Friday @ Festa Americana

Festa Americana was a 2 day event this year. We booked cabin #7 for the third year in a row and couldn't have asked for a better weekend celebrating with friends!

Jenna, Kelly, and I have set up camp

 Love this goofball!

 Just in case you didn't know what cabin belonged to the Kaspareks...

 Steve & Chris

 The carnival ride area was pretty much empty early Friday evening, so Jenna, Camden, and Emma got their own private ride on the ship

The  Kasparek competitiveness comes out in full force when you're driving bumper cars :)

 Bungee trampoline fun

 Great actions shots kicking the soccer ball as hard as you can

 

 

 Lewis, Chris, and Nate

 Emma having a dance and a laugh with  Mickey Mouse

Only at Festa: Stilt walkers playing Cornhole

 We started an impromptu Cornhole tournament on the main field and had a fantastic evening listening to live music

Padre Pio's Hometown

Last week we went on a little day trip with some friends to Pietrelcina, the hometown of Padre Pio. In this part of Italy, Padre Pio is loved and revered as much as any famous saint or the Pope.

The alter in the church where Padre Pio was a priest in the early 1900's

 Relics that belonged to him

 Statue inside the church

 Gabriella taking a snack break with Madds

 Padre Pio's room

 Gorgeous views all around the town

My favorite explorers

 Trying to keep this little lady cool

Fifa, Madds, and Gabriella

 One happy mama with her greatest blessings

 Padre Pio & Gabriella

Too much cuteness!

Me & Emma in the main piazza

 Emma & Antonia keeping Gabriella entertained

Happy Birthday, Herky!

Emma & Camden had the idea that we throw a party for Herky's 4th birthday. It fell on a Sunday this year, so it sounded like the perfect reason to hangout by the pool with friends.

He cooks and vacuums - what a great son! :)

 Camden created a Herky shaped veggie tray

 Emma made a "cake" out of a rotisserie chicken and dog treats

 Sherri & Zane

 Gabriella snoozing on Zia Mel's shoulder

  Cheers to a fabulous group of friends!

 

 Fifa & Madds

Carly & Mike

 The kids having fun in the pool

 Camden & Nick

 Kelly & Vita (aka: Herky's BFF)

 Me, Nick, and Beatrice

Madds & Zane

 Sherri, Kelly, and Mel

One happy birthday boy!

School's Out, London's Calling: Part 3

Look kids, it's Big Ben!

 Tea and a scone for my second breakfast on Monday

 Jenna finds some new friends

 Mel & Jen along the South Bank with Big Ben and Parliament in the background

A perfect day for a walk along the River Thames

  International lunch stop in the Borough Market. Yummy Indian and Thai food!

 

Tower Bridge

 Afternoon cocktail pit stop

We made it out of an Escape Room...lots of laughs and some serious teamwork!

 

 We grabbed a bottle of Prosecco and some snacks, then headed to Hyde Park for a picnic.

Evening stroll through the park

 After we said good-bye to the other girls on Tuesday afternoon, Mel and I continued eating & drinking our way through the city.

Enjoying oysters and champagne at Harrods

School's Out, London's Calling: Part 2

It was a little rainy and cold on Sunday. Here is Jenna in line at the 1/2 price ticket booth ready to see a great afternoon show (Stomp for her and Jen, The Commitments for Sherri)

 Walk through Chinatown

 I didn't know Jen was a tea specialist! :)

Sunday afternoon in a London pub enjoying fish & chips with a few pints

 Cheers!

 

The main event during our trip: The Lion King

It was everything I thought it would be and even more!

An impromptu picnic in Piccadilly Circus before our evening entertainment

 We laughed a lot during an improv show at The Comedy Store