Birthday Party - Ben Turns 11!

We celebrated Ben's 11th birthday with a party -- first at Parco Valentino along the River Po, and then back at the apartment. Here are some photos.

A favorite Italian park activity: rent the pedal thingies.

The Parco Valentino, looking east across the swollen River Po.

Jean-Yves, who came with Ellen and kids from Switzerland for the weekend.

Simone, one of our new Turin friends, professor of Gastronomic Sciences... with wine bottle in foreground.

Birthday boy drives the pedal thing!

Jennifer, Tom's colleague at IUC and mom of Alberto.

Supercilious Tom.

Jean-Yves and Ellen enjoying the sunshine.

Alberto, Julien, Ferdi in the back seat as they're about to take off in the pedal thing.

Ben's soccer skills have really improved since coming to Italy.

The crazy Italian cake...

Birthday boy ready for cake.

Anouk and Sarah unwrapping the cake.

The cake, with marzipan race cars. Even though it's very clearly for a kid, the bakers still soaked it in rum. Cultural differences or mess up? You be the judge.

And finally, a 15-second video that places you right in the birthday action with the boys: