Life Lately: April 2026 Edition

 Oregon State hosted a NCAA Regional Gymnastics Championship Meet. Look what team Emma got to escort one of the days... 

A blessed Easter Sunday

Celebrating with our Naples Fra-mly

Me, Madds, and Zach

A few friendly games of croquet 

We celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary!💓

Vicenza came to Naples to play soccer so we got to spend the weekend hosting our favorite Sparling family.

Sinaia made pizza with Dom

Month of the Military Child Celebration - Chris, Sabrina, and Louisa

Eggstravaganza 2026

The Olsens hosted a lovely Sunday wine tasting

I spy Camden in class...

Emma in a little promotional ad for baseball last week

Chris reading in one of his favorite spots 

Emma had a beautiful weekend working at baseball

Camden is ready for his AFROTC Spring Dining Out 

Morning (for Camden)/Evening (for Chris) catch up on Facetime

Wednesday Trivia Night with friends

Camden's Oath of Enlistment

 That smile says it all! Camden's hard work earned him an Air Force ROTC In-College Scholarship. He took the Oath of Enlistment on April 9 and were are officially a United States Air Force family.

Lieutenant Colonel Cacic administering the Oath of Enlistment

Signing all the paperwork

Melissa joined us in Naples and Emma watched from Corvallis. One proud family!

Kaspareks in Krakow

 During spring break, we traveled to Krakow, Poland. On our first full day, Chris visited Auschwitz-Birkenau. It was a powerful and humbling experience to say the least!

Palm Sunday

 We got up extra early to attend Mass at St. Mary's Basilica before our planned tour for the day. We came back the following day and took some pictures.

We had a driver arranged to take us to the birthplace of Saint John Paul II, Wadovice. 

He grew up in an apartment above a general store. The building has been restored into a wonderful museum dedicated to his life.  As a child, he would look out his apartment window and see the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Here we are in front of the Basilica and his childhood home (museum).

As we traveled back to Krakow, we stopped at the Sanctuary of Saint John Paul II. We saw some precious relics, including some of his blood that is in an altar in the lower chapel.  

Lovely Sunday evening walk on our way to dinner

On Monday we explored more of the Old Town in Krakow.  When Saint John Paul II was a young priest, he was assigned to St. Florian's Church.

Our next stop was Wawel Castle and Cathedral

We hoofed it up to the bell tower and it was definitely sketchy in a few parts! I snapped this quick picture of Chris as we climbed through beams and down some rickety wooden steps.

Easter Market

On our final day, we walked around the historic Jewish Quarter.

 I had read about the dragon statues located throughout the city, but this was the only little guy I spotted.

Jewish Ghetto Memorial

Our last dinner at a fantastic English Pub 

March 2026 Adventures

We had some unexpected visitors and were thrilled to enjoy dinner with them at Dom's. Geoff, Renee, and the kids made it safely from Bahrain to Naples!❤ 

The next day, our other favorite Renee made it safely to Naples!

While I was in Assisi, Chris and Zach headed to London for the weekend

Ted Lasso Bar in Richmond

Enjoying a sunny Saturday walking around London

Camden spent his spring break in Tiffin.  In typical Iowa fashion, it started off with a blizzard and ended in 80 degree sunshine!  He had fun hanging out with Cole and Bailey, who were also on their spring break.

The plane Camden flies during his Sunday afternoon lessons

All dressed up for the St. Thomas Aquinas Spring Formal

Emma's spring break was the following week. She went to Poulsbo for some R&R with Bunny and the 🐶🐶