2015 Holiday Tree Lighting

It was a perfect evening at NSA Naples for a tree lighting celebration

The runner, the man in charge, and the singer are ready to go!

 Camden and sweet Noah

 Chris introducing the Naples Elementary School Choir

 Emma sang her heart out!

 Jenna, Thea, and Steve

 Thea enjoying the choirs sing :)

 Camden finishing up the Candy Cane 5K

 Steve and Camden after the race

 It's time to light the tree!

 Uh-oh, there is a problem...

 ...but look who has a special bulb to make the lights work!

 3, 2, 1

 Beautiful Christmas tree in the courtyard

Visiting with Santa 

Thanksgiving Break Fun

Friday morning it was Operation Holiday Decorations at the Kasparek casa

 Emma's annual elf picture

 First ornament on the tree

 Camden and his special collection of ornaments from Aunt Jessi

 Saturday we went on an adventure to a vineyard in the rolling hills between Naples and Rome

 Chris and Camden in the olive groves

 

Mel, Me, and Emma 

 Beautiful girl and scenery

 Family picture time

 Cheese!

 I wonder where Camden gets his goofiness from :)

 Look at this sweet Nona who made our lunch!

 

  Mel and Emma

 While the adults were buying wine, the kids entertained themselves

 Good thing we had a big car to haul everyone's wine back home

 Countryside traffic jam

Happy Thanksgiving 2015

Happy Thanksgiving to all our family and friends across the globe.  We enjoyed a feast of all feasts hosted by the Zimmermanns yesterday. A 15 pound bird cooked away all morning in our oven and it took a lot of will power not to dive right in and start eating before it made it to the Z's house.

Thea, Berri, and Jenna

What a blessing to enjoy Thanksgiving with great friends

Look who snoozed through her very first Thanksgiving dinner!

Sweet baby Thea

Zeke wanted to join the feast, too

Thea, Emma, and Camden

Rice family picture

Love these ladies!

Skyping with Zane

We LOVE Ms. Mels!

Zio Chris and Thea hanging out

Jenna, Steve, Me, and Chris

Kasparek family picture

Wishbone battle

 (won by Emma)

Watching the Lions and Eagles play some Turkey Day Football

End of the Season Soccer Tournament

It's hard to believe another soccer season has ended.  We are so proud of our Hawkeyes! Last Saturday was the end of season tournament and we took a close second place.

Chris and goalie, Chance

Pre-game jog around the field

A few action shots

My goofballs

Coach/Dad talking about his 2 favorite players

Way to go Hawkeyes! 

Welcome to the World, Thea Rae!

Just after falling asleep last Wednesday night, Chris woke me up and said, "You better check your messages on Facebook." To my thrill and surprise, there was a message from Jenna saying she thought her water just broke and it was time for Baby Rice to make his/her debut!

After a LONG night and LONG day (including STEM night), we got the news that Thea Rae Rice was here!

During our lunch break on Friday, Melissa, Sherri, and I went to the NEX so we could go shopping for some girl clothes. As soon as the kids were dismissed at the end of the day, we made a beeline to the hospital to meet Thea. 

She is tiny and absolutely perfect!

Proud Mom and Dad with their little bundle of love

That night while we were at Dom's for dinner, he popped open a bottle of prosecco so we could all make a congratulatory toast in honor of Thea's birth. :)