Thursday, January 23, 2020

Hooray for Marseille! MLK Girls' Trip 2020

It's one of my favorite weekends of the year: MLK Weekend Girls' Trip.  This was #7 for me.

Prosecco with Mel at Dubl in the Naples Airport waiting for our flight Friday night
This was our view at breakfast!
Maddalena and I are ready to see the sights!
On the train up to see the Notre-Dame de la Garde
What a magnificent cathedral!


I was so happy to be reunited with Jen!  
Lunch at the port. We had the best champagne!
It's a glorious day in Marseille!
 Fun photo op
 Enjoying a Guinness at an Irish pub 
Showing off our skills at darts
All that practice at Mom & Dad's with Camden each summer paid off!
On Sunday morning we explored the Le Panier neighborhood


 Moroccan food for lunch
 Waiting for the bus back to the hotel

 Afternoon at the spa
 Monday morning walk 

Emma's 15!!!

How on EARTH did we get from this...
... to this?!?!
Our Emma Louise is 15!

When I saw that Emma's birthday fell on a Saturday this year,  I was really hoping it would be a home game weekend.  As luck would have it, we hosted Sigonella.
Here she is in action Friday night

One of her biggest fans, Antonia, made her a special birthday sign

So happy Genesis was there to cheer her on before heading back to college

Birthday morning puppy hugs

Opening a few presents



Birthday donut before her game



The birthday girl in action on the court
  (She got he first charging foul here!)

Sleepover fun with Lena, Gabriela, and Roxanne
Here's the gang playing a game of Spikeball

There was a lot of love at Emma's birthday dinner at Dom's 
Frankie and Gabri
Kate
 Mel
These definitely capture Emma living her best life! :)


 



Saturday, January 4, 2020

Winter Break Highlights

It has been a low key Winter Break for the Kasparek crew - just what we all needed after a busy first half of the school year!

December 19th was the 19th anniversary of our engagement.  We were still in school, so a trip to Rome wasn't a celebration option.
 Chris decided to surprise me with a special dinner with friends!
Blessed to have all of these people in our life!
Game night at the Oropallos
Emma's encouraging look to Luca
 The Monday before Christmas, the basketball teams did a fundraiser bagging at the NEX.  Camden was recruited to help, also :) . 
We did a lot of movie watching...
 Camden built a field goal post in the backyard
Up late on the 27th to cheer on the Hawkeyes to victory

Gabriella and I enjoying our ladies' morning at the salon
I was not feeling well on New Year's Eve, so I took the kids to Capo to watch the fireworks with Chris, then came home.  
I did snap one pic with my favorite guy before heading home
 
The Sparlings came to town! They joined the Dom's Crew for a fun dinner
 Emma giving Avonlea & Seren a pizza making lesson
 Happy kids with full bellies!
 Sinaia has to be the SWEETEST 3 year-old on Earth!  This face says it all!
One happy puppy who enjoyed our lazy days at home!