We have a new addition to the family....!

The contest to determine its name is now open; comment here below and contribute with your best idea. The winner will we awarded a special cat-themed present.

And the winner is... Penelope who christened it Rusty!!!!

Buone Feste

Auguri di Buone Feste a tutti voi!

In abbraccio e tutto il nostro affetto dalla famiglia Mascia.

Un innocente omaggio all'Europa - Penelope

L'Inno alla Gioia, inno della comunita' europea in cui non crede quasi piu' nessuno.

Un omaggio da Penelope, con affetto e speranza.

Di Corsa

The 5k Insane Inflatable Race!

Foto dall'estate

La Prima Comunione - di Pepe

La Prima Comunione di Penelope!

21 Maggio 2016

Immaculate Conception Church, Astoria NY

La protagonista, sempre di corsa!

Con il Parroco, Monsignor Fernando Ferrarese.

Foto di Famiglia, Nicolo' Micara fa da controfigura a papa'.

Con Brendan Moran - oggi sposi!

We have been a little absent from all of you for a while now, who reads this anymore? Mom Dad? Anyone else? Well, for your enjoyment here are some photos to catch you all up to speed with the girls (and us). We've been awfully busy!

After a pretty short and easy winter where we were attacked by snow for 24 hours straight (and I might mention it started on a Friday night so no snow days were handed out), spring has sprung and we are all enjoying the nicer weather. Alessandro and I went with some friends to the new thing to do, "Escape the Room" (ours in particular had an actress playing a zombie.) We had 60 minutes to escape the room (we left all four of our children with a sitter to do something childish ourselves.) To escape alive we had to put clues together with about 12 other people (random strangers) to escape from a room that had a zombie (actress). Every 5 minutes her chain was extended about a foot making it nearly impossible to get away from her. She didn't really bite but threatened to do so. We found so many of the clues and nearly made it out of the room but alas, we were turned to zombies ourselves. So watch out the next time you see us!It was fun and exhilarating and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

And back to the kids, we went on an adventure over winter break to our favorite science museum and they had an incredible interactive digital exhibit where they had to balance ecosystems. I don't know how it was put together but it was pretty darn cool. The first picture is Penelope with one of her closest friends, Niove, creating plant life.

 And the darling Lucia...

And Lucia as a mini astronaut...

We went ice skating on the last day of the season (March 6) to Bear Mountain Inn where they have an outdoor skating rink. Then we went on a hike up the mountain and found some great walking sticks which we would like to sculpt and carve into. Just have to find the time to do it. We even found one that had hair like Donald Trump. I'm looking forward to cutting off its head.

Here is Alessandro with the Trump walking stick. I need to find my saw.

This past year Lucia and all the fourth graders have been learning how to Ballroom Dance. She is not so bad at it but when asked about it she said "It's AWFUL!" I guess its good she isn't into boys yet, but here she is below with the son of one of our favorite friends, Max. She didn't let me know she was dancing with him altho' she knew it all along. I guess she knew I would gush all over her in excitement! She even got dressed up for the occasion! This girl is tom boy thru and thru but when she has to dress up she will.

Penelope finished another session of Piano classes and had a great recital where she played Russian Sailor Dance and Lightly Row. She did a great job.

We also had a visit from our California buddies Sam and Henry. I'm so happy to know that they look forward to seeing each other. This summer its our turn to visit So Cal. (Southern California). 

 Below is my old roommate, Claire, the mom to the two boys (she is on the left). We are with some other girlfriends from NY, Katherine on the right and Wendy in front. 

We are so blessed that Lucia is so creative. Here she gathered (stole) a bunch of items from the house and then left a note on the stuffed pillow cases which contained all the loot. The note read, "Sorry we robbed your house. We needed it to practice stealing so we can go on a mission to rob the evil alien Zorgs house. From the Martians."

And to top off all of this, we had a visit from Amy Flynn and family. We wandered around Chinatown and had a yummy meal at a noodle shop. Found some great places too!

Below are Penelope, Lucia and Zoe, very happy to have found each other again. 

 From left to right, Ale, me, Lucia, Penelope, Zoe, Max and Dan (Amy was taking pic).

Let it snow - but not too much!

Lucia had declared that she could not resist two years without snow.

Someone must have hard her - and here we go!

(Almost) Last day of Summer vacation!

One last day at the pool before school starts!

Capsicono e parlano in italiano - ma a volte fanno finta di non saperlo!!

4th of July - il 4 Luglio

Happy 4th of July! - AS you can see the girls are back in the american spirit (but underneath the stars and stripes they were wearing Italian shirts... we are told).

E' Pasqua in MATERA!!!

 Here the kids dont get baskets but huge hollow easter eggs with a toy in the center. 

 We had chocolate for weeks!

 The egg was bigger than her head and the toy was smaller than her hand.

 A view from above...

 Biggest whistle (fischio) we could find.

 A nice view of Matera behind us. Weather was cold but enjoyable.

 Caves

 Art

 This was not meant to hang a child in, but that is just what Alessandro did. Poor Penelope was a little stuck, almost had to get the olive oil to get her out.