Saas Fe, Switzerland!

We spent last week in Saas Fe, Switzerland. Saas Fe is a quaint little (little) town nestled in a small valley high upon a glacier in Southern Switzerland. It's quite a trek to get there; after a plane, a train and a (harrowing) bus ride (totalling about 8 hours door to door) we arrived.

It was well worth it as we had a great week of good food, fabulous scenery, fun (but cooooolllllddddd) skiing, swimming (if you can believe it), shopping and excellent company. Nana and the Joseph clan (Alan, Allyson, Avery, Laynie & Amaya) were all with us.

We had a great time. The girls tested their ski legs for the first time. Amaya (6) took to the skiing the quickest. Julia liked it okay but probably won't be the next Susie Chapstick, much to her mother's dismay. (We will try it again next year however!) Marco liked the intercity transportation (sled) the best (there are no cars in Saas Fe). Sara liked the icy glacier skiing and the yummy hot chocolate; and, as you can tell, Greg liked the "other" beverages (among other things).

It was truly a fun vacation!

View from our room!

The kids getting a ride.

Nana and the kids atop the Hannig (gondola).

Hot chocolate break atop the Hannig!

Greg taking a break to test the local beverage: Gluwein!

The littlest skier!

The whole Group outside our hotel!

Sara at the very top!! Clearly it was cold!

Nana time!

My Nana is here right now. She LOVES spending time with me and my sister. Unlike my mom, she thinks it's funny when I climb up into the sink to brush my teeth. I think I'm just very industrious! Why stand when you can sit?

Nana also likes to cook and bake. She let's me and Julia help her. We made lots of cookies before daddy put a mor-i-tor-i-um on baking.... Not sure what a mor-i-tor-i-um is but all I know is that Nana hasn't made any cookies since. Bummer.

Look at me brushing my teeth! I'm sooo good!

We LOVE baking!

Ice Skating!

The Milani's at the skating rink!

Julia and Marco with their new friend, Delicia!

The tribulations of skating....

The beauty about London at the holidays is that there are loads of things to do! There are several ice skating rinks around town where you can indulge in your favorite (or not-so-favorite) pastime!

British Airways hosted a very kid-friendly party at one of the local rinks for the frequent fliers. Since Greg falls into that category we were invited and decided to partake. The good thing was that it was TONS of fun: Santa was there with one of his (real) reindeer (Julia thought it was prancer), there were elves reading stories, doing face painting and passing out balloons, and, mommy and daddy's favorite part, there was tons good food and beverages!

Unfortunately, we do not take after Auntie Sara (Kurtzig) and we are a disaster on the rink!! Three spins around rink was enough for us!!! Ahhhh, maybe next year we will be better!!!

Wise Family Visit!

Welcome Wise Family!

Gene and the kids at breakfast!

Woo HOO!!! At Wellington Park!

We had some unexpected and very welcome guests this last week: Fiona, Gene, Trevor and Miranda stopped by on their way back to California! They were in Scotland visiting their family! We were very lucky to get to see them! The kids had a GREAT time. Julia took Miranda to school to show her around! She was sooo sad to come home at the end of the day and find Miranda gone!

We hope they come back next year!

Zia Stephanie visit!

Fun in the tub!

Fun with Sarah!

Zia Stephanie was in town last week! We had fun with her! She gave us a bath and she played with us! My friend Sarah was over and we all had fun together!! It was a great time! We hope she comes back again soon!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Julia, Sarah & Emma's dance party!

Seating #1!

Greg and Joel ready to dig in at seating #2!

This year we are thankful for good friends, with whom we spend time in London, and good food.

We spent an impromptu Thanksgiving at the Forrest's house. We had a crew of almost 20 (mostly kids). Julia was thrilled to spend it with her buddies, Sarah and Emma. As you can see, they had a dance party to celebrate. The food was FABULOUS as Cara is a fantastic cook (who knew she had hidden talents?). We ate ourselves into a food coma! What a fun evening!

It's starting to feel alot like.... Christmas!!

Okay, we know it's only November but it's really starting to feel alot like Christmas. All the big streets (Oxford, Bond, Regent) have their holiday lights up and Father Christmas is EVERY WHERE!!!

In order to really enjoy every moment of the holiday season, we signed up and lined up to see Harrod's Christmas Grotto, which is not to be missed (although this might be the first and last time Greg will go!)!!

Hmmm, I want this little guy!

Follow me, little kitty!


Here we go, into the Princess's castle!

Going to see Santa and I'm excited! (Daddy doesn't look quite so thrilled.)

and......

Ready,

Steady.......

TA DA!!!

Julia, Marco and Father Christmas, 2007!

Look at me!!

When I'm not trying to blow dry mommy's hair (i.e. play with mommy's dryer or the electrical socket) or do my chores (like sweeping, mopping and cleaning up), I let my sister put her clips in my hair. She likes to dress me up. Mommy thinks it's hilarious; daddy does not. I think the attention is fun!

Happy Halloweeeeeen!!!

Tonight we went trick or treating in our neighborhood. There were THOUSANDS of people out!! I dressed up as a pirate and Marco was an elephant. Daddy dressed up too: he was a criminal. Mommy said that she was dressed up as super-mommy. I didn't understand her costume..... We had a great time and I got LOADS of candy and I saw TONS of my friends out and about. We stayed out after dark!!! It was sooo fun! I wish every day was Halloween!

Daddy gives the best rides!

Marco gets one too!

Primed and ready for candy!!

Happy Halloween Week!!!

This last week we took a trip to the Willows Farm to get pumpkins. There were all sorts of fun things to do there. They had all sorts of farm animals -- some you could pet and others you just looked at. I got to pet the guinea pigs which were really soft and wiggly. There were also loads of rides and things to do at the farm. I went on the big bouncy slide and I jumped in the bouncy castle. I rode the helicopter ride by myself and me and Marco rode with my dad on the swans. I don't think Dad liked it too much but he was a sport to give it a go. We found two pumpkins. They are kind of crooked. We had to walk over tons of squished pumpkins to find the perfect ones.

I cannot wait to go back! I hope Dad will take us there to get a Christmas tree!!!

Marco at the Museum

Last weekend was really cold and Julia had a little cold so we stayed close to home and went to a museum, again. Mom and Dad (dad in particular) love the British Museum. I think it's okay - it's kind of big and there are always loads of people. There is a ton of room to run around though. Here are some pics of me roaming around! Look how big I'm getting!

Je Suis Ballerina!

Every Monday after school I take ballet classes! I LOVE them. I love to practice my good toes (pointed toes) and bad toes (flexed toes)! I also love to practice my ballet run (on tippy toes) and my picture pose! I hold my hands up in the air really high! I particularly love my teacher, Teacher Therese. She's bbbeeeaaauuuuttttiiiiful. She teaches us to do all sorts of fun things - like kiss fairies, dance daintily, and be graceful just like her. Mom says she LOVES to come watch us prance around in our "uniforms" which are all pink! (My FAVORITE COLOR!)

I have all sorts of friends in my class: Isabella, China, Lucy, Layal, Chloe and more. They are all in my class at school. Did I mention that Teacher Therese teaches at our school??? Mom says it makes things easy for her!!

Someday I may have to be a real live ballerina.... Mom's not too sure about that idea.....

Good toes, bad toes!

Me, my friend China, Lucy and others singing "Miss Polly had a dolly!" I LOVE that song!

I'm an EXPERT at the ballet run!

Me and my friend Layal practicing our good toes!

Me and Sarah playing dress up!

In addition to ballet, I LOVE LOVE LOVE playing with my best pal, Sarah. She's soooo fun. We play dress-up, we sing, we dance and we have LOADS in common: We both LOVE DORA!!!? Sometimes she comes over and has dinner. I cannot wait til we are old enough for a sleep-over. Mom says it's going to be a while. (Every party has a pooper and mine is my MOM!?)

School Daze

Giving daddy a good-bye kiss on the first day!

Marco wants to go too!

Ready to go!

I started school!!! I LOVE it! I go to St. Christina's cath-o-lic school. My teacher's names are Miss Deacy (like D.C.) and Mrs. Costello. They are really nice. I also have two other teachers, Miss Delfina, who teaches us Spanish, and Miss Amanda, who makes me eat my fruit snack.

I go FIVE times a week, all day. Mom says it's a long week for me and that I'm crabby at the end of the week. I don't agree. I'm never crabby!

I wear a uniform (see above) which I like okay. Mom says it's easy to get dressed in the morning. I have shorts I can wear when it's warm and next spring I will have a dress. The hat hurts my ears but mom says I have to wear it. I don't understand why because it just hangs on my "julia m" hook all day.

There are three Julia's and a Juliette in my class. There is also a Julian. My new best friend at school is Isabella H. We walk to school together. We both like to paint and play outside on the playground. My second week (this past week) I got smacked in the nose with the teeter-totter. I cried but I was okay. Some boy smacked me with it. It was an accident.

This week will be my third week at school. We only go until 1pm everyday. Next week we go until 3. Mom says she's living for next week. I didn't realize she liked school too.

I think I'm going to have a good year.

More pics from Cali!

Marco and nana at the lake!

Nana and alllll the kids!

All the cousins (in Sacramento).

Enjoying the view in Santa Cruz.

Sand? huh?

Nana and her girls.

Fun in Donner lake!

Summer Snapshot!!!!

This summer we went to California for six whole weeks!! We did all sorts of fun things. We visited family, we swam, we visited friends, and we traveled! We went to Sacramento, to Donner Lake and to Santa Cruz!! We got to enjoy all the things we miss about home, especially our family and friends and really good weather!

Marco learned to run really fast this summer too! He likes to swim and to run run run! He misses Auntie Julie and Uncle Jim's pool! I miss my nana, my nonno and nonna and all my cousins, an, the pool. I liked going to Donner Lake and Santa Cruz. I LOVED the beach!

Julia at the Discovery Museum in Sausalito.

Marco and his pal, Rufus!