Jeff and I celebrated our 11 year wedding anniversary this month. Originally, we planned to go out for a nice dinner just the two of us. But schedules have been full lately and decided to cancel our babysitter, opting for a night in as a family. We made a wonderful surf and turf dinner that we shared with the kids and opened a bottle of wine we’d been saving for such an occasion. It was perfect.
Later, as I was scrubbing dishes at the kitchen sink and listening to my family goofing around back at the dining table I could not help but smile. They make me so happy. It is such a blessing that I can be scrubbing dishes and still feel like the luckiest woman on earth. And, sure, the wine probably helped.
Speaking of family, the kids are great. Natalie wrapped up volleyball a few weeks ago and recently told us she’d like to give basketball a go. She also just started back up with weekly piano lessons with her new teacher Miss Maria at the Piano Cottage. Thomas, too, asked to play basketball this winter but decided piano isn’t for him. Although, now that Natalie’s practicing everyday again he does tend to sit with her at the bench and they’re often caught playing songs together. Literally music to my ears.
Work is plentiful and going well. I recently wrapped up my roadshow tour visiting all 40 plus Mercantile Bank locations across our state. The team recently welcomed our new project manager Sarah (pictured below) to the squad as well and we’re busy planning for 2025. Jeff’s been traveling a fair amount for work, too, and I think we’re both looking forward to some time off over long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Fall has been one fun thing after another this year. We enjoyed an incredible night with friends over dinner and wine tasting - a package we snagged at the Great Gardens party earlier this year. We had a blast with some of our fellow GRCS parents on a party bus and bowling night. And we relaxed on Fall Break in Detroit where we hung out with Jeff’s brother Matt, sister-in-law Sandy and our two nieces. Us adults even snuck away for a few hours to play 18 holes of golf - my last for the season.
Speaking of Detroit… how about those Lions!?! Jeff and I joined friends again this year at the Lions versus Titans game where they won 52 to 14. The crowd was lit! Back home, we’ve taken our free Sundays to gather with friends or family to watch the games together. It’s become a fun Sunday afternoon tradition.
Thomas has taken a bigger interest in football this season and this year chose to go as Detroit Lions player St. Brown for Halloween. He continues to wear his jersey with pride each Sunday when watching with friends. Natalie dressed as a disco cowgirl (aka disco Barbie) for Halloween this year. She and her friend Vienna matched. They were. So. Cute.
Sticking with the Detroit theme. We were back in the ‘D’ this past weekend for the Hob Nobble Gobble on Ford Field benefitting The Parade Co. It was insane! As if being on Ford Field wasn’t cool enough, they filled it with carnival rides, food trucks, games, music (goes appearance by T.I.), and Santa! It was absolutely bonkers. Our Detroit Mercantile Bank team was in the house and we had a blast partying the night away.
While we were in Detroit, we decided to make a weekend out of it and explored downtown with the kids the following morning. We grabbed brunch with friends at The Hudson Cafe, checked off ice skating from our winter bucket list, and shopped the Pop-Up Holiday Market in Cadillac Square.
Back home, our tree is trimmed and ready for Santa to arrive! This year we went full Beverly Hillbillies and chopped down the evergreen from our front yard. When we moved into our house five years ago, the tree was tiny and always seemed out of place, but we left it. Over the years, it grew to the perfect Christmas tree size and today she lives her last days indoors dressed with pretty lights and ornaments. Merry Christmas from the Clampetts!
This coming weekend we’re looking forward to spending time with both families to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, as well as Jeff's birthday. We’ve got so much to be grateful for this year and we wish you and your households the happiest Thanksgiving!
