Italia

So our first big trip...out of our home country, pack the passports, crazy adventure kind of trip...was to Lake Como, Italy at the end of August.  It was a bit unsettling and suspenseful -- we planned the whole thing just two days before our departure (we didn't know whether or not Christopher would have duty and need to stick close to home).  There's no better way to set expectations reasonably low -- just fly by the seat of your pants!

It was perfection.  Such a magical place for us.  I can't help it, I love Italy.  I also love lake houses.  And mountains.  This had it all.  We stayed at a FANTASTIC apartment hotel in the tiniest little village on the north side of the lake.  The family who runs the place took us in like family, made me a cappuccino upon arrival and plied the kids with lollipops for three straight days.  They sent us to their favorite restaurants, gave us tips for our first soccer match, and just took such great care of us.  As Simon told us a few weeks ago, "I like going to hotels.  People are so nice to us at hotels."

So here's the trip in photos:

A gorgeous six hour drive through five countries (Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Italy) and some close encounters with a few cows as we climbed up and down the alps.

The lake, just a short walk from the apartment, was crystal clear and surrounded by mountains.  

In a trip filled with memory-making moments, this was a highlight.  We rented a boat, packed a lunch, and took off on a two hour cruise.  I'll admit it was one of our riskier parenting moves.  Christopher, despite his naval career, is not a boating man.  We were in a foreign country with three small children in unfamiliar water.  Those life jackets were strapped on TIGHT!

The kids loved every bump and wave.  I had to pinch myself to believe it was real.

Here's our little village, Domaso.

Each morning we hopped on bikes and rode through the cobblestone alleys to get coffee and pastries at a bakery by the lake.  Heaven.

Another slightly insane outing...side trip to an AC Milan soccer match at the famous, century-old San Siro stadium in Milan.  It was a Sunday evening match, so we figured it might be tamer than others.  Milan is about an hour away from Lake Como.  As a side note, if you're planning to hit a European soccer match, bring your passports.  We were not allowed to buy tickets until we showed ours (which involved a 2K sprint to the car and back to fetch them...I'm so thankful they weren't left behind at the apartment! I would have been more thankful had I worn sensible shoes.).

We were all captivated by the spectacle.

On our final day, we headed home via Switzerland and yet another beautiful lake town.  We love a good funicular, and the view at the top of this one was just stunning. 

I felt like I was on top of the world.