goodness: our friday

Today was great, and isn't that just the best thing you can say to yourself at the end of the day? It was fabulous, it was full, it was Friday. Steve's team played (and won!) last night in Vibo, way way south, close-ish to where we spent eight months of our life, and having Steve around is the only thing that could have made this day better. Hendrik and I met Ana and Arthur at their place this morning, and then the four of us tried our luck at obtaining Italian health cards... but it was not to be. Our babes are both in the same situation: they need a codice fiscale (tax code number) and their permit to stay in Italy in hand, so we will be returning to the overcrowded offices in a week or two. On our way back to Ana's place we descended upon the ready-to-eat section at the back of Trento's biggest grocery store and bought a roast chicken, potatoes, and a few odds and ends for lunch. The olives we ate right away - stuffed with meat and deep-fried, olive all'ascolana are ooooh yum-yummy - and waited until we were home to dig into the meat and potats. We hung out at their place for a bit, digested, and then made for the centre where I met Emelie and Isa - our new Swedish friends. We met just outside the Christmas market in Piazza Fiera which was busting at the seams - hordes of people and cameras and strollers weighed with tired babes - and I just had to buy myself chocolates: a nutella ball and a coconut ball... deeeeelicious. We had an awesome afternoon at the Centro Genitori e Bambini where our kidlets played alone, with each other and with the other kidlets and teachers. It's a lovely space filled with great toys and staffed by some fabulous women. And hmmmm, what's next... At 6:30 we parted ways and I stopped at Ana's on our way to the car, and then we were at home with dinner in our bellies. Hendrik was happy and full and despite not having had a nap this afternoon, was engaged and so so so so present playing on the rug, shaking a tin of mints and playing with blocks. If only there was a camera rolling to capture some of these moments! But they're there, just not caught on film. Can they, will they stay around? If I could, I'd bottle them up, the same way the BFG bottles up dreams and keeps them on the shelves of his long, narrow cave. And I hope this too, the last part of my most amazing day stays; Hendrik picking out his books and crawling up, cozying up to me on my lap and snuggling in for stories... does it get any better than this?