What We Ate in Italy

Well...

 Steve ate pizza.

 A lot of pizza.

I ate ice cream.

 A lot of ice cream.

(And diet coke when we could find it from a fountain with ice.) 

 Breakfasts, complimentary of our hotel, were served at neighboring cafes and consisted of fruit and pastries.

I ate the fruit, Steve got the pastries.

I got jipped I tell you.

 We were able to find a lot of gluten free products that were better than I had expected.

These were delicious with ham and Swiss cheese.  Had it for dinner one night and breakfast the next morning when GF restaurants weren't available.

 The GF cookies were even better.

I found these online today and I'm going to order a case...at least.

When all else failed, we ate fries from McDonald's and Steve ate what he called, "little pieces of bread" to make me feel better that I wasn't eating a pastry.  Thanks Steve for your concern and love...and I'm sure glad you didn't choke on your "little piece of bread"!

Not About Italy

I am feeling this baby move.

It started in Italy, but I dismissed the flutters thinking there was no way it could really be.

But laying in bed the last two nights in my own comfy bed, still as still can be, I can't dismiss it. 

These little butterflies remind me what a true miracle pregnancy is...especially for the fifth time.

It gives me peace to feel this little one alive. 

I often wonder if my body can do this again, physically and mentally.  I'm older and I know exactly what I am in for.  The naivety of my youth and first pregnancies is long gone.  I know soon I will start contracting every 5-10 minutes for the entirety.   I also know I will start hurting soon, in my back, my legs, places not polite to talk or write about.  

But feeling this baby move makes it worth it.  

It puts perspective where perspective should be. 

There is going to be another Dixon baby on this earth, and that gives me deep spiritual joy.

I'm grateful to have this experience again, even if and when I complain about it.  

Day Three and Four

Monday night after Steve's class we had the evening to ourselves.  It was pouring rain outside, but we didn't let that stop us.  We ventured out to see city.

Right across the street from our hotel building was a massive fabric store.  Fabric stores are the bane of my existence apparently because I can't get away from them.  I took this picture for my sisters and mom.  They would have been slobbering at the chance to get into this "holy grail" of fabric stores.  Even I had to admit the fabric draped in the windows was beyond beautiful...dang fabric.

We walked less than a block from our hotel and found ourselves right in front of the Duomo. 

It was HUGE.  I was there when I was 19, but did not remember the absolute enormity of the building.  It was fantastic to see.  We only had Steve's phone to take pictures due to the rain, but still caught this image of the Duomo lit up at night.  It was a sight to see.

We then went looking for a place to eat.

Luckily we had done our homework (Saintly Steve had done it all), and we knew there was a gluten free restaurant close by.  We walked around the cathedral and found it.  I was excited to try real Italian gluten free food.  It did not disappoint.

Here was the menu...just for me.

I figured I better take a picture before I ate the entire thing.  We ended up eating here all three nights we were in Florence.  Why ruin a good thing? 

Monday night I had a slight breakdown and cried myself to sleep.  I was over tired, not sleeping well, and half a world away from my children.  I was deslusionally homesick.

Steve just looked at me and didn't know what to do.  

Tuesday morning I woke up feeling much better and embarrassed that I let my emotions get out of control.  Pregnancy will do that right?  I did realize, however, that I am a small town girl who longs to be at home where I feel comfortable.  My husband did not marry a world traveler.  (If he wants to be adventurous he will have to do so with his next wife after I expire.)

 Steve had meetings all day Tuesday and I stayed downtown with my friend Alysia.  We shopped, ate and wandered around waiting for our husbands to be done.  I found a little rag doll for Saylor from a cute store ran by a tiny lady that only spoke Italian.  It was fun to be around her.  I also found some toy red Ferrari cars for Colby and Carter. 

Alysia and I then went into the market place and braved the leather peddlers.  (They are hagglers and made me feel like I was getting ripped off no matter what.)  I wanted to find a leather bag for myself, but it seemed to me that everything was too expensive.  I instead bought a little pink purse for Saylor.  The princess was spoiled.

Tuesday night when the menfolk came home (confession, we rode the shuttle up to the meeting and pulled them out when their meetings went long on account of us almost missing the shuttle back to the city) we walked around and looked for suits.  Italian suits are apparently the bomb.  We didn't find one we liked Tuesday night, but decided to keep looking on Wednesday.  It was this night while walking around that Steve got in an elderly Italian lady's way.  She must have come out of a shop because we didn't see her until she was standing directly in front of Steve.  She was tiny...not even five feet tall and she immediately started swinging her purse from side to side and yelling at Steve in Italian.  I couldn't help but stop and laugh out loud.  It was right out of a movie...exactly what you would imagine a tiny little Italian woman to be...feisty.  I loved it!

Steve looking fancy.

After another gluten free dinner we returned to our hotel and once again didn't sleep.  The old lady perfume smell was killing me!

Wednesday morning Steve took me along to a tour of the factory that builds his dental lasers.  It was me, one other wife and whole mess of American dentists.  About 30 minutes into the tour, I started to feel lightheaded and sick.  I asked to sit down and spent the rest of the tour sleeping with  my head on a table in the conference of a laser factory.  Exciting I know.  (take this lightheadedness as foreshadowing of the future...hint hint.)  The tour fed us lunch of pasta (couldn't eat it) and orange and cheese stuffed veal...not my favorite.  The tour then took everyone back into downtown Florence where it was arranged for us take a walking tour of Florence.  We know we should have done it, but we ditched it and decided to look for Steve a suit.  It was a good choice. 

Steve hadn't seen the marketplace or any other part of the city in the daytime, so I walked him around where Alysia and I had been the day before.

This is a picture of the market place.  

We found Steve four ties for 10 euro, me a small leather bag, and all three boys leather wallets. (I think we got fleeced on the wallets.)

More of the marketplace.

We then walked back to the cathedral and admired it in the daytime.

Still massive.  Still amazing.

I could not believe the detail on the exterior- breathtaking.

It was if the baby Jesus was waving hello to the people below.

This picture shows how far back the building reaches.

The doors were fantastic.

But not as famous or fantastic as these doors.  

These sit on the octagonal shaped baptistery that is right across from the cathedral.  They however are not original, but replicas.  The real doors are on display somewhere else and get this, we learned on our laser tour that it was one of the same companies lasers that cleaned the real doors before they were sealed and put on display.

I have picture of me in front of these door from when I was 19.  Steve wasn't enthused about more pictures, so I took one of his back.

The baptistery with the cathedral behind.

We found Steve a suit later in the afternoon.  It's beautiful and I feel we got an amazing deal.

The salesman spoke only broken English, but was super fun and dressed Steve to the hilt.  He had a white shirt, cuff links, shoes and tie...just for effect.  Service like that we have not encountered in the states.  

  After we bought it I could tell Steve felt bad we hadn't found anything for me.  I assured him that I wouldn't fit in anything I would want anyway and not to worry.  He told me about a dress he wanted me to try that he saw in a shop window the night before.   We found the shop, and I agreed the dress was beautiful. I was going to try it on until I saw the price- 3,000 euro.   That's between $3,500-$4,000.

Didn't try the dress on, but got a picture anyway.

My only regret in Florence besides not eating more ice cream and GF pizza, was not taking more pictures.  I'm grateful I at least snagged this one.  This is the front of the Repubblica Square.  Our hotel was just to the right and down the street from this building.

For some crazy reason, I had a fear of looking like a tourist.  Everything we had read said the more American we looked, the more of a target for pick pocketing we would be.  Hence why I DID NOT wear tennis shoes and kept my camer put away most of the time.  I shouldn't have worried.  We were safe and I just needed to chill out.  Everyone had a camera...but you could pick out Americans like ticks on a white sheet.  They had baseball caps, tennis shoes and looked like they had showered in the last 24 hours.   We Americans are a breed all our own.

Day one and two...

We flew out of Twin Falls Saturday October 13 around 1 pm.  Close to 20 hours later we arrived in Italy after a layovers in Salt Lake City and Paris.   It was mid afternoon when we stepped off the plane in Bologna.  

I was in culture shock exaggerated with extreme fatigue and all I could venture of Bologna was scary, brown and smoky.  We took a shuttle bus from the airport to the train station and by the time we arrived I though for sure we would be killed. (jet lag makes me paranoid)  I wish now I would have taken pictures of the train station, but I was too afraid to open my bags on asurety I would be mugged.  The crowds were stifling and the train station filthy.  What had I gotten myself into???

The train ride to Florence was uneventful, but stepping off the train brought back the feelings of uneasiness and fear.  We walked maybe three quarters of a mile to our hotel through swarms of people.    I'm claustrophobic...to say the least...and walking with my luggage with hundreds of people made my blood pressure skyrocket.  Surprisingly to me, we were surrounded with high-end shops the entire walk to the hotel.  We were buzzed into the large double doors that led to our hotel, a bed and breakfast on the 4th and 5th floors of a tall building, right next to a large baby and maternity store.  I thought it was fitting.  

Walking into the "lobby" of the building, once again I thought I was being led to my death.  The entry way was dark and dingy, the elevator was itty bitty- barely held two people with luggage, and we were shoved out by a lady I affectionately named "the creeper"... honestly the scariest lady I have ever seen.  

We got to the bed and breakfast and were greeted by a friendly balding man wearing pants three sized too small.  I had to look at the floor the entire time.  I probably looked horrified when he asked for our passports.  What the?  I found out later this is standard practice in Europe.  Still, I don't like handing over my passport for anyone.

We were showed to our room, passports in hand, and I was happy with our very small but very clean room.  It did smell like old lady perfume but this fact was made up by the fact that the owner, feeling bad I couldn't eat the complimentary breakfast, bought me three boxes of gluten free crackers and cookies with jam.  They were all better than anything I have had in the States.  This hotel also had wifi so Steve and I were able to text my mom and facetime our kids.  

It was past 6pm when we checked into our hotel, even though we had been up for over 24 hours, we showered and got dressed up to attend a fancy meet and greet dinner for Steve's dental convention.  It was held at the hotel where the meetings were which also housed a 5 star resturant.  I was exhausted, but wasn't about to pass up a meal like that.  It turned out to be a five course meal that included broccoli and lobster soup (I ate Steve's lobster), pasta with truffles (my first time eating truffles- delicious!), fish, lamb chops (rare as rare can be, and I loved them) and fresh fruit for dessert.  Which, any fruit that I do not have to buy and cut up is dessert enough for me.  

After dinner there was a small concert by a husband and wife piano/trumpet duo from Salt Lake City.  They were wonderful, but we did leave early on account of both of us being ready to fall asleep on the table.

After a sketchy nights sleep (can't sleep smelling old lady perfume), we woke up early to venture off to Steve's first meeting and my cooking class.  But before we left, I checked out our view.  This was taken looking left out our hotel window.  The building back center is part of a the famous Piazza dell Repubblic square in Florence.  Our hotel was right downtown next to this square and one block away from the Duomo cathedral.

This was the building directly in front of our window.  I thought the details on the building were really beautiful.

To catch a taxi up to the dental conference, we had to walk a mile away from our hotel.  Part of the walk included walking over the Ponte Vecchio bridge.  Here is a view of the Arno River as the sun came up.  The white balance on my camera is not wrong, the river is indeed brown.

I turned around from taking the last picture, and took this one. 

Turned right and took this shot.  This was the view heading the direction back to our hotel.

During the day, this bridge is crawling with people and the shops, which consisted only of jewelry stores, are all open.

I moved over and took a picture looking up.  I love that all the shops had houses and apartments above them.

(Really glad I don't live in one of them!)

After a  short and slightly expensive taxi ride (they ranged from 15 to 28 euro depending on the taxi and the time of day), we arrived at the Ville la Massa where Steve's meetings were being held.  It was out of the city on a hillside and was beautifully maintained. 

Here is the view from the back of the hotel.  

We were able to eat breakfast at the hotel every morning Steve had meetings.  Breakfast consisted of fruits, breads, cereals, juice (the fresh squeezed orange was my favorite), cold meats, bacon and eggs (which were a little runny for me- Steve loved them).  After breakfast the first day Steve started meetings and I went to my cooking class.  It was in the kitchen of the five star restaurant and taught by the Italian chef who didn't speak English.  His interpreter spoke extremely good English and between listening to her and watching the chef work I can't believe how much I learend.  We were taught how to make pasta from scratch.  I of course asked about gluten free pasta and the chef left the room and came back with a bag of gluten free flour which he said as he handed it to me, "For you."  He then told me how to adjust the recipe to make it work gluten free.  What he showed me was more crepe-like than pasta, but who cares...it was delicious!  We learned how to shape many different pastas, make a spinach ricotta cheese filling, and three different sauces to serve with them.  I made one of them last night and my kids gobbled it up and Carter even said, "Mom, this is delicious!"  It consisted of chopped fresh tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, fresh basil and a generous amount of fresh parmesen cheese.  It was super easy and fast.  My next favorite sauce included baking the spinich stuffed pasta in straight cream with parmesean cheese.  Um...yes, how could it not be good?  The last sauce was butter, fresh sage and parmesean. (I think I gained 5 lbs just writing that down.)  I'm planning on making all three sauces sooner than later, taking pictures and writing down the recipe on this blog so I don't forget!  

After my class, even though I had eaten enough in class, I joined Steve for lunch at the restaurant.  Who passes up a free five star lunch?  The chef again altered the meal to make it gluten free and we had shrimp and greens salad, pasta and then ice cream for dessert.  

After lunch I joined Steve for his afternoon class.  I gained a new respect for Steve and what he has learned for a profession and the stress it entails.  One of the topics of the lecture was how to take care of emergency bleeds during implant surgery...it included pictures.  I regretted part of my lunch at one point.  I think my husband and his knowledge and dental skills are amazing.   I'm grateful he is willing to work everyday for our family.

I'm also grateful he didn't mind me listening over his shoulder during his classes and drinking more diet coke than my faire share!   

Other than the food and the classes, our favorite part of the hotel was the...

Ferraris!

The hotel had three Ferraris for rent.  It cost 200 euro an hour with a 10,000 euro deposit. The exhange rate while we were there was $1.30 for 1 euro.  Yikes.

The drive may have been WAY out of our price range, but the pictures were free.

So...for our boys who are obsessed with cherry red Ferraris...these pictures are for you!

Steve looked good sitting on this car.  

(I gasped when he sat down...are you really going to sit on it?)

I might have to get this picture blown up poster size and hang it on my ceiling!  :)

However, I think I look even better!

Maybe my next car will have to be red. 

(Although a red Honda doesn't seem quite so cool.)

teaser

We are back...and I'm so happy to be so.

Italy was wonderful, but being home with my family is oh so sweet.

I have so much to do to catch up with everyday responsibilities, but I'm going to try to post a few things everyday until I get out Italy trip documented.  There are so many good stories to be told- such as, but not limited to:

Finding gluten free restaurants in Florance

Italian Chef cooking classes

Old Italian lady getting mad at Steve (still laughing)

Passing out in Venice (hilarious story)

Ferrari's

This picture is only the beginning. 

 It was taken on the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence.  We crossed it every morning to catch a taxi up to Steve's dental meetings.  During the day, the bridge was super crowded and there would have be no way to get this picture, but at 8 am when we crossed it, the shops were still not open and the bridge was practically empty.  I feel lucky to have crossed this bridge without crowds many many times. 

Happy 40th...glad you are willing to share

Today was Steve's 40th birthday.

I won't make any old man jokes (hee hee)...but just leave it at Happy 40th Birthday Steve!

We celebrated in minimalist style with promise of more celebrations to come in the next week, -but today was life as usual.

Saylor and I, after doing a diabetes check at 9:30, stopped by Steve's office to wish him happy birthday and bring him a cold caffeinated beverage, because what doesn't say "I love you" on your birthday like a fountain drink?

 One of the girls at the office made Steve cupcakes. (sure glad someone did!)

Saylor was happy to share a treat with her dad.

"A bite for me...

and one for you!"

Saylor is learning to eat cupcakes in the proper Dixon way which is taking off the frosted top and leaving the rest.

Cake without frosting is overrated.

 Tonight, since Steve and I will be gone on Carter's birthday next week, we took Carter out for his birthday dinner.

 He requested orange chicken from Panda Express.

He was gracious enough to allow us to get drive through for him and then travel to a place I could eat.

Love this kid and can't believe he will be nine next week!

The Birthday Boys!

What the?

Lastly tonight, we headed over to my parents house for some gluten free cupcakes.

(they were delicious)

Thank you Mom and Dad for watching Colby and Saylor so we could take Carter out for dinner.

(Andrew is at a scout campout at City of Rocks.)

Happy Birthday my October men.  I love you both so much!

Thank you Steve fore being willing to share your birthday with your handsome son.  I think he loved every minute of it!

(Carter's presents to come next week on his actual birthday!) 

Quotes of the Weekend

It was a relaxing weekend.  

General Conference gave us an excuse to sit at home in our pj's, eat lots of delicious food and enjoy family time.  I really enjoy the laid back splendor that is General Conference weekend.  The spiritual high I feel after listening to our prophet and apostles is the creamy rich icing on the cake.  

Cleaning up after two days of pure laziness is not.

The house was tha-rashed. 

 Oh well.

(Not sure who Colby was pretending to talk on the phone with, but whatever.)

 The highlight of our food overindulgence this weekend were the six...only six...apples grown in our own backyard.

It froze a few days earlier so these bad boys were ready to pick.

 We served them with melted caramel.  The were the BEST apples any of us have ever eaten.  I hope next year our tree is loaded...meaning, I hope we get way more than six.

The older boys enjoying their snack.

(Please note the general disaster-ness in the background.  I'm too tired and too hungry to care.)

 Andrew picked this immature cantaloupe out of our garden.  It's one of only two cantaloupe that grew...and neither of them matured.  Andrew proved his maturity level by drawing on the small fruit and naming it Canny.  Canny was abused and tortured for 24 hours before he was sadly cut into late last night...Andrew thought he should be put out of his fruity misery.

(This might another reason we don't have pets)

Lastly, there were a few quotes from this weekend that made me laugh like a hyena.  They weren't really that funny, you truly had to be there, but I want to remember them anyway.  Steve and I will laugh again and again.   We think we are funny.

Steve to me after I ate nachos with pico:  You smell like Mexican...and I like it!

Saylor to Steve while trying to get comfortable on his lap:  Dad!  Your tummy is SO BIG!  

(I will chuckle about this everyday while I am pregnant.  I need someone else to have the illusion of a big tummy to make me feel better about myself.   For the record...Steve does NOT have a big tummy.)