A break from Europe--

Family time--this weekend we were celebrating EVERYTHING!!

Michael finishing his 3rd year at UW dental school--

Steven getting into Dartmouth Medical School--

Jacob finishing his 1st year at UOP dental school--

Morgan half way thru Aveda Beauty School--

And even Great Grandma Lola's birthday--

We will use any excuse to get together and have a party!!

Morgan and Jacob came to town--YEAH!

Opening the pool--

summer is here !

Fierce game of water basketball--watch out

--count the bruises and blisters!

chillin'

sun-glass wearing mother and daughter

auntie morgan and riley

auntie meredith and emma

Even threw in some water aerobics

Morgan demonstrating her skills on Michael 

(and no, she doesn't wear this outfit at work!)

learning new games--staying up WAY too late!

We really did put Morgan to work--

She is great!!

Beautiful Meredith

(sorry forgot to take an "after" photo--but it looks great!)

Riley playing "pony girl"

Emma was riding so fast 

we had to hold her down for this photo!

Riding at great grandma Lola's birthday party-

whew,  we did fit a lot into 3 days!!

I Love my family.

Roman Beauty

Some of the reasons we love Rome:

Our amazing hotel.... 

minutes from the Spanish Steps

Yes, these Spanish Steps

 (named for the embassy that is no longer here!)

Vespas--that Ron wanted to rent, but we never did

(maybe next time?)

Getting lost and finding this amazing street.

The "colors" of Rome

 The Pantheon--

you are just walking down the cobblestone streets 

and BAM--it's there

Amazing artists in Navona Square

Three coins --I'm coming back--Trevi fountain

Our first sunset in Rome--yes, it was that beautiful!!

( please be kind--we have been up for over 24 hours !)

Amazing Vatican sculptures--how did they do that?

Cool DRINKABLE water from all the Roman fountains

My major accomplishment--

climbing ALL those small, curvy steps of 

the dome of St. Peter Basilica

Gelato--gelato--EVERY day!!

So many flavors, so few days!!

Getting caught in a thunderstorm on the Palatine Hill

Kissing among the Palatine ruins

(we may be old--but yes, we still kiss!)

The COLOSSEUM--no need to say more

Our small, compact bathroom

with bidet !

Amazing bridges at night

Romantic Rome

Ciao until we return.

Some Things that made me go hmmmmm......

What surprised or amused me in Rome (besides their knockers):

CLEAN seat-less toilets: a good thigh strengthening exercise

Orange trees--didn't expect to see those along the cobblestones of Rome!!

Surprised to see our daughter left her mark in Rome.

Vatican Swiss Guards in Michelangelo's-designed uniforms

Manly men!

Palm trees. . . PALM TREES--didn't know they grew in Rome!!

Bicycle-built-for- four

Villa Borghese Gardens

(ok, ours was equipped with a small motor to help us up hills!!)

Funky Roman Pines

(only "pine" on top--Ron loved these!)

These were the things that caught me eye--that the guide-books didn't tell me about--that my limited knowledge was unaware of--that I needed to travel to Rome to find out for myself--

that help me fall in love with Rome.

Knockers of Rome

Not what you were expecting?  Shame on you. . . does your mother know what you "google"?

The ruins of Rome are spectacular, but what are truly impressive are it's doors and doorknockers.

Here are a few splendid examples:

seems like a normal size door, right?

but look at me next to it--amazing!!

and here are just a FEW of the photos I took of the knockers:

And the winner is:

Just a few of the things I found fascinating in Rome. . . 

next post, the ruins and their seat-less toilets!!