Happy Thanksgiving 2013!

This wasn't our first time celebrating Thanksgiving with the Rhinehart family. Here's a little 9 year flashback...

Geoff and Chris playing some turkey day football in the street in front of our house in Japan

 These pregnant ladies are ready to EAT!

Frosty and Angel, our Elves on the Shelf, arrived on Thanksgiving morning!

 Gavin, Camden, and Taylor reading the note Angel wrote

 Those silly elves found a baby picture of Gavin and Emma and put a goatee and mustache on them!

 Our turkey on the BBQ

 There is nothing like cooking with a friend!

Pre-dinner dance party

Geoff is ready to carve this bird with his Dad's carving knife

Yep, the same one he used to carve in 2005! 

And I think my Italian kitchen is small - it's huge compared to our Japanese kitchen!

 If only I could bottle up this laughter and kindness...

Everyone has a turn helping carve the turkey

 Handsome Camden

 Huggies, Uncle Chris!

 Let's eat!

 Emma gets a turkey leg

Which Tree Should The Rhineharts Get?

Wednesday morning cartoon time

 Jumping on the trampoline 

Everyone chose a poinsettia at the garden store

 Emma, Gavin, and Camden like this tree

 I think this one is perfect!

 Owen getting a lift from Uncle Chris

 Bringing the tree into the house

Emma and Camden are for hire if anyone needs help transporting their Christmas tree! :)

It's A Reunion!!

We were over the moon excited when we found out our dear friends, the Rhineharts, were moving to Spain. In August we booked our Thanksgiving trip to see them in Rota.  We flew in Tuesday night and had a joyous reunion!

Chris and Camden hanging out in the Rhinehart's kitchen

 Renee dishing up her famous Eclair Cake for a late night dessert

Camden, Emma, Gavin, and Taylor are ready for a sleepover 

 To see these kiddos together again warmed my heart!

FLASHBACK

Gavin and Emma Easter 2007

 Camden and Taylor May 2007

 Not only are the Rhineharts in Rota, but the amazing Mishel Flake is also living there!  Mishel and I taught next door to each other my first year at Sullivans. I would have never survived teaching kindergarten without her!

 The CYP dynamic duo

Matera Day 2

We stayed at the Caveoso Hotel in Matera.  This is the coolest hotel bathroom I've ever seen!

 On Sunday morning we drove to the other side of the valley. We hiked around discovering caves and enjoying the views of Matera.

 A long way down...

 You could still make out some of the frescos in the cave churches

 Camden perched on the rocks with Matera in the background

 Neal family picture

 Kasparek family picture

 Amanda and Arianna

 Camden, Chris, and Emma taking a break in a cave

 Ron scaled this boulder

 Future rock climber, Camden, was in heaven!

 Chris stayed as far away from the edge as possible

 On the way back down the trail, his fear of heights got the best of him.  Emma and Camden skipped past him on the trail...

 ...and he gripped on to the rocks for dear life.  Ron made sure to encourage him along as I took some pictures.  If you can enlarge this picture, Amanda's reaction to seeing him come around the corner is priceless!

Sunday family dinner in our hotel room. 

Meat, cheese, bread, olive oil, and wine -YUMMY!

Camden, Emma, and Arianna watching a movie

Matera Day 1

Our 3-day weekend took us to Matera, Italy.  This ancient cliffside town is the longest inhabited community only second to Petra, Jordan. Our friends, the Neals, joined the adventure.

Emma and Arianna lead the way early Saturday morning

 A sweet smile from Camden

 Family picture overlooking Matera

 Cafe' break

 Ron gives Emma some boxing tips before our tour of the city

Group picture 

 Beautiful fresco in a cliffside church

 What a view!

 Touring a neighborhood in town

 Wine tasting

 Enjoying lunch with the adorable Arianna

 In the afternoon, we toured a HUGE 5-story aqueduct under the middle of town

 Matera at sunset