Family Time with the Blackhawks

Most of the time, Tom and I are dividing and conquering with the kids splitting our time between kids and games trying to be there for as many as we can or having at least one parent present. I sat in the pouring rain watching Peyton cheer on Sunday morning while Tom drove Austen to drivers ed and then took Hailey to her game which I met him at. Now it's just cheerleading but I still think it's so important we show up to support our kids in whatever activities they do. (I even got Austen out of bed on Saturday to go with me to Hailey's cheerleading competition while Tom took Peyton to her swim meet.) I know our kids will remember us always being there for them. My parents were always at my brothers' and my games and I wanted to give that to our kids too. 

I know our kids will always remember too that we make the time to spend together. A lot of that happens in Michigan but it happens here too whether it's dinner out on the weekend together or playing a game or taking the dog for a walk or even watching a Blackhawks game which we got to do on Sunday evening.

Before the game (which was at the United Center by our old place), we went to dinner at one of our favorite pizza places (Roots). We did a drive by of our old condo and where we used to grocery shop and the kids' old school and the parks they used to frequent. Can't say I miss the city these days with all the crime and carjackings but I did enjoy our time there and it's nice to go back and hear the kids remember certain things (Austen especially since he was almost 7 when we left). 

After our little tour down memory lane, we arrived at the game early as Tom suggested we watch the warm ups since it was also Hailey's first Blackhawks game. Our seats were also amazing thanks to Tom's connections. Right behind the goal, first row. Let's just say it's a whole different perspective when you see the puck hit the glass in front of you or the players start a fight right there and you're so close you can see his bloody teeth. Or when someone gets hip checked and it looks like he's coming right through the glass in front of you which startled Hailey a few times.  

The Hawks lost but we had a great evening together. Hailey enjoyed her first Blackhawks game and we even brought a Tommy Hawk dog toy home for Sadie! 

Freshman Soccer Season Complete!

Austen's freshman high school soccer team ended the season with the opportunity to play on the high school stadium field for their final games/tournament of the season. The boys went 3-0 including a hard fought Friday night win against Elgin with a goal in the last 10 minutes of the game (Austen with the assist) to claim the tournament trophy for the first time for Hinsdale Central. 

While at the beginning of the season he may have been disappointed making only the freshman team, this was exactly where he was supposed to be. He made so many new friends and learned so much about what it means to lead a team when you're ahead and when you're behind. 

In games where they've been ahead, I've seen him unselfishly make passes to teammates who don't have many or any goals to try to get them one when he easily could've taken the shots himself. 

I've seen him help rally his teammates to come from behind to win or tie (and provide the assist). 

I've heard him talking and directing his teammates more on the field. And, I've seen his level of physical play improve a lot too. He didn't have many goals (only 7 for the season) but he had more assists than I can count and he was looked to as the leader/captain on and off the field by his teammates and his coaches. 

What I think he'll take away from this season is the many friendships that he has formed with his teammates - from all different clubs, middle schools, towns - to create a real team. There's no A or B team. They are just a team. I love that. 

I'm so glad he got a chance to play for his high school too. What a great first season! Congrats to our Devils!

Above: Austen's direct kick

Below: Our #6 playing on the big field...

Hailey Kate Turns 8!

Hailey turned 8 yesterday but the celebration will last just about a week. We started her birthday festivities on Sunday night with a dinner at her favorite restaurant (Fuller House) with her favorite giant pretzel. Given our Monday schedules (even though Peyton and & Hailey were off of school) we weren't going to be able to do dinner out on her actual birthday so Sunday was more relaxing as we grazed on her favorite foods and watched the Bears game. Once home, she got to open a few presents (mostly because there wasn't going to be a time on Monday where we would all be present unless before 7am or after 8:00pm (and Hailey couldn't wait to open her presents til 8pm and there was no way my teen and tween were getting up early to open presents). 

Hailey is very into this National Geographic app called Animal Jam so most of the presents she opened were all about Animal Jam - stationery, charm bracelets, journals, stickers, necklaces and lots of books that I found. 

The next morning she awoke to a big #8 sign on our front lawn and more presents - fox figurines, fox slippers, more Animal Jam toys and a breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes. 

She then really wanted to do her iPad (go figure) so we gave her some time for that before heading to pick up her Bundtinis (little bundt cakes) for her Brownie Troop to help celebrate with her during her Brownie meeting that afternoon. Then it was a special lunch of hot ham and cheese on brioche buns (her request) and off to her first Brownie meeting to earn her nature badge with a scavenger hunt and other activities before helping to distribute her birthday bundt cakes (she did not want them to sing to her). 

Once home, more time to play with all of her new toys before the rain poured down which essentially canceled some evening practices, and so we found ourselves with only one practice on Monday night and lots of bored kiddos (Austen). Hailey entertained herself with her new toys and we ordered Chick Fil A for dinner (her request) and then sang and had her blow out her official number "8" candle before feasting on more Bundlet cakes for all. Number 8 is great and Hailey can't wait to celebrate all week leading up to her family birthday party on Saturday where many of her other favorites will be featured on the menu! 

Love the "8" card!

8 is great!

Birthday at Brownies. Hailey in purple bow.

Early present opening on Sunday still in her soccer uniform. 

Homecoming 2021!

Austen celebrated his first Homecoming as a freshman in high school this past weekend. He was pretty sure he wanted to go from the start of school so it was just a matter of whether he wanted to ask someone or go with friends. Since their school started a bit later this year due to construction, they only had five weeks between the first day of school and Homecoming. That's not much time to find a date especially if you are looking to ask someone new. 

Austen and Izzy- HoCo 2021

When I asked Austen if he was thinking of asking someone his response was "I'm working on it." Then all of a sudden when I asked again he said that he had a date and had asked her two days ago. She was someone he had met in freshman orientation and was in English class with him.  I asked how he asked her and he said in the hall during passing periods (I found out from his date later that he did it via text). Not satisfied with that way of asking because as a girl we expect so much more, I had our local florist put together a beautiful fall bouquet of flowers which he dropped off at her house one evening. He went in and met the parents while he told me to circle the block only to get a text a few seconds later asking if he could stay for a bit. Tom came to pick him back up an hour later and got to meet the whole family. They're just like us he said. A match made in Heaven!

About two weeks later with no more details on where they were going to dinner, who was going with them or if they needed a ride,  I received a text message from his date's mom who gladly supplied with more details for the events surrounding the dance (the girls and girls' moms planned every bit of the events surrounding Homecoming). She also invited our family to their house for the Homecoming parade as they live on the parade route and they were having a small party. Hailey and Peyton were beyond excited at the possibility of meeting Izzy, Austen's date. Amazingly, our schedules were pretty free that morning so we all went to the parade at Izzy's house. Her parents were great and so was her little sister (8th grader). Izzy was fun and social too. Austen was the only teenage boy there with all of her friends and parents but he did great too and I could tell Izzy was happy he was there. 

After the parade, it was home to rest for Austen while the high school girls got their hair and make up done (it's such a process for the girls - can't wait til it's Peyton and Hailey's turn. I'm sure I'll be exhausted!). We returned at 4:45pm to Izzy's house for pictures of just the two of them then off to the pre-party and pictures with everyone in Hinsdale at someone's huge house with a tennis court in their backyard. Again, most of these were her friends so Austen was a trooper for going along and fitting in with her group of friends (boys and girls). After the pre-party, Tom and I drove one group to dinner at Nabuki (a local sushi restaurant). I was surprised they went there and told Austen to eat beforehand so he wouldn't be starving later. His date ordered chicken nuggets and he ended up ordering something that was raw sushi instead of the rolls he's used to eating. He said he impressed everyone with his use of chopsticks but he didn't love his meal but ate it anyway because he didn't want to draw attention to the fact that he didn't really care for it. After dinner they headed to the dance which had been moved into the field house since rain was expected. Austen said he saw all of his friends there. It was hot and they danced or rather jumped around (no slow dance music was played according to Austen). After the dance, they headed to a post party. They were supposed to go to one that was at the former home of the old Chicago Bulls coach but they bailed on that one (which they heard later was boring) and went to another with Izzy's friends. I think his friends were done with him not hanging out with them so a few of his soccer buddies tracked him through Snap Chat and showed up at this after party where they all proceeded to have a great time. Austen  had a great first Homecoming experience with a great girl and recommends that everyone put themselves out there and go (with or without a date). 

Posing for photos

No idea how to put this on

Getting it in before the rain

Austen and the crew

Parade party set up