Summer has been full to the brim—in the best possible way. From fireworks and birthday celebrations to camps, golf outings, and long days at the lake, we’ve been soaking up the season and making memories at every turn. Here’s a little glimpse into what the Kladder crew has been up to lately.
Each Fourth of July, the lake house on Bella Vista in Rockford becomes the center of the universe for the Kladder family. Every bed is claimed, including the overflow hammock outside. I'm pretty sure the kids have no idea whose toothbrush is whose—and honestly, I don’t think they care. My mother-in-law graciously overlooks the chaos in favor of the joy that comes with having the entire family under one roof. At the start of the weekend, the fridge is bursting with food and there’s nowhere to stash the assigned dishes we’ve each brought. By the end, all that’s left is a half-eaten jar of pickles and a few sad cans of flavored drinks no one likes (but will inexplicably still be there next time). We pontoon, we tube, we grill. This year, Sandy kicked things up a notch with a full-family kickball game that turned into an absolute riot. Another first for us was all the ladies sneaking away for a morning at the spa followed by brunch. We all agreed it should turn into an annual event. Bella Vista’s fireworks show did not disappoint, and we all soaked up every minute of sunshine, laughter, and bubbles.
This year, I also got to experience a Fourth of July celebration—Detroit style—for the first time. In a fun twist, the city kicks things off early with the annual Ford Fireworks show in June, hosted by The Parade Company (the same crew behind the Hob Nobble Gobble each fall). True to form, they go all out—games, food, drinks, and a whole lot of fanfare. I joined our Southeast Michigan Mercantile Bank team for the festivities and was completely blown away by the fireworks display. It was dazzling, dramatic, and absolutely worth the hype. While in town I stayed at the incredible Shinola Hotel - it was beautiful. It’s also worth noting our transportation from the hotel to the fireworks show was by pedicabs. So fun!
Earlier in June, both kids headed off to Camp Roger for four days and three nights of classic summer fun. It was Thomas’ first year at camp and Natalie’s fourth, and both went with friends—which made the experience even more memorable. Camp chatter always includes reviews of the food and stories about the annual swim test. Thankfully, both Kladder kids are strong swimmers and passed with flying colors, unlocking access to all the water activities. From the craft cottage to the small animal area (think turtles and bunnies), there’s no shortage of things to explore. As a Christian camp, each morning begins with all-camp worship—complete with singing. Both kids came home belting out camp songs, and honestly, there's nothing better.
That same week, I celebrated my 38th birthday with a dreamy Sip & Shop party at COLLECT by Kathryn Chaplow. Kathryn and her team went above and beyond, creating the most beautiful, welcoming space to gather with my girlfriends. It was the perfect setting to toast another year and enjoy a little shopping along the way. I shared more about the celebration—and the story behind COLLECT—in this post.
Another birthday we celebrated in June was our dear friend (and next-door neighbor) Josh, who rang in the big 4-0! His milestone kicked off what’s shaping up to be a full season of 40th birthday celebrations among Jeff’s high school crew—Jeff’s included. In true Josh fashion, he went all out with a full takeover of one of his favorite spots, The Winchester, packing the place with friends and family. With DJ Adrian Butler spinning the perfect throwback set, there was no keeping us off the dance floor. He played all the right songs to get our 40-ish-something selves moving like we were back in college. Happy Birthday, Josh!
The kids are soaking up every bit of summer and truly living their best lives. Over the past few weeks, they've jumped into a variety of camps—football, basketball, golf—and have been making steady progress on their summer bucket list, which includes everything from visits to the downtown Cat Café to simple sidewalk chalk sessions in the driveway. By the time their heads hit the pillows each night, I’m pretty sure they’re asleep in under 30 seconds. Summer magic at its finest. Hilariously, after a round of family golf a few weeks ago, Thomas cashed out right at the dinner table before food was even ordered.
Golf has remained a steady theme this summer (no surprise there). Most Sundays after church—when we’re not up at the lake—you can find us playing nine holes together at Watermark. The kids are finally at that sweet spot where two hours on the course as a family feels easy and fun. Natalie’s favorite part is driving the golf cart, while Thomas has taken a real interest in the game. Jeff recently took him out for their first full 18-hole round, just the two of them, and Thomas came home absolutely beaming. “I almost got a hole in one, Mom!” he told me, proud as can be after landing just four feet from the pin on a par three. It was the sweetest moment. Jeff and I have also enjoyed playing together just the two of us as well as with friends at a couple fun outings.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the best time golfing with my friend Kelly May in the Cascade Country Club Women’s Invitational. We didn’t play our best, but we gave it our all—and it paid off with a third-place finish in our flight and a tiny bit of prize money to show for it. Our golf outfits were on point, but the real highlight was spending two full days with Kelly. Time feels especially precious these days, and having that kind of uninterrupted time with a friend is truly the best gift.
Our husbands got to enjoy that same gift of quality time golfing together last weekend during the Men’s Invitational at Cascade. The guys played great and finished 2nd in their flight—just one hole shy of first place, which stung a bit! The event includes two especially fun nights where the ladies join in: the Thursday evening Horse Race, where the top ten lowest handicaps compete in a single-elimination mini tournament (Jeff missed the cut by just 0.2 strokes—so close! It would’ve been such a blast to watch him play), and the final party on Saturday night, complete with dinner and dancing. We had an incredible time and were once again reminded how grateful we are to share back-to-back days and nights with our good friends, the Mays.
As the summer rolls on, I’m feeling especially grateful—for sunshine-filled days, time with friends and family, and all the little moments that make this season so special. Whether we’re celebrating big milestones or simply watching the kids crash into bed after a full day of fun, these are the memories that stick. Here’s to more laughter, more connection, and more summer magic still to come.
