The outings part 1

So here are some pictures when we go out and about in Italy.

At Granpa's place. He lives not to far from where we stayed ( MIL's place) just about 15 minutes drive. . We went to his place quite often and he is still a good looking man at the age of 75. And he is so neat and tidy, the completely opposite of his son!

Indy get cozy with Nonno Paolo ( that's how she call him)

Un bacione per nonno

Grandpa Paolo, Indy and cousin Andrea ( 5 years old)

The kids playing and drawing ( at last so I can rest and took a sip of espresso)

" Let me goooo, let me gooooo"

Gigi and family
Indy at Nonno's study room, helping him to open his souvenir from Maya's baptism. If you are wondering what is that he wearing, well that is apron, because he was in the middle of washing the dishes and Indy dragged him to open his gift .

Rosa ( grandpa wife), Me and a screaming baby ( a.k.a Maya) , Paolo ( my FIL)
and Indy

The other outing is when we stayed about 4 days at Casalle, Monferrato. About 60 km east of Turin. Still in the piedmont region but located in Alessandria.
My Eldest brother in law, Gianluca, and his wife Claudia and their son Samuelle live there . Their house is located at a small part of the hill, very quiet and beautiful.

These following photos are taken when we took a afternoon walk and the kids picked the cherries from the tree.

The afternoon walk with Zia Claudia

Indy and Zia Claudia


One cherry for me and one for you..

Cousin's kiss

Maya looks all grown up here

Bath time ( photo taken by Gianluca)

Maya enjoying the sun

My BIL's house and the neighborhood. Can you spot Nikolay?

The Baptist 2nd June 2008

With God's bless, Maya Angela Rocco is baptisted in Torino on the 2nd of June.
We had planned this before and talked about it with my MIL over the phone before the trip and while we were there we also talked and met with the Pastor , which is also the Pastor of the family. Padre Bianchi is the one who gave The Sacrament of Chrism to my husband . So , it is a truly special bless that Padre Bianchi able to blessed the family one more time by Baptisting our second daughter Maya.

The event took place in the Parroccohia di Santa Giulia, in the heart of Torino city at 4 in the afternoon. The whole family were there. Including the girls Great Grandmother, grandmother, and grandfather, step grand father, 2 uncles, aunties, and cousins . And of course US!
Too bad my eldest BIL ,the wife, and their son, Gianluca and Claudia, and Samuelle couldn't make it that day because they must worked that day.

There were 5 others babies including Maya, and most of them are below 1 year old . There were other Pastor, from Poland who lead the Mass and there was Padre Bianchi , who was there just to baptist Maya. He is a soft spoken man, and the second I met him , I love him already. He is a one special man sending by God in the true meaning . He even helped my dh's grandmother during the financial difficulties in the old days. He is very fascinated by the fact that we live in the island of Borneo and asked me to send him a postcard for him , of course I will with much pleasure. And he is also amazed to know that my real name ( is Theodora Luisa Sandra Irawan. :-). He said : you are Italian 100% even before you married your husband! you got Italian names of course except your surname. I said, I got that name because I am a Catholic. And yes those are Italian/latin names.

As Maya Godfather, Patrick . my Husband youngest brother. And as Godmother is Rachelle. My dh's first niece . She is 19 years old .

Maya was in a bad mood that day. She screamed and yelled and wanted to run outside the church because she wanted to chase the pigeons. :-) she didn't even want to stay with me or to nursed. Lucky, after a while she was ok. The whole process went on pretty smoothly ( if you consider screaming and yelling is fine....

After The church we went back to MIL's house and rest for a while, and then we headed to a Restaurant near MIL's house, just in front of the Po river, the biggest river in Italy and it is just 100 meters away from MIL's house . So we walked there.

The name of the restaurant is Il Vecchio Ponte, or the old bridge as it has the view of the old bridge of the Po's. Me and my husband had make a booking 3 days before and we asked for a special menu that consist of 3 antipasti/appetizers and 2 primi/pasta dishes and we decided to skip the secondi ( main course). And of course with dessert, coffee or tea and free flow or mineral water and sparkling water and free flows of red wines.

The Antipasti:
Fried pizza, Roast beef, Bruschette, White pizza parma ham, and Albesse ( thin sliced of raw meat with parmesan cheese)
The Primi:
Rissoto with sausages and radish,
Pasta orrechiette with smoke cheese, tomato and eggplant
The Dolce/Dessert
Bounette, Chocolate mouse cream caramel

The price was very reasonable for Italian standard and of course do not convert it to MYR, please :-)

In Italy we also must give a Bombonierre for friends and family. We ordered it from a local Pasticerria ( cake shop) , it was a confetti candies wrapped in pink tule and pink and white gingham fabric, and we also gave a fairy themed items with that. Some got the music box with fairy themed, door decoration with fairy theme, and fridge door magnet with fairy themes as well.

We also ordered 2 kg of cake in the other Pasticerria and it was my favorite . The cake is so delicious that made my bil and his father fight for it! LOL.

Here are the photos:

Me and Maya in the church

Maya and Daniella

Patrick ( my youngest BIL ) and Rachelle ( our niece)

During the mass. See Maya desperately wanted to run away from me?


Finally calmed down


Indy with Zia Alesandra

The Priests

During the blessing

Maya receiving the candle and the white clothes.


After we lighted the candleIndy with her favorite Zio ( uncle) Patrick. They went to many places together.


Maya and Zia Alesandra


Rachelle, Patrick, Nikolay, Me, Maya, Indiana, and Padre Bianchi. the wonderful Pastor.
Signing the documents

Maya and me suppose to be in this picture but she ran away already.( so I must follow)
The small family in the church. My FIL is the one on the back with grey suit :)
The Dinner

Indy showing off her ugly face

And the cake!

The Wedding

My Bil ( dh brother number 2) Corrado and Alesandra wedding day is on the 17th of May 2008. It was a beautiful ceremony and luncheon party , despited of the rain in the morning.

The Marriage registration is held just in my Mil's neighborhood , and we all waited there for the bride to arrive. Indy and Maya were so excited as everybody treated them so well. And they met their cousins as well. Rachelle , 19 years old , daughter of Corrado ( the groom) and Elisabetha , 12 years old, sister of Rachelle. Indy adores them both.
And another cousin, Samuelle , 6 years old. He is in love with Indy and his father ( my dh eldest brother, Gian Luca) tried to explain it to him that Indy is his cousin...not girlfriend LOL..

After that we all headed outside the city, where the restaurant is located. Nice view and Great food.
Started with cold cuts of Salami and cheese,salatini, with refreshing Sangria and juices for the kids . I love Sangria.

Finally after the bride and the groom arrived, we start the lunch, at 2 o'clock all the way to 6 pm.
It was a great menu, and I love every single plates and so did Indy and even Maya.
Their ate and ate.

And , no...we don't eat only pasta, ( or spaghetti bolognese or even worse macaroni and cheese) as many people know as the " Italian food" or Pizza. Italian food in Italy are not just pastas and pizzas. They have a great menu of meat, duck, vegetables, fish, even rabbit. :) And of course during the meal there were many great wines .

Indiana and Samuelle.

Elisabetha, Rachelle with Indy


The Groom ( middle with grey suit and red tie) and my Mil , with the umbrella.
The girls with their beloved Great Grandmother, who adores them to their bits

" you can say anything about me, but when I smile like this, I know you will say I am a CUTIE!"


Here comes the bride!
During the Ceremony, of course this pair can't be seperated!

Patrick , dh youngest brother and Daniella, the girlfriend

Dh's stepdad, Salvatore and dh's Grandmother . That day is also her 87th b'day! And we are so glad that she can attend the wedding and also for Maya's baptistm

The Happy Couple. Tanti Auguri!!

Eli and Maya, during the lunch, Maya stayed with Eli for more than 30 mins, and it was a great break for me! Grazie Eli!

Rachelle, My mother in law, And Elisabetha
Finally a picture of ME! with Rachelle, Elisabetha and Indy

The brothers chatted with the couple.
The 4 brothers and the bride.
L-R : Patrick the youngest, My Husband, Alesandra, Corrado ( number 2) and Gianluca the eldest.

The bride and the main family of the groom. ( minus the wives) I was not in the photo but I was in the next photo, which were taken by the photographer.

" hmm I am still hungry...what can I steal from my dh's plate?"

The boy, Mario who fall in love with Maya and gave her at least 30 kisses that afternoon. All of the guests were in love with both of them
Nikolay and Maya


Claudia and Gianluca ( Eldest BIL)
The cake!!!! Yes it is all made from fresh fruits and it is huge and so yummy