Pasta Making

A couple of weekends ago I was able to sneak away and join in on a pasta making class at an Agritorismo (a farm that usually has a resaurant and does all of their growing organically). Zach couldn't go because he was taking his SAT's that day, but I did get to go with a couple of friends which was nice. We drove up and enjoyed the pasta making process with some local Sicilian women teaching us how to roll this certain kind of pasta that is famous in Sicily, to which I cannot remember the name, as well as learning how to make a mean tomato sauce! After making a love seats worth of pasta (literally, we covered a love seat with a sheet and kept scooping the pasta from the table and adding it to the pile of the love seat!) we sat and enjoyed our hard work along with some great anitpastas. It was such a fun experience and I can't wait to make them at home!

New table!

We went to a great antique shop two weekends ago to see if we could find a great sofa table for our hall way. Among some pretty cool stuff we found this beautiful little wooden table. I had to barter with another girl to get it and we won! The table looks so great in the hall by our front door! And it is so exciting to have an antique from Italy!

Paris Baby!

Ah, Paris! All of the sayings that Parisians are mean and hate Americans are completely false! (Well, I'm sure some don't like us but still!) We had such a delightful stay in Paris. The people were so nice and accomodating and the best part is they all pretty much speak English! Zach and I were excited that we didn't have to butcher another language. We had a wonderful two days with Nette and Mom in Pari! It stunk to have to say goodbye to them there but they had to go back some time. :( Zach and I stayed an extra day once they had left and we terrorized Paris! We couldn't see dragging the girls to Jim Morrison's grave when they only had a short stay. We found that the bus tours were the way to travel around because you could get on and get off wherever you pleased. We walked through Notre Dame, The French Armory, Musee Rodin, and of course the Eiffel Tower. We walked and walked and walked some more. It was such an incredible experience. Not to mention who would have thought we would be in Paris! Especially at our age. I just think that God has blessed us with such a great opportunity and we couldn't be more thankful for it.

The food! Oh the food was to die for! I would go back in a heart beat just for some more french onion soup. We of course tried escargots, yummy crossonts, tasty chocolates, duck, and so many more scrumptious foods while we were there. It's a miracle we didn't come back fat!

The only bummer really was that the airline lost my luggage. How silly is that! We stayed for less than a week and they lost my luggage! I know they didn't know that but still! Zach had all of his stuff on a carry on and I got stuck with all of our shampoo and other liquids in my bag so I of course had to check it. It was nice that they gave me 200 euro to get clothes and toiletries in the mean time. I had never heard of an airline doing that so I suppose we lucked out with that!

Shopping is AMAZING in Paris! You can find anything you want! :) Trouble for me! :) We stopped in to a couple clothing stores and got some fun new items and of course a scarf. You can't be in Paris and not have a scarf, it would be a travisty! Even the manichins have scarves! We also hit up the Louis Vuitton store (a must see when you are in Paris, the fashion capital!). I have never seen so much LV at one time in my life!!! Three stories of expensive everything! I didn't even want to go up to the women's clothing floor so I didn't tempt myself. We went to purses instead! :)ha! I walked out of the store one happy lady! Zach bought be a Louis from Paris! The original Louis store! I am very excited about my fun new bag! I'm just scared to take it out of the box and bag! My hubby spoils me!

All in all it was a great trip and we had a blast! I don't have all of the pictures from mom's camera yet, but as soon as I get them they'll be up! (My camera died! Good thing she had her charger!) The slide show is taking a bit longer than expected but I'll get it up soon!

Zach's birthday!

May 27th was Zach's 25th birthday! Along with cheaper car insurance and being able to rent a car without an extra fee Zach got some fun new toys! The family got him a new BBQ (which he uses ALL the time now) and he got a new lamp he has been wanting for a long time! He got some other great stuff too! The funny part about his birthday is the way everything was wrapped! The pictures will tell it all! We were gone for his actual birthday so we celebrated a little early with the presents and the following weekend we had friends over for a birthday bash. I am surprised I didn't get any pictures!(So unlike me!)
The wrap job! Blankets work the best! :)
Happy boy with his new toys!

Our last supper

The last night that we all had together we thought we would celebrate our trip. We got ready and went into town to find a restaurant that we were told about from a friend of a friend. That was an excursion in itself! Needless to say we did not find this "amazing" restaurant so we went to see if a well known fish restaurant was open. Thankfully it was so we stopped in for our celebration to begin. The night was full of laughter, food fights, and new experiences. We had so much fun showing Mom and Nette around the island we call home, we only wish we could have had more time with them. So now we have to find out who the next group of people will be to visit and make crazy adventures and stories with! I'm taking down names and dates so let me know soon! :) First come first serve!

There were too many great pictures to cut out so I had to go with the slide show again. I'm sure you don't mind but the blog is being taken over by slide shows!

Taormina trip

Our good friend Erin called us one night with an exciting find. She had come across a spa package for a gorgeous resort on the beach in Taormina that was an incredible find. Taormina is known for it's amazing beaches and great shopping! So of course we booked the trip and headed off to enjoy our spa weekend. We dinned, we shopped, we spa'd, we sun bathed, we did it all! It was so much fun and tiring all at the same time. I'm glad we got to share that trip with Mom and Nette. They got to experience the European hotels as well much much more.

Winery fun

We (Mom,Nette,Erin,Jenn, Jenn's Aunt and myself. Wow that's a lot!) had to go to the wonderful wineries out here while they were here. It was so much fun! We first went to a winery called Murgo. Murgo was an experience! We had previously met the owner, second generation owner, at the Spring Fest the base had. Spring fest is a carnival the base puts on ever year. We arrived at the winery and had AMAZING food and great wine and champagne. After we got a tour of the winery by the owner and when we were in the champagne room he asked if we had ever had any champagne before sugar was added. Of course we said no so he picked up a pre-labeled pre-corked bottle and opened it right there! It gave off the huge stream of champagne that went everywhere. It was so cool! Unfortunately we didn't have a camera when we went to Murgo. I don't know how that happened but when we went to Gambino (the other winery) we were properly equipped! Gambino was beautiful too. We had great food there and great wine of course. Enjoy our pictures and funny photo shoots with Nette and Mom.

The market

While Nette and my Mom were here I took them to experience the market out in town. We all had a blast trying out our Italian and looking at all of the goodies. They have everything from food to baby clothes, rugs,fabric...you name it they've got it (practically). On our way there I got to show them all of the amazing architecture and not to mention the great shops. We also stumbled upon a beautiful wedding. We got a couple of great pictures of the bride and their get a way car. Well I believe the pictures say everything so have fun!

I promise...

I will get new posts up SOON! I am so sorry it has taken me so long to sift through all of the pictures. I didn't realize how many pictures we took in Paris! I appreciate hearing from all of you, and I am thrilled to know that so many of you check our blog regularly. You should start seeing the blogs by tomorrow I promise! There will be about six that I can think of coming your way so get ready!