The Big 3-0

   My weekend started off perfect on Friday evening, with a drive through Motta Anastatia. The scenery was like it was taken right out of a book or movie. We drove through the steep and winding roads. Little, old, Sicilian men were sitting on chairs in front of bakeries and markets. It was like we were driving through a movie set. As we arrived to the steepest part of town, we witnessed a double rainbow! Breathtaking! Our destination was a castle. The kiddos were asking if princesses, princes, and dragons lived in the castle. We couldn't tell if they were relieved that there were none, or if they were saddened by the news, that no, there weren't. (we did remind them however that we could pretend, they weren't going for that either!)

Double Rainbow in Motta Anastatia

the front of the castle: notice the narrow road

A window of an adjacent buiding

Steps leading down from the castle into another part of town

The castle was beautiful, and we had the most beautiful view of Mt. Etna. I never thought that my family and I would reside on an island with a volcano, absolutely mind boggling. We hung around the castle a bit and decided to go home for some spaghetti.
   The dinner we were so hungry for, ended up being not so great! How is it that when you are in an Italian country, you have end up with a lesser quality of ingredients?  Let me answer that. You shop at the Commissary because it is convienent, and you have had no time to hunt down any quality ingredients. Someday soon though, I promise!  The hubby and I played with the kids for awhile before bed, and then the marathon of which child could stay up the longest began....with "Punk-a-butt" in the lead!!!!!

My birthday gift from the Hubby & kids

  Saturday: My 30th birthday/6th wedding anniversary!!  We awoke the next morning with an agenda. The owner of the hotel we are staying in, wanted to show us a house near the Mediterranean Sea. It was a beautiful home, with 2 stories, 4 bedrooms, but with a far drive to work for the Hubby everyday.  We'll keep it on our list, but plan to see many other homes. When we arrived back to the hotel, the kids gave me my birthday gift...pearl earrings and a pearl necklace! Awesome and beautiful. My hubby hasn't bought me jewelery in about 9 years. I believe he expected me to cry, I didn't....but I was so excited to put them on. I was distracted!  We relaxed the rest of the afternoon before grocery shopping at the Commissary. I was able to get everything on my list, so we headed back home to order pizza for dinner, our first Sicilian pizza!

4 Formaggio (four cheese) and delectable!!!

 The girl at the front desk ordered our pizza for us, it took about an hour to get here, but we suspected that would happen. The pizza was delicious. It met all of our expectations. The Hubby and I had a salad with balsamic dressing and the kiddos had a fruit salad to go along with the pizza. After dinner, the last thing on my list for our anniverary...was to find us a good Italian dessert. We found a bakery with the help of the desk, and we found a cannoli, cookies for the kids and a dessert for the Hubby. The bakery even wraps your purchases!!!  Too pretty to eat!!!  Everything was delicious! Now my day was complete!
   I can't believe that I am 30 years old and spending my 6th wedding anniversary with my hubby, who is my best friend, in Sicily! I would do it all over again, he's such a wonderful, kind, and loving man! We are truly blessed!

Our packaged Italian desserts, fresh from the bakery!

                                                             Our delectable dessert!