Wednesday, December 21, 2011

One last errand....

Tomorrow Gio and I leave for Italy.  Paolo and Enzo headed off yesterday morning for the drive.  Yes, Paolo could not bear to leave Enzo behind for the long break so off they went through a snow storm.  To say we have fallen hard for this dog is an understatement.  Of course, it was also nice to be able to load up a car with everything that I might want for our vacation, including all of Santa's gifts for Gio!  And it will be equally nice to be able to load it up again with goodies from Italy to bring back here.

Yesterday I dismantled all of our Christmas decorations and put our living tree out on our balcony with hopes that it will survive.  It is eerily quiet to be here without Enzo, though I must say I did enjoy my first chance to sleep in (until 7:45!) in what seems like forever.  Today is a typical winter day here in Kiev/Kyiv- some snow and a LOT of gray skies.  Of course, today is the shortest day of the year, so I hope to see evidence of more daylight when we return on January 9th.  Today I had one task- to get the last batch of Christmas cards to Paolo's office so that they could be sent in the diplomatic pouch this evening.  Below is a series of shots I took as I traveled between our apartment and his office on the metro. I hope it gives you more of a feel of our lives here, or at least what Paolo's daily commute is like (when I do not let him have the car!).  I am not sure I will have internet access while in Italy, but I will certainly post pictures when we return, so in the meantime, Happy Holidays to all of you!
Here I am standing in the park that divides our street.  Our alley is to the left in this pictures after the red-roofed building.  This used to be a trolley line but is now a narrow park with benches and is very popular with dog walkers.  

Same place, but this time I am facing up Gorkogo to Shevchenko Park.  This is the route we take with Enzo multiple times a day.

The parking mafia.  Water bottles filled with sand and water are used to keep riff raff (like me) from parking in front of fancy shops and salons along our road.  Loud honking from Mercedes/Range Rovers/Bentleys brings a man scurrying out to move the bottles aside. 

This is one of a bazillion coffee shops in Kiev.  Most are blatant copies of Starbucks. 

I am at the top of Gorkogo now with the park ahead on the left.  Notice that drivers really park wherever they want.  These three in front are parked in the middle of a very busy intersection.  And they wonder why gridlock happens here so quickly?

Yes, that car is parked on the sidewalk. 


The stairs up to the park.  Gio loves to go up the "slide-y mountain" on the left.  Enzo likes to leap up onto the grass on the right to begin his sniffing adventure.

Middle of the park, middle of the day, looks like dusk.

When I walked by this small house in the middle of the park, I saw that Gio was inside with Laryssa.  This is a small space where they offer free art lessons to children.  Afterwards they usually head to the restaurant on the left for a jam pancake.

I do not know if you can see the advertisement in the window, but it struck me, as much of the advertising does here, as rather suggestive.  Even at McDonald's.

Down the long, very fast escalator to the train.

Nope, still cannot read a word.

Soviet-style metro station glam

One view of the Lavra (monastery) from Paolo's office

And another view from the deck outside his office.  Across the river is where most citizens of Ukraine live, in giant apartment blocks.  

Paolo's office is on the second floor.  Below is a nightclub.  Seems fitting for a World Bank office in Ukraine.





Saturday, December 17, 2011

School's Out for Christmas!

Yesterday Gio finished a great first two weeks at school and started a 3 week holiday.  Not a bad way to begin his academic life!  He adjusted much better to the new routine than I did.  Let's just say it is going to take me a bit longer to figure out Enzo walking, Gio dressing, feeding, toothbrushing and drive/subway to school without being an hour or more late.  Though school starts at 8 I felt so proud of getting us there by 9 yesterday.  Yes, we have a way to go.  Anyway, we leave for Italy on Thursday and will be there until January 9th.  Here are some random photos I found on my camera this evening...


An Enzo snuggle after a long day at the office.

Birthday cake!

Cookie decorating

New cement mixer sweater from Madrina Linda!

Yep, that's birthday cake #2 (at his party a few days later)


Post birthday party collapse (5 children for 4 hours!)
My 3 boys!
If I do not manage to add a new post before next weekend, a very merry holiday to all of you!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Gio's 3rd Birthday!

It is finally here!  Gio is 3.  Wow.  I really cannot believe it.  We are on our 3rd home on our 3rd continent and Gio has completed 72 flights in those 3 years, most long haul international ones.  That's 24 flights per year for those of you struggling with the math.  Guess we are not doing too well on keeping Gio's carbon footprint small.  Then again, he wears a size 12 shoe, so nothing about his footprint is small!
On Gio's 2nd official day of school he was a very popular guy with cupcakes for all.  Here are a few scenes from snack time today.  Present opening and more cake will happen later tonight when Paolo gets home.  For now, hugs to all that have helped us and loved our "little" Giovanni over these last 3 years.







after an entire cupcake, an apple is a fine dessert.

I'm 3!!!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Gio's First Day of School!

So yesterday was my birthday and I got a....camera!!!  Yeah.  After 3 weeks without even a phone to take pictures I have been feeling quite out of it and frustrated not being able to take a single picture.  So, still no phone, but at least I was able to document Gio's first day of school today....

First morning wake up...at 8 am.  Not sure we are EVER going to be on time to school!

A bit of hand-paw reassurance.  

Are you ready for me, PSI teachers?!?!

My serious, studious look.

And how I will REALLY look when school begins.

We are starting school a bit illegally, one day before turning 3.  Well, might as well start driving, too.  Probably not illegal anyway here in Ukraine!

About to enter.  That is NOT our stroller in the background, though Gio was rather confused to see it there.

School building and playground

This structure is filled with noise-making toys and often houses big building materials like giant boxes.



I snuck back into school just before Gio's 12pm pick up and hid in the cloakroom to try to capture a few Gio moments....




Gio started yawning at this point, so I knew his 3 hours of school had been enough.  He happily said goodbye to his teachers and off we went.  Back again tomorrow with 40 cupcakes for the big birthday boy!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Off to Kiev tomorrow...

Tomorrow night Gio and I fly back over the Atlantic on our way to Kiev.  We will have to adjust to much colder temperatures but are ready to be home with Paolo, Enzo and our friends.  In three weeks Gio will turn 3 and begin school.  Hard to believe.  Here are some photographs of Gio's last few days in Washington.  I cannot take credit for a single image.  Thank you, dear Hedvig, for these!
An advertisement for Magna-Tiles?  Gio adores these magnetic blocks.  Thanks, Marsha!



Barley doing his post-meal cleanup

The most popular activity at home? Burying Nonno in couch pillows.



Montose Park trees






Airplane sighting

Yes, Nonno is under there...somewhere.

Nonno is the best sport about this.  Seriously, it probably happens 20 times a day.