Sunday Afternoon in the Pool

We took advantage of our beautiful Sunday afternoon spending time in the pool with Casey and Jen on their last day in Italy.  

Camden showing off his jumping skills.

Taking a break...

 Emma and Uncle Casey were quite the pair today!

 Emma hatches a plan to get Jen in the pool.

 Part one of the plan: Get Jen up out of her chair.

 Part two of the plan: Emma distracts Jen by straightening out her lounge chair pads while Casey gets her a little closer to the pool.

 Part three of the plan: OUTSMARTED BY AUNT JEN!!! Emma goes in the pool!

 Uncle Casey!  What were you doing?!?!

 Now it's Casey's turn to really throw Emma into the pool.  Check out that air!

A New Hobby

I began knitting lesson a few weeks ago and have found a new hobby. :)

Project #1 was knitting a square that would be felted and then turned into a glasses case. Felting wool yarn into a project is a great plan for a beginner like me because all your mistakes disappear! 

Here's my square:

 After a spin around the washing machine in some hot water...
This was the first time I was actually thrilled to see wool shrink in the washing machine.

 During my last lesson I learned how to stockinette (knit stitch on one side, pearl stitch on the other side). I decided to use up the rest of my red wool yarn and practice on a scarf for Emma's American Girl Doll.

My photographer, Emma, took a picture of me knitting poolside this afternoon

 My trusty knitting buddy...

 After a few hours of work...

Pompeii with Jen and Casey

On Sunday we took Jen, Casey, and their friend, Arne, to Pompeii. Emma and Camden are becoming "experts" of these ruins and found ways to entertain themselves.

Emma (who is working hard on wiggling that other front tooth out) brought her camera along and told her brother to go down on the stage area of the theater and pose for a picture.

 This is what she got:

 Showing of some dance moves on top of a ruin.

A close-up of the toothless wonder.

 Camden taking a break in "his" birdbath.

 Rocks for sale!

 Making Uncle Casey a pizza.

 Our last stop was Camden and Emma's favorite place, the amphitheater.

 Camden and Chris racing.

 Emma and Uncle Casey racing.

 Family picture!

 The brothers hiking the streets of Pompeii.

Chalk the Walk Madonnari Art Event

Last fall, Navy Headquarters was looking for summer camp ideas for teens. Chris proposed an art camp in Italy: traveling to Rome, Florence, and Venice to see some of the world's greatest art work for a week then working on a Madonnari Art event the second week. After a lot of hard work and planning, the Italy Teen Art Camp welcomed 18 teens from around the world.

Casey and Jen lead the teen art instruction this week and a culminating Madonnari art event was put on for the entire Naval Support Activities Naples community.

Set up on Thursday:

One of many "meetings of the minds" between Chris and Casey.

 Casey giving the teens some directions.

 Emma and the Camp Adventure kids came over on Thursday to begin some chalk art for the event.

 Jen, Chris, and Casey making some decisions.

 Casey and Chris fixing the chalk lines.

 I assisted Casey chalk lining his grid.

 Casey made a little promotion piece outside the Commissary.

Flash forward to Friday morning...

Camden and his preschool class came over early to draw.  He watched Uncle Casey begin his piece: a portrait of the base Executive Officer, Commander Barbee.

Another Chris and Casey discussion.

(Is Chris looking a lot like his dad in this picture, or what?!?!)

 I did my part of the community piece: Washington Crosses the Delaware River.

With my limited artistic skills, I decided to grab two of the sky pieces when I could. :)

 Casey hard at work while the AFN news crew filmed him.

Chris working on his section of the community piece.

 

  I really like this picture with Casey in the foreground and Chris in the background.

 Here is a shot of the event by early afternoon. 

 Chris helped Casey fill in the Commander's shirt

By late afternoon, we had a nice crowd working on the community piece.

 My favorite piece created by one of the teens.

 Commander Barbee gives his portrait a thumbs up!

 Chris, Casey, Jen, and I.

 Emma and Camden asked Uncle Casey for a little help on their square of the community piece.

The talented teen artists!

 Casey got two celebratory coolers of ice water dumped over his head after the picture!