Summer Tuscan Trip

Oh Tuscany, how we have missed you!!!  Chris is the only family member who has visited in the summer and this weekend was the perfect opportunity for us all to check it out.

Pool with a view of Montepulciano in the distance

Evening wine tour of our home for the weekend: Manvi

We are so happy we got to bring Renee on her first ever Montepulciano trip!

L-O-V-E this guy!

Renee captured a perfect picture of our evening...

Ready to head out for some fun on Friday morning

Wine tasting at Avignonesi

Photo ops in the vineyards

Lunch in Cortona 

Afternoon wine tasting at Gabriele Mazzeschi

Saturday morning started with a climb to the top of the tower in Montepulciano 

Well, they climbed...

I stayed down below and took a picture of them when they got to the top

Back down the winding stairs

Photo stops as we walked around town

Wine tasting at De Ricci 

9 years ago today, the kids and I arrived in Italy!  

Thank you for always taking such great care of us at De Ricci!

Finding a field of sunflowers to take pictures in was a MUST for this trip!

Dinner at Baracchi in Cortona

Enjoying an after dinner stroll around town

Maiori Getaway

After a crazy few weeks leading up to Festa, Chris and I went on an extended date along the Amalfi Coast Tuesday.
Here is the view from the balcony of our hotel room in Maiori!

Cooling off in the rooftop pool

 Relaxing and taking in the view!

Beachfront Aperitivo

 Watching the sunset :)

Festa Americana 2020

In true 2020 fashion, Festa Americana looked a little different this year.  We nicknamed it, "Festa Light", but it was still spectacular!  

Chris, Boats, John, and Lee are telling those dark rain clouds to BACK OFF!!!

Festa Family

Emma's reaction to Boats is pretty spot on!

Austin and Boats showing Chris the love!

Austin and Camden tooling around Central Park in the Gator

Let's get this party started!!!

John, Chris, Lee, and Renee

Emma, Boats, and Camden

Mr. Festa

Emma, Roxanne, Jackie, Gabriela, and Juliet 

Don't they look thrilled? :)

Proof that Chris let a dog into one of his events!  

The girls getting a cool treat from the USO

Chris and the Navy Band

Vicky, Austin, and Amelia

The rain stayed away! It ended up being a beautiful evening

Chris presented Admiral Franchetti with a "Operation Get Down Tonight" patch

Tis the season for PCS moves :( 

Sherri, Melissa, and I said, "see you later", to Joann. We will definitely miss seeing her at NES!

We also had to say, "see you later", to Kate and Brian!

Renee, me, and Kate

 Camden, Kate, and Emma

 Mr. Festa rockin' on with the Navy Band

For the first time ever, we were allowed to shoot off fireworks on the Support Site. I thought it would be a small show, but this year's display knocked my socks off in my front row seat!