A Cousin Sleepover

The twins' cousin Alberto (with out his younger brother Andrea) came over on Saturday.

He and Navi immediately began their nurf war - against the girls, Ada, Gia and Lisa.

After about 10 minutes Ada packed her overnight bag and headed with Alberto's mom Caterina, Gia and Lisa back to their house for her sleepover.

Chicken wings were on the menu for dinner. Alberto loved them, unfortunately his lips were chapped and the sauce bothered him a lot, but that didn't stop him from eating them.

The next morning the boys went to the park to get some air and burn off energy.

That afternoon they all went to Rosà for lunch, and to pick up Ada and drop off Alberto.

Ada was not happy to see her family, she enjoys the company of her cousins. It couldn't be all the attention she gets from them?!

While the adults relaxed outside basking in il bel giorno, all the kids were outside playing.

Quarantine (kind of...)

Sunday night the dads received a message that a student in Navi's class tested positive for COVID-19, he was not to go to school for the next few days. As was Ada. Monday they hung out at home and did absolutely nothing.

The next day PapaJason took Navi up into the mountains to play in snow and DaddyQuique took Ada to the Brenta, where she wanted to feed a goose. Social distancing outings.

Ada also spotted a few other critters in the area. Note: There are two cats in this picture.

Later that afternoon Navi met all his classmates at the city hospital for a tampone rapido, a covid test. He was negative, as were all his classmates getting tested. They can go back to school! Navi will take another test a few days later.

Sunday Walk

Sunday morning the Lopezjoneses did the passeggiata lungo il Brenta. It's a walk that starts in Bassano, follows the Brenta River to pove, you cross on a bicycle bridge and walk back on the other side. Two hours, not a hike - a walk.

It was really beautiful.

And quite peaceful.

The twins hated it! They have gotten used to being home and busying themselves online. This cold weather has kept everyone inside.

But none the less, the dads made Ada & Navi get out of the house amongst nature and fresh air.
 

Martedì Grasso / Fat Tuesday

The night of Carnevale was a quite one. Since all of Italy must close restaurants and bars by 6pm and no festivities sponsored by the city, it was a quite night at home.

DaddyQuique did have to go out to get dinner. The campo they were staying up was lit up at night.

Pizza and family, Happy Carnevale!

The next morning it was time to head home.

This was our final glimpse of Venice as she said goodbye.

Carnevale - In Venice

Monday morning, the twins had three days off from school for Carnevale, the Lopezjoneses packed overnight bags and hopped on a train to Venice. Bassano to Venice by train: 1hour 12 minutes.

The day was beautiful with the exception of cold temperatures.

Vanessa and her family graciously offered us their studio apartment in Venice. A easy 10 minute walk from the train Station. Unfortunately for Navi, he came down with a cold. He went out for lunch on the first day and stayed home to rest of the trip.

DaddyQuique and Ada went on their own for an outing the next morning. To a Libreria Aqua Alta, it was a total picture worthy spot. Aqua alta is when the high tide bring water into Venice and floods the city. This bookstore makes the best out of it with their patio.

Ada was more impressed by the cat that lives in the bookstore.

To be in Venice in Carnevale is special. But also during this time because the many tourist one usually sees are a fraction of what they are pre-covid. Here's Ada at the Rialto Bridge, she is wearing a mask because there were some people around, but mainly because soldiers were there paroling. DaddyQuique was there early in the morning and had the entire bridge to himself.

Carnevale in Venice during covid was cancelled. But that did not stop Venetians from dressing up and parading on their own through the city.

Ada enjoyed the walk. DaddyQuique enjoyed it as well because of the lack of crowds.

Year of the Ox

One, somewhat rainy day the twins got a rice from school. They did not take umbrellas that day.

Friday afternoon the twins, who happen to be born in the year of the Ox (Chinese Zodiac), arrived home to gifts, money and masks, in celebration of Chinese New Years. DaddyQuique did not have red envelopes so he made his own.

Chinese New Year is such a big thing in San Francisco, and in the Lopezjones household it is marked with Chinese baked goods. Unfortunately for them this year they will have to do with out as there are not Chinese bakeries any where. Gong hei fat choy/Gong xi fa cai.
 

Ada's Birthday Weekend

Ada's birthday weekend began with school of course. As as a surprise upon coming home DaddyQuique decorated her room.

In the afternoon some of the guests arrived. Lucy received a lot of attention, she is somewhere in the group of girls.

With her most her guests there, Marguerita and their friend Francesca, they set up the living room for their slumber party.

And then moved on to make-up.

The third guest arrived and pizza was ordered for dinner. Her new friend Theresa was only to spend the evening.

Ada had a great time. She and her friends spent most of the time talking. After dinner and macaroons the girls moved the party to the living room for popcorn and a movie. And apparently were up ALL night talking. Not much sleep went on that night.

Happy 12th Birthday

On Tuesday the Ada and Navi turned 12! Lucky for everyone the Veneto has turned orange zone, which means restaurants and bars can open (until 6pm). Walking home from school they met their dads and walked to lunch at the family's restaurant in town.

Navi is never excited when he has to go out to lunch straight from school. But the reservation was made and the dads wanted to support their Italian family.

Ada sometimes enjoys going out to lunch with her dads, but not always. This time she was for it.

Later that afternoon DaddyQuique asked the twins if they wanted to go out for cocktails & mocktails to celebrate their birthday (they are allowed inside bars here in Italy). They declined and instead played Minecraft. The dads did go out for a cocktail - or two.

The day before their birthday there was a discussion on what to eat for their 'birthday' dinner. Navi wanted tacos (American style, ground beef, hard shell tacos) and Ada wanted kebabs. They were left on their own to decide by coin toss.

Kebabs it was! But only because Ada ate Navi's vegetables that night in return for him to agree on kebabs. The coin toss did not happen.

DaddyQuique made their birthday cake and did not drop this one. Due to their separate weekend parties this dinner was simple.

But there were many gifts that arrived by mail last week from the US. Also, each kid went out and bought gifts for each other in town. Ada may have hinted or accompanied Navi on the gift she wanted, the backpack purse pictured.

Navi's Birthday Weekend

This year the twins decided to celebrate their birthdays on different weekends. First up, Navi. He wanted to have a friend spend the night, hamburgers and a movie for his birthday. Decorations were simple this year, and the roll away bed has paid off.

Navi's friend Adam came over. Lucky for him he also likes Minecraft. It was a Minecraft birthday party.

For dinner PapaJason prepared hamburgers.

He was very happy.

Then  DISASTER happened. DaddyQuique dropped the cake! Luckily he documented and took pictures the cake he personalized for Navi with gummy candy.

The festivities went on and everyone sang happy birthday in Italian.

Navi honestly didn't care how the cake look. It was salvageable and delicious.

Then it was gifts time. Ada was such a kind sister and made the extra effort to buy her brother a gift.

The night ended with a movie and popcorn. Happy Birthday Navi!

The next morning the kids had pancakes and eggs for breakfast.

Then one last game at the nurf gun range before Adam went home.