Trieste-orialist at Zoe Foods & Happy Birthday LUCA!

I realized I never posted the interesting outfits I saw at Zoe Foods...

So here's one... and I've seen this guy mutiple times. Still sports the mustache and decor

This gal had all sorts of coolness going for her. We wondered if she actually tries... or just rolls out of the house looking the way she does!

Ok, not from Zoe Foods... BUT from "Il Pinguino" my favorite outdoor salsa/gelato place in town. This was from the last outdoor salsa dancing night. Imagine... on a pier... under the stars... perfect weather!! Awesomeness!

So when you go hiking to Val-Rossandra... Make sure you take with you: 1. waterbottle 2. hiking shoes, 3. Layers 4. Snacks, 5. Friends who also like to hike and are chill and fun to be around like Kristin (above), Kaitlin, and Liz :)

When we went hiking the hill areas of Val-Rossandra, we hiked up to this church built in 1267! It was literally built from the rock of the mountain... It was so beautiful and on top of the hill! We couldn't go inside but still cool!

LAST: TODAY IS my

LITTLE LUCA-nator's 

FIRST birthday! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCA!

I just called... and the prince is napping!

He is such a blessing, bubble of joy, and delight.  I love that little (big) tank! I remember praying so hard for him--for his health, for his mama and papa, for his life, his future dreams, for a faith and love of God... I know it's only been one year... and that I get to be his praying aunt for a lifetime.. but its so cool to think that over a year ago, God knew that Luca would be more than ok (than what the doctors said-healthwise) and that he would be the absolute joy and delight and blessing to those he is around.  He is such a perceptive little guy (like his papa)--and he's happy, joyous--and loud (like his mama)...and musical (like his Rivera genes)  and I really just want to hug him and hold him ALL the time...and it's moments like this, when I'm however many miles away that I miss being there like a heavy weight... I hope that Dad, Mom, Niks, and Scott and everyone back home keep being anal about video taping every moment... because I want to see them. And I really hope Luca doesn't forget his Titi while she's gone for a little while in old Italia :)

To: Luca Elliot Haun 

(whose name means bringer of light who's close to God)

--HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

yes he is the cutest!

yes... it's easy to be obsessed when you get to look at a face like this!

I just love this kid so much it hurts!

And the beautiful family he is apart of :)

HAPPY!

Afternoon rooftops...

Our roof is a great place to read and hang out... Here you go:

So it was a beautiful afternoon... we couldn't resist climbing through my skylight to catch some rays and read *That's Liz's leg

Here are my feetsies and there is that's the roof slant... it's not that scary!

I was reading Her Daughter's Dream  by my favorite author, Francine Rivers. The part of the book where I read had a lot of great quotes said by a wise (in my opinion) great-grandmother. I was just eating up the words and pondering them. It reminded me of wisdom I use to receive from talks with my Abuela Fifa when I was younger and words of encouragement now I get through people like my sister, my aunt Leenda, my parents, Ohana, and other friends.... Anyhoo here are some I highlighted:

Quote from Her Daughter's Dream,  

"People either weigh you down or give you wings."

-(said by Oma, the great-grandmother)

AND:

"It's a good thing God isn't limited by what we have in mind for ourselves. His plan is so much bigger."

-(said by Oma, the great-grandmother)

And some more roomie-love! Here's us at the grand-opening of Zoe Foods one of our new favorite places in Trieste! 

Hump Day in Trieste

Filled with:

• Lice in the elementary wing (AKA: sending a little first grader home because he had knits in his hair--and second case in our class this year...EEEK!!!)
• Finding our classroom pet mouse that escaped in the hallway (well that was done by Amanda) and letting the children know that yes, the nameless mouse (they haven't decided on a name yet), has now returned from Mouseland :)
• Getting sick to my stomach and running out of Grade 5 music class, later to be sent home with a short lived stomach bug (I think it is now completely out of my system. I am feeling A LOT better... just tired)

Thoughts:

I was really bummed I did not get to teach my music classes when I got sick... I was so excited for them! But I'll make it up to the kids for sure sometime tomorrow and Friday.

That's all for now... GOING to Sleep.

AND for your information: I had my roommates extensively check my mass of curls for any signs of Lice (because I am paranoid--and ALL clear and clean for the time being!)

HAPPY!

Ok last, I've been obsessed with PS22 elementary chorus from Staten Island, NY lately--check them out:

http://ps22chorus.blogspot.com/

Dream come true...

So many of you who know me, know that I absolutely love the movie "Sister Act II: Back in Habit" (It's actually a family favorite and Ohana favorite)---and if you don't... Now you do :)

Here's my story:

Last year, I was the focus of a PhD-of-Educational-something candidate's  dissertation on teaching personas and the development of how you actually come to realize your personality as a teacher. I was observed, interviewed, and informally questioned on many occasions about who I am as a teacher (ok this and sister act totally tie together... I promise!). 

In the course of the interviews, I found myself quoting none other than, "Sister Mary Clarence" from Sister Act II and the movie quotes--the very best being, "If you want to be somebody, and if you want to go somewhere you better wake up and pay attention!"

I remember telling the PhD candidate that I hoped to one day tell my students that quote, to be like Sister Mary Clarence in the engagement factor of teaching, and to really get through to my students by knowing them and what gets them going while still maintaining "me" and showing my true self to them.

Ever since the interviews I dreamed of truly bringing some sister act II into my future classroom and today was the realization of the dream.

I posted the words on a poster--had students read it, tell me what they thought the quote meant, talked about it and what it meant for our music class and then We SANG IT!  PURE JOY and fun! 

I was simply and completely tickled inside as each elementary class sang the words.

I am happy to say the quote will now be routine in our music class! HAPPY! 

A Side-note:

while my third graders were singing it, an Italian teacher who speaks limited english popped her head in because she recognized the tune and ALSO LOVES the movie--I mean that's just destiny for us to be friends :)

So there you have it... dreams really do come true--even the little ones that we maybe think are insignificant when we dream them up--or silly to think of!

I'll leave an actual soundbite from the original movie: