December Moments...

December went by in a flash and now suddenly I have a 5 year old and a 5 month old!  As always I did a poor job of documenting much of what happened over the last few weeks, but below are a few shots of Kyiv and Italy....

Once back from London we witnessed more of the protests going on in central Kyiv.  Here are the riot police leaving the scene one morning without ever engaging the protesters.  (This and next 3 photos courtesy of my friend Kirsten!)

A bus full of police leaving the scene- things remained peaceful on this morning.

A protesting babuska.

(Me again as photographer).  Here is the Lenin statue after it had been toppled from its pedestal by protestors (and then beheaded).

Enzo came down with me on this day to take a look at the statue....

....he later peed on it to the delight of the crowd!

Gio and I joined a local pool to help get us through the long cold winter.  Can you guess which boots are mine here in the locker room??

Some parents and I organized a holiday party for Gio's class.  Even Santa made an appearance.  Gio asked me on the drive home why Santa was wearing Mr. Mark's shoes. 

Enzo was chosen as "Mr. July" for a Ukrainian calendar featuring Swiss dogs.
Here on the cover he is the 3rd down on the left.  

Mr. July page.  

After nearly 5 months I finally got a manicure thanks to my sweet friends who treated me for my birthday.  

"M" Week at school so Gio made a Mask!

 Gio's class performed at a school concert.
This is the first time I have actually wished Gio would be louder!

We flew to Italy on Dec 21st.  Sadly we could not drive and bring Enzo as the renewal of our Diplomatic plates on our car was delayed.  Enzo stayed behind in Kyiv with his beloved dog walker.  My brother "Uncle Andrew" arrived from San Francisco on Christmas Eve.  Here is the scene on Christmas morning before Gio woke to destroy it all!  

Our stockings.  Uncle Andrew got Enzo's stocking!

Christmas morning in the dark waiting for Andrew and Paolo to wake. 

Andrew brought this giant pirate ship all the way from California.  It was the hit of Christmas.   

We wake every morning to the coos of Maria.  It is the sweetest sound in the world.  She seems ready to speak in full sentences and it seems that she will also have Gio's gift for gab!

We spent the rest of Andrew's visit showing him all around our little corner of Italy.
Here we are on a hike searching for dinosaurs. 

Maria's big project over Christmas was exploring her fingers.

Trying to get them all in her mouth is a fun activity....

...but these are her favorites.

New Year's Eve- partying hard. 

Another Maria project was attempting to roll over.  She can roll from front to back but back to front remains elusive. 

Uncle Andrew left on Jan 2.  It was a tearful parting.

A popsicle helped but Gio still sobbed for nearly half an hour on the drive home from the airport....

...Maria was sad, too, but slept through Gio's cries.  

Our time in Italy will soon come to an end.  Paolo returns to Kyiv tomorrow (Sunday).  I will take Maria and Gio back with me on Thursday.  This will be my first time traveling with two children solo.  Should be interesting....
Happy New Year to all!
xo.  Clara