Florence. This was my favorite city. 1) because we got to take a train out to Cinque Terre and hike through mountains covered with rows of grape vines (taking breaks to swim in the icy Mediterranean Sea). 2) the bike tour through Tuscany to see the olive presses and the beautiful country side; 3) the art and the food are unparalleled and 4) I love St. Regis!
Then on to Rome! Rick Steve’s audio walking tour app is amazing! We listened as we walked through the Vatican, the Forum, the Coliseum, the Pantheon, and many cathedrals. This was Scott’s favorite city, the history is unbelievable, and we probably had our two best meals here. Plus we both were obsessed with the spa at he Waldorf in Rome—ice bath inside a steam room!
Already, we look back so fondly on this trip. It was incredible to spend so much uninterrupted time with Scott. We watched about a dozen episodes of Parenthood, slept in, ate gelato like it was our job (especially Scott), and absolutely fell in love with fresh Italian olive oil. In fact, I have had a caprese salad for lunch almost every day since we’ve been back.
And the kids, oh yeah the kids :-). They were well taken care of! They stayed with my parents, and a staff of helpers. And I’m not joking about the “staff”—I hired a college girl to help them all week, they hired an additional college girl from Sugarloaf to help, my mom’s twin sister (who is basically another Grammy) came into help, and…. they hired a chef!! 
You are welcome future daughter in-law :-)
Latest funny saying: after I ask him to do something, he shouts “Fine Bossy Sir!!”
9 months and he finally started crawling—oh my gosh love him!!!
VBS (4 years now)—Jackson and his favorite girl, Kate
Making water “walk” and homemade swing for “snowflake beauty.”
Grant must have done this slide 50 times.
That said, when I went back for the alumni basketball game, the part that disappointed me was the lack of class I felt like was displayed from both the players and the parents of the players. There was a lot of drama arms, boasting, arrogance from the players, and screaming from the parents—and this was an alumni game! I was stunned. It just didn’t have the sweet, humble, Christ-like feel that it did when I was there; and it made me sad.
Who knows, maybe I just caught it on a bad day; and maybe we’ll still send our kids there; but the motivation went down tremendously.
Of course Bill Burton was there and he was as amazing as always. Plus David Eaton who graduated with us now coaches the men’s basketball team and he will do great things there. It brought back a lot of memories seeing both of them!
Love to you and your families--TFK
