Spring Break with a College/Soccer Twist

 

As hard as it is to believe, Callie needed to spend her spring break visiting colleges to start narrowing down the possible options for her next chapter. John stayed back with Reese who had soccer practice and Callie and Sarah hit the road for a four-school southern tour. The first stop was Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Callie thought the campus was really pretty and the tour guide was very good. The food was good and Callie came away from the tour knowing this was going to be on her list.

They left Nashville after the tour and drove to Atlanta for the next two visits. Number one stop was Emory University. The campus was pretty and close to downtown, but Callie was not impressed. Emory did not make the list. But Sarah and Callie took advantage of their time in the city to visit the Botanical Gardens and spent a couple of hours checking out the exotic plants on display.

 

After leaving the gardens the two tourists ventured to Piedmont Park and decided to rent scooters to cruise around the area. The spent more than an hour cruising around, seeing the sights, and getting a feel for the scooters. Fortunately neither of them fell although there were some close calls. 

 

One of the things that Callie has said is that she wants to go to a school that is in more of an urban setting, and Atlanta is certainly a good option. Spending a couple of days in Atlanta provided the opportunity to get a feel for the city, including a nice breakfast place Sarah and Callie ate it before their next tour.

 

Georgia Tech was stop number two of the Atlanta segment of the tour. Callie thought the campus was beautiful and enjoyed some of the work spaces for students she got to see on the tour. This campus is much closer to downtown Atlanta but its campus is definitely its own place. Overall, both Callie and Sarah were impressed by what this school had to offer and this made the list.

 

The college tours were closely intertwined with important food discoveries. They found a place called Cava in Atlanta which they loved, and in Winston-Salem they discovered some really good crepes. Their next tour at Wake Forest was marked by heavy rain and no umbrellas. This was not the reason Wake Forest did not make Callie's list, but it didn't help. 

 

The college tour portion of the trip ended in North Carolina for a good reason. Both Callie and Reese were playing in a soccer showcase outside of Winston-Salem, so John and Reese drove down to join the party on the Thursday of spring break. Each girl played three games over the course of three days in some relatively chilly weather.

Both girls played well over their three games and the teams themselves performed well. The only issue with these showcases is you only play one game each day and then have a lot of time to kill. But at least both girls were playing in the same general area on the same weekend. Once Reese's final game ended we were ready to head west toward Lexington to prepare for school to start up again.

Winter 2025

 

The second half of the school year started off with a major delay. We got back to Lexington from Connecticut just before a major snow and ice storm hit that made life difficult for those in charge of clearing streets and driving buses. In the end the girls ended up with about five snow days in total. They weren't exactly crushed by that fact, but it certainly didn't help them get back into the swing of things once they finally got returned to their respective school buildings.

 

The weather couldn't stop the important celebrations in the city for MLK Jr., however. And for the first year since we have lived in Lexington we attended the Unity Breakfast. This was a special treat since Reese was an honored guest. Her essay on Unity had earned her third place in the city-wide essay contest. She was very satisfied with this because while she got a cash prize she did not have to read her essay out loud to the hundreds in attendance.

 

Along with her fellow honorees, however, she got to meet Mayor Linda Gorton and got her picture taken. Those who have who have been with this blog for years may also recall that Reese had her picture taken with Mayor Jim Gray after her baptism. Getting pictures with mayors is apparently her thing.

 

The cold weather lasted well beyond January but February and March are still busy with soccer activities. The girls practice during the week at night in the cold and our wonderful visitors got to watch a couple of games in freezing temperatures. Fortunately, Nana Banana and Sport are hardy sports fans and used to the harsh weather, so this was not a problem for them. At the very least they came prepared.

 

Although it was a short visit we we were able to get some good meals together and Nana Banana and Sport had front row seats to our crazy daily schedules. The girls love having them in town and appreciate the moments of conversation and laughter.

 

With the exception of soccer we tend to stay indoors as much as possible during the winter months but we are fortunate to have friends who remind us it is important to get out and spend time with each other. This picture captures the girls with Kelly at a spontaneous brunch after church one Sunday. We all agree that we need to do this more.

To Connecticut and Back

 

We hit the ground running when we arrived in Connecticut after Christmas. Unfortunately the Hannen family was not able to make the trip but we had been able to see them in Cincinnati earlier in December which kind of made up for it. We had gotten everyone tickets to go see the UConn women's basketball team play a home game. It was Paige Buecker's senior season and we are big Paige fans. And the whole Bowes family loves UConn women's basketball which made for a great night out. 

 

We had to take this sweet picture of Callie and Nana Banana. First, because it captures their sweet relationship. Second, because we were all just so happy that Nana made it all the way up the steep flight of stairs to make it to our seats in the upper reaches of the arena. We were not courtside, but we all had a lot of fun and the Huskies won. And to cap off the night we walked by Husky great Rebecca Lobo in the concourse.

 

Going back to Madison always means John runs into folks he grew up with but this time around there was a special surprise because Ted Dowling was in the area as well. John, Ted, and three other high school friends all went out to dinner one night to catch up on life, family, and the world in general. Nothing beats getting together with guys you have known since elementary school.

 

Seeing as we had spent some time visiting colleges over the previous six months or so John figured it was only proper that we drove into New Haven to walk around Yale's campus a bit. We weren't able to take an official tour and the gates to Old Campus were locked so it was up to John to tell stories about the buildings and various spots on campus. The girls had fun though it isn't clear if Callie is going to apply or not. We shall see. 

 

And since we were in the neighborhood we had to stop by the best laundromat in Connecticut to make sure everything was operating smoothly. Chris gave us the official tour, offered us some popcorn, and shared the details of his new washer investment. It was a lot of fun to see him in action and get a picture with him in front of the family business.

 

We obviously had to take a drive down Middle Beach Rd and get some time down on the Long Island Sound at sunset. The Madison shoreline never disappoints and though it was definitely windy we loved just being down by the water. 

 

At this point, Christmas in Connecticut also means New Years with the Skonieczny's. This time around we started with a good old fashioned hike in the north woods. Ella was in town as well which meant we got an update on her sophomore first semester and heard all about her incredible plans for the spring that includes a month in France and sailing to Tahiti. She is definitely college the right way.

 

Later that evening the energy picked up a bit with some Texas Hold 'Em led by the Magic Man and the Commish. We can't remember all the other nicknames that we got, but we do remember that Reese was not a big fan of hers. In any case, we had a great time playing cards, hearing all about what Eli and Ethan have been up to, and just enjoying time together. We are very lucky to be friends with these folks.

 

Us landlocked folks need to make sure we get as much ocean time as possible when we are in the vicinity. So on New Year's Day, John, Sarah, and Callie took a long walk at Hammonasset State Park along with a variety of others who clearly thought it was a great way to start the year. 

 

The next phase of our adventure was all about celebrating Reese. It was a trip year for her birthday and we decided to spend a day in New York City going where she wanted to go. This meant a whole lot of shopping. We woke up early to catch the train into Grand Central and the excitement level was high.

 

Few people like donuts as much as Reese so our first stop was at The Donut Pub which we had heard great things about. To say this place had some options is an understatement. It was a bit overwhelming but also a great way to start things off. After we had eaten some sweet treats we headed out to the mean streets to find what stores were open. The search started in SoHo.

 

Sarah had things well planned out so by lunchtime we were right near Chelsea Market. After walking around inside a little bit and looking at some shops we found a Chinese restaurant with available tables and great food. 

 

It is certainly easier and much more enjoyable to do a day like this in New York when your kids are 14 and 17. Callie and Reese were excited to check places out and even jumped on TikTok to see what stores were trending or were must see stops during our visit. 

 

We did do a lot of walking and at one point even walked through Central Park after taking the subway up the wrong side. It all worked out perfectly though because we saw the park and still made it to the Swedish candy store that was a must stop for Reese. Sarah took this picture as we headed back to Midtown from the Upper East Side. New York City is just an exciting place to be any time of year.

 

But of course it is extra special around Christmas. It is safe to say there were a few other visitors to the city when we were there. We waited in a long line at FAO Schwartz for the possibility of getting some sort of jelly cat and were unsuccessful. But we did fight through the crowds to get a family picture with the iconic tree at Rockefeller Center.

 

And no trip to Madison is complete without at least one large gathering with all of the Bowes and Skonieczny clans. This family room at Nana Banana and Sports house has seen more than a few of these fun nights over the past four plus decades. It was fantastic to see everyone and the right way to end our visit.

 

We did have to get back to Lexington, though, not only because the girls were going to have to get back to school but also because we had one last Christmas tradition to fulfill. Ella and Claire were both in town so we had the Abrahams over for tape ball. As always it involved too many gifts and a lot of fun. We were ready for the new year to begin.

Christmas 2024

 Although we had plans to travel to Connecticut over the holiday break we weren't going to leave until after Christmas so were able to celebrate with some of our favorite people.

The Christmas Eve schedule was a bit tricky due to the timing of the church services and the people we were hanging out with. Sharon and Chris went to the 3:00pm service and since Sarah had to work we attended the 8:00pm service. Linda had to go to both along with John, who was a greeter for both as well. That meant we had a unique strategy for the evening.

 

The eating commenced between services at the Chrisman's with some soup, appetizers, and a few wine choices. Only Chris and Sharon could freely enjoy the wine at this time, of course. But we all enjoyed the opportunity to share a meal together.

 

The real fun started after the second service when we invited everyone back to our house for another round of food. Based on the time of night our guests were welcome to wear whatever they desired and Sharon and Chris determined it was the perfect time for their Christmas PJs. Callie and Reese followed suit.

 

Linda was also able to return along with her husband Daniel and Tommy Glover also made an appearance. We had more than enough food to go around and had an absolutely fantastic time eating, talking, and laughing. It was the perfect way to spend Christmas Eve.

 

Before you know it Christmas morning had arrived and it was time for the annual picture at the top of the stairs. The girls still sleep in which makes Christmas morning that much more enjoyable and relaxing. We didn't have any big plans for the day so we just had a great time with each other.

 

Opening gifts with the girls is always great because they appreciate everything they get and they always want to see what everyone else gets so they can share in the joy. And at this point they are also into buying gifts for each other so that has added to the fun. We tried to serve up one gift with a riddle this year. It didn't quite work, but we were excited to share with the girls that we had tickets for all of us to see Tyler Childers at Kroger Field in April. 

 

As this picture captures, the rest of the day was a combination of hanging out, being silly, and wearing comfortable napping clothes. We needed our rest before our trip up north to see the Connecticut crew.

Enjoying the Holiday Season!

 

We were all happy to get an invitation to a dinner and cookie-decorating evening at the Grote's early in December. Abby and Callie had been club soccer teammates for several years and they in part bonded over the fact that almost all of their teammates were in a grade above them. So most of the girls in this picture were seniors and no longer played soccer. It was a special opportunity for the girls to get together and also for the parents who no longer saw each other with regularity on the sidelines or at tournaments. This was a good group of individuals and we enjoyed kicking the holidays off with them.

 

Kelly and Sarah decided to shift their chocolate dipping Christmas tradition to cookie baking with the help of the illustrious Susan Buhrow, baker extraordinaire. Typically the girls are not involved but this year we wanted to try something a little different. 

 

We knew it was going to be intense when Susan brought over a multi-page document of instructions and recipes. She had everything all laid out for at least eight different cookies and each one had its own special twist. This was not going to be a day for lollygagging in the kitchen. Reese was not amused and at times looked like she was being tortured. 

 

We took the divide and conquer approach in order to keep up with Susan's schedule. The kitchen probably looks a bit chaotic in this picture, which led to Sarah's role of constant cleaner to make sure each baker had the utensils and equipment they needed. You will notice John is not present in these pictures and it is not by chance.

 

In the end each party went home with an incredible collection of baked treats and we hadn't even completed all that was on Susan's list at the beginning of the day. Callie was a trooper throughout and showed off her culinary skills and work ethic. We'll have to see if next year brings back the chocolate or if the baking makes a return. 

 

And of course during the holiday season we had to get in the winter-themed Cotillion as well. Reese was especially excited for her Christmas dress which would be playing double duty for Cotillion and Christmas Eve. It is no secret that this is her absolutely favorite time of year for so many reasons and Cotillion just added to the fun.

 

Sarah, Sharon, and the girls were asked to light the Advent candles one Sunday at church which was a wonderful recognition of the relationship and love between our families. It is kind of amazing to look at this picture and know that Sharon has known the girls since they were born, from bringing us fresh pineapple at the hospital when Callie was born to hosting Callie and then bringing her to meet her new sister with a bag of dark chocolate Reese's cups. We are so very lucky. 

 

In a wonderful twist to the holiday season we got to see the Hannens for a day when they were in the Cincinnati area visiting Brian's sister and family. We met up for pizza and beers in Newport and then walked around to see the Christmas decorations. 

 

We are glad that we were able to make this happen since the Hannens were not going to be making it to Connecticut after Christmas this year. The girls always enjoy getting more time with Zoey and Abby and we also had the opportunity to explore parts of Newport we hadn't been to before. 

 

One of those reasons we know that Reese is part elf is because of her December birthday, and good old Sam made his annual appearance in the Christmas tree wishing her a happy 14th birthday. An even number birthday means a trip and this year we were incorporating that into our Christmas journey to the northeast. More on that to come...

California Thanksgiving

 

It had been a while since we had traveled to California for the holidays so this Thanksgiving venture was long overdue. Of course, some things never change and our first stop had to be at In-N-Out after we left the airport. We had made a long list of things we wanted to do and people we wanted to see, so we needed to be fueled up properly. Right after this meal, and not pictured here, we met up with Aunt Brandy and Grammy to see the movie, Wicked. It was a great start to the trip.

 

The next phase of our trip entailed driving to the Bay Area to meet up with the Perrones. Lauren had reserved parking for us at Muir Woods so that we could start our time together with a hike beneath the Redwoods. Sarah and Lauren have been friends for 34 years and they have come a long way since they were roommates their freshmen year of college. 

 

Although our girls have only gotten to see each other every other year at best over the past two decades they somehow have managed to develop and maintain their own friendships. Callie and Kate vlog back and forth, which is hilarious, and apparently is the new way to be a penpal. It certainly helps that all the girls know how close Sarah and Lauren are, so they just kind of know that they should get along. But it is still very sweet to see it all play out in person.

 

These two especially seem to have made a connection that spans the miles. Both of them are juniors and thinking about colleges. In fact they both show early signs of interest in a similar major - engineering - and talk about how cool it would be to end up at the same school Who knows whether that could actually happen or not, but it's fun to hear them talk about the possibility.

 

John and JP also get to be part of these gatherings, which is nice. They tend to hang back, catch up, talk girls sports, and overall enjoy the time together. At this point because of Lauren and Sarah they have known each other for over twenty years, so it's not as if they are strangers. It was a great way to all get together.

 

The Golden Gate Bridge is just a short drive from Muir Woods so we had to get a picture and lucked out because it was an absolutely gorgeous day without a cloud in the sky. This ended up being our Christmas photo for the year and ironically the one we took of the Perrones became their Christmas card as well. Great minds think alike! After we took a photo we headed to Sausalito for a late lunch and then we drove to UC-Berkeley to check out the campus. We packed a few things into the day and just wished their was more time.

 

Keith had sent out a text in early November seeing if anyone wanted to join him in running the Feed the Hungry 5K in downtown Sacramento on Thanksgiving morning. Reese and John ended up being the only takers and we managed to find Keith in the crowd of nearly 30,000 so we could take a picture before the run began. It was a little chilly but a great way to start the day. And we loved the fact that Keith had tried to get everyone out. Reese did not necessarily love running in such a huge crowd but felt much better when we found donuts at the finish line. And the three of us had earned the hearty Thanksgiving dinner we had later that day at Brian and Bri's house. We clearly were too busy eating to take pictures. 

 

Sarah was determined to see family on this trip, especially since we hadn't met her cousin Sophie's little boy Charlie yet. This meant hopping in the car early on Friday morning to head to Santa Cruz for the day. We met up at a local restaurant with Sophie, Charlie, Grammy, Zac, Keith, and Sarah's Uncle Tommy and Aunt Isabel. It was fantastic to have all those people together. 

 

After lunch we headed to the beach to keep the conversation going and to get some fresh air. It was another beautiful northern California day and this picture of Grammy and her younger brother Tommy is priceless. Tommy is such a great guy and unfortunately we just don't get to see him very often.

 

The crew had a fun time playing on the beach, even at one point doing crab races with little Charlie. Reese certainly took the opportunity to put her feet in the Pacific Ocean and of course we had to take some pictures to capture the moments. 

 

From the beach it was a quick drive to downtown Capitola where we could check out some shops and of course get a sweet treat. We even managed to go to the store owned by Sarah and Zac's cousin Brian's wife. She wasn't there, unfortunately, but we made sure to buy a couple of souvenirs and support a local business. But if you thought Capitola was the last stop of the day you would be wrong and you have not traveled with Sarah. We were just getting started!

 

From Capitola we made our way to Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz. The primary goal was to walk along the Monarch Grove Trail and see one of the top spots for monarch butterflies along their migratory path. Although it was the right time of year to catch them the weather patterns did not cooperate and we did not see the volume of butterflies we had hoped for. Fortunately, the Natural Bridges State Park is right along the ocean and so the trip was redeemed by the type of views seen in this picture.

 

We couldn't end our Santa Cruz trip without seeing Sarah's cousin Brian. Thanks to Zac we were able to coordinate a sunset rendezvous with Brian and his dog on the bluffs overlooking the ocean. Brian is just a cool mellow dude, the epitome of all things Santa Cruz. We had not seen him for years but it was nice to see him and have proof of life. Hopefully we can get a more substantial visit in one of these days. We drove back to Sacramento that night and flew back to Kentucky early the next morning. And just like that, another California Thanksgiving was in the books.