Memorial Day Weekend at Sperlonga

Camping over Memorial Day Weekend with friends was a tradition while we lived in Washington.  We were thrilled to bring the tradition back this year at the beach about an hour north of Naples.

Saturday morning play time in our cabin with Thea

Emma took Thea for a walk

The initial entry into the water was a bit chilly, but it didn't slow down the kids!

Happy Thea!

Zane & Chris playing beach cornhole

S'mores!

Sunday morning on the beach

Gabriella's here!

Jarod, Dolly, Dave, Madds, Sherri, & Ron

Do you want to play?

Jenna, Steve, and Thea

Sherri, Zane, and Ron

Camden's turn at giant Jenga

Sunday afternoon cornhole was entertainment to everyone on the beach

Happy 9th Birthday, Camden!

We have a 9 year-old in the Kasparek house!
Here's the birthday boy enjoying his early morning donut in bed.

Growing up too fast!

Silly as ever...

Excited to open a new Rooney soccer jersey

A new hat from Emma

Let me give you a hug, big sister!

Birthday dinner at Dom's.  

Thanks for the Legos, Zane!

A special cake to celebrate

Salute to Camden!

Calendimaggio Day 2

The Camilleri-Leigh family joined us on Friday night.  It didn't take long on Saturday morning for Chris and Ron to start tormenting Madds. While she was shopping in a store, Chris was ready to send Gabriella's stroller down the hill for Ron to catch it. :)

Family photo time

Gabriella hitching a ride through the main piazza

Every girl who is just learning to walk needs some friends to help her conquer the hills of Assisi

Cheers to Chris and Mel!

We enjoyed some afternoon vino back at our hotel while we waited for the rain to pass

Saturday afternoon's performance

What a goof!

Chris scored some grapes and wine from one of the performers

On our way home Sunday, we stopped at the beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli.

A happy Mother's Day for sure!

Calendimaggio Day 1

The first week of May we made a long weekend and headed north to Assisi for their annual Calendimaggio festival. One of my favorite colleagues, Maribeth, has gone to this festival for many years.  After hearing her rave about it, we decided to join the 2016 trip!

First stop on Friday morning: the Basilica of Saint Francis

Beautiful view of the lower town's red flags

Trip planner extraordinaire: Maribeth

Mel, Sherri, Me, and Emma with the Umbrian countryside behind us

These 2 crazy kids celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary

Ready for the afternoon festivities

Flag throwing

Drumming battle between the upper town

and lower town

We met up with the rest of the NES travelers at a wine bar and had a prosecco toast for Ron & Sherri's anniversary

Nighttime performance

Fire banners coming from the upper town

The evening performance ended in some (unplanned) dramatics when the tower you see the girl standing on, caught on fire.  Thank goodness for the fast moving Assisi fire department!