The Whelan's

The countdown has begun. In T minus 16 days I will turn 42 years young. In celebration I decided to show how I looked during the 1976 Bi-Centennial. Those were the days when beautiful skin and platinum blond hair came naturally. Look at that happy girl, looking healthy and sweet...what happened to her? To all of you who think that my children look just like me I dare to prove you wrong. My children are the most adorable kids in the world but I must admit that they take more after there dad than me. Anyway, here's rising a wine glass to a life well lived!

Here we are having a relaxing moment. Enjoying a beautiful spring day and just spending time together. Alex and I play sports, go to games and races and spend time outside. Elizabeth and I go to beauty salons and get pedicures and get our hair done, then hit the mall and do some shopping. At times I wish they enjoyed the same things but on the other hand it is nice to spend time alone with each of them as they are both so different. Next post will be Lizzie and her momma together.

At last! Doesn't it always feel wonderful when you finally get home after vacation? This European vacation was fantastic but boy do I just need to sit back, relax and recoop. We had a very long 22hour day yesterday. Started actually the day before but for references this is how it all panned out. We had a wake up call in Milan at 3:45 am, took a 45 minute taxi ride to Milan-Malpensa Aiport (Malpensa I recently learned literally translates to "bad thoughts"). Fortunately Malpensa was a beautiful clean and very much on-time airport and we had no trouble checking in and getting our seats. We boarded around 6;30 and took off on time at 6:55am. Off to Frankfort where we had to show our passports at least 3 times, and here I thought the US had strick security measures. We landed in Germany around 8:15am and since I had been in that airport at least a dozen times in my life I was pretty sure what to expect...WRONG. They have updated that airport and enlarged it so much that I had to reorient myself and try and figure out what they had done since last I was there, over 10 years ago. The biggest surprise the Casino and Mall like shopping Boulevards throughout the airport. Let me tell you, if you have a 4 hour layover (like we did) than that is the airport to be in. We went immediately and had breakfast at a very German restaurant and I remembered immediately why I gained weight everytime I went to Germany in the past. Honestly, how many places serve chocolate croissants with your already overloaded with carbohydrates breakfast? Did I complain? Heck no I was in heaven. Chocolate heaven.

Well after that fabulous breakfast we still had plenty of time to kill so off to the shopping boulevard. Didn't buy much but it was a good time waster and no I didn't gamble but I did look in the casino. I held my ground and held onto the few Euro's that i had left over. Big warning for those planning a European Vacation....the exchange rate from American dollars to the Euro is Awful, beyond awful, it's actually highway robbery. Thank heaven I planned well and brought plenty money but boy is that a shock.

We could have left for Dulles in Dc a little earlier than we did but Alex relly wanted to travel in business class on a B747. Fortunatley we did and it is so worth the wait. Before I worked in the airline industry it was coach/economy or nothing but since then the perks of being an airline employee are phenominal. We would never be able to afford round trip business class seats to Europe or anywhere else otherwise. We got our seats and was catered to the whole way home but that still doesn't make 9 1/2 hour plane rides much easier. I tend to get a little antsy as I am sure most people do. But we survived and landed on time in Dulles and then had to go through security hell. I knew it was worse in the US but it always surprises me how long it takes to get through immigrations and customs. We landed at 2:45 and was not out until 4:00pm . Craziness and not too efficient. When we landed in Rome it was a snap, Frankfort was a little excessive but quick, the good ol USA , you might just bring your PJ's and hang out a while.

Well anyway, we are back and here I am blogging at 5am. Alex and I got up around 4:30 (In Italy it is 10;30am so I guess we are still on their time) and had some salame and toast. Yummy.

I will add a few more pictures here, first is Alex in a small walkway in Milan, Me and the kids in the square next to Il Duomo ( a large and extremely ornate cathdral in the center of Milan (or Milano Centrale as they say in Italy), next is a better shot of il Duomo, the front is a little covered because of work being done) and then there is me and the kids again and then Alex on the plane ride home.

I really should try and go to bed but instead I will just say good bye, arrividerci and aufviedersahn. (spelling is probably way off but you get the idea)

We are currrently at my friend Krista's place on the Italian Riviera in a cute seaside town named Chiavari. We arrived from Rome on Friday and head to Milan on Tuesday to begin the journey back home on Wednesday. So far we have seen more of Italy than I thought we would. After exploring the ruins in Rome and then Vatican City we took the scenic train (first class) up to Chiavari. It was a 4 hour ride but the time flew by because of the amazing scenery, we made about 6 quick stops and one was in Pisa where we saw this absolutely stunning, fairy tale city.

The kids and I were looking for the tower but we didn't see it. The ride was up the coast and believe me when I say the Mediterranian Sea is gorgeous. Sparkly and blue, lots of little coastal towns and there was even this one city named Civitavecchia that I would love to explore one day. Stunning, sort of like Annapolis but with a European flair.

After Milan we fly to Frankfurt, Germany to come home instead of going back to Rome. Alex really wants to fly on B747 and they have one out of Germany but not Rome. Business class is still wide open so we have our fingers crossed that we make it. We travelled over to Rome in business class and believe me it is so much better than riding in the back with the sardines.

Our flight from Dulles to Rome was 9 hours and 30 minutes and sitting in a bigger reclining chair with a footrest makes all the difference in the world. Not only that but the food is much better too and the wine is free.

3 more days exploring Italy and then we will be back to reality. See you all soon.

Basta, caio!

Well, almost off to Italy. First we have to finish cleaning and laundry. As the photo shows, Alex is becoming more and more like a typical man everyday. I asked him to fold the towels in the basket and instead he plops his butt on the couch and picks up the remote for the TV. And here I thought I was doing a grand job of training him,..tsk tsk.

We leave tomorrow and so today I finished the majority of my tasks, thank heavens. I had to run to the airport to get our tickets from Milan, Italy to Frankfort, Germany. As we are flying Lufthansa on that leg we actually have to hold a real ticket in our hands. Very strange as I am so used to E-tickets (paper tickets that you download on your computer for those not in the know). We are flying home from Germany since they have 3 non stop flights per day whereas Rome only has one. Alex is beyond excited, ELizabeth will be thrilled when we get there but she hates flying. Looks like business class is filling up fast so we might be delegated to Economy...yikes...However on our flight back we should have no problems with getting the upgrade. Hopefully.

I had to go to the tailor because the khakis I bought for Alex for the trip are too long, so they are doing a rush job and said they will be ready in the morning. What a knuckle head I am , I completely forgot to have them hemmed when I bought them 2 weeks ago. I took a mid term exam this evening, got a "B" which is not too bad as I had to take it a week early because of this trip. What else?? Well my house is not as clean as I wanted but I am just too exhausted to clean anymore. I have a neighbor coming over to take care of the animals. At least I don't have to worry about them.

Well, my next post will be when we return so look out for some fantastic photos and maybe an Italian word thrown in here or there.

Ciao