Afterwards, Josh rode off to meet a friend and I took the opportunity to bike around the neighborhood in search of services. We've lived in Italy for about 10 weeks now and I was in desperate need of a good manicure, a haircut and a leg waxing! I'd become confident enough with my Italian to get by and certainly could, at a minimum, get information and make appointments. Within, 30 minutes, I was all set -- for next week -- with appointments at three various establishments, all conveniently located, for all three necessary services. Reviews to follow (next week).
The plan was to take the kids out for Pizza; but we never made it. They just get too hungry by 6:30pm so I decided it was easier to make the pizza at home (while Avery and Olivia watched TV -- Charlotte was still at the orthodontist) and call them to the table when it was ready. My pizza got great reviews from the eaters.
I have to say I've sort of mastered the art of stove-top pizza. First you have to buy a special type of round flat-bread. Then you heat some olive oil in a sautee pan; place the flat bread in the pan and after it's crisp on one side, flip it over. Then spread some tomato sauce on the crisp side (your choice basilco or ricotta or both); then place fresh mozzarella slices on top. Add salt (and pepper if you like) and watch the bread bubble up and the cheese melt. A few minutes before it's done, place fresh basil leaves on top and you've got yourself a wonderful pizza margherita. In the case of last nights' pizza, I also added grilled zucchinni slices for the kids. Olivia said "Mom next time if we feel like having pizza, you can just make it." She said it was "the same" as going out for pizza. This made me very happy (more small joys).
I made a second round when Josh and Charlotte returned home. Since we didn't go out for pizza, the kids were very excited about the prospect of going out for dessert instead. Eventually -- and it's almost 9pm by now -- we loaded in to the car to "go out" for gelato. We found a cute place in our neighborhood, with benches out front, and the kids all ordered the same thing: strawberry cheesecake and nutella (?). We all sat outside and enjoyed our gelato. Despite being the first to order and receive her cone, Olivia was the last -- by a wide margin -- to finish it. We were in no hurry; everyone was having fun.
It was almost 10pm by the time we got home and my request that everyone get ready for bed right away seemed to fall on deaf ears. I had just settled a reluctant Avery in his room and heard some scuffling overhead on the 3rd floor. A few minutes later a chase down the stairs ensued and resulted in Olivia dropping a glass which shattered on the granite staircase! Josh cleared all the glass as best as he could. When I became angry at Charlotte for threatening Olivia and chasing her down the stairs, she started mouthing off which made me even angrier. You can see where this is going...spiraling out of control to the point where Charlotte won't be quiet; Avery can't sleep; Olivia is crying about dropping the glass and about Charlotte going on and on....
What began as a treat for the whole family, became a very messy night, indeed.
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