Never Say Never...

We never thought we would join a country club. There are many in our area to choose from and many of our friends and our kids' friends belong but when our kids were young, our local pool was the place to be. As our kids got older they didn't want to go to that pool because all of their friends were at the clubs. Then we built Michigan and that was our club minus tennis, golf, paddle, pickleball and all else. We began to realize that our lives were here during the week because our kids were still involved in lots of activities so we couldn't just go to Michigan for weeks on end. It's really become weekends only save a week in August that turns into our vacation for the summer. 

So this year, with the local pool not even operating a swim team (which I really wanted Hailey to do to grow her confidence in the deeper water) and the kids doing lots of country club sports - Hailey in tennis, Austen and Peyton golfing, Hailey and Peyton swimming - we decided to do it.

It was a process for sure with having to get two sponsors and four referrals plus going for a membership interview and then an orientation but we're in as of last Wednesday (Tom and Austen played some golf that evening). The girls swam in their first swim meet Thursday night with both of them doing fantastic. Hailey placed first in the 8 and unders for freestyle and got second place in the backstroke and Peyton got first in all four of her events including a relay (and swimming up a few age levels too). Hailey gained some confidence in the pool and surprised herself with her top finishes. Peyton's confidence grew as well since she's on a very competitive travel swim team and one of the younger swimmers so it's not often she sees a top finish. Austen hit the driving range with friends while the girls were swimming. We then went to dinner at their restaurant and called it a day. 

On Friday, Austen was back at the driving range and then we enjoyed dinner on the patio since Tom and the girls were in Michigan. We returned on Sunday for some pool time, driving range and dinner before Tom and Austen headed back to get in 9 holes before dark. 

Tom's biggest concern in joining was that we wouldn't use it or that it would detract from Michigan. But our lives are here at least during the week, so we use it when we are and so far I think we've taken advantage of it! 

  (Peyton in the white swim cap)

(Hailey in the middle lane)

Father's Day 2021

Father’s Day was a whole weekend for our family or should I say for Tom! It started on Friday afternoon with golf for Tom and Austen with Papa joining in on the fun at a new course they wanted to try. After 18 holes (and some lost balls), they met us at Standard Market Grill for dinner. Saturday morning had Tom doing what he loves best - lining the baseball field for Austen’s 9am game and watching Austen play before heading to Michigan. 

Tom enjoying a recent Sox game with the kids 

Once in Michigan (for less than 24 hours), we headed down to the beach for about 3 hours and then enjoyed Tom’s favorite meal (Mexican) out on our deck watching the sunset. We laughed and played the game “telephone” until the bugs got us and we were forced inside. On Sunday, we enjoyed a leisurely brunch and a coffee as we walked through the South Haven marina. Tom got more golf balls (much needed) as a gift from the kids and we headed home for Austen’s afternoon baseball game. 

Austen made his Dad’s day when he line drive singled down the 3rd base line on his first at bat (against a very good 1st place team) and once arriving at 1st base pointed to his Dad sitting in the outfield as if to say this one is for you! Happy Father’s Day! After the game, we hustled home to change and then meet up with my brothers and Dad for dinner (eating Tom’s second favorite food - barbecue!). 

It was finally time to call it a night but not before the kids insisted on stopping by Portillos for their famous Lemon Cake. We all enjoyed a bit of that and then headed to bed. Even Tom and I retired early which is pretty unusual. However, no sooner were we in bed than the tornado sirens started going off and we had to wake everyone and head to the basement including Sadie who took forever to get down two flights of stairs. We stayed down there for at least 30-45 minutes but were lucky the tornado touched down a few miles south of our house. We barely had any sticks or debris in our yard. Some of our friends a little farther south weren’t so lucky with branches/trees on cars and roofs. 

Aside from the tornado, it turned out to be a very fun and full Father’s Day Weekend for Tom.

Goodbye 8th, 5th and 1st Grades

It was a busy week last week with the end of the school year. It seemed like they were finally just going back full time when we had to say goodbye for the summer. The goodbyes were a little bittersweet too. 

Austen graduated 8th grade with a big outside ceremony. We were only allowed 4 tickets and it was a weekday night so we took him to dinner at Michael Jordan's restaurant bought him a high school sweatshirt/tshirt as well as a Luis Robert White Sox jersey and called it a day. I didn't get too emotional over 8th grade graduation but it was a little sad that for the first time next school year my kids won't all be at school on the perimeter of our park. Austen moves on to high school and has to take the bus for the first time ever. That should be fun for him. I'm sure he'll be asking for a car soon too so he doesn't have to take the bus once he can drive. 

Peyton graduated elementary school and is moving on to 6th grade. It was the last time that she will ever be in school with Hailey. Kind of sad that Hailey won't have a sibling to go to school with again ever, but I think Peyton's ready to move on. I'm glad we got to "clap her out" of 5th grade as they paraded around the blacktop of her elementary school for the last time. They also got to enjoy a big party at Go Ape (zip lining) and hanging out with friends on the last day of school. 

Hailey was the only one that was truly sad to leave first grade. She melted down more than once that it was over and she couldn't go back. Quite a reaction considering that she didn't even have her full class (half went in the am and other half in the pm) all together until recently (after spring break). Maybe that's why she reacted so strongly. They were just coming together and then it was over. I'm glad she enjoyed her year and her end of the year party with her girlfriends from her class at a neighbor's house. 

It's always exciting but sometimes hard to move on and leave so many memories and teachers and sometimes friends (who move on to different schools) behind so I'll end with a favorite C.S. Lewis quote:

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind."

Clapping Peyton out of 5th Grade

Celebrating at Michael Jordan's 

8th Grade Graduate

5th Grade done!

Hailey and Mrs. Johnson (her teacher)

Full Swing

Sports are in full swing and it's been fun to watch all three of them having a normal spring with soccer, swim, softball and baseball. It certainly keeps Tom and I very busy but we love it. 

Is it crazy at times? 

Yes, of course! And people may think we are crazy! 

Do Tom and I have to have short meetings every night to figure out who is going where and with whom the next day? 

Yes! But we both hate to stay at home and do nothing. Sure, sometimes it's nice to kick back and relax but our personalities are more akin to be doing rather than relaxing. Even when we are in Michigan, we always have an activity for us and the kids. It could be as simple as a hike or a drive somewhere or heading to the beach but there's always something to do or someplace we want to go.

We average 3-5 games of soccer, softball, swim or baseball each day on the weekends. Hailey is full on in the mix now with her own soccer and softball games. She starts tennis lessons this week too while Peyton tries her hand at golf next week. Austen's season for soccer has come to an end. He's finishing up with baseball before starting his high school (yes, I said "high school!") summer soccer and baseball camps. He plans to golf a lot this summer too and has a soccer camp planned for the end of July along with some additional training in preparation for the high school season. Peyton will be swimming into July for two swim teams and Hailey will join her on the rec swim team. They both will be doing a cheerleading camp all summer and Hailey will be doing a park district camp with Peyton taking a class once a week at our local Barre 3 studio for kids her age. Fun but busy! 

Here's a peek at our sluggers - Hailey and Austen - Peyton had to hang up her softball cleats for swim team but maybe I'll be able to video her golf swing!

And Now for Some Baseball!

This past weekend, we had to forego our plans to attend the best tournament ever - Cedar Point. The Breakers Hotel on the shores of Lake Michigan with lots of games and a bar and fire pits is the most amazing place to have to go for a tournament. Even better than our soccer trips to Arizona and Florida (and maybe even Italy although that one is pretty hard to beat). The amusement and water parks are right across the parking lot or down the boardwalk and the rides are simply unlike any other place I've been. 

So we were all bummed when we had to make the call early last week to forego our baseball weekend in Cedar Point for a State Cup quarterfinal soccer game in Rockford, IL. Austen had to play Saturday morning at 8am which meant that we were leaving at 5:30am. If he won, they would play again Sunday in the semifinals at the same time so there was no way that we could travel to both places. So we had to make the very difficult decision to choose soccer over baseball. It was not an easy decision but soccer is his primary sport and the goal every year is to win the State Championship and then head to Regionals and then Nationals to earn another "Gold Star" for their club. So soccer it was. 

It seemed a pretty even game until 30 seconds before halftime when the other team launched a bullet past our goalkeeper for a  1-0 lead. Another goal halfway through the second half and our lack of shots on goal pretty much solidified the loss. Bummer that we gave up Cedar Point for one early Saturday game but we made lemonade out of lemons and headed to Michigan for the rest of the weekend where we enjoyed  our place and some time with family. 

Now we turn all of our attention to baseball. Austen has just a few games left in the season. While his team hasn't done so well, we tell him, it's all about his play - hitting and catching everything at shortstop with minimal errors that he really needs to focus on. In just a few short weeks, he'll be at the high school baseball camp so the time is now to up his game. Batter up!