The Parrillo Family

We started in Tuscany with visits with the Parrillo family.  In Italy of all places.  What a treat.  After puttering around Florence, we drove up to Lake Como for a weekend getaway.  Pretty nice.  From there, we took a train to Paris where we fell in love with the City all over again.  A trip of a lifetime.  Lucky kids.  

Could you imagine having your Golden Birthday in Paris?!?  That's what Sadie was able to experience this year.  Pretty good way to ring in your tenth birthday, right?   Here she is...blowing out her candle on some french convenience store baked item.   Sadie is the middle child that continues to show us the way.  She is - by far - the most adventurous of the three.  She'll eat (or try) anything.  She wants to try everything.  She wants to experience everything.  It is really quite inspiring to see her make the world her own as she learns what she likes and doesn't like along the way.    Sadie is kind.  Sadie is smart.  Sadie is creative.  Sadie is the most in-tune with nature.  And...Sadie is caring.  She's there to help someone who is hurting.  And there to celebrate with you when you succeed.   She's taken on so much this year and I can't wait to see what else she does in 2022....

Yep.  We caved.  Or...rather...Nat caved.  I wanted to hold out for at least another year.  But, our Eloise is now a phone-toting borderline teen.  And (gasp!), she didn't follow my advice:  she got an iPhone.  (For shame.) This feels like a big milestone for the family.  The kid/teen border is approaching and I want to do EVERYTHING we can to keep her a kid.  Time marches on.   Eloise is VERY trustworthy and has earned this access.  Of all the kids, I have the least amount of concerns with getting into trouble online.  I'm happy for her to be able to connect with her friends and see even more of the world.  Just wish it was with an Android.