Panella cafe

Our first stop in Rome

First of many pizzas!

Cure for my jet leg…

and gelato!!

My mom teared when she came here…

This café used to be her regular stop when she had visitors.
My two favorite girls…

We have arrived in Rome! Our accommodation for the next 3 days in Rome.

Of course the first thing Chloe does is find a reading spot.

Making Italian coffee.

It’s been 20 years since I was here during my college years studying and almost 36 years for my parents since they were here. They lived here for 4  years when my brother and I were little. This is going to be a meaningful trip for the whole family reminicing the old days with my children …

Bryant Park on a summer night

Andrew and I had some time to walk around in the city before we headed over to our friend’s birthday party. It’s been a while it’s  just the two of us here… It was nice.

Then we met up with our friends and sang our hearts out~

Today my work took me to see the special exhibition of Frida Kahlo at the New York Botanical Garden.

Lunch at the Hudson Grill

I found this while going through his kindergarten class folders. Love that last part about “things that make me happy”, he wrote, “my sister”  🙂

He made this list and taped it over on his bed.

A couple of days ago, when I was driving the kids to our gym pool, I was telling them that I was really tired. I told them that I really would like to skip the pool that day but they weren’t having it…because I already promised them the day before that we were going to go. Once you promise kids something, that’s it. It’s set in stone. According to them, I have to keep my promises otherwise I’m a liar. I ask them how come they don’t ask me how I am feeling or how my day was but I ask them all the time about how they are. I said maybe mommy had a bad day and I’m too tired to keep the “promise”. That I’m only a human being and I can’t keep up with all their demands. I came to think that my kids are pretty considerate and understanding kids but when it comes to me, their mom, they demand things more rightfully and much less forgiving compared to others. So I got mad and told them that going forward they have to be more considerate of me and always ask me how I am when they come home from school or camp before they request anything they want.

Then I find this note on his bed. SO SWEET. I think he really felt bad and realize that he should be more caring of me. He’s been asking me how my day as soon as I see him in the afternoons ever since then. 🙂

Shane made his tie-dye shirt.

We’re heading Poughkeepsie, NY to walk 212 feet above the hudson river across a transformed former railroad bridge. 

This was Andrew’s brilliant idea to walk on this bridge but he didn’t realize he was about to encounter his two biggest fears: heights and bridges. He’s actually (very) afraid of heights. He had that fake smile on his face the whole time and he didn’t talk . He also walked right in the middle of the walkway blocking the bicyclists.

Phew! one way completed. Getting ice cream treats to ease his mind.

Chloe helping Shane with ice cream drip.

Walking back! 

Such a boy.

Bottom of the bridge

He did it! 🙂 It was a gorgeous day to walk this bridge.