Let’s see … where did I leave off? Did I mention the serious jet lag our kids suffered? I think it was Monday night they would not go to sleep. Time outs in a dark room, threatened removal of all next-day ice cream, nothing worked! They finally went to sleep around midnight. Taylor couldn’t sleep in her room and came in around 12:30. I finally got to sleep and the baby woke up around 1:00! It was 2:30 before she got down again …
Needless to say we were VERY late for our tour yesterday. Once we got on the road, we had a really nice time. We toured the Vatican museums {including the Sistine Chapel} … so awesome to think about all the history there. It was a little cooler being inside, so the kids were not as crabby either. When we were done with the museums, it led into the Vatican {St. Peter’s} … how awesome the sight!
When I visited Rome in an earlier life, I didn’t have the appropriate attire on {I think I had shorts on, or a sleeveless shirt?}, so never got to go in. The second time I visited with Frank & Taylor, it was closing … so Frank quickly ran Taylor in to get one picture and they ran out. So I missed it again. This time I saw it and it was awesome! Beautiful! Amazing!
It’s a completely different trip this time … I remember walking all over Rome when we were here previously. Taylor in her stroller, napping when she needed to and such a good little girl. This time, the girls are cranky, we’re driving to see the sights, missing a lot that you would see on foot, but I don’t dare try and walk! I see lovers kissing, holding hands, strolling. I see us hurrying, sweating, wiping noses {2 sick kids}, getting back for nap time. I remember the recent women’s conference I went to, and one of the women speakers asked how many of us had one child. She joked and said “one is an accessory … a handbag!” She was joking of course …
But as I was watching lovers love, I reflected on this comment and remembered how different that trip was that we took with Taylor. This time we’re dragging around 4 kids, one with a nervous stomach. And Odinn & Skye are with us too … 8 total … a much different trip. And that’s okay, we are having a great time in the way that we know how to do it. We’re creating memories that our kids will remember and cherish … and I think that’s just fine.
Yesterday afternoon we took the girls swimming {a must!} and then to Piazza Navona for dinner and a walk around the square. {No ice cream for the naughty girls … and you better believe they went right to bed last night!!}
This morning, we met our tour guide and hopped in the bus … ready to go? Yep! Crash! Our driver missed the large poles that separated the hotel drive from the street and thought he could exit. So we hopped in taxi’s and headed to the Catacombs …
Taylor hadn’t been feeling well {she has nervous stomach … especially when we travel … and especially when we travel overseas}, and it got pretty bad with a long, hot taxi ride. So by the time we got to the catacombs, she was done. She and I ended up sitting in the foyer part of the museum. It was a neat place and there were still some things I could look at. She started feeling a little better and we were able to go to lunch. Then back to the hotel for swimming.
For dinner we went to the Pantheon area … toured the Pantheon {amazing!}, had dinner right outside of it, the girls all went on a carriage ride after dinner, and then some ice cream before we headed back to the hotel. It’s 10:45 pm and I’m exhausted.
I’d love to publish some photos for you … maybe tomorrow …
{This photo was taken tonight inside the Pantheon.}
Ciao! :)