The daddy writes: Mommy is a good runner as shown in pictures from two different races. #90 was the 8km race from Sportcity where the healthy post-race snacks included sour gummy snakes and marshmallow hamburgers. #873 was the 10km race to raise money for the orphans in Tibet. The post-race treat was powerful incense. Mommy is so great for doing these races, keeping fit, setting a healthy example and doing some charity work too. Yoo-hoo for Mommy!

We got back from a weekend trip to London. I had to go for work on Friday and so the family tagged along. We took the Eurostar train very early Friday morning. On most mornings when we have to get Frunty up for school, he usually kicks and screams, but on this morning, the mommy said, "Wake up we have to take the Eurostar!" and Frunty's reaction was none other than a cheerful, "Yoo-Hoo!". We visited the shopping streets of Regent and Oxford streets, and went then went to Putney to meet our friends from Bruxelles, who now live in London area. We also took a "flight" on the British Airways sponsored London Eye, pictured here. We had great views from high up in our bubble. As enjoyable as it was, London is very "crowdy" to use Frunty's term and so there was a lot of jostling for space on the sidewalks. London makes Bruxelles look like a small country town.

This is the daddy again: I might as well add something more while I'm on a roll. Some mornings, we let Tiny Two Legs climb the stairs on his own. When he gets to the top, his usual first thing to do is say hello to his pet and make growling sounds. Tiny Two Legs sure loves his pet and frequently will grab that big pink nose and try to poke his fingers into those brown eyes. The dog tries to escape but knows it's hopeless and succumbs to the attention, wanted or not. He's actually yawning in this snapshot and not, as one might think, ready from some breakfast.

This is the daddy writing: it's been a long time since I wrote here but Frunty did something today that really merits writing down. After I picked him up from school, we passed by the usual waffle truck parked just by the exit. He wanted a snack and asked me for a waffle. But I didn't have any change in my pockets and so he was disappointed. But then I remembered that he usually nicks loose change from around the house and so I asked him if he had some "monies". He started to dig around in his pockets and produced a 50c. piece. I said that wasn't enough. But then he found a 1 euro coin: exact change for a waffle. I said he could have a waffle but that he would have to pay. He protested and said he didn't want to "lose" his monies but I made it clear that if he wanted the waffle he would have to give his coins. He agreed. And, we went back to the truck and before even saying hello, he stretched to reach the counter of the waffle truck and shyly plunked down his two coins. I handed him the waffle and he retreated like a turtle saying merci. Previous to this, I think he has always regarded his coins as toys. And, even though he has seen us buy things all the time, I think he realised that he too can buy things with his "toys". He's really growing up. After we got his waffle, he and I went for a sortie in the forest to look for mushrooms. I had brought a little bucket and we filled it with all sorts of collectibles from the forest floor.

I told Pitcht that it was time to go pick up his brother and he brought over a tractor and put it under the stroller! When I say, "a tavola" he usually goes to his high chair. He is such a darling, such a little sweetheart. He now sleeps through the night....finally, at age 14.5 months...so we are all starting to catch some more winks!

Pitcht likes to feed me and when he hands me something he says, "there!" I guess his first word was da-da and then he said "ma-ma" the day before Mother's Day for the very first time! What a gift. But because Frunty calls me by my first name, Pitcht is no longer calling me "ma-ma". He pushes around his little push-toy which is still our number one favourite toy ever and this morning, Frunty was pushing it around too.

Daddy took Frunty on his business trip to Paris yesterday and they enjoyed the Eiffel tower and a pasta lunch. One of the other highlights was taking the Thalys there and back. Frunty called from on top of the Eiffel tower and was so excited to tell me what he could see! I stayed home with Pitcht and took the day to tidy up and re-group after a weekend of partying...actually, a few weeks of parties what with the birthdays, the going away lunches/dinners and the soccer game fetes as well.

Hope you're all having fun and nonni, please phone or email!

June has been an incredibly busy month. We started off by going to a cousin's wedding near Torino at the beginning of the month. We flew into Bergamot for 74 cents and had a few wonderful days around Lago di Como staying in Bellagio. Gotta go, that's it for now!