So far, fall has been fast, furious, and full of so much fun. The Michigan weather has been showing off with weeks of sunshine and temps in the 80s. But finally, the trees are turning, pumpkins are popping up on every porch, and most of our dinner conversations revolve around Halloween costumes - this year the adult’s costumes are sure to steal the show!
The kids both recently wrapped up their fall sports seasons with weekend tournaments. Natalie’s volleyball team finished the season 7–8, heading into their tournament as a 3-seed. While they didn’t make the championship game, they ended on a high note with a big win—sealed by Natalie returning the game-winning shot! And bonus, Natalie had her bestie Jojo on her team this year.
Thomas’ flag football team went into their tournament undefeated… and then they lost their first game. The loss was tough, but he had an stellar season—scoring two touchdowns, earning a celebratory head-tap (which, apparently, is a very big deal), and even getting a few snaps at quarterback. Not bad for one of the younger guys on the 3rd/4th grade team!
Grandfriends Day 2025 was another smashing success thanks to an incredible team of volunteer moms, fearlessly led by our friend Elizabeth Van Vels. The event invites grandparents to visit classrooms, enjoy coffee and treats, and hear our sweet angels sing their hearts out during chapel. Always a highlight of the school year.
Another GRCS annual event included the Eagle Dash. Thomas and his classmates ran their hearts out at Eagle Stadium to raise money for the PTO. The GRCS PTO supports our school with things like classroom supplies, field trip funding, teach appreciation, and special projects like new playground equipment.
Jeff has been on the move lately, traveling for both work and fun. The big trip to write home about was the Ryder Cup in New York. Sadly, the Team U.S.A. didn’t exactly deliver their best performance—but the weather and course were perfect, and the Sunday vibes were still electric as a possible comeback hung in the air. Jeff also had an additional fun weekend away with his buddies from high school golfing at French Lick Resort in Indiana. It’s a tradition they’ve kept for many years and it’s so special to see the group stick together after all these years.
While Jeff was away, the kids and I made the most of our weekend together and checked off a few items from our fall bucket list, including a trip to Frederik Meijer Gardens. Each year, they deck the place out with pumpkins, gourds, and fall displays galore—it’s one of our favorite local traditions.
Another bucket list item we accomplished was a visit to ArtPrize. I joined Thomas and his class for a few hours downtown touring our city filled with art. The incredible weather continued making our field trip super enjoyable and allowing us to spend the majority of our time outdoors. The boys had a great time and took every opportunity to climb where they probably should have. Boys!
It’s event season again here in Grand Rapids. So far this month, we’ve joined friends at a few fundraising events and learned more about the causes they’re passionate about. Kelly May serves on the board of the Grand Rapids Ballet - we can’t wait for The Nutcracker in December, Jason Ruud represents Ele’s Place, which supports grieving children, and Amanda Lambert serves on the board of Alpha Grand Rapids, a local pregnancy resource center doing incredible work in our community.
Mercantile has joined the fall event season, too. We recently celebrated the reopening of our Operations Center in Alma, Michigan, complete with a ribbon cutting, and later that same day attended the Grand Rapids Chamber’s annual ATHENA Awards—always such an inspiring event honoring women leaders in our city. To top it off, my team surprised me with flowers and one of my favorite bottles of wine for National Boss’s Day. I felt so loved and grateful for them.
Last weekend, the Kladder crew made our way to John Ball Zoo Goes Boo—a family favorite. The weather was perfect, which is a big deal when you’re wandering around in costumes surrounded by animals. Natalie debuted her Cruella DeVil look, and Thomas went full Army soldier. The animals were out, the candy was flowing, and everyone was happy.
Broadway Grand Rapids kicked off its new season with Water for Elephants, and it did not disappoint. The mix of circus acts and musical talent was incredible. It’s got us extra excited for the rest of the season. This year The Lion King returns to the stage and we’re looking forward to bringing the kids along for the family friendly show.
Meanwhile, our house renovation is officially underway! This week’s excitement: kitchen demolition. We celebrated when our contractor told us there were no surprises behind the walls. (Truly, the best kind of renovation news.) I’ve been deep in cabinet design, flooring samples, and countertop selections—progress!
With the house torn apart, we’ve hunkered down in one side of the house, turning it into our makeshift apartment. We’re all sharing a room, cooking with a toaster and microwave, and surviving out of a mini-fridge. The kids think it’s hilarious, and honestly, so do we—for now. It’s a little like camping. We’re making sweet-sweet memories!
Luckily, we’ll get a break from our “tiny home” setup soon when we head to Orlando for Fall Break—Harry Potter World, here we come! We just finished reading the last book together and have one movie left before we go. Send all your Universal tips our way!
Happy Fall, everyone. May your pumpkin spice be strong, your costumes creative, and your leaf piles crunchy.
