Labor Day Weekend 2021

 After 2 great weeks of school, we were all ready for a LONG weekend!

Before the Hawkeyes game on Saturday, Chris and I enjoyed a little apertivo in Pozzouli 

Sunday Funday in Monte di Procida

LOVE this guy!

Maria & Emma

Silas & Lacey playing giant Connect 4

Maria working her culinary magic!

Sherri & Ron

Hanging with Zach

Eris, Mel, & me

Selfie with Emma & Lucca

I found a place in the shade with Maria & Amy

Camden and his favorite 3rd grade teacher

Jim crafting with the kids

Amy challenged Camden to a game of Connect 4

TikTok time!

What an amazing group ladies I'm blessed to have as friends!

Camden and Frankie swinging away

Frankie caught a piggy back ride with Zia Mel

Zach, Silas, Camden, & Chris playing Cornhole 

Emma & Frankie 

Evening cuddles with Herky

First Day of School 2021-2022

Our high school junior 

Our high school freshman

One proud mama teacher starting year #19 teaching

Frankie came to see Gabri off on her first day of 1st grade :) 

Emma and Jillian are ready to conquer 11th grade!

Farewell to Summer 2021

 It has been a busy 3 weeks since we returned to Italy. We tried to squeeze in some fun between work, prepping a classroom for the new school year, football pre-season conditioning/practice, and volleyball workouts.

Madds, Gabri, Sherri, Emma, Frankie, and I enjoying a Saturday afternoon in the pool

We had a MISERABLE heat wave our first week back.  Herky stayed in his favorite spot to keep cool.

Delicious seafood dinner with Madds, Mel, and Bridget

Friday night Dom's take out at Mel's apartment

Camden's first Color Guard of the year.  The Naples school administrators welcomed Captain Stewart 

Celebrating Ron's birthday (Sherri was in Turkey) with a fun fiesta dinner!

Prosecco reunion with Colleen

Darci, Shelley, Colleen, Mel, and I at Mary's 

Back to School Block Party 2021 was a hit! 

6th grade team pool party.  I'm very excited to work with Troy, Lacey, Zach, and Maddalena this year!

Mel and Emma hanging out

I-O-W-A 2021 Edition: Week #4 GRAND FINALE

We packed in a TON of family time during our last 4 days in Iowa... 

Thursday evening we had a Friedl Cousin Reunion at Big Grove. I really wanted to meet the baby cousins while we were home and their cuteness did not disappoint! :) Macie & Sadie joined us for a quick pic.

Aunt Jeanne & Chris

Camden, Pops, & Emma

Lots of Friedl cousin love!

Kelly, Jennifer, Claire, Chris, Amy, & Emily

Speaking of cousin love...

We had to get in our annual Kasparek cousin photoshoot 

Chris, Casey, Butch, & Tim chatting on the porch

Kasparek family pictures

One of many Bailey & Sally cuddles on the couch

Kevin organized an awesome Kasparek family golf outing on Saturday morning

One happy Babi! 

(Cole was at a football tournament)

Rosie, Bailey, Emma, Violet, & Anna are ready to roll!

I had a blast riding around the course with Casey. Nothing says Iowa like a Michelob Ultra & PBR at 10 am! 

My favorite golfers

Our baby cousin mission is complete! Chris & Nora

Do you think these girls are related? Megan holding Emma and Emma holding Megan's daughter :) 

Grandma Rose and (some of) her grandkids

Chris, Kevin, Amanda, Casey, Grace, Megan, Josh

Grandma Rose and (some of) her great grandkids

Violet, Nora, Emma, Camden, Lily, Bailey, Rosie

Sunday morning we all piled into the car and headed to Oskaloosa for day #2 of Cole's football tournament 

Emma's Sunday afternoon spa services...

Emma teaching Lori how to braid Bailey's hair

27 days later...we were flying back to Italy.  After a "Home Alone" run through O'Hare airport, we were very thankful to catch our flight to Brussels.