Women's Retreat to Assisi

Last weekend I enjoyed a wonderful trip to Assisi with the Catholic Women of the Chapel. The Franciscan Sisters of Rome, who come down to our parish once a month, set up this retreat with their Sisters in Assisi.  I couldn't have asked for a better way to learn about Saint Francis and Saint Clare!

We stayed at a quaint hotel in lower Assisi.  This is the view from my "penthouse" balcony.

 The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi

 On Saturday morning, we had Mass in this beautiful chapel connected to the basilica.

Statue of Saint Francis with a live bird in his basket.

 Cafe' Happy Hour with some of the Sisters and Father Dennis.

 Sunday morning we traveled up to the mountain near Assisi where Saint Francis spent a lot of time. This church has been built into the side of the mountain.

A photo op with 3 wonderful women: Sister Judith, Nicole, and Sister Rafaella.

 The whole group

 Mass on Sunday morning was held in this quaint chapel in the crypt of the church on the mountain.

 After watching Pope Benedict's final Angeles on TV, we visited the Basilica di Santa Chiara before heading home.

100th Day of Kindergarten

It was the 100th day of Kindergarten!  Camden had 2 projects to accomplish over the weekend: filling a Ziploc baggie with 100 objects (he picked Legos) and making a display of the number 100 (he made 100 circles).

It was a rather hectic Tuesday morning in my classroom teaching fractions, so when I peeked into Camden's room just before lunch time and saw him looking like this, it was  the highlight of my day! I had to run back up to my room and get my camera to take a picture of him.

 This is what Camden thinks he will look like when he's 100 :)

Monday Morning Run

The kids informed me that they were going for a run this morning.

Lap #1, Camden's in the lead.

 Here comes Emma with her music.

 Lap #2, Camden comes in for a pit stop...

 ...and he's done.

A Happy 34th Birthday!

Let the birthday celebrating continue!  On Monday afternoon my students surprised me with a birthday party.  Tuesday afternoon was our school's Carnevale Parade, so they moved the celebration to the 11th.  It was a wonderful treat!

Monday evening I had a performance in my honor...

Tuesday Chris started feeling down in the dumps so we had a quiet evening at home.  Camden read to me...

1 sick cake baker = Little Debbie Fancy Cakes and Klondike Bars

It was also Fat Tuesday and we had to get in our final sweets indulgence before Lent started!

Snuggling with my favorite little guy watching a movie

A Little Birthday and Valentines Fun

Emma and Camden spent a quiet Saturday afternoon working on valentines for their classmates

 Chris and I always like have a little celebration the weekend between our birthdays, so we enjoyed a delicious dinner at our favorite restaurant, Dom's.

 Emma & Savannah being goofy...

Someone else was being extra goofy, too! 

 and then quickly fell fast asleep!

Happy Birthday, Chris!

His birthday started watching the Super Bowl until 5 a.m. and his birthday sleep was interrupted with the news that his daughter got sick at school and needed to be picked up, BUT we did celebrate our favorite 38 year-old in the whole wide world!

We love you!

January Rundown

I only made 2 blog post for the whole month of January! :( I will admit that 2013 got off to a crazy start and I did not do a good job grabbing the camera when I should have.  There are a few random pictures in iPhoto, so here is a rundown of the past month... 

This has been a big problem-sickness!  We have all took our turns feeling under the weather lately.  The stomach flu is making the rounds in Naples. In fact, I'm home with Emma today.  

Herky was a great nurse for Camden when he was sick.

 A little down time watching movies together. Aren't they sweet?!? 

Maybe this is why the sickness is getting passed from one sibling to the other!

We did have time for a little dress up fun.  The magician and his lovely assistant.

Camden was in the bathroom for a long time one afternoon and came downstairs to show off his new hairdo. :)

 A note I found on Emma's door

(EMMA IS DRIVING ME CRAZY)

 I often get comments about all the cat footprints on my car.  Well, here's the "cat" Herky.  If he's not chasing the neighborhood cats, this is is favorite place to patrol the yard or take a nap.

 Emma got a pogo stick for her birthday :)