About Me

I am a 45 year husband and dad, currently adjusting to life back in the United States after living in Italy for a little over two years. I love spending time with my family, cycling, model railroading, mosaics and watching TV and movies.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas Eve and the Pizza Bread House

I was the first one up this morning. It rained throughout the night, but there was still quite a bit of snow on the ground this morning. Our snowman was still standing, but he lost and arm and his eyes.

I woke up on the grumpy side of the bed. I'm not sure why, but I felt on the tense side all day. Katrina thought it would be good for all of us to get out of the house, so we headed to Monza for some shopping and lunch.

We checked out the Christmas market, where Brandon bought a pretzel. He's been eating one each time we visit Monza. We checked out a few stores and ended up at a book and media store to buy some DVD's. We bought: The Santa Clause, NCIS season 5, The Sound of Music and Little Miss Sunshine.


Lots of candies and fruits to choose from at the Christmas market.

After shopping we headed to a pizzeria for lunch. We spotted the Mittermeiers leaving the pizzeria as we arrived. One of Brandon's best friends here is Amelie Mittermeier. We had a great lunch. Katrina and I each had pizzas and Brandon had pasta con pomodoro.

On the way back to the car we stopped at the Christmas market again and bought a snowman ornament and some Christmas candies and chocolates. The chocolate covered cherries are fabulous.

Katrina and Brandon worked hard on a homemade gingerbread house. It's our Christmas Eve tradition. In the past we have always bought a kit. Not here in Italy. I had to do some creative grocery shopping. I tried to find large flat cookies and failed. I ended up buying pizza crackers. They made great walls and the roof. I also found different cake decorating candies, gumballs and ice cream cones for trees.


The basic shape of the house is complete. The walls are made of pizza crackers that give it some Italian charm.


Brandon working on the house


Mixing more frosting

While the frosting 'glue' for the walls was hardening, we watched The Santa Clause. It was good, but not quite as good as I remember it.

Once the movie was over, Katrina and Brandon finished the "Pizza Bread House". It looks great!!








Completed Pizza Bread House

Now we are watching Ice Age 2.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas Eve...Buon Natale.

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