Today we headed out on a journey to a big park that had a playground in it. It was about a mile walk each way so with two curious kiddos the way there it took about an hour to get there. We stopped in the big central market to check it out. It is best to go in the morning so we are going to go back now that we are all on schedule b/c we arrived as they were shutting down. We also walked through a little street fair and stopped to look around there.

Both girls fell asleep the second half of the walk so we ended up lugging their little butts around which seems to be a daily thing as they both keep napping in transit. I watch the people with strollers with envy. I dream about wandering along with two kiddies napping in a stroller and then quickly remember that my reality would be 2 kids napping on us while we pushed an empty stroller. These jungle babies don’t know from strollers. Anyway, Will has actually enjoyed it because it has been a long time since either of the girls have napped on him and he is getting his fill this trip since i can only carry one at a time.

When we got to the playground there were two little Italian girls there that immediately took to Sophie. It is truly amazing to watch kids play that are speaking two different languages the entire time. They start to try and imitate each other by speaking the other kids language too. One little Italian girl heard a mom ask Sophie how old she was in english. She must have thought she asked Sophie what her name was and so when Sophie said Four, the girl figured that was her name and started calling her Four. Sophie had no clue what she was saying and thought it was some sort of direction in Italian. Then she figured it out somehow and pointed to herself and said SOPHIE. The girl said her name which was actually SOPHIA! From then on all you heard around the playground was the two girls yelling for SOPHIE! It was super cute. They all had a blast and played for over 2 1/2 hours straight. They only stopped to eat some clementine’s and cookies together inside the little house above the slide. Sophie came back with all this information she knew about her little friends who didn’t speak a word of english.

Now on to the stories of the day that really made our hearts melt! It is beautiful to watch your children having a blast and playing with other kids, but it is truly on another level when you witness the bond between siblings. Sabi looks up to her big sissy like no other. She just wants to do everything Sophie does, and is so super lucky that Sophie is the best big sister anyone could ask for. So while it didn’t surprise me when the following unfolded, it still had me in tears…

Sophie was running with her little bud Sophia from the slide to the clubhouses. Along the way Sabi spotted them and stuck out her hand for Sophie b/c she wanted to play with them. Sophie stopped mid run to grab her little sissy’s hand and slowed down enough to bring her along.

When they go to the clubhouse I could tell Sophie was prepping for her buddy to deny Sabs inside. Instead of running in first she walked up with Sab and stepped behind Sab to usher her in and let her know it is OK. Also to let her friend know that her sissy is coming in and she is protecting her. When her friend said no babies (in italian) and pointed to the other clubhouse saying that clubhouse is for the babies and this one is for the big girls then tried to walk Sabi out of the big girl clubhouse, Sophie went with Sabi. She went into the baby clubhouse and stayed there with her sissy. The other girl kept yelling SOPHIE, SOPHIE to have Sophie come back into the big house and so since Sophie was torn she went and stood in the middle. Yes, she stood in the middle of both houses. Ugh, she has a heart of gold. Then not wanting to be bothered she took Sabs and ran off to pick flowers. While picking flowers a little boy baby came in and went into the baby clubhouse (Italian Sophia was still occupying the big girl clubhouse). When Sophie and Sabs came back Sophie saw the little baby and said “Awww how cute, look Sabs a little baby friend” and then brought Sabi up to the baby clubhouse and played peek-a-boo in the windows and gave them both flowers. She then ran to me and said look Mama, Sabs has a little baby friend (all excited for her sissy).

Then Sabs, being bold, determined Sabs (and always resourceful), put her flowers to good use. She walked over to Italian Sophia and handed her a flower. Italian Sophia couldn’t resist the act of kindness and invited Sabs into the big girl clubhouse. There you have it, stubborn little Sabs made her way in on her own and just look at her face. So proud.

Later on Italian Sophia found a ball that Sabs had found earlier and claimed ownership on for the past hour. Sophia went running up the slide with it and Sabs started reaching her hand out saying AH AH MINE MINE…obviously Sophia didn’t have any clue what she was doing but clever little Sophie picked right up on it. It was so interesting to watch because Sophie walked up to Sabs, put her arm around her and said “Don’t worry Sabs, I’ll get your ball back for you”. Then instead of just going and grabbing it from Sophia or asking for the ball, she creatively convinced Sophia to play a game and roll the ball down the slide to her. As soon as the ball reached the bottom of the slide she grabbed it and ran it over to Sabs and gave it  to her. She then ran back and just got them sidetracked into some other game. Ugh, she just melts me. Truly melts me. Below is Sabs and her ball. Or  rather, someone else’s ball she claimed for the afternoon.

And finally, if those two stories weren’t enough to make me ugly cry, Sophie did it again. She was walking along with Sabs and saw a little girl getting on the seesaw. Will and I were sitting on the opposite end of the park and just watching them from a distance. We saw Sophie walk over and wave to the other little girl, and then proceed to pick Sabs up and put her on the other end of the seesaw. She stood there and helped them get started and then came running back to us and said, “Hey, I found Sabs another baby friend. Look they’re playing together”. She then ran back to Sabs and her little buddy and hung out by them while they played. Funny how memories from trips sometimes have nothing to do with the country you are in, or the sights you see, etc. It is the simple things like watching your daughters interact and their little personalities blossom and shine through. I am just so proud of both of them. Here is Sabs and her little buddy.

The park filled up by the time we left and there were probably close to 40 kids running around. It was a great afternoon. We walked home, stopping for some gelato and picking up some dinner after. Another fun day in Florence :).