June is, without question, one of my favorite months of the year. Sure, it's my birthday month, but even more than that, it's when summer officially arrives in Michigan. The weather turns, the kids are out of school, and weekends at the lake become the priority. Here's our June recap...
The house is finally feeling like home, and we are absolutely loving it. We've already had a few friends over for tours—mostly thanks to Jeff, who couldn't wait to host USA Soccer watch parties in the rec room, even though the space is still very much missing some key parts including a door, flooring, and most of the wall paneling.
One friend recently asked me what my favorite part of the house is. My answer? "Everything!"
After more than a year of planning (we first sat down with our architect at the beginning of 2025), it's honestly surreal to see our vision become reality. Every space was designed around how our family actually lives, and that has made all the difference. We still have a healthy punch list to tackle—including the driveway, phase two of the kitchen countertops, rec room flooring and wall panels, the kitchen banquette, and plenty of finishing details like outlet covers, shelves, and final paint touch ups—but we are so incredibly close.
We celebrated America's 250th birthday with family at the lake, and it was everything summer should be: floating in the cove, tubing, grilling, and playing games late into the evening. My favorite part, though, is watching Natalie and Thomas disappear into a world that only they and their cousins understand. From the minute we arrive until it's time to head home, they're off making memories together. Honestly, Jeff and I are too. I'm so grateful for a family that intentionally makes time to be together during these sweet Michigan summer weekends.
Natalie spent a week at Camp Geneva on the lakeshore with one of her best friends, Vienna, from next door. After four consecutive summers at Camp Roger, the girls were ready for something new, and Camp Geneva did not disappoint. They embraced the daily Polar Bear plunge in Lake Michigan, survived a tornado-like storm that sent campers sheltering overnight in the girls' bathroom, and both agreed the food deserved rave reviews. I'd call that a successful first year.
A few weeks later, Thomas headed back to Camp Roger for his second summer alongside his buddy Johnathon. His highlights included swimming, archery, spending time with the small animals, and, once again, enthusiastically reporting that the food was excellent. His favorite part, he said, was all the camp games.
June also wrapped up Thomas's first-ever Little League season, and what a way to finish. The Tigers won the league championship! For someone who had never played baseball before this year, it's safe to say he's hooked and already looking forward to next season. With baseball behind him, he's now fully immersed in Junior Golf at Watermark and recently started tennis clinics alongside his sister. Natalie, along with tennis, continues weekly piano lessons and between that and a steady rotation of neighborhood playdates, she's living the summer break dream.
I celebrated my 39th birthday with a week full of fun and feeling incredibly loved. My team at work spoiled me with thoughtful gifts and treats that were perfectly "me." My girlfriends hosted a moms-only pool float complete with spicy margaritas and plenty of snacks. Jeff, Josh, Emily, and I enjoyed a night downtown with cocktails at Lumber Baron followed by Broadway's The Outsiders—my kind of date night. We wrapped up the celebrations with Jeff's parents treating us to a champagne-filled birthday dinner at Bowdie's. Birthdays are the perfect excuse to gather with friends and family and do fun things together.
Work continues to be steady for both Jeff and me. Jeff has been focused on supporting DJs Landscape Management's newest out-of-state branches, while I've been spending more time on Michigan's east side helping welcome our newest Eastern Michigan customers into the Mercantile family. Growth continues to be the common theme for both of our companies. It certainly keeps us occupied, but it's also incredibly rewarding to be part of organizations that continue moving forward.
One of the professional highlights this month was attending the annual Econ Club of Grand Rapids dinner, where Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush shared the stage. President Bush had the audience laughing throughout the evening with his humor, while President Clinton offered thoughtful reflections and plenty of wisdom. It's always an impressive event, and I'm grateful to be part of such a strong business community here in Grand Rapids.
June also brought another memorable political moment. I had the opportunity to meet and shake hands with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Bill Huizenga during a small luncheon hosted by Congressman Huizenga. They spoke about the current state of America's health and shared their perspectives on improving it. As someone who cares deeply about my own health and my family's well-being, I appreciated hearing directly from them and left feeling encouraged by the conversation.
One of the most fun weekends of the month was the Cascade Women's Member Guest with my dear friend Kelly May. Not only did we have an absolute blast, but we also managed to win our flight! I took home Longest Drive, and together we finished second overall in the tournament based on our net score. This year's Cape Cod theme made it even more entertaining as we embraced it with matching baby blue "golf costumes." Golf is always more fun when you're playing well... and winning certainly doesn't hurt!
Jeff also played in the Cascade Men's Member-Guest alongside Brian (Kelly's husband). Unfortunately, their golf games didn't quite match ours that weekend, but that's golf! Despite the less-than-ideal finish on the course, the four of us thoroughly enjoyed the closing party together, spending the evening laughing, dancing, and catching up. Sometimes the memories made after the golf are the best part of the tournament.
Another highlight this month was an adults-only night out with the entire Kladder family at Olives in Gaslight Village. We took full advantage of East Grand Rapids' social district by strolling the sidewalks with our drinks in hand before making one final stop at Jersey Junction. Because let's be honest—no summer outing in East Grand Rapids feels complete without ice cream from Jersey Junction.
As we head into July, we're looking forward to plenty more golf—including Jeff's Watermark Men's Member-Member, my Women's Invitational at StoneWater, and Thomas's final Junior Golf match. But if you ask any Kladder what we’re most looking forward to this month it would be our biggest summer adventure yet: Banff, Canada! We can’t wait. Until next month, stay cool and enjoy every minute of summer!