And just like that, the kids are back in school and summer has come to a close. This weekend’s weather is all the Fall feels with it’s cooler temps, Friday night lights, and the leaves are starting to accumulate in street corners - we are super ready for it! Thomas motivated me to put up our Halloween decor already - Jeff and Natalie are not thrilled. But, before we start talking Halloween costume ideas, here’s the summer recap.
Jeff and I took a couple fun trips away this summer including a wild weekend in Nashville with friends. You can read all about that HERE. We also got away just the two of us for a weekend at Arcadia Bluffs. We had the perfect weather and enjoyed staying at and playing the course very much.
In general, golf was a consistent theme for us this summer - no surprise there - with a handful of fun outings and events. Jeff had a stand out year placing second in the Watermark Presidents Cup Match (the farthest he’s ever made in the annual tournament), and earlier this summer he and his partner Nate Zokoe made the finals during the Watermark Member-Member.
I wasn’t too far behind Jeff with my golf success this summer. Along with my partner in crime Ashley Adkins, we played in two Member-Guest tournaments. The first at Stonewater where we placed second and later at Watermarks Member-Guest where we dug ourselves too deep of a hole on day one to save ourselves later in the weekend for any sort of placement in the finals. As always, we had a fabulous time.
Also noteworthy - my partner Candace VanDyke and I placed second in our flight during the second half of Womens League, winning us what will probably accumulate to a few sleeves of golf balls and some socks from the proshop using our awarded credit. Go Team!
And there was no shortage of fun outings with friends where the golf simply served as the excuse gather. We had a riot at the 80s themed couples Nine and Dine at Alpine Golf Course and loved catching a round here and there with our neighbors when schedules were free.
Outside of golf, we spent a lot of time with our kids and with family at the lake. Forth of July is always a highlight of our summer. We enjoy boat rides, tubing, grilling, corn hole, birdie ball, and one of the best fireworks shows in town. The fun continued throughout July and into August… right into Labor Day Weekend where we likely enjoyed our last boat ride of the year. That said, the temps are back into the 80s next week so perhaps I’ll be eating my words. I do love a Fall boat ride!
We spent our annual week away in the Upper Peninsula with Grandpa and Grandma Smith at their cabin and you can read all about that HERE. This year we explored caves, swam in waterfalls, and took a few hikes.
Camping at Silver Lake with our friends was also on the agenda this summer. This year the DeWittes brought their newest toy providing boat rides and tubing. Silver Lake is always a great time - we’re never sure who has more fun… the kids or the adults.
The kids had a blast at Cousin Camp again this year with their Grandma and Grandpa Kladder. This year’s theme was ‘space’ and their adventure took them into the universe! Jeff’s parents are always so creative in the weekend they put together for the kids which entails an elaborate themed scavenger hunt.
In between summer trips and weekends at the lake, the kids kept busy with extra curricular activities. Thomas loved his week long football game through GRCS - enough to instigate his retirement from Revolution Soccer. Instead of soccer this Fall, he’s joined the flag football team through our youth sports program at school. Jeff and I both are eager to see where this one goes. Thomas also completed a full summer of junior golf clinics at Watermark and still claims that it’s his favorite sport.
Natalie also joined a week long camp through GRCS, but for volleyball. This fall she’s signed up for a weekly volleyball clinic through MSA, in addition to cheerleading through GRCS. We’re looking forward to watching her cheer on the sideline at this Fall’s GR Christian Homecoming game.
Summer would not be complete without at least one concert at Fredrick Meijer Gardens. We had a fabulous time with the Dekkingas and the Van Vels at the Grace Potter concert last month. It was a Sunday Funday for the record books.
This month I passed my one year anniversary with Mercantile Bank, which, in my opinion, means I’m officially a ‘banker’ now. It’s been a whirlwind of firsts with a record amount of questions asked by yours truly. I’m grateful for the continued opportunity and extremely blessed to have a team full of industry experts. I cannot wait to see what year two will bring.
Here’s a fun one for you, last month I joined our Commercial Banking Team for a day at the gun range participating in the most extreme team building I’ve ever been a part of. The events included a variety of firearms, scenarios, and targets. Of all the events, my favorite was shooting long range (sniper style), probably because that’s the one I was the best at. I also really liked shooting the hunting rifle at clay pigeons.
And there we have it… summer, in a nutshell. The kids are back in school with 2 weeks in the books already. Natalie is with Miss Stark in 4th grade and is thrilled have her besties in the same class again this year. Thomas has a brand new teacher to GRCS, Mrs. Vandebunte, in 2nd grade and he, too, is pumped to have his buddies in the same room. This year marks our last magical year with both kids in the same building before Natalie graduates elementary school and is off to middle. We are extremely proud of both kids and looking forward to another great year at GRCS.
Last, sharing the last of the summer color from our yard flowers. And now, let the Fall fun begin! Bring on the bonfires, sweaters, and crockpot meals. See you out there!
