Getting summer started right

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!! Next year, Kate and Liam will be in a brand new Edwin H Greene School in 5th grade, and Torin will be in 2nd grade.

Even Jacob and Claire got to leave while the sun was out since seminary is closed.

Summer brings out summer activities. We enjoy biking to Walker Bros Ice Cream.

Jared' work got us great tickets to a Reds game - right behind the Reds dugout!

We got the boat out and took trips out to the summer. It's always fun - we had to pick and choose our spots since we had a number of available days that had a high enough chance of rain that we decided not to go, but we got a few trips in.

An apparently very bright day trip to Kings Island

where the MEN got to ride the BEAST (including Torin!)

and Torin got to ride the helicopters while Jared took Kate and Liam on Orion (Torin isn't tall enough to ride). Orion is Kings Island's new 300 foot tall ride - and it is awesome!!!

I can't remember what we're doing in this picture, but doesn't Dani look happy just to be with Jared?

Morning paddles at Winton Woods are one thing Jared lives for! Jared comes home super happy after ever time paddling.

 

Another driver!

We have another driver in the house as Claire passed her driving test!!! And then she asked Dani to drive home from the DMV. 

We're proud of her and excited that she has her license.

Crop Division doings

2021 was a great year for the Crop division! We had a great planting season, strong growing season, and very good harvest, and at the end of the year, after record-setting profits, the Crop Division was awarded the President's Cup for the division of the year at AFG.

This year, our managers meeting was at Hilton Head South Carolina. 

The hotel was right on the beach, which meant beach runs for Jared.

We went golfing a couple times,

and Jared led a group going paddle boarding.

In the harbor on the way back, we saw a manatee! Jared was so excited, especially after not seeing one in Florida.

Also very fun - the personal-sized Tabasco bottles at breakfast!

Spring time

We spent one Saturday morning at Bear Creek camp building a platform. It was good working with the Pratts, Dauns, and others from the ward.

Near the end, we let Liam use the reciprocating saw. He was pretty excited (he was definitely NOT excited most of the earlier day!). Dave narrowly averted disaster!

I love Torin's spelling! "Chrofe" = "Trophy"

Papa joined Jared and the younger boys for some reading time. Torin is doing a great job learning to read!

Dani joined Liam's class for a field trip to Pipkins.

Spring time is hammock season! It is so nice laying the hammock reading or just relaxing.

 

Kate especially loves the hammock. 

Liam continues to play well on the cello. We love hearing him play. He has so much potential.

Dani and I had a date night to a hot pot restaurant in Sharonville. We weren't sure what we were eating the whole time, but it was pretty tasty - and spicy!

The wings made for a very cool picture!

WE are happy to be back in the school not being required to wear masks for concerts!

Spring is also the time we can get outside for date nights. We didn't do much biking in 2022, and when we did, it was often close to the house. But it is always fun to get outside!

and finally... the pool is officially open!!! YAY!!!

 

Mother's Day

Celebrating Dani on her 17th Mother's Day as a mom!

On a beautiful sunny spring day, Jared had visions of a "sassy girls" picture - Claire is not a sassy girl at all though!

A few weeks ago, Dani joined Casey Stevens and some of her friends for a charcuterie board class. The instructor showed a few different principles and techniques, learning how to make a salami rose and how to display different elements. Dani came home with a beautiful board that weekend.

This weekend, she made her own board, and it turned out beautifully!

Jared decided to make a fancy meal - scallops with parmesan risotto, lemon roasted broccoli with roasted hazelnuts - and then a homemade shortbread strawberry shortcake. All very yummy!!!

In the evening, we had some strengths competitions doing some leg wrestling.

Jacob was feeling strong and challenged Dani

and got beaten - 

twice! Dani showing her youthful strength!

Our kids are so blessed to have Dani as their mother. She is loving. She supports them in all of their activities. She is encouraging. She is consistent in teaching gospel principles both by her words and actions. We love her and are blessed to have her in our lives.

An adventure challenge

Jared was given an "Adventure Challenge" book, so we decided to try one. This one was kind of like bobbing for apples, but instead, you use various vegetables and assign point values for each and try to get the most points.

 

Liam decided to go after it on top of the island - and shirtless!

Some of our still shots were a little gross!

This may have been the main cause of us needing to change the water out a few times!

 

Birthday and 3rd Marathon

Jared turned 41 this year! 

This year, Nan decided she would be in charge of the cake and ice cream - she got a Milk Bar cake and Milk Jar ice cream. The cake was great and the ice cream was delicious! The birthday cake flavor of ice cream had large chunks of frosting.

Jared also ran his second official marathon, again in Louisville. I went down with Bracken Webb the night before and ran together for a little while before Bracken started distancing himself a little.

We ran in front of the Louisville Slugger museum

and through Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby is run.

The second half of the marathon was a lot harder. I had only been able to get up to 16 miles in my training runs, so the last 8 miles were especially hard. My goal was to finish in 4:15, and I finished at that time. At one point, I passed Bracken, who has laying down trailside. He recovered, ate a donut, and finished too. We had parked a ways away, but we found a single scooter and shared it for a mile - almost crashing a time or two - until we found another to rent.

It was a great memory and proud accomplishment again.