Life Lately: October Edition

Emma had volleyball games Columbus Day Weekend, so we decided to go on a Sunday afternoon trip to one of our favorite wineries on the Amalfi Coast.
It didn't take long to convince some friends to join us!

Between eating grapes, which were being harvested, Chris and I snapped a pic

Tentua San Francesco was in all of its autumn glory

With the rest of the family gallivanting around Europe (and Southwest Asia), this has been my life lately: folding laundry with my trust sidekick

Chris went to Belgium for the Wildcat's football game against SHAPE

 A fun night cooking at Vera's in honor of Beth's birthday

Halloween Bunco

 An Amigo, Louise (from Bob's Burgers), and Jessie and Cowgirl

Ashley, Joann, and me

 I sent this to the kids when they were in Germany and Bahrain :) 

 
Garfield and his crew put on an awesome Spooktrunkular 2019
Our favorite trunk-or-treaters were in other countries, but we had fun!

Chris, Madds, Frankie, and Dave

Love this butterfly!

Gabri was so excited to finally see Emma! This was the one day Emma was at school between her Bahrain and Germany trips

My 6th grade team R-O-C-K-S!

Lacey, Madds, Ivette, and I had a great time at the Harvest Party

Hot dog Camden joined the Hilley family for trick-or-treating on Halloween night

He found some other hot dogs and some ketchup! Thanks for sharing this picture, Rima!

Volleyball in Bahrain

When the fall sport schedule was released we were excited to see a game in Bahrain! This is an amazing life we live! 

Early Thursday morning: the ladies are ready to check in at the Naples airport. They had stops in Rome and Abu Dhabi before making it to Bahrain.

The Bahrain volleyball team invited them to brunch at IHOP on Friday morning 

 Gabriela, Roxanne, Haley, Natalie, and Emma

Our girl on the court!

 

Emma had quite the cheering section!

The Rhinehart family not only supported Emma, but sent us a lot of updates during the games. Taylor is missing from this picture because he was in Germany with Camden!

Saturday's action on the court. 

Both the boys and girls were victorious!

The Fabulous Freshmen Foursome: 

Gabriela, Raniyah, Kennedy, and Emma

Their return flight was not until late on Sunday. Chris connected the coaches with MWR and they set up a spectacular day of touring around Bahrain.

The Grand Mosque

 

The ladies have been dressed and are ready to head into the mosque

Emma, Fiona, and Kennedy 

Our beautiful girl 

  They were allowed to watch and photograph the beginning of one of the five daily prayers

In the courtyard of the mosque

Touring the Bahrain National Museum 

The Royal Camels

Wildcat Volleyball 

 

Outside the Formula One Racetrack 

The Tree of Life

Sunset visit to one of the first oil fields in Bahrain

Camden's Trip to JLS

Camden applied to attend the annual DoDEA Europe Junior Leadership Seminar and was THRILLED to be one of six representatives from Naples Middle High School chosen.

He boarded a plane early Sunday morning and headed off to Germany for a week.

The Naples contingency has arrived in Frankfurt!

Exploring Oberwesel along the Rhine River

 Avonlea Sparling was a representative from Vicenza Middle School

 Focused work during a session

 Camden reported out his group's findings 

 Time for some evening fun and games!

 These "Sullivans School Babies" are now 7th graders! 

Tristan's mom, Tammy, and I worked together in Yokosuka. Thanks to Jessica for sending these SES shirts for a great photo op! :)

Camden's Purple Group (lead by one of my Ikego Elementary colleagues, Alanka!)

140 Middle School Leaders from DoDEA Europe 

Another Yokosuka reunion! 

Taylor and Camden

Having fun at the dance

Camden was supposed to get back Friday night, join us at Spooktrunkular for a while, then fly early Saturday morning with Chris to Venice for the semi-final football game.  

Well, a HUGE transportation strike throughout all of Italy on Friday changed those plans.  Thanks to some quick thinking and support of many educators & administrators, Plan B went into effect. 

On Friday morning, Camden hopped on the bus with the Vicenza and Aviano JLS contingencies. When he was dropped off at Aviano High School late Friday night, he joined the football team for a gym floor sleepover. :)

Thank you so much, Amy, for being the "pass off" person when he got in at 1 a.m.

They were bright eyed riding the bus to the game Saturday morning!

It was a tough loss for the Wildcats, but I am so proud of these guys!

On the bus back to Naples

Chris is listening to the Hawkeye game and Camden is getting some much needed sleep after his incredible week!