a boat trip ;)

After living Villa Taranto we directed to the pier to take a special boat to visit the Isola dei Pescatori.

Momochan was very happy to go on the boat and see around from the middle of the lake, she continuosly shouted happily indicating here or there ;)

Today is really sunny, is a really fantastic day, warm, no clouds, the ideal day to go on the lake with the family.

As soon as we arrive Momochan jumps down the ferry boat and asks which part do wee go.

We visit the interrior part of the small isle, the characteristic shops selling soaps, bags, post cards, foods ;)
In the finishing part of the isle at one side, there is a part just with trees and sand, one with theese trees had a big rope and Momochan climber it and hanged down, she was amusing so much ;)
Walking from one side ofthe isle to the other is short, on the isle there are shops, travel agencies, restaurants, small food stores, coffee shop and houses, it is the only isle of the lake always inhabited all the year long ;)
The ferry boat we had asked, arrived every 30 minutes and last trip to come back was at 19.30 but anyway before 19.00 PM we already were on the boat to come back, it was starting to become evening and we didn't want to arrive too late home for dinner because Momochan tomorrow has to go kindergarden and has to sleep, also we have to take granny home. Momochan is really tired so as soon as we arrive at the pier and we enter the car she is already sleeping. We wake her up reaching granny's house, she said goodbye and kissed then we went away and before arriving home Momochan was sleeping again and we had to hug her to take her up ;)

Villa Taranto

After reaching granny and take her up, we reached a McDonalds near Lago Maggiore around 12.30 PM.
I thought it would have been a good idea to stop there for lunch because we all love McD's, granny can eat something she likes too, Sampei pays less than taking us all to a restaurant, Momochan loves chicken nuggets and I can take two Happy Meals and have the special Shaun bento box (now we have four so we are ok).
This way we are all happy and as we discover shortly after lunch, Villa Taranto is really near.

We arrive in a few minutes, we park inside the free parking lot and Momochan starts to jump around and look flowers.
The botanic garden is a enormous place with bridges, hills and paths, sun is shining and the air is scented, flowers, warm stones, pine bark, bees and the tweet of birds transform the surroundings in a quiet relaxing dream ;) Here the world seems to have stoppedd for a while. Sampei had free day today, we had organized this trip since a couple of months as I wanted to take Momochan to the Lago Maggiore to see a special place since last year: Villa Taranto, a big botanic garden full of plants, trees and flowers coming from every part of the world.

We walk up and down under bridges and up the hills, pines, azalee, giant orange and yellow poppies, magnolie and other plants are everywhere, some gardner men are cutting the grass and cleaning the earth, some other are planting new flowers, everywhere bees are flying happily and Momochan laughs enchanted.

After having walked here and there for the entire park and stoppedd for a coffee at the big pool, we decide for Momochan could be nice also, to go on the lake with a boat so we direct to the main gate where we discover, there is a small corner which sells plants and flowers.



Sampei wants to buy a small tree, a kind which has normally greenish leaves that changes to dark red in september ;)

We put the plant inside the car and we drowe away, the pier was nearby, we just had to park in fornt of the pier entrance and buy the tickets, boat was already arriving and Momochan was jumping happily, the trip is at the Isola dei Pescatori ;)

ramen dinner

We arrived home and I started to organize shopping and put away then I asked Sampei to prepare ramen.
Momochan was still wearing her special make up since afternoon, she never wants to wash away but she knows I will have to clean her before going bed ;)
Anyway in short time daddy prepared food and called us to sit at the table.
Momochan is always terribly slow when she eat but she managed to finish nearly half of her big bowl.
As soon as she has finished I put order on the table and set out some clean dishes for the special heart shaped cake ;)
YUM YUM cake was really nice, we have bought a small one since we are just two people and normally Momochan just tastes a small bite of sweet though wee left a big piece also because tomorrow we will have a special trip to the lago Maggiore with granny and I want to give her a slice of the cake for breakfast ;)

shopping in Chinatown

Once arrived in Chinatown it was really late and we hadd to run to make shopping.

We found a couple of stores still opened and we got inside.

I needed edamame but I alway buy the ones without shell because in the same packet there are more, Sampei wanted some kimchi, we also took apacket of frozen vegetables gyoza, a packet of maccha tea cookies and I also found some bottles of black tea and milk, almost same as I was drinking in Japan every day in 2008.

We also wanted some noodles because we have decided, I have decided since today is Mum's Day, I want to eat ramen so instead of buying single packets of noodles and pay 1.50 euro each, we found a big box containing 30 packets costing only 9,50 euro ;)
Now we have half of a wall cabinet full of meat noodles packets, we eat often so it has been a good idea.
Momochan also made shopping: she found some fruit jellies, tastin peach, same as the ones we bought in Japan and we were crazy about, I also bought some mandarine taste each of which contains a slice of the fruit ;)
After shopping we went straight home to cook dinner, our special mum's day cake is waiting for us ;)

mum's day afternoon ;)

Once arrived home I gave momochan her milk bottle and she went straight to bed for her usual nap.

Meanwhile daddy went to clean and wash the car. At 17.30 PM he was not yet arrived home so I phoned him to say to go to the coffee shop and bring home the special cake we had paid in the morning so that as soon as Momochan would wake up, he had just to have a shower and (cake in the fridge), we could go out to central plaza and after to Chinatown ;)

Just before 18.00 PM he arrived home with the cake, Momochan had just awakened sinc e a few minutes, daddy went in the showeer and chaged dreesses, I put Momochan her shoes on and we went out ;)

We arrived to the central plaza in a few minuutes, Giorgia was there and Momochan runned to her to have her special make up, this time she hadd a special rainbow buttterfly with much "fairy silver powder" ;)
Momochan was really happy about her special butterfly make up and she jumped here and there ;)
Momochan wanted to stay another couple of minutes because she wanted to draw and colour, there was a place with a small table and kids and a lady was giving images to colour and felt pens, she asked for a turtle and a duck and she started to colour.
As soon as she hadd finished the turtle we went away, it was getting late and Chinatown shops would close, we needed some jelly for Momochan's fruit salads and some noodles for dinner ;)

coffee, fair and ... Totoro !

After breakfast we went to our preferred coffee shop, we had a pair of coffee and we bought a special cake for ....... me ! :)

Heart shaped, little because we are just two, Momochan will only taste a little piece.

As usual one time a month recently there was the town fair and our friend Giorgia was there so we went to say her "hallo" and tell her we would see in the afternoon.

Just the moment we were going away, on a little table between the market ones, I saw ......... TOTORO !!!!!!

Never I had thought to find a japanese character here in Italy, Totoro is so strange here ! I called Momochan ad Sampei who were going away and I showed them the Totoro plush, Momochan hugged it and we bought, it is too cute !!!

After that we runned to the car because we needed to go Ikea store to buy a couple of items it is four months we have to buy: a drying rack 4 tiers and a high kitchen cabinet to put inside dishes after you have washed, our kitchen is so little and we need this one because every day either for After we have paid our articles we saw at the

Swedish Corner there was the presentation of new candies and you could taste some if you wanted so as Momochan is sweet teeth I asked to have some and while Momochan was eating her candies we went to buy some ;) Momochan little plates, glasses and tools or cops and mugs I never know where to put ;)

french breakfast ;)

This morning we have prepared a special french breakfast with yogurt and ham/cheese croissants, Momochan also had fruit salad and she hadd a special garnish: a new strawberry grown up on her little plant on the balcony ;)

festa della mamma ;)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY ;)


 

special present for mum ...

As you know sunday 13 may will be "mum's day" so in kindergarden every kid has made a sourprise for mum, same as they had done for daddy for 19 march, daddy's day.

The sourprise is a pin, made by a round pice of nice smelling wood and little pearls and decoration, the pin is packed togather with a special card with a flower inside decorated with a small poem every kid has learned by heart.

This one is the jewel Momichan has made for me (every kid has made one different and choosed different colours and material to decorate).

Tomorrow we will go restaurant togather with my mum (we have bought a small present for her) and I will wear my precious new pin :)

This is the best present I have received ever :))))