Our first "happy" Monday

I am very pleased to announce that Veronica did not cry today - and on a Monday no less! Those are usually the hardest days! But no, we walked around town, had to make a run for the palazzo mid-walk so she could go potty (I was so proud of her!), continued on afterward to the park, played with the pigeons, then went back to the palazzo for a snack and brief visit with Alessandra before finally heading back home to meet up with a nonna. I was thrilled.

I was probably even more thrilled because the way the morning began seemed to imply that a tempest was imminent. Here's what happened ...

I left the Palazzo a tiny bit in ritardo (late!), but knew that a quicker pace would get me there in time. (As a side note, it is funny to me that I still "worry" about being late, when I am in Italy and the people I am running "late" to are Sara and Patrizio, who are not high-strung or worried about such a thing ... ever. ) Anyway, there I was, beginning my morning climb up the mountain, when I noticed that the woman walking her dog in front of me looked like ... Patrizio's mother! Nonna Graziella! And it was her! (Another side note: This is the nonna that got all of the bloodstains out of my beloved aqua sweater after Ginevra's tumble down the palazzo steps. It was amazing! I didn't think such stains were possible to be rid of - but I digress, again!) So I called out a cheerful "Buongiorno!" to get her attention, we exchanged pleasantries, and then she offered to walk with me and stop in to see the kids. On the way up, we talked about Veronica first, then cycled through discussing Leonardo and Ginevra as well. It was interesting to hear her take on the kids, and to even get the chance to talk with her for longer than 30 seconds without interruption!

When we reached the house Nonna Manuela (Sara's mom) was there with the kids and they were working their way towards the door. Each one seemed in their own state of uproar: Veronica, who was on her hip, took one look at me and, grabbing her shoulder, said, "No!", Ginevra was saying over and over, "I don't want to do to school today," and Leonardo too was expressing a distaste for leaving home - "Why can't I go play at (the other) Grandma's house instead of school?" Oh dear! It was quite the picture of chaos. Each of the grandmothers kept exchanging glances with me and each other as if to say, "What is wrong with them today???"

We finally got them out the door by the divide and conquer method: Manuela coaxed Leonardo out the door, Graziella had Veronica and puppy, and I took Ginevra to my hip and cuddled her in the nook of my neck to try and calm the crying. We were quite the parade! The comical procession got even more ridiculous when Veronica refused to get into her stroller and wanted to walk the dog ...

Needless to say, with this as my introduction to the morning, I was certain the parting at the bottom of the hill (when Nonna Manuela and I trade places and I secretly take over the pushing of the stroller without Veronica's immediate knowledge) was going to be ... eventful. But it wasn't! She was tearless and amiable and quite playful all morning long - it was lovely!

And to top it off, I got a great video of her chatting away:

TRANSLATION ...

Me: Veronica, do you like the "caccia" (Foccaccia bread)?
V: Yes.
Me: Yes. Yes a lot, or yes a little?
V: (No answer)
Me: A lot, right?
V: (Points) GINEVRA!
Me: Where is Ginevra?
V: (Baby mumble)
Me: Ginevra’s going … to school!

V: School …

Me: And Leonardo? He’s where?

V: At school.

Me: At school! Good girl! And Veronica, where is she?

V: I …

Me: You?

V: Stroller …

Me: Stroller, yes! You are in the stroller.

V: I want to get down …

Me: You want to get down?

V: Yes!

Me: You don’t … don’t you want more bread?

V: Yes …

Me: Yes, ok, but how do you ask?

V: VORAY! (her way of saying per favore, which means please!)

Me: Please! Good girl!

V: Please …

Me: Say bye!

V: Bye …

Me: Bye!