Peaches, Beaches and Bocce!

We made it to Michigan again last weekend! These weekends are numbered as the kids start school (hybrid) and sports/activities after Labor Day so we are trying to get in every last day we can up there. 

This past weekend, we enjoyed a beach day where Tom fashioned a boat out of some sticks and twine he found on the beach and then made a sail out of a paper plate. I'm not sure who gets more enjoyment out of the beach (building sandcastles and boats), Tom or the kids? I remember our early days of marriage without kids when we would head to the beach and he would start building sandcastles next to our towels. Now at least he has an excuse to continue building them and the boats!

Speaking of boats, the kids wanted to rent a boat again this weekend but Saturday was already turning cooler so we opted to go peach picking instead. My kids aren't huge fans of peaches but it was fun going to the Overhiser family orchard where one of his quadruplets will soon take over the farm. We had a storm the night before so many good peaches lay on the ground along with broken tree branches. Still there was an abundance of peaches to pick from as well as a sunflower field and a petting zoo full of ducks, chickens, goats and alpacas. 

Back at home, (while Tom smoked some pork chops) we played some volleyball on our front lawn before breaking out the Bocce ball, which was a gift we received at our wedding and haven't used much at all until we built the beach house. Austen is very competitive and Peyton closes her eyes and still throws the best ball. But it was a fun game to play as a family of four (Hailey was inside playing). 

And, still there's more things we want to do and see when we're up in Michigan. Some will have to wait until after the Pandemic like catching a Tigers game (when they play the White Sox) and visiting University of Michigan/Ann Arbor. But, I think there's still more we can squeeze into what will hopefully be a warm and beautiful fall such as visiting some more wineries/breweries and exploring more towns with beautiful scenic trails like the Heinz (yes, Ketchup) trail in Holland that we walked this past weekend. Always something to look forward to and do when we're there that's for sure! 

Do What You Love

Volleyball. Softball. Soccer. Cheerleading. Swimming. Gymnastics. Dance.

These are all sports that Peyton has tried and while she has loved some more than others there are only two that she really seems to like. The first is cheerleading. She loves stunting (being the base or the back) and learning new cheers as well as being with her friends on the sidelines of a football game. 

She also really loves to swim too. This summer, she wasn't able to swim on our recreational swim team per usual so I enrolled her in some private lessons to see if she was really interested in pursuing swimming year-round. I mean this kid is in the water non-stop when we go to Michigan. She never gets out no matter how cold it is. I always said too she had a beautiful stroke she just needed more confidence in the water. Well, her coach thinks so too. Now she has to start at the bottom of the 11/12 age group because of where her birthday falls. She's literally the youngest this year so we've chosen to place her in the development group so she'll train only starting this September through February and then she'll get ready to try out for the 11/12 team next year. I think this is the perfect solution of no real pressure but she's getting great exercise and coaching on her strokes as well as building her confidence in the water. 

She's also been working on her diving off the blocks as she never truly learned how to dive. She had a lesson today and she's almost got the hang of it - just needs to elongate her body and point her toes. But she's improved so much in just three lessons (video is of her second lesson practicing dives). And, she looks so happy in the pool too. There's certainly no better feeling than watching your kids do what they love.

Exploring Michigan

This past weekend, we had more fun with family including my little nephew. We had lots of bonfires at our house (which we haven't done too often because it's been so hot) and on Saturday we spent the day at our favorite beach chalk full of inflatables in the water. Austen wanted to try out the water skiing but by the time he decided to do it the day was already more than half over so we decided to try it next time. Maybe we'll get one more visit in this season.

Family Float Time

On Sunday, after we again ate ourselves silly (so much food/eating when we have guests) and our family departed, we took a drive to Grand Rapids to go for a walk along the river. The city was pretty dead but it was actually a pretty nice little city. Tom and I had been there before for a Chris Stapleton concert although we didn't get to spend much time there. On the banks of the river was Grand Valley State University and also the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum. It wasn't open but we got to explore the grounds and read several profound quotes from President Ford's inaugural address. These quotes were intriguing and it made me want to delve into history a little more to learn more about this President who had to step up and step in due to the Watergate Scandal. 

Always trying to explore and try something new, we stopped on the way home at The Root Beer Barrel. It is literally a barrel in Douglas, Michigan, where they serve the best root beer floats. I think Austen is the only one who had had one before but the other two quickly became hooked too. Sadie even got a special doggie ice cream with a bone in it. This place was the best! What a cute stop over.

The weather was fantastic; the food was abundant and good; and it was good quality time spent with family. What more can you ask for during a pandemic?

Next up on our Michigan list - renting a pontoon boat and tubing on a lake. Hopefully we'll get that in before summer ends and sports start up again. 

Family Spike Ball

Grand Rapids River Walk

President Ford Museum

First Root Beer Float

Sadie Likes This Place

This is Really Good!

The Barrel

Fun in the Sun!

We've been getting a lot of sun and spending a lot of time in Michigan lately. I have a feeling that's going to change due to whatever sports we are allowed to do this spring so last weekend and this weekend may be our last full weekends up there for awhile. 

Due to COVID, we haven't been able to have a lot of friends up to the beach house this year so this year we just said family only. Last weekend, we had the Szurgots up and the kids had a lot of fun. We had grand plans of going to a winery or a brewery but we ended up just staying local and eating and drinking a lot! 

 Everyone had fun playing games - Kan Jam, bocce ball, Head Bandz, Left, Right, Center and card games including Screw Your Neighbor. The kids had fun hanging out with their aunts/uncles and cousin Lauren. Tom made a great brisket on his smoker that we feasted on two days in a row and we took a tour of downtown South Haven too. We spent some time at the beach and a lot of time in the water. It was all in about 36 hours but we managed to squeeze in a lot of fun and relaxation. 

 

 

The End of an Era

Almost seven years ago, I received an email about tryouts for a traveling soccer team. I knew at that time that Austen needed more than just recreational soccer. The 1 hour practice a week and short games on Saturdays were not going to cut it for my 7 year old.

Austen's Last Wizard Game

When I first broached the subject to Austen, he was resistant to trying out; afraid he wouldn't know anyone. I eventually got him to agree and I remember pulling up to that tryout and getting out of the car with him and then him seeing one of his friends from his rec team who was also trying out and then from there he was off and running - literally.

He made that team and what followed was a very special experience for not only him but for the parents as well. Austen learned so much led by some really great coaches. The foot skills he has are a testament to those early days of doing skill after skill and their coaches encouraging them to try them in games. It wasn't about winning or losing at that time; it was about their development. To this day, I still have people ask me where Austen learned all of his foot skills and I say it's because they started so young that now he can throw a chop, or a Maradonna or some other move in a game without even thinking about it because they learned them so young (although as they've gotten older they don't have as much time in a game to use those moves but when under pressure or taking someone 1 v. 1 or in futsal, Austen showcases those skills).

Anyway, as Austen grew up, some players left, new players were acquired and the team became really strong and playing in the top levels at their age group. They went to Italy, Florida, Arizona and many other tournaments. The parents got close and the boys grew closer.

But like so many good things sometimes they need to come to an end. It was time. After 7 years, we made the hard choice to leave our beloved Wizard FC and move to a different club that had even better players and were playing at a much higher level.

This is the next chapter in Austen's soccer story and hopefully the last until the end of high school. I'm excited for what his new team can do and what he can learn from his new teammates and coaches. They've welcomed him with open arms as he's been practicing with them this summer and included him and other new teammates in their end of the season celebration (Austen was so thrilled to get a cookie with his name on it!). I think it feels like the makings of another close team for him and that we made the right decision for his next five years of play.

So here's to our new Galaxy player #48 - (they assign numbers so he didn't get his signature #18 but we're sure happy it ends in an 8!) may you become all you want to be in this sport!

In action!

Moves!

Austen's cheering section - they all look thrilled
but to be fair this was 1 of 5 games they all had to
attend that weekend (well, except for Sadie!)

Galaxy!