Monday, November 1, 2010

Trick or Treat!

  Our little pirate and princess Belle raked in the loot this Halloween! We started off trick or treating in downtown Poulsbo with Claire and Alison.



Camden wasn't too sure what he thought of some scary costumes nearby...

We rallied with the Bugenigs at our house for dinner and then all 6 kids trick or treated around our neighborhood.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Napoli, Italia

If you have looked at the MWR website in the past few days (I'm sure it's a site many of you frequent!), you might have noticed that there is a job posting for the Child and Youth Program Administrator at Naval Base Kitsap.  You might be thinking, Why that's Chris's job. What's going on?

Well, a few months ago, a CYPA position in Naples, Italy opened up.  After much discussion, we thought that this is quite an opportunity and Chris should apply.  Last month he was offered the job.  This is a tentative job offer and he has been assured many times that any day now (it's been 4 weeks...) the official offer should arrive.

Our plan is for Chris to move between January & March and the kids and I will wait until the summer so I can honor my commitment at Silverwood and Emma can finish up her kindergarten year.  Splitting the family up was a tough decision. We're thinking of it as a deployment for Chris-something thousands of military families do all the time.  We are lucky to have a fantastic support system here.  On the plus side, Chris will have 6 months to find our perfect Italian home (with plenty of room for guests!)

This is a rather bittersweet time for us.  Washington is one of the greatest places on earth and we have a feeling life will bring us back here one day.  We are keeping our house in Silverdale and will be looking for renters.

We are very excited about getting overseas again and experiencing a new country. I am busy updating my Department of Defense Dependent Schools application from 2003 and have high hopes of being picked up again as a local hire.

Many of you know that Chris had lived in Italy ten years ago when he was the Youth Director in La Maddalena. In fact, that is where this little family began. This girl from Iowa had to go all the way to Italy to meet a boy from Iowa...

And that boy asked this girl to marry him in Italy...

So we figure, why not go back to the place where it all began? This time as a family of four!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Soggy Soccer Saturday

The fall rain is here and Emma is becoming a true Pacific Northwest soccer player, not letting the soggy conditions slow her down. She scored 4 goals today!


Camden trying to be as cheerful as possible :)
 

A little soccer get together after the game to enjoy some great food and football.

Emma enjoying a little baby time.

Halloween Fun at School

Emma and Camden woke up Friday morning in the BEST mood, excited for their Halloween parties at school!  Chris volunteered in Emma's classroom so he was able to capture her afternoon of fun. All the Clear Creek students paraded around the school in their costumes and then had a little party back in the classrooms.


 




Last night we went to the annual Silverwood party. Emma's first stop was to get a cat painted on her cheek. 
Everyone's favorite carnival game: Fishing!  
I snapped this picture just as Emma was pulling in her "catch" so Camden's a little shocked at the flying object coming toward him.
 Emma loving the Hokey Pokey with Miss Nancy and Miss Susan.
 Hangin' with my rhinestone cowgirl, Tracy, and my German barmaid, Amanda.
 Trunk or Treating
 Camden and Emma with their #1 babysitter, Carly.
 Looking a little tired as the cake walk is about to begin. Guess who was the first winner?  The cute little pirate who chose...
 The cat cake we made the night before!  
Emma was also a lucky winner at the cake walk, but she was happy to let another family enjoy her prize.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Pumpkin Patch

We spent a gorgeous fall afternoon at the pumpkin patch with the Warthens and Bugenigs. Climbing on the hay bails and hunting for the biggest pumpkin were the highlights of our trip. :)









Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Jane's Yellow Dress

While we were at Page and Jack's house this weekend, we were doing a lot of reminiscing about Japan. Of course the wonderful Jane Froehlke came up in many stories including how much she always hogged the babies...

 ...and her infamous yellow dress that has traveled the world.
Emma and I posed with it at the Beijing Airport in '06.
 Guess where the yellow dress is living right now?  The Hilger's closet!
Here's Emma modeling this piece of fashion and DODDS history :)