Monday, October 28, 2019

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!

Monday, September 30, 2019

Homecoming Sports and Dance Saturday

Saturday morning we were at school bright and early for a jam packed day of sports and dancing
Daughter and Dad pre-game
 Camden starts his first cross country race
 He wasn't feeling 100%, but Camden got 2nd place in the middle school race!
1.6 miles in 9:43
 Camden and his teammate, Nathaniel after the race
I booked it over to the gym to catch Emma in action on the volleyball court


 VICTORY!!!
Wildcat ladies on Homecoming
 The volleyball gals went out to the stadium to cheer on the football team
Coach K and Camden


After the game, we moved on to the O'Connor's house for Dance Prep Central
Jen and I curled and sprayed a lot of hair!  
Beautiful volleyball ladies
 A few of the men's team joined them for a photo op
 Camden, Chris, and some of their favorite senior football players
Jillian & Emma
 
Emma & Roxanne
Emma & Gabriela
 Kennedy & Emma
 Jillian, Emma, Gabriela, and Izzy
Christian, Emma, and Thomas
A family picture before she headed into the dance
Emma, Lena, and Gabriela 
Emma & Antonia