Spring sports seasons

Spring sports season was full of weekday track meets and weekend soccer games. Claire and Jacob ran primarily the 800 and 1600. They came into the season in shape because of running through the winter, and they had a great freshman year of track!

 

It was fun to watch Jacob referee his sibling's games. I loved the shot of Jacob and Torin walking off the field hand in hand. What a special relationship!

We love to spend spring mornings outside on the soccer fields. It didn't take long this year to get warm enough to be comfortable in shorts. Nana and Papa would try to come to every soccer game and track meet that they could. We shared our family spring sports calendar Google doc with them!

There was a lot of yellow this season - highlighter yellow, referee yellow, and mellow yellow. And Liam in red, of course!

This season was a fun owe for Jared coaching with Shaun Smedley - and having Grayson on the team. Torin had a great season.

Kentucky Derby Marathon

After over a year of anticipating, Jared finally got to run the Kentucky Derby Marathon. The weather was pretty certain of rain the entire time.

Jared ran the first 8 miles or so really well in a perfect light spritzing rain, and then it started really raining hard! The whole family was following along and sending encouraging notes. The last 8-9 miles were rough. Dani came and ran with Jared for a half mile close to the finish and was commenting how my shoes were squishing every step of the way.

Given the staggered start time, the finish line was pretty deserted, but Dani was there to cheer him across.

 

Jared felt so so excited about his accomplishment.

 

April snow!

Late April 20, it started snowing

and kept snowing

until 4 inches fell!!! on April 21!!!

The river birches were weighed down by the wet snow

Of course, we built a few snowmen and decorated them with some costumes.

The snowmen survived one day.

And even 2 days later, they were still there on April 23 - but just barely!

Jacob and Claire turn 15

These 2 amazing kids turned 15!

Both Jacob and Claire are kind, hard working, and successful students. This year, they are both class and quorum presidents. 

They had a fun backyard party. We set up a camp fire for hot dogs and s'mores 

 

The girls immediately gathered around the fire

As the boys played basketball

and football as we waited for the sun to go down to get dark enough for a movie.

Jared had fun popping popcorn and setting up the backyard theater.

Everyone started congregating around the fire again as it got darker.

Eventually, it got dark enough and the kids all gathered and giggled for watching Napoleon Dynamite. Such a funny choice - I don't know if they get all the humor!

It was a good group of kids to have over!

For the family party, Jacob and Claire gave Jared creative liberty over the entire menu, so he, of course, went southern with a brisket in the sous vide!

and baked beans, creamed corn, and bread and salad. Very southern - Jared (and the birthday kids) were very happy with it.

We celebrated that night with some cake at Nana's

WFH - month 13

Beginning Spring Break 2020, in Gatlinburg, Jared's office has been closed, and Jared has been working from home. During this time, we have updated the study, and Jared has been working there - and watching the neighbors getting deliveries!

Sometimes, Dani needs to put a sign outside the door for when the kids get home from school!

Time with Papa

In 2018, Dani and Jared felt strongly prompted that it was time to move back to Cincinnati. When we did, we knew some of the reasons, which included being closer to Nana and Papa. 

Little did we know how important that would be in our lives and in their lives. This year, with Nan's knee surgery, Papa has been spending more time with us as Nan recovers. The week of her surgery, Camie came to stay with Nana and Papa came to our house. Papa wasn't thrilled that he wasn't able to see Nana at the hospital. He was certain that we were keeping him away, though we explained that only one person was allowed in the hospital, and Camie was there with her. Even after Nana came home and Papa spent a few hours with her, he was convinced he hadn't been allowed to see her. We had to remind him that he had seen her earlier that day. He was very excited to see her whenever we went over, but she needed rest and Camie was the right caretaker. 

Here are a few of the things that Papa enjoys doing when he is at our house.

Papa LOVES ice cream!!! He loves Dairy Queen (Medium Cookie Dough Blizzard with Chocolate Ice Cream - which he only orders after considering all his other options, and which the Harper's DQ staff all know his order), and Dani has taken him on many, many trips there. A DQ gift card is a good go-to birthday or Father's Day gift.

Dani has gotten very good at finding shows that Papa might be interested in. Many are historical fictions or documentaries. He prefers watching with someone, so Dani will often sit and watch with him. We don't have a picture of that, but we do have another picture of Papa with ice cream - Wendy's Frosty, which is not his first choice, but mostly acceptable. The typical conversation: Dani "do you want a Frosty?" Papa: "Or we could go do Dairy Queen!" Others that he loves: Graeter's and Chick-Fil-A milk shakes.

 

He loves to listen to people play musical instruments, whether it is Liam on the cello or someone on teh piano. He is genuinely complimentary.

A few times while Papa was staying with us, Jacob and Papa started discussing coins and coin collections, and Jacob got his collection out to show Papa.

The kids are sweet with Papa. On occasion, they play a game of "Rock," (Mancala). They are often heard helping Papa make legal moves.

Torin and Papa get to spend a lot of time together. Sometimes Papa goes and watches Torin play. One of Torin's new games on the hover board is making it a 3-wheeler!

Sometimes they go hit a few ping pong balls. Papa can still hit the ping pong balls pretty well!

Sometimes, sweet Torin is very helpful to get Papa ready to join him at the bus stop.

In addition to the time that Papa spends with us, living close means that Nana and Papa can go to soccer games, track meets, concerts, and other events.

It has been special to have our kids able to help care for Papa. It is fun to see their big hearts as they spend time with him.