Off to Italy with Becky, James and Alexander for 5 super days of wining and dining, and meeting all James aunts, uncles and cousins (and showing off Alexander of course! Alex always available for food! and trying watermelon for the first time. Time for a nap so Nonna Martinelli works her magic!Meanwhile the girls play “thoughts & crosses” becky’s new game and the boys get a card school going! Off out for the local Saints Day celebration.Then a visit to Carlo’s sisters home .. I wonder why Becky’s looking so pleased with herself!!!Back home for a dip in the pool when the sun finally shone! Out for lunch overlooking the Tuscan hills! Alexander with a very proud Nonno Martinelli.and one final shot of Alex looking very pleased with himself at his latest “look no hands” trick.A fabulous “family” time in a beautiful part of Italy - Thanks Carlo and Caroline.

Slightly belatedly, here are some pics of Muzzy & Granddad’s visit to L.A….A little chat with Granddad…Muzzy treated Evie to some new bubbles, and Evie attempted to demonstrate how far she’s come in the bubble department…It turned out that further instruction — and a bare bum and wellies! — was required.Quick shot from the Easter brunch…Then another gorgeous day at the beach, chasing — and running away from — waves…Much braver when she’s holding Granddad’s hand…Nudey rudey on the run!More jumping…Then time for a well-earned snack break in the just-my-size deck chair…Happy holiday!

Now back in Rhinecliffe NY with Emma Rob & Evie - Their house and garden are looking great!The view from their pool over the Hudson river. Emma & Rob had a Mexican Tamale party on Saturday night. All hands to the deck making the tamales (does it show that I was the only one not really knowing what I was doing!) Sit down meal for about 16.Lorelei turned up with special birthday cake for Rob and Emma. (its part hidden by Diannes flowers from the garden!) Played a round of golf on the local public course - great views - but I got hammered by Dianne so I wasn’t appreciating the views!A little rest in their front yard - Evie with her current favourite hat and with “all her guys” lined up on the chair! Then down to the waters edge with Evie … Dianne looking pretty good! and me trying to get the hang of the self timer.A little afternoon snack at Barnes & Noble with Evie looking cool in her shades! A visit to the renowned Burrito stand as a birthday treat for Emma! Check out Evie’s new hat!and a secret tete-a-tete with muzzie.A final drink on the porch .. watching the sunset over the Hudson.

… and so flights from LA to Savannah and then on to Hilton Head to stay with Lori.A lot of good food and wine Dinner out with Glen and MaxineSome golf of course and a bit of beach timeshopping for plants with Loriand then Dianne and Lori doing the planting in Lori’s back yardThen getting all poshed up for a final dinner out at the Hilton Head Country Club So another fabulous holiday time with Lori, before a 15 hour drive up to New Jersey to visit with Helen and Fran. before driving up to Emma & Rob’s place in Rhinebeck for our final week.

A super American Mothers Day buffet at the Bel-Air Beach Club. We all got poshed up a bit!!as of course did the ladies - Susan, Adrienne, Dianne and EmmaNot forgetting Evie in her beautiful party dressMaureen with Evie and her cousin Paige Dianne and Rob’s Dad Super brunch at a great location … then later back at the appartment, Evie getting more confident in the water with Rob Then next day, off to the Getty Art Museum for a bit of culture - what an amazing place! Emma Dianne and Evie with downtown LA in the background Fabulous gardens - a piece of arborial sculpture they said!!a bit posed!Supposed to be a cute photo with Evie but she had other ideas! Wonderful place with some amazingly famous art (now we know where all that great European art which we couldn’t afford to keep ended up!) Super day out!

A little light lunch! Then a paddle in the sea - a little hesitant at first .. Then more confident with Daddy.Ooops - a little too confident? wow - what a jump!

Is there a better golf experience than playing at Bel-Air Country Club in LA - I doubt it!  Check out the practice area with the ball pyramid! A well protected green!Bob in his buggy Dianne driving off watched by our caddy! (yes we had Petar caddying for us and looking for (my) balls and reading the greens!)Dianne putting out.The signature 10th par 3 - 165 yard carry for the men (yes we all got over - just!) A beautiful tee off.A great finishing hole up to the famous swinging bridge.4 very happy golfers! Thanks Bob for a truly memorable experience. Shame our golf didn’t do it justice!

This post is a co-production with RobandEmma.com – such a big event required multiple reporters on the scene! So check over there for extended coverage of this momentous occasion. Here Evie shows off her new Easter dress and sparkly shoes (a present from Sue-Sue during Evie’s first trip to Bloomies!):Guess who just showed up… the Easter Bunny! I was convinced Evie was going to melt down and be terrified, but I was relieved to be completely wrong…Evie squealed and clapped and clenched her fists in excitement and waved, she barely knew what to do with herself.And then over to the petting zoo that Bel Air Bay Club had set up for the day. Evie started off cautious…But was very soon bravely petting the ducks…And goats…Back to the ducks again…And over the bunny…And back to the goats and chickens… in case you couldn’t tell, we were here for a while!Then it was time for the Easter egg hunt! Fortunately they broke the kids up into age groups, so Evie stood a fighting chance…She examines her treasure…And then decides that what she really wants to do is give her eggs to the Easter Bunny.Happy Easter everyone! Don’t forget to check out the related post on RobandEmma.com.

On Tuesday morning Hannah hosted a Christmas party with a very special visitor… too bad Granddad missed Father Christmas’s fly-by! But first everyone tucked into some party food and spent some quality time in the Ninkynonk…Then Evie took Chloe’s police bike for a test-ride…While Alex had a good cuddle with Suzanne…And Meggy has a cuddle with her Uncle Mark, who was very brave in the face of a 3-hour kids’ party…Actually, I think Meggy had a cuddle with pretty much everyone…And before too long, Father Christmas showed up! Only three kids cried, which we thought was pretty good odds.We made Meggy sit on Santa’s lap first, as we knew that she’d handle it like a champ:Evie, on the other hand, was a little more cautious:And Chloe just went very red:Bye Santa!Thanks for a great party, Han!

If it’s 4pm, it’s dance party time at Quince Orchard…