Three Kids and a Dog: 4th of July in Michigan

Happy 4th of busy July! At least we don't have to go Nationals (for Austen's soccer) in another two weeks! Actually, I'm still fuming that once again we are not going to Orlando. We kicked off the 4th of July weekend with Austen and Tom visiting Washington University in St. Louis for a college soccer ID camp. It's a D3 school that has architecture so higher on his list of possibilities but still a very academically selective school which will still attract some talented soccer players.

They kicked off the weekend with a Cardinals baseball game and then had a full day of soccer "tryouts" the next day. Austen said he thought he did well but you never know with these schools. They have 10 spots to fill with kids competing from all over the country.

After St. Louis, we prepped to have a house full of people in Michigan - so lots of planning, prepping and cleaning before we had a house of 14 (18 for dinner on 4th of July). Everyone helps out though with breakfasts, drinks, appetizers and desserts so it's not just us having to do it all which came become exhausting. We met at North Pier Brewery in St. Joe which was awesome. They had some fun drinks and good food. Then it was home for late night pizza, fireworks and then s'mores and some campfire singing. In between there were games of Kan-Jam and bags too.

We woke up on the 4th of July to cloudy weather so we leisurely had breakfast and played some more games until the weather cleared up mid-afternoon and we could head to the beach for a few hours. Then it became hot although the water was a bit cool. We still all dipped our toes in and a few brave ones joined in some games in the water too. Then it was home for a big dinner (with Ron's awesome ribs) and too many delicious desserts.

We all headed home on the 5th after another leisurely breakfast and some laundry being done with loads of towels and some sheets.

On to the next adventures for each one of us during this next week but more on those later...Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!