tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70225021750569922752024-02-07T05:22:28.059-05:00Living Our AdventureFinding the cadence in chaos.Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.comBlogger393125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-19385066942929179712022-04-16T14:11:00.001-04:002023-03-09T18:45:53.416-05:00San Diego!In early February I decided we all needed to get away, so I booked a very impromptu trip to San Diego during Spring Break. It was exactly what we all needed. My best friend and her family also flew down for a few days and it was so nice to have other people to hang out with and let the kids entertain each other.
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Connor and I were the only ones who didn't get seasick though on our whale watching cruise.
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We saw exactly zero whales and hundreds of dolphins.
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That hair is everything.
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The Zoo is as amazing as everyone says it is, even when crowded.
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This is so fitting.
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Alicia is the best iphoneographer.
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The beaches were, by far, our favorite though. Even though the water is cold, we played lots of football and frisbee, and the kids had a blast. Coronado was my top pick for sure. It helps to have former San Diegans along who know all the places the locals go that are less crowded.
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Sweet, little E was kind of enamored by Evan. It was adorable.
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A much needed break and probably my favorite family vacation we've done, even topping Disney.
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I've always said he has Tom Cruise vibes. Ha!
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Within the first day, Dan and I were ready to move here, then we looked at the housing prices and had a good laugh.
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Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-19098246544902181662022-04-01T17:30:00.001-04:002023-03-08T14:10:52.432-05:00The Music Man and Snow White's AdventureThe first three months of 2022 were hard. Harder than I've ever encountered as a parent. Grief is the devil and there is no linear progression to it, just good days and bad days, then turn around and repeat. I was ever so grateful that in the midst of all of it, Evan had a show to focus on and we were preparing for spring sports and Connor's first show. Not that either of these things can repair the damage, but they gave us a reprieve and things to look forward to.
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Evan was still in middle school when he auditioned so he was a River City kid and townsperson, and did several of the dance numbers with the older kids. It was really a fantastic show, as always. This school has such an amazing program.
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Behind-the-scenes photos are some of my favorites.
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Evan has had some wonderful mentors along the way.
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About a month later, Connor's school put on Snow White's Adventure. He had so much fun with his royal page role.
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Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-26849155626380522652021-12-26T13:13:00.003-05:002023-03-08T13:31:36.713-05:00Christmas 2021It's the most wonderful time of the year, right? Hectic and busy and so much juggling, but wonderful. Before kids, I would wait until after Thanksgiving to set up the tree and really get into the season, but now balancing life, work, school and extracurricular schedules, I find it *much* less stressful and more enjoyable to start decorating earlier in November. That, and my Christmas tree just makes me happy!
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After all the planning, shopping, and visits to Santa, the boys had a special Christmas morning checking out what was left under the tree. Christmas morning isn't complete without a few "bed head" photos.
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Then we make oursevles presentable and get together with family to celebrate.
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I love the look on my Dad's face for this one. We bought tickets to see the Orchestra perform an evening of John Williams' music. I grew up listening to Williams and it was such a fun night for all of us.
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Then my brother and nephews stopped by for a little bit. I wish we saw them more often, but it's always fun when we do get together!
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It's a blur, but always a good day. </br></br>
Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-87881090790979833162021-10-31T22:30:00.004-04:002022-07-14T19:36:30.882-04:00Halloween 2021Halloween is one of my favorite days of the year in our neighborhood. We get a LOT of trick-or-treaters. Connor knew by mid-summer he wanted to dress up as his favorite baseball player, Nick Castellanos. So I honed my beard drawing skills and got him a jersey and he was set.
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Evan wasn't sure he was going to trick-or-treat, but got a simple costume just in case. Turns out it was a nice complement to Connor's athlete, though technically an umpire would have been more appropriate (not too many of those costumes in the stores).
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And bonus, now that we're the same size, I borrowed the shirt and hat for a costume party the same month. I'm pretty sure he's aging himself out of trick-or-treating after this, but I'm glad he's still a sport about having fun and dressing up for it.
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And as usual, we have more fun with friends!
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Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-65863978070519159942021-10-02T14:07:00.002-04:002022-07-12T14:38:07.038-04:00Fall Ball 2021Where Evan has tennis, Connor has baseball. I always loved playing sports as a kid, but I think I get so much more out of watching my kids play. I never want to put pressure on them to do it; especially at Connor's age, it should be fun first. He's a solid infielder and finished the fall season with a +.740 batting average.
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Covid restrictions meant we did an end of the game hat wave.
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Dan also got to help as assistant coach again. I know that means so much to him and I'm glad they get this time together.
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His team - the Orioles - went undefeated and won the championship. It was exciting to see how far they came in just a few weeks of play.
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Connor was awarded the game ball after the last game for being the team utility player. So proud of him!
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<iframe allow="fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="720" height="1280" src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/12125098487_XdvQsJ8?width=360&height=640&albumId=250198965&albumKey=dMGSnd"></iframe></br></br>Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-12856858754268345102021-09-26T13:41:00.004-04:002022-07-12T14:37:40.330-04:00Tennis Evan played on his school's tennis team this season and really enjoyed it. I think he has found a sport he really likes and is excelling with it with club training, lessons, and now, the school team. He and his doubles partner, JR, finished the season undefeated. His coach started Evan as a singles player but he prefers doubles for now. So in addition to the nerf darts and baseballs all over the house, we've now added tennis balls and gear. As the saying goes, "sorry, I can't, my kids are living their best lives and I'm their ride."
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Evan-Tennis-2021/i-zdTsc7t/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Evan-Tennis-2021/i-zdTsc7t/0/28900d7e/L/DSCF1810-1-L.jpg" alt=""></a></br></br>
<iframe allow="fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="1280" height="720" src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/12124944029_cKvS9n6?width=640&height=360&albumId=265066447&albumKey=wwX5pW"></iframe></br></br>Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-45429451805917086142021-09-18T16:19:00.002-04:002022-07-11T16:33:13.443-04:00Connor is eight!One of the coolest kids I know has turned eight! What? Wasn't I just taking him to preschool last week? What a fun and interesting eight years it has been with this boy. From the day he was born, he has shown he is unique in every way. He is sharp and so funny! Quick with the one-liners, and life observations, whether he intends them or not.
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He throws himself into whatever he tries, from dancing like the Greatest Showman to playing baseball and basketball. </br></br>
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He loves going to the pool, playing Rocket League on the Switch, and making up games with friends.
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But as I've said before, it would be all right if time slowed down just a little. </br></br>
Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-56556143752205194992021-08-07T18:07:00.001-04:002021-11-29T18:11:53.312-05:00Back To School 2021Just as the kids are starting to tire of summer, it's time for back to school. After a unique school year brought on by the pandemic, I think everyone was excited to be back in person again full-time. Here's to hoping it lasts!
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First day of 8th grade:
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First day of 2nd grade:
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Family/First-Day-of-School-2021/i-ZNdmfZw/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Family/First-Day-of-School-2021/i-ZNdmfZw/0/2220fbf1/L/DSCF1649-Edit-10-L.jpg" alt=""></a></br></br>Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-31466500516274937622021-07-11T15:33:00.002-04:002021-11-29T18:06:19.652-05:00Nashville VacationRealizing we hadn't been to Nashville since Evan was a toddler, we decided to go back and see the sites with both kids. We lucked out in that the weather wasn't crazy hot for July and packed a lot in to the week.
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We visited The Hermitage on the 4th of July...
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Followed by a Nasvhille Sounds vs Louisville Bats baseball game and fireworks.
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Connor won a Sounds t-shirt they threw into the stands. Evan and Connor are typical brothers and argue, but then there are moments like this when Evan's big brother gene kicks in and he watches out for Connor as we walk back to the car.
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Evan is a HUGE Greek mythology fan and absolutely loved visiting the Parthenon, built as a replica to its Greek counterpart as part of the World's Fair.
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All the kids had fun at the Adventure Science Center, including the oldest "kid."
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We visited several historic sites, including Belle Meade. I appreciate that more of these sites are showing the Black experience as well.
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Wandering near downtown.
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The damage from the Christmas day bombing still remains.
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Stopped by Gaylord Opryland Hotel, easily an all-day experience.
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And of course, The Country Music Hall of Fame. Definitely did NOT recognize this guy before hearing his voice.
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But the best part of vacation when you're a kid? The Pool!!
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Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-10876049652625174462021-06-28T19:00:00.002-04:002021-11-29T15:32:32.802-05:00Father's Day 2021This year marked the 10th year in a row that I've taken these DAD photos for Dan for Father's Day.
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The outtakes are the best part.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/DAD-Photos-2021/i-BB2tbPX/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-BB2tbPX/0/L/i-BB2tbPX-L.jpg" alt=""></a></br></br>Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-61994352969462455882021-06-06T15:17:00.002-04:002021-10-05T16:20:58.052-04:00My First Baby Turns 13Thirteen years and I still can't believe that this giant boy in my house is the baby I swear was just here yesterday. Bittersweet is a word I seem to be using a lot lately in parenting because it's so very fitting. This is the price of parenthood. They grow up - and away - from us. The consolation is that if we do our jobs right, maybe we've raised some pretty decent humans along the way. I think (hope?) we're doing that, or at least giving it our best. Teenagers are hard, y'all! But I know it comes with the territory. The challenges are certainly a lot different now (smart phones, social media) than they were when Dan and I were teens, but some remain the same (like the sarcasm, and boundary testing).
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Evan is a ridiculously smart young man (oy, it feels weird to type that). There's a verse from a children's book that often plays in my head when I think of Evan...."fixer of all things fixable." And he truly is. He is a solutions guy. He's also a straight A student and I learned quickly that a little spending money is a powerful motivator for him to keep up the academic work.
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He loves tennis. Loves it. I wish I'd gotten him into lessons sooner but he's done well enough in the past year to have made the school team this fall.
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Evan is a good friend. He *still* has the same best friend he's had since he was a baby, despite not living down the street from each other anymore. I love that he makes an effort in maintaining real friendships.
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He's still playing trumpet and doing great with it. He even had a solo jazz riff in the spring concert.
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He loves video games, although lately I have seen that interest fade just a bit. At 13, we've also reached an age where (some of) the stuff he likes to watch on TV/streaming sometimes overlaps with what Dan and I watch. Gone are our days of lounging on the couch on weekends after the kids are in bed because Evan wants to stay up late too! He laughs at me for not liking the scary genre though.
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He is almost taller than me. It'll happen this year I think.
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But he'll still cuddle with me sometimes. Thank goodness, cause my mama heart isn't ready to let go just yet.
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I love this kid/teen/dude, even on the days he drives me crazy and tests those boundaries to their limit. But if he'd slow down just a little, that would be all right too.
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<iframe allow="fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="360" height="640" src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/11003480557_N93d7MK?width=360&height=640&albumId=250774969&albumKey=dgmVNT"></iframe>
</br></br>Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-11888775035271684872021-06-05T14:30:00.001-04:002021-10-05T15:16:00.116-04:00Spring Baseball 2021After two years off, I never would have imagined Connor would really, really take to baseball the way he did this year. He absolutely fell in love with it and worked his tail off to get better every day. We played catch in the yard nearly every day, sometimes even on game days and in the rain. Once it was too dark to play, he'd come in and watch games on TV. I have been married to a baseball fan for 15 years and I think I watched more baseball this season than I have in all those years combined.
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Our team struggled in the beginning but ended up beating the highest ranked team in the league in the first round of the playoffs, making it all the way to the Championship game. We lost by one run but I couldn't have been more proud of how far they had come.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-FHpCvG4/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-FHpCvG4/0/4491e8de/L/DSCF1086-2-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-GSPTKwK/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-GSPTKwK/0/a34f51ac/L/DSCF1102-10-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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He wasn't always so good at hiding his exasperation. Ha!
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-MLrWQQ2/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-MLrWQQ2/0/b0761864/L/DSCF1104-12-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-MD8nXJP/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-MD8nXJP/0/939d20b2/L/DSCF1369-6-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-zBPN3Nh/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-zBPN3Nh/0/86ef5824/L/DSCF1260-2-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-BW6R29m/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-BW6R29m/0/5022b59d/L/DSCF1317-2-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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Connor was a solid hitter the whole season, but his stance improved ten fold.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-DzXVfdX/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Little-League-2021/i-DzXVfdX/0/75299d15/L/baseball%20started%20where%20its%20going-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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A couple hits from the spring season....
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<iframe allow="fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="640" height="360" src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/11003107775_QfvHM5w?width=640&height=360&albumId=250198965&albumKey=dMGSnd"></iframe>
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<iframe allow="fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="640" height="360" src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/11003107787_zPGtXB3?width=640&height=360&albumId=250198965&albumKey=dMGSnd"></iframe>
</br></br>Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-73936935967700273942021-04-10T13:35:00.003-04:002021-10-05T13:53:04.976-04:00Easter 2021Easter was a little different again this year but we still mixed in some of the usual fun stuff like dying Easter eggs.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-9znwH5d/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-9znwH5d/0/5dd4fe74/L/DSCF1015-9-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-Js5pwd3/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-Js5pwd3/0/8cb19df2/L/DSCF1016-10-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-TXwCqqJ/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-TXwCqqJ/0/afdfb558/L/DSCF1021-15-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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The one time of the year I'm happy we haven't replaced those ugly countertops yet.
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This might be the last year Evan agrees to egg hunting in the yard. Teenagers are too cool for this activity (but not the Easter basket full of goodies).
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-tfpH69D/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-tfpH69D/0/6aa1939d/L/DSCF1037-4-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-cBMMhQd/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-cBMMhQd/0/d2244605/L/DSCF1042-9-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-NhnsT6Z/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-NhnsT6Z/0/a1bb49b6/L/DSCF1047-14-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-5W5dz5d/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-5W5dz5d/0/3fcd86b8/L/DSCF1041-8-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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And they still let me take some photos still in their Easter finest.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-sXjsnhm/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-sXjsnhm/0/cf67daf0/L/DSCF1051-1-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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There were still antics, as brothers will be brothers.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-d3nMDQZ/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-d3nMDQZ/0/9f99ccc9/L/DSCF1055-4-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-tKDbjPX/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-tKDbjPX/0/49c79f77/L/DSCF1056-5-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-5zcZhTZ/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-5zcZhTZ/0/42ac6fb9/L/DSCF1060-1-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-R89SR5t/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-R89SR5t/0/9f2ed852/L/DSCF1067-1-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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The egg hunting goes so quickly I barely have time to take photos.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-6VT5q73/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-6VT5q73/0/b0cfbff5/L/DSCF1072-28-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-rBTMWRH/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-rBTMWRH/0/c575023a/L/DSCF1077-33-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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Noticed the untucked shirts. Who knew it was such a strenuous activity?
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-X7cnrnv/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/Easter-2021/i-X7cnrnv/0/5b10fe9d/L/DSCF1083-39-L.jpg" alt=""></a></br></br>
Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-31313982569516772632021-03-20T09:01:00.001-04:002021-04-29T09:06:54.229-04:00St. Patrick's Day 2021Every year I try to get some photos of my boys wearing the green on St. Patrick's Day. And every year, they also embrace their inner leprechaun for some antics.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/St-Patricks-Day-2021/i-3gzJjMj/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/St-Patricks-Day-2021/i-3gzJjMj/0/5be0ab38/L/DSCF0965-1-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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Connor is *super* into dinosaurs lately. His shirt reads "Happy St. Pat-Rex Day" with a roaring T-Rex on it. Perfect for this dino-fan!
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/St-Patricks-Day-2021/i-ZJ4GFVJ/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/St-Patricks-Day-2021/i-ZJ4GFVJ/0/3d587389/L/DSCF0968-3-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/St-Patricks-Day-2021/i-tKL5C2L/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/St-Patricks-Day-2021/i-tKL5C2L/0/26367c74/L/DSCF0975-8-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/St-Patricks-Day-2021/i-bvQWprP/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/St-Patricks-Day-2021/i-bvQWprP/0/2cf691d1/L/DSCF0981-1-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/St-Patricks-Day-2021/i-Rm9b59G/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/St-Patricks-Day-2021/i-Rm9b59G/0/957cf68b/L/DSCF0984-11-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Holidays/St-Patricks-Day-2021/i-zjqz75C/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Holidays/St-Patricks-Day-2021/i-zjqz75C/0/d1aba669/L/DSCF0988-1-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-42991239957130378402021-02-20T11:02:00.003-05:002021-04-28T15:34:04.892-04:00Basketball 2021Connor LOVES basketball. Really, any sport it seems. So when the the season rolled around again and the league we play in seemed to have some good Covid controls in place, we decided to enroll him again. When the pandemic first hit and we were going on daily walks, Connor almost always had a basketball with him, working on his dribbling skills. I'm thrilled that the goal I put in has also been a good investment as we all play in the driveway frequently.
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Connor's team came in second place for their age group, and were so much fun to watch. I love watching basketball probably more than any other sport, so I have fun cheering him and his teammates on.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Graceland-Basketball-2020-2021/i-LSVD9gP/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Graceland-Basketball-2020-2021/i-LSVD9gP/0/1e831fc1/L/DSCF0723-9-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Graceland-Basketball-2020-2021/i-G6b9c98/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Graceland-Basketball-2020-2021/i-G6b9c98/0/911cbd39/L/DSCF0751-7-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Graceland-Basketball-2020-2021/i-PLVNXHQ/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Graceland-Basketball-2020-2021/i-PLVNXHQ/0/0faa588d/L/DSCF0914-3-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Graceland-Basketball-2020-2021/i-Vxc6vnR/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Graceland-Basketball-2020-2021/i-Vxc6vnR/0/e751bb93/L/DSCF0919-6-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Graceland-Basketball-2020-2021/i-N5hskSL/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Graceland-Basketball-2020-2021/i-N5hskSL/0/59000f6c/L/DSCF0731-17-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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And a video ...sent to me by another mom so that's not even me you might hear cheering!
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<iframe allow="fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="360" height="640" src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/10417878883_JjVxbFz?width=360&height=640&albumId=245754284&albumKey=RWrsxK"></iframe>
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One of the best parts about this season is that Connor got to play on the same team as his school friend, Grayson.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Sports/Graceland-Basketball-2020-2021/i-QLMx68M/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Sports/Graceland-Basketball-2020-2021/i-QLMx68M/0/21a53009/L/IMG_7392_HEIC-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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</br></br>Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-36969639382269936362021-01-30T09:29:00.003-05:002021-04-27T09:43:10.925-04:00Snow Days We had quite a few snow days this winter. Now that the schools can easily pivot to virtual days, the bonus is the kids don't have to make up these days at the end of the year. Thankfully most of the teachers realize the torture of making a kid stay online while looking at snow outside, so they got some time in the snow despite virtual school.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-2F4jsdF/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-2F4jsdF/0/0077b6f6/L/DSCF0897-2-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-7SVBFCg/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-7SVBFCg/0/ee147199/L/DSCF0900-4-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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Why not build a snow fort with neighbor friends?
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-jB6MH47/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-jB6MH47/0/4f94e9a0/L/DSCF0901-5-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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Or throw snowballs?
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-r275jFv/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-r275jFv/0/b88841dc/L/DSCF0942-1-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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Connor figured out how to snow surf.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-HNPtpcn/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-HNPtpcn/0/6d574154/L/DSCF0950-8-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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And like any kid who watches YouTube, he narrates the experience for his audience.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-683BsD9/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-683BsD9/0/2e527a0e/L/IMG_7787-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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</br></br>Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-79366335844279131582020-12-27T09:02:00.004-05:002021-04-27T09:28:23.043-04:00Holidays 2020We didn't really have a "normal" Thanksgiving with family this year due to a spike in coronavirus cases across the country. My parents were quarantined and the schools went full virtual between Thanksgiving and Christmas. As a result, I fixed a turkey on my own for the first time ever. All I can say is, I may be a ham person for every holiday here on out. So even though Thanksgiving was a bit of a bust, we rallied for some Christmas festivities. No usual concerts or performances, but we did have a special visit from Santa. He came to the neighborhood in his eco-friendly vehicle for a quick stop.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-M722r7g/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Family/Winter-2020-2021/i-M722r7g/0/d516a60a/L/DSCF0763-6-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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I'm not sure I've ever posted about this, but my neighbor has an amazing light display (even if my photo isn't so great!).
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We usually go to Bass Pro Shop for a quick meet and greet with Santa too. It was a little different this year with Santa behind a shield, but with appointments the process was so much better (and faster).
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On to the chaos of Christmas morning. Trying to keep up with the boys as they explore all the new loot is a fun challenge.
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Once we make it out of pajamas, there's food and presents from family.
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I love their faces of surprise and joy.
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We also got to celebrate with Dan's parents too.
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LOL. His "manly" face.
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We miss everyone so much and can't wait for some semblance of normalcy again soon.
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Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-81987019630998032392020-10-31T22:30:00.008-04:002021-04-21T11:59:51.024-04:00Halloween 2020I love Halloween. When my kids outgrow the stage where they go trick-or-treating, it's going to be a sad day. For now, they still dress up and patrol the neighborhood for more candy they can ever eat. The costumes they come up with are always so fun too. This year, the Hamilton craze led to Connor's choice of costume. The King George character was great and Connor had a blast walking around acting like royalty. I took these photos a few days in advance and I told him to strike a pose....he delivered.
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Evan's original costume was this giant inflatable teddy bear. GREAT for a party, but not that practical for running around a neighborhood.
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He also couldn't quite see out of the viewing window, so we had to make a quick trip to Party City to find an alternate, which turned out to be a great fit with the royal court theme. The King and his Jester!
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We had to do trick-or-treating a little differently this year due to Covid. The neighbors agreed to set up tables outside so kids could grab treats without ringing the doorbell or congregating on porches. I pre-bagged everything in treat bags. I actually really like this so much better as we could see the neighborhood excitement and our pets didn't freak out from a constantly ringing doorbell. Next year I think we'll get the fire pit out too to stay warm.
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Evan as usual had his best buddy, Teddy, over to trick-or-treat with him. They turn 13 in 2021 and I'm not sure if they'll keep going but I really hope so. Let them be kids for as long as possible.
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Connor walked around with his neighbor friend, Caius. Abram and Carmen came over for some photos, then they were all off! So fun!
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Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-71894366860837870072020-10-25T16:24:00.003-04:002021-04-20T16:42:20.856-04:00Wide Open Spaces, Part 2The other Tennessee post was getting a bit long so I thought I'd save Laurel Falls for its own post. Dan loves to go hiking so we decided that one of the days we were there we wanted to head up into the Smokies. There are so many options, but as I had visited Cades Cove on a previous trip, we decided to check out Laurel Falls. It takes about two hours to hike up and back, but the boys were great and the weather was perfect. The leaves were just starting to turn colors and the views were spectacular. Another week and I'm sure it would have been a sea of oranges, reds, and golds. These are all iPhone photos as I didn't want to carry the real camera.
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And finally at the Falls.
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Later I realized that the boys' ball caps spelled the perfect acronym for 2020.
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At the end of the week, we enjoyed a family wedding outdoors. Quick de-mask for a photo.
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The setting was picturesque and the boys had fun with this swing.
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Connor stole my phone for some selfies.
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Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-14464986599518818012020-10-24T15:38:00.030-04:002021-04-20T16:24:48.295-04:00Wide Open SpacesAfter seven months of not going anywhere, we finally packed up and headed south for a Fall break week in the great outdoors. My cousin's son was getting married in an outdoor wedding and we decided to head to the Gatlinburg/Knoxville/Pigeon Forge area the week before to enjoy the sights. I feel like I have to whisper this because I know some people LOVE Gatlinburg and go every year. I am not one of those people. The crowds, the kitsch, and the Little Vegas feel isn't for me. Mountains and waterfalls and fresh air? I'm all for that. But you have to fight through all that other stuff to get to it, so it can be frustrating when you spend a couple of hours each day in traffic. Lesson learned - if you're going to the area, rent a cabin and get supplies and stay there the entire time. All that said, the area and the people are very nice and hospitable.
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The boys loved the quirky museums and such that we visited, including our first stop at Ripley's Aquarium.
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Despite the look on Evan's face!
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If you were not aware, if something reads "Do Not Open," Evan will open it.
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And like I said, he dances everywhere.
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We also visited the Crime Museum, where *of course* there was a saloon shooting range.
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I'm nor sure which of these I find most frightening.
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And we couldn't go on a family vacation without visiting someplace historic. This old Civil War era fort was within a local park.
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We also checked out the Knoxville Zoo. Perfect for a 1/2 day and the weather was great!
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Because it was almost Halloween they made the carousel run backwards to be spooky.
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Notice the witch's feet behind Evan.
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We found a farm with a pumpkin patch, corn mazes, and zip lines about 30 minutes away that was so much fun.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Vacation/Tennessee-2020/i-Tp6nJnK/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Vacation/Tennessee-2020/i-Tp6nJnK/0/68113630/L/DSCF0641-17-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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And Grandma and Grandpa joined us for a few adventures after they arrived for the wedding.
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Vacation/Tennessee-2020/i-nWgrmLh/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Vacation/Tennessee-2020/i-nWgrmLh/0/ae67d853/L/DSCF0646-22-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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What is it about feeding farm animals that is so fun for kids (when they don't LIVE on a farm)?
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<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Vacation/Tennessee-2020/i-GFdQZbt/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Vacation/Tennessee-2020/i-GFdQZbt/0/d6cab5f9/L/DSCF0659-33-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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And slides from the barn...
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Hmmm....
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I will never get tired of pumpkin patch smiles.
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Laurel Falls and a few wedding photos to be posted separately!
Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-52862844903322217402020-09-19T11:54:00.001-04:002021-04-20T12:46:14.585-04:00Connor at 7As I sit here thinking about who Connor is at seven years old, I realize he's transitioned so much from younger to older kid this past year, into an age where he needs a little less guidance and a little more independence to figure it out. I looked back at how I described seven for Evan and I wrote that he was in the "in between" of being kid and tween and it holds true for Connor too.
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There are things that are fading as he grows older and that we miss so terribly much, like the costume stage. Not that he doesn't still like them, but it's not an every day mix and match thing anymore.
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It didn't keep him from donning a suit on several occasions for his virtual school sessions. So the Boss Baby phase hasn't quite ended yet.
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He is 110% music obsessed. He listens, sings, and dances in every room and will even pull Alexa into the garage to play music while playing basketball in the driveway. The genre of the day can vary from the summer focus on Hamilton to Imagine Dragons to an Among Us Rap Battle (the music from a super trendy game the kids play). I am sad that he stopped taking dance because it is so very much in his personality, but this is an age where observation starts to play a bigger role and he noticed he was the only boy and the music wasn't really his style.
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Right after his birthday, we learned he needed glasses. And wow have kids' glasses improved so much since I was a kid. Remember the lens stickers? That was a weird fad. Now they have so many options and Connor's personality definitely came through when he picked out the style he wanted. I quickly learned it's good to have back-ups, including the super flexible frames for "play" glasses.
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After Evan started tennis, Connor wanted to try it out too. So he enrolled at the same club and has already advanced to a higher level a full year in advance.
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He played basketball again this winter in a local league and was thrilled to be on the same team as his school friend.
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He's growing up, but not too old to cuddle up to me or a few stuffed friends.
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I miss that my baby isn't really a baby anymore, but he is such a cool character - funny, smart, and kind. All the things a parent could hope for. Happy 7th Birthday, Connor! We love you.
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Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-82901189644355564522020-08-22T16:53:00.001-04:002021-04-19T17:01:45.281-04:00First Day of 7th and 1st GradesAfter a slight delay, 1st and 6th grades started for the boys in August. It took the school board some time to figure out how to do so as safely as possible, but the year started with Connor going in-person 4-5 days/week and Evan on a two day/week hybrid schedule. In January there was a spike in cases and Connor's class was quarantined, then the whole school. Since March the boys have been full time in person and, knock on wood, it's going fairly well. A strange year for all things it seems.
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7th Grade for Evan. This is the year things get tougher for sure, with seven classes and juggling a hybrid schedule. But Evan is resilient and so smart and we couldn't be more proud of him.
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1st Grade for Connor
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</br></br>Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-64916223275135913092020-08-19T17:30:00.001-04:002021-04-19T16:50:20.341-04:00Coronavirus Changes Everything<a href="https://theadventure.smugmug.com/Family/Spring-2020/i-s9X2Vtf/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Family/Spring-2020/i-s9X2Vtf/0/c1b72e8a/L/Pandemic%20photo%202020-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
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I can remember in December, January, and February seeing news about a new virus spreading in China called Coronavirus and thinking it would be well in hand in a few more weeks, like other viruses before it. I wasn't *nearly* as worried about Coronavirus as I was when Ebola spread a few years ago, or even some of the bad flu years. Then, in March, everything changed. I was distracted quite a bit by Evan being in <i>The Addams Family</i>, and worried he'd get the flu, which was also going around. Even Dan tested positive for flu the week before opening and he quarantined the second week of March. I was disinfecting everything before it was cool (and thank goodnesss I had stocked up on Clorox wipes because in just a week, they became extremely hard to find).
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Despite everything going on at home, at work we were tracking the spread of COVID-19 (for whatever reason, using the more official name) and already sending messages for our global offices in regards to travel. The first cases were diagnosed in Indiana, then Kentucky. Then the rumblings of a "work from home" period started....first, two days, then, two weeks. It all seems so naive now. We are nine months in and I am still working from home. The virus has spread rapidly - as I write this, nearly 80 million cases worldwide and 1.75 million deaths. In the U.S., 18.8 million and 330,000 deaths. I wish I could say we have managed to avoid these staggering numbers in those we know and love, but I doubt anyone can say that. We have lost extended family members, and had too many friends with it who have thankfully recovered but are still fighting the long-term effects. Yet we also know many who have tested positive and dealt with only minor or moderate symptoms and recovered. It has not, that we know of, entered our own house. We had a small scare in October when Evan had a fever, so we immediately quarantined and had him tested, but he was thankfully negative.
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Covid-fatigue, this feeling of being tired of being at home, isolated not just from the world but from family members and friends, has contributed greatly to the increase in cases and fatalities. Although mask mandates (and wow, has that been a strange experience!) are still in place, some ignore them, wear them incorrectly, and swear their inefficacy despite medical advisement. We have seeen the worst in people....but also the best. I don't want to lose sight of that because 2020 has been such a terrible year.
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Selfishly, I got to spend an entire Summer at home with my kids. Something I never thought I would get to do. Yes, I had to work, and when this whole thing started in the Spring, I was insanely busy working not just during work hours, but in the evenings and on weekends, and just trying to keep up with the necessary communications. The kids never went back to school after Spring Break and everything went virtual. They did get to go back to a modified hybrid virtual/in person schedule in mid-August (Evan going two days/week, and Connor four to five), but we entered a second lockdown just before Thanksgiving. As of now, they will get to go back again the second week of January. I pray the schools can continue to stay open and cases will decline. Vaccines are rolling out now, and I so look forward to being able to get it so we can start to see a light at the end of this tunnel.
</br></br>Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-53683944081703604282020-08-15T18:27:00.000-04:002021-04-19T17:02:36.424-04:00A Different Kind of SummerDue to the pandemic (isn't that the way everything starts now?), a typical summer of vacations and travel was curtailed. But it didn't stop us entirely from having some fun. We definitely got out the big pool a bit more for the kids to enjoy.
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Like a LOT of people, we watched Hamilton on Disney Plus and that played into the 4th of July choice of dress.
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We enjoyed fireworks at home.
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We went hiking.
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and visited Bernheim Forest to see the Forest Giants.
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Connor modeled the accessory of 2020!
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We hung out with grandparents outside.
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Dan celebrated a birthday!
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And there were lots of antics.
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The boys both started playing tennis, which has been fun for all of us when we can go to the court and play together on a nice day.
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Hoping Summer 2021 allows a little more freedom, but we made the best of it and had fun together.
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Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022502175056992275.post-57392778718147450252020-06-30T17:30:00.000-04:002021-04-19T15:26:52.250-04:00Father's Day 2020Every year since Evan was four (I think) I've taken these D-A-D photos for Father's Day. Some years, wow, has it been hard to wrangle one, then two, kids to do this. This year the wrangling wasn't so bad, but I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to get Evan to do this without bribery. It didn't help that there were witnesses of pictures being taken that happen to go to school with him. Recipe for disaster! I'll take what I can get, or rather, Dan will.
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Jen O.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14058162803985500541noreply@blogger.com0