Oh my when I arrived at my home for 9 months, I was ecstatic!  I opened the door to the elevator and it was a very tall, longer haired, Carolina!  She hugged me so tight.  Maria, with chucho in mouth, smiled ever so slightly.  'La Katie, La Katie"  they cheered.  We started right away playing with everything new in their play room.  I was sitting there amazed how calm, gorgeous and hilarious my former playmates are.  Here is a picture of them...

And behind them on the windows are all the stickers I brought them. 

my little snugbug.  Maria still cuddled with me.  I wanted to eat her up.

Then when Valentina arrived, we embraced and she was happy to see me.  We chatted for awhile before she left to meet up with friends for dinner.  She seemed so calm and in control with her life.  She was more easy going.  I enjoyed the meeting.  When she left, it was me and the girls like old times.  So fun, a bit sad because I missed having that connection with them everyday.  As bedtime rolled around, we headed to their room and saw the care bears I had given them when I arrived the year before.  Carolina, in italiano I guess they stopped talking english when I left, 'I put my bear right there(on her dresser) so when I see it I think of you.' I almost lost it there.  Maria made me stay with them as I hummed the tune of their mother.  I was so flabberghasted on how much they have grown, how much Maria talks, how Carolina is still a drama queen.    Overall I am so happy to see them again and will be meeting with Elena and Piffi(her parents, her sister Antonella,and her new baby, Filippo, sometime next week. 

OH also they are going to the country so she is offering me her place to stay.  I am so grateful for her kindness and her friendship.  Back to the house where I grew entirely into a new person.  Stronger, calmer, and grateful. 

Great news she now has wireless internet!! 

a presto amici