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Downtown GR

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Kladder Update: Enjoying Summer While It Lasts

Grandparents Day Meijer Gardens Thomas.jpg

Great News! The boot is officially off and just in time too! With a few more weeks of summer left to enjoy and a getaway to San Fransisco with Jeff next week, I'm glad to be moving at my normal-speedy pace again.

I wasted no time in literally getting back into the swing of things this week during Watermark's Womens League rejoining my partner Jamie on the golf course. She totally pulled her weight these last few weeks as I sat out on the sidelines keeping us in the running for first place in our division. But despite her best efforts in keeping us afloat in my absence, we finished the year in second place (due to some really terrible play last night) by a mere 2 points. Ego. Crushed!

On Monday we enjoyed Grandparents Day at Fredrick Meijer Gardens with Jeff's parents. The weather was perfect for being outdoors and for the popsicles they handed out to the kids (and the kids at heart) during the event. We walked through the Japanese Gardens - Jeff's Dad had never been before which is shocking - and we toured the farm house area in the back of the park which is something I had never seen - also shocking. They had live music and a mime and I think one of the most interesting parts for me was seeing all of the construction underway for the expansion. I cannot wait to see how it all turns out. 

Grandparents Day Meijer Gardens.jpg

All last week we spent time camping with my family in the Upper Peninsula just near Ontonagon. It's an 8 hour car ride - 9 if you count stops for the bathroom and gas. It was a good break from our normal routine and you can read more about our trip HERE

UP Camping Argo.jpg

Before camping up north we spent the weekend on the lake in Rockford soaking up the sun with the kids. These days Thomas is all over the place with absolutely no fear. Walk down the boat dock unassisted? Of course. Take a drink from that abandoned full glass of water? Yup. Push all the buttons on the TV remote control accidentally purchasing a movie again? Well sure! Now picture me running after this little dude while in my air-cast boot. It's been a sight. He's got lots of words these days including the usual Mama and Dada. He's really good at 'more' and this week he learned 'ut-oh' which seems appropriate.

Natalie is SO excited to start preschool in a few weeks. We got her welcome packet in the mail and I've filled out all the forms, got the doctors note, printed the requested family pic and tonight Natalie decorated her farm animal that she'll bring with her to orientation. It's a pig and it's covered in heart stickers and pink gems that I helped her glue on. I am going to crush this school mom thing. 

Lake Bella Vista Natalie.jpg

Two weekends ago we finally made it downtown to the Movies on Monroe community event put on by Downtown GR. Movies on Monroe replaced the former Movies in the Park that was once in Ah Nab Awen Park on the Grand River. It's now just north of the highway downtown in a vacant parking lot that they covered in painted fish which I'm assuming was inspiration from the fish ladder that sits in the river on the other side of the retaining wall. They had a double feature that evening starting with Shrek which Natalie LOVES followed by Hidden Figures. 

It's a free public event and Downtown GR invites you to bring chairs, blankets, food and BYOB (you just have to get a wristband at the ID tent indicating you're old enough to drink). And if you're not into hauling your own cooler of food along, there are food trucks set up along the back side of the parking lot ready to serve you. We had burrito bowls and they were fabulous. Later in the movie we also grabbed Italian ice - cabernet raspberry flavor. Tasty! 

This weekend Jeff will take the kids while I head out of town with the ladies of Rosewood for some girl time on Crystal Lake. All moms. All awesome. And all love wine. It's sure to be a good time.

Enjoy your weekend and all the fun that comes with it! 

POSTSCRIPT

  • Dr. Scholl's Shoe Inserts - You guys, why isn't everyone wearing these? Post boot these were recommended and I feel like I'm walking on little pillows. I will never go back. This is what 30 looks like. 
  • Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis - Yeah, I'm likely late to the game on this one but thanks to friend Amber Ginop who's my personal librarian with her many books and interest in reading, better late than never. It's entertaining and relevant. I wrote some notes and have some good take aways. It's motivating and reassuring. Think girl power but with some humor. 

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