Florence: Day 2

Touring a city with kiddos you get a completely different perspective.  We skipped the original "David" and instead visited the copy in the original location.  And instead of hitting up the Uffizi we enjoyed the carousel at the Piazza dell Repubblica, which has been entertaining kids for over a century.  Lastly, we enjoyed the wide open parks and views that Florence had to offer.

"Now this is Fun!"

Striking their manliet poses.

When Christian first saw "David" he declared, "He took off his diaper."
Yes, yes he did

The statue gallery.  After learning my lesson with the Gates of Paradise I began spouting random mythological tales that I thought matched the statues.  After finding the guide, I was 5 for 6.  

Not sure why we need more naked boys in our family :)

At 5 (almost 6!).  G still enjoyed the carousel.  With Matts we had our first tween "moment" as he declared the carousel "lame."

But at 2 1/2, it was absolutely magical.  

Beautiful view from Piazzale Michelangelo.

My favorite Italian city.

I love Reed.

The mandatory game of ching, ching.

G: faster than a speeding bullet.

A different arch, a different city, a different battle

Have I mentioned I love Reed?

Florence: Day 1

Back in the day when I toured in Europe with a school group I fell in love with Florence (and my first high school boy :).  I remember it awash in pastels and filled with twisty passages where you could loose yourself for hours, or until the chaperon demanded you return.  The Duomo, in all it's restored glory was even more wonderful than I remembered and I was lucky enough to return with my love and our three vagabonds.  

  

The Gates of Paradise, take 2.
(see below)

Meh.
The boys were a lot more interested when I described the competition that took place for designing the Dome and the doors.  

Our first night in Florence

Funny story; we pulled in to Florence in the evening, and even though we were tired we decided to get out and walk the city.  After enjoying the Duomo, in all it's confectionary glory, I kept looking to the doors right across from it.  I could SWEAR they were the Gates of Paradise, but wasn't quite sure.  Well, sure enough my Humanities brain retained a smidge and when we went the next day to "educate" our boys I decided that from then on I was going to spout whatever random facts come to my mind.  
It's not like my 8 and 5 year old will actually know it they're true or fabricated.

Walking the city

Approximately 1 minute before landing in time out.  Something about cars and curbs...

Drive through Tuscany

Early Friday morning we picked up a car and headed out of Rome.  Or, more correctly, tried to head out of Rome.  Between the new iphone map and my horrendous navigational skills, it took us over an hour to just get out of Rome.  In my defense, why on earth would you make a map that rotates?  Let's just say it's possible that during this time the phone was gently tossed at Reed as I gave up my position as chief navigator.  Then things got worse, much worse.  The fumes, twisty one way streets and general craziness led to three queasy boys in the back seat.  Which led to one pukey boy in the back seat (in the car seat, of course), which led to another close call with G.  Let's just say that cleaning throw up out of a car seat at an Italian gas station may go down as all time low of my mothering career.  Luckily, the people attending the station were oh so nice and donated cleaning supplies, paper towels and even shirts for Little C and G.  Two hours later (1 for misdirection and 1 for clean up) we were on our way out of Rome.  

Queasy kiddos.

On our drive we did the mandatory tourist stop at Pisa and the boys thought it was fantstic!

I love Reed

The tower in all it's glory.

And all the glory of road trips with a 2 year old :)

Rome: Going Solo

Since Reed was working I got to spend some of our time in Rome solo with the kiddos.  I must say I was a little nervous, but with some advance planning and laid back agenda we had a great time.  

Reed did a great job meeting up with up between meetings/events/dinners.

A huge hit was Torre Argentina.  It's a cat sanctuary, right where Julius Caesar was killed.  These were some pretty sophisticated felines.  

Not such a huge hit-the Vatican.  But, you gotta go :)

I drug the boys to the Vatican first thing one morning.  We were among the first in and I'm embarrassed to say, rushed through multiple masterpieces on our way to the Sistine Chapel.  With the little guy to contend with I knew we had a limited time frame and I wanted the boys to be able to soak it in.  I got a little teary eyed as we walked in and the boys spent the next 20 minutes listening to the children audioguides and pointing out Adam/God, Moses and all the rest.  It was a magical!

Outside St. Peter's Cathedral.  We opted out of the 60min + wait to get in :)

And back to attack!

And our favorite-The global sport of pigeon hunting.  

Rome: Gladiator School

If you read up on taking kids to Rome there is a definite theme of "proceed at your own risk".  However, there is also the common theme of "you MUST take them to Gladiator School."  Although it's run by the people/museum that puts on the Gladiator reenactments throughout Italy, it was completely sketchy and ridiculously pricey.  But, the boys loved it and I'm still hearing shouts of "I kill you" daily.  

In true Roman fashion there were cats everywhere.  Luckily, they were quite friendly, or quite quick :)

G being a legionnaire.  Not to be confused with a gladiator!

Doesn't he look intimidating?

Too cool.

On to the training.

Doing circuits

Taking a well deserved break

Doesn't he look fierce?  

So much love to share.  

Like I said, completely dangerous and sketchy.

Arm, head, arm, head.
Wait, did I just pay to teach my kids how to better attack eachother?

Into the ring

C HAD to have his own weaponry

And he was the fiercest and most unpredictable contender.  

As a result of his victorious rounds, Septimus was given citizenship in the Roman Empire.  

Meet Scorpius, the newest Roman citizen

Maximus-the littlest Roman citizen