The photo above is the view from our kitchen window. It’s the perfect Spring – the shade is cool and the sun is warm; the air is crisp and the strawberries are deliciously in season. We flew in over the Alps, the Dolomites (I think), and the Tuscan hills to Florence, where Sergio picked us up to drive us to our home for the next 3 months. As European apartments go, ours is roomy with tall ceilings and beautiful views. More typically, the elevator is 2.5ft by 2.5ft, and if we all suck in we can make it up to our EU-3rd/US-4th floor home (although one of us adults usually opts for the stairs for those 23 seconds of peace and quiet).

The kids are curious and immediately run through every room. Our 2bdr/2ba is outfitted by the Boundless program for us – a crib for Vivi, a twin for Guille, nighlights, stepstools, potty seats – plus a sizable jacuzzi-bathtub.

We know the stores will be closed for Easter weekend, so after a quick 45min nap for the kids (while we unpack), we walk the 6min down the street to the grocery store, taking in the new sites. Guille is excited to push the wheeled basket, but with the pre-Easter rush, it’s not long before he’s running into people. Vivi is not happy about the bustle and noise. There are whines in the snack aisle, a loudly whispered “come back here” in the wine aisle, and an “I don’t want to be here any more” in front of the fancy olive oil – the kids also have lots to say.

We grab our stuff, missing about 75% of our actual list, and head home to try the traditional Easter food. Big mistake; we should’ve just made pasta.

It’s 10pm before they wind-down to go to sleep for 4 hours, and then 3 hrs of nonsense until they finally give up around sunrise.