Buona Pasqua

Happy Easter to you all from Napoli

Taking pictures of these two is supposed to get easier, not harder!

I made my last attempt and dressing my kids similar for a holiday. It is something I have done since they were very small and only began to get guff for it in the last several years. I snuck it in one more time.They were good sports, but a las this tradition is ready to be finished with.

However Paige will not let us stop with the other Easter traditions such as a basket of goodies and egg hunts. I'll tell the truth, I like easter baskets too. Honestly I like gifts any time of the year, to give and to receive. I don't think I'll stop baskets anytime soon, but egg hunts? I think we might be too old for that! 

Speaking of too old.. Dan got a nerf gun in his basket! :)

This was Luana's first time painting eggs and she really liked it!

Italian flag easter egg

Easter traditions are fun, but the best is knowing the reason for the celebration. The eggs and bunnies that represent new birth and the knowledge of The Risen Lord! I know He lives and I know He rose from the dead to make it possible for all of us to ride again!

Buona Pasqua - Happy Easter

* Intersting note- The day after Easter is a Holiday as well here in Italy, it is a day of picnics with families being together! What a wonderful tradition we might need to adopt. 

Spring Break Sicilian style

It was on Paige's bucket list as Dan and I had visited the other side of the island a few years back without kids. That was a trip to Palermo, this was a trip to Catania.

recreating statues seems to be a favorite thing everywhere we go

This is a castle that was built on top of a sub marine volcanic eruption In the year 30 - this was before the volcano Etna even existed.

These clear waters are unbelievable

The tour guide told this cactus I was its mom after we told him we were from Arizona

Views from the top of the castle

These are the people I travel with ???

It was a beautiful day to enjoy

Any time there is a chance to explore marine life, Paige is all over it!

Old city gates for the city of Catania

Visiting an old Roman Theater for theatrical performances.

When your hand falls off, but it's ok because you have a basket to carry it in

The Audience

Where the orchestra sat is now under water

Houses were built right into the foundation of the theater. Much of the theater survived an earth quake so the residence felt it was a good strong foundation. So many houses were built on and around it that no one knew it existed until recently.

Church of Catania

Don't go loosing your head

On a tour up to the volcano we stopped in a town famous for honey making

Always up for a tasting store. Pestos, Honeys, olive oils.....

Walking a path of volcanic ash and stone

The path of the lava

More view of the path of the lava

Getting ready to go down into a lava bubble cave

This was an air bubble in the hot lava that popped and made a cave

Much like a dog Seth feels like he concours things that he pees on... he concord this crater  

Etna has many mini volcanos that surround it but are connected to the same main stream of lava. This crater was the source of a "blow out" several years ago and now lays dormant. 

We were not prepared for snow

Walking down into the crater

The rightward moving "cloud" is steam coming from out of the volcano

A house that was buried in a small 1980's eruption 

Isola Bella

Greek ruins in Teramina 

Later in the day we visit this castle on the top of the hill

Greek ruins to the right, Midlevel town on the hill to the left, regular city of today in the middle.

Sicily is famous for their blood oranges

So naturally we enjoyed some fresh squeezed juice! YUM!

Including this picture to prove I was on the trip as well since I seemed to be behind the camera the whole time.

Lovely restaurant outside (not the most lovely smile...Seth!)

Pesto gnocchi

Margarita pizza Sicilian style

A store full of marzipan fruit sculptures 

Art Alley

I thought the balconies were pretty so seth helped point it out in this picture.

What did I say about Paige and water?

yup, pants... all wet!

While Paige and I are looking at sea life Dan got accosted by a woman not taking no for an answer. An unwanted massage on a rock that Seth tried to ignore for more money than it was worth.

and then a snack of arancini

Sicilian Ice cream sandwich

At that medieval city at the top of the hill. Foggy and cloudy up there.

Very old was, very interesting walls!

It was a great spring break and it was nice to relax and get away from the house for a while. Ahh.. I guess we are headed back to school and work!