It's February and time for the Blue and Gold!!

If you grew up a Cub Scout or were sibling to a Cub Scout you know all about the annual Blue and Gold banquet. Becky is the new Cub Scout Committee Chairperson and was in charge of the banquet this year for Jonah's pack. The theme was Chinese New Year. Jonah earned his Wolf badge and a few arrow points. He worked on the badge requirements right up until the day before the banquet (picking up trash and checking the house for fire dangers).

His pack also put on a couple of great skits.

Basketball Champ

Jonah finished his basketball season today, February 23rd, by playing four games in a season ending tournament. He made a written goal earlier in the season of making a basket during one of his games. He came so very close during one of the games today on a fast break opportunity, but the ball literally bounced out of the rim after his shot. His team made it to the championship game of the tournament but lost by just four points. He returned home spent of energy after the tournament. The last game was played on a full court with regulation baskets. Natalie had her fill of the tournament by the end of the third game but stuck it out with the promise that the next game "was almost over."

Europe- here we come!

It's official, we are moving to Italy this summer. Gabe spent a few weeks there this month on assignment and had the opportunity to spend a number of days in Naples to check things out as it were... it is going to be an adventure to say the least. Gabe has been to Naples a few times in the past, but he came away from this extended stay with an overwhelming feeling of 'what are we getting into?' because Naples is literally a world apart from anything he's ever seen or experienced. It could be that he is now just more sensitive to certain aspects of the city and culture since he knows he'll be taking his young family there to live for a few years. To sum up Naples in just a few bullets:

• the drivers in Naples are much more assertive than the most aggressive drivers in the U.S. (think New York cabbies on steroids)
• the Naples way of doing things will be much different than we're used to (read 'my way or the highway' and 'you will have to wait until my schedule dictates' when dealing with Neopolitans)
• there will be some things we'll never understand or be able to change such as the garbage situation

Although there are a dozen things not to like about moving to Naples one cannot discount the fact that we will be living a stone's throw from some of the best sites in Italy and Europe. We will be experiencing something new every single day. There will never be a dull moment. Thus, it will literally be an adventure.

Roman Holiday

On my way to Naples I had the opportunity to spend seven hours in Rome due to a missed flight connection. While waiting for my connecting flight I decided to catch a train into Rome and see some of the sights instead of lounging around the airport. Here's just a sample of what Rome has to offer...

the Roman Coliseum and Arch of Constantine

St. Peter's Square- to prove I was there

View down the street from the Coliseum with Capitol Square in the background