Austen's First Job

Austen secured his first official job this summer. He's been wanting to caddy for so many years, well since he turned 13 since that's the official age, but baseball kept him from being able to do the mandatory one week training during the spring. However, since he decided to retire from baseball, he finally had the opportunity to do the training and become a caddy this summer. 

He loves golf so this wasn't really work to him. He just loved being on the course and earning some money. With his crazy summer soccer schedule and then our weeks/weekends in Michigan, he didn't have a ton of time to caddy but he made the most of when he did. He got phone numbers from members (he caddied at a nearby country club) who offered him help with soccer recruiting, he got paid when a member gave up after the first hole due to an injury, he got paid/tipped from a member who last minute decided to use a cart; and he earned the respect of the head caddy master who would text him last minute to fill in when he could. 

He did make some good money too but he did say that his practice schedule and our weekends in Michigan prevented him from making even more money! I told him that he may have to caddy at two places the year before college so he could earn his spending money for the year and be able to caddy every day or close to it for 4 hours. What a gig! I think he'll be back next year if his own sports schedule allows it!

Hailey Becomes a Girl Scout

Two weekends ago, Hailey had her second annual Brownies campout. This time, due to her soccer tournament, we were unable to stay over and Hailey was less than thrilled anyway about the afternoon activity - archery - but she made me promise we would make it there at some point.

I promised. We went to her game then drove 45 minutes up to Winnetka for Austen's high school soccer game before driving another 45 minutes to her campout. We made it before dinner so she got to hang out with her friends for a bit before cooking a polish sausage over the fire and devouring chips and Girl Scout thin mint pretzels. I caught up with the moms (and 1 dad) before helping them with their bridging ceremony where our Brownies crossed the "bridge" (and there was a real bridge complete with a babbling brook underneath) to officially make them Junior Girl Scouts. 

The girls received certificates and a flashlight marking them as official Girl Scouts and then went off to cook their marshmallows for S'mores over the campfire. More time to just hangout before the bugs started biting and then Hailey was happy to go home. That was it. No staying over this year since she had a 9am soccer game. She was tired and I could tell she was done. It had been a long day already and as much as she loves a sleepover and hanging out with her friends, she enjoys her own time too. We were home before 9pm and this Girl Scout was fast asleep soon after, and her mom was grateful she didn't have to sleep on the ground (or even an air mattress) once again this year! 

Hailey with her Troop Leaders crossing the Bridge to become a Girl Scout

Hailey's First Official "A"

When Hailey started fourth grade this year, I forgot that it was a big year. Lots happens in 4th grade as the students learn to become leaders in the school; only can write in cursive (which they learned last year); and finally, finally only get letter grades for their homework and tests. 

I forgot all this since Peyton started the 4th grade four years ago so it was a surprise to me when Hailey came home with her first test and a big, fat letter on it to mark the start of her 4th grade academic year. 

I think she was a bit nervous to get her first real grade as we always talk about grades with Austen and Peyton so she knew what they were and how important they are but never received an official letter grade herself. 

She said her teacher called them up to her desk one by one but not before telling them that grades are private and shouldn't be shared with each other. The suspense was killing her and then after a few other names were called, her teacher finally called her up and handed her paper but while she was doing so, whispered to Hailey "Good job, babe!" Hailey was a bit relieved to hear this bit of encouragement and snuck a quick peek at the paper to learn she had earned an "A" on her first real test. But what made it even sweeter was that her first A was on a Math test which happens to be her least favorite subject! 

So proud of her and the student she's becoming! Go get it Hailey! The world is yours!

The Unofficial End of Summer - Labor Day 2023

We stole away to Michigan for a good 48 hours or so for Labor Day Weekend. Austen had a football game on Friday night so we couldn't leave until Saturday morning anyway. We took our time getting out and stopped at Austen's school's big cross country Red Devil Invite where we got to see my nephew run his cross country race. Such a beautiful day to spend time watching family do what they love. Even Sadie got to see him as she sat in the shade of the big trees. 

After Austen's Hole in One

We made it to Michigan and did a little work - Tom cut the grass, I started laundry and went to the grocery store then it was on to family mini golf. Austen still holds the record for the lowest score at our usual place to play in Saugatuck. But this time he struggled on the first hole with a 4 but scored a hole in one on the second hole! Alas, he didn't beat his previous, record holding overall score of 39. After that it was back home for dinner (cheeseburgers and corn on the cob) and then some Nintendo games that Hailey loves to play rounded out the evening.

Sunday was a beach day. The water was a bit chilly but the sun was warm. The only kid that went in was of course Peyton. They still had fun walking the beach and building sandcastles while I caught up on some light reading. I finished up the laundry and Tom put a brisket on the smoker for us to eat later. We had drinks with our neighbors (who are also our friends from CH) and then a late dinner and some relaxing TV time rounded out the evening. 

It was a leisurely morning for our last day in Michigan on Monday. We took our time preparing the house to be left for more than a week. I don't think we'll be back for almost a month now. We hit some Labor Day traffic heading home about 1pm for Austen's early evening practice but nothing crazy. It was nice to have 48 hours away and even thought it seemed short, it was the perfect amount of time to feel refreshed!

Sandcastles on the Beach

Hailey Doesn't Play, She Just Keeps Score

 

Grounded from Golf

This happened a few weeks ago but I would be remiss if I didn't write about it. In May, after some coaxing and convincing by friends at our country club (some new, some old), I was convinced to take up golf. I was just ending my paddle tennis season and we had been members for two years and I still hadn't stepped foot on the golf course. I love being outside and we pay all this money to be golf members where only Tom and Austen golf so I thought why not try it. Now I had only been to the driving range a few times and I wasn't a natural so first, I decided I needed a few lessons. I took three and went to the driving range a few times then my friends convinced me that I just needed to get out there and join the Women's Golf League. So I did. Every Tuesday from May thru September. I played, I practiced. I did really bad. I was not good. But I was learning and I liked being outside and I liked the challenge of trying to get better. Tom and I played some nine and dines; we played together as a family (with Peyton and/or Hailey hitting a few in between); we played with another couple. I was not good but it was fun. 

So back to a couple of weeks ago, my very competitive first-born who was very reluctant to give me any pointers even though he's a much better golfer than me or even Tom, was a little miffed that now he has to share his golf time with me. Never mind that he's teaching one of his good friends to play golf and I'm sure giving him a lot of tips, and he's not good either but somehow he must feel threatened by my athletic ability and the fact that if he gives me some golf tips, I'll beat him! Ha! Hailey was at a sleepover that night so we had a foursome with Peyton, Austen, me and Tom, and out we went. I was not playing great but I was enjoying the evening with my two oldest and riding along in a golf cart with Tom. Peyton was with Austen, and apparently Austen was unaware of how dumb he was being telling Peyton how bad I was when I was hitting and how I was going to put this one in the water (which I did). Well, Peyton at a break gets out of her cart and tells me everything that Austen has just said about me. Did it hurt my feelings? No, because I am realistic about my golf abilities and the fact that it's my first year playing. But I was appalled that this kid was so mean that he could just make fun of me like that without offering any tips or words of wisdom. I immediately gave it to him in the middle of hole 16 and told him that he was grounded from golf for two weeks. Not just at our course but playing at any other course with his friends too. This sent him into a tailspin because as he said he didn't know I would ground him. Well, my competitive first-born, I'm competitive too and I'm your mama, show some respect and help a mother out! I'm learning and happy with my progress this season. I'm not great but I'm enjoying myself and look out cuz I'm coming for you and someday I will beat you!