March was a roller coaster of weather here in Michigan. One weekend we were skiing on snow covered hills and the next we were riding bikes in short sleeve shirts. But the last of the snow pile in the back of our driveway has finally melted away which means Spring has officially arrived!
We enjoyed our last ski runs of the year on the slopes at Caberfae with friends a few weeks ago and had a blast. A couple families from the neighborhood teamed up with our crockpots and coolers for a fun filled day together. It was a riot watching the kids zoom down the hill together and take the lifts up all by themselves. Natalie tried the trick part for the very first time; she followed Mr. Josh right off a jump, fell, and got right back up and did it all over again. I was nervous and proud at the same time. Thomas continues to fly down the hill with complete disregard for any parental instruction offered - thank goodness for real ski coaches. And lunch break and ski apres was a whole new symphony of chaos which was the icing on the ski cake. Kladder Ski Season 2022 is a wrap, but I’m not going to lie… I’m already dreaming of next year!
Alternatively, back in Grand Rapids we’ve welcomed Springtime with open (sleeveless) arms as the bikes, scooters and sidewalk chalk are back out in full force this week. Thomas who’s avoided learning to ride his two-wheel bike since receiving it for his birthday last year finally gave it a try this week and got it on his very first time. Never in my parenting experience has it (just in general) ever been this easy and it’s left me all sorts of confused. I feel like if there were a ‘Freebee Card’ for parenting (spoiler alert, there is not) I most certainly wouldn’t have wasted it on learning to ride a bike. Maybe potty training? Anyway, he’s now hooked and so I quick purchased him a cool new bike helmet as a birthday gift which is this weekend.
That’s the latest news for Thomas outside of the usual school (he’s doing great) and getting ready for soccer to start next month. Jeff and Mr. Jared are coaching again this year so Thomas and neighbor Harrison will be on the same team again - so cute. We also celebrate Thomas turning the big FIVE this weekend with a ‘yellow’ theme - his choice. He’s really into lemon flavored cake, so that’s where the ‘yellow’ theme came from.
Natalie’s doing great as well with another lost tooth and the latest news: she and the neighbor kids are riding to school together sans parents. It’s another moment where I’m totally giddy for her because she’s ear to ear smiles in the morning to ride with friends alone but also sad because walking the kids to school in the morning is my favorite. I’ve still got Thomas for at least another year so I’m not dead in the water yet… but damn close.
I had a full weekend solo with the kids earlier this month while Jeff enjoyed a guys weekend up north. I wore my super-mom-pants and planned a full weekend of fun including cookie baking/decorating, movie night (Encanto - which was good… but Sing 2 is still better), a classroom playdate at the park, visited Fredrick Meijer Gardens (and ended up not seeing the butterflies because as it turns out it’s a madhouse on the weekends so I promised the kids we’d come back later in the week when those pesky tourists aren’t there - haha), shopped for sweets at Sticky Fingers in Eastown and we even made ooze - something they’ve been asking to do since seeing it on a TV show a few weeks back. They (and I) were living the dream.
And all’s well that ends well… we ended up visiting Meijer Gardens a few days later on Tuesday night (when they are open until 9pm - pro tip), with the whole family this time to check out the butterflies. Jeff and I both commented on how we felt like this time there were way more butterflies than last year. We wondered if it was because last year we went later in the season, but it’s possible it was something else altogether. Either way, it was really great. We had a wonderful volunteer help point out the caterpillars and cocoons in the hatching room and the kids were all ears - as was I. And as I said, the atrium was filled will fluttering beauties!
Last week began March Madness and probably the biggest surprise is Michigan winning both their first games making the Sweet 16 coming up later this week. Jeff is ecstatic. We hosted some friends for the games on Saturday which made watching Michigan’s latest win even more exciting with a crowd. The kids couldn’t have cared less about the basketball but had the best time playing downstairs and eating pizza and cupcakes together.
I enjoyed brunch with some of my besties as well last weekend with my newlywed friend Chelsea (a bridesmaid of mine and one of my oldest friends) who was in town from North Carolina. We met another one of my bridesmaid friends, Amanda, at Terra GR (one of my local favorites) for breakfast pizza and bubbles. It was fun to catch up and have some girl time together.
Next week we’re heading to Scottsdale, Arizona for all the Spring Break fun with some friends and then we’re looking forward to an April filled with soccer games, birthday parties and some fun social events downtown. Enjoy the sunshine!
POSTSCRIPT - Things worth mentioning…
Suits, the TV series drama - I am SO late to the party but I recently started watching Suits and love it a lot. My favorite character by far is Louis Litt.
Butcher’s Union - Dined here again with friends for a double date night out and were reminded that BU never disappoints!
Gravity Taphouse - A good meeting place for a group coming in from all angles… plus, they’ve got scotch eggs and a really great reuben on their menu.