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Hello!  Sorry we have been absent for awhile! A lot has happened in the almost two months???  That I have posted anything.  First of all, we moved from the Palazzo Tornabuoni to a wonderful place in the "Oltr'arno" neighborhood.  For those of you not familiar to Florence, in the middle of the city is a River called the Arno, the historic center is divided by this river.  The river starts in the hills of Florence and continues all the way through Tuscany to Pisa and out the Tyrrehnian Sea.  The Oltearno neighborhood is on the less touristy side, since the major attractions are where the Duomo, David, etc.  So to those of you more familiar to Florence we are two bridges down from the Ponte Vecchio at the Ponte alla Carraia right on top of one of Florence's most famous gelaterias.. "Gelateria La Carraia".  Our apartment is on what Italians call the 3rd floor and what we on the other side of the Atlantic call the fourth floor.  It has stunning views of the River, the dome of the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, the Bell tower of the Palazzo Vecchio and from some windows the Ponte Vecchio.  It is a typical italian home with the exception of the size.  Its pretty roomy, which is not the norm, specially here in Florence.  Most of you will find this amusing and those of you who know me very well, will probably burst out laughing, but while we do have a dishwasher and a laundry machine!!  THANK the Lord!  We DO NOT have a dryer.   So the clothes are dried the old fashion way, the mother hangs them out to dry and then the mother must iron them!!!  I have to admit and say its not as annoying as I thought it would be, you actually get into a routine and if you stick to it, it all works out fine, and I even find myself enjoying it!.. not the ironing of course, I haven't gone THAT mad!

Soooo with the moving came the absence of the conveniences of being in the Palazzo, like having free WIFI and Cable TV.  When I went to request the Internet, I was told that after the request is made they have 10 days to call you, since we were leaving somewhat unexpectedly to the USA for Christmas, I decided to wait until we got back.  When we got back I made the order request and a little more than two weeks later I still hadnt heard from anybody.  So after a visit to the office and then a call I was finally able to set up an appointment for 2 weeks later.  So we finally have internet!  It was installed last week!  As for the cable, the story is long and similar, but we have that too finally... and just in time for the Olympics AND my birthday!!

The kids are doing great.  Isaiah has been to a few playdates and the Mothers tell me he is speaking italian wonderfully.  We received his report cards this week and the Teacher also gave him good praises.  His grades are great and the only thing he needs improvement in is in.... Italian!  As for little Isabella, she started ballet a couple of weeks ago and she is CRAZY about it.  Loves her classes and loves to put on her little tights, shoes and her skirt.  She now loves going to school, runs through the door after a quick kiss to mommy.  She is speaking a mix of Englitanish which is pretty funny!

Hope you are all MAGNIFICENT in what ever corner of the world you are and whoever you may be.

Love,
Natsha