Two Blue Devils

 

This picture says it all. Hold on tight, because once soccer season starts it moves quickly and you wake up and it's Halloween. The girls were excited for the season ahead and all the possibilities it held. We were very interested to see how the season played out with some great seniors and some exciting new freshmen on the team.

As a junior, Callie had two years of experience playing with the seniors and she had some great relationships with them. Ava Wilson, a fellow captain pictured here with Callie, was a positive force on and off the field. One of the captains, Natalie Hoten, was another great friend and confidante for Callie. Callie has known Avery Allen, the other captain, since they were both little and it was crazy to see them out there together.

And of coourse there were her junior classmates, not all of them pictured here, who she had played with for years before high school. They were all poised to be on varsity together, something they had dreamed of for quite some time.

One thing that we have always enjoyed about high school is the opportunity to play against and see your club soccer teammates. Reese was very happy to see her friend Sophie when Henry Clay played Dunbar. These two have a special bond, even when they are not on the same team. We can't wait to see what the next several years hold for both of them.

One of the only good things about playing Lexington Catholic is getting to see numerous club teammates, such as Abby Grote. However, this year it was also great because Henry Clay tied Catholic 1-1 and Callie had the assist on Avery Allen's goal for the Blue Devils. It was the first time Catholic had not beaten an in-city opponent since 2019. Although it wasn't a win it was still incredibly sweet.

The girls know that we love and support them, but it is even more special to see the other members of our community who show them the same love and support. Their main super fan is Sayre Combs who shows up for every home game and even some away games. He always makes sure to stay after to talk to the girls and let them know they played well. We all need a Sayre in our lives.

If they didn't live 900 miles away these two would be sitting next to Sayre at each game. Nana Banana and Sport made their annual fall excursion to visit and catch the girls in action. Luckily this year there was no bad weather leading to cancellations and they got to see all the games they came for.

One of the best things about the junior varsity experience for Reese is that she got to expand her friend group and met several girls from one of the other middle schools that feed into Henry Clay. It's never a bad thing to know more people in the year leading up to high school, especially when they are quality kids like these girls are.

The girls had another visitor before the season wrapped up. Aunt Katie made the trip down to see the girls play and this time around John and Sarah stayed in town for her visit. She loved watching them play since she hadn't really had the opportunity to do that before and before she left she was already talking about coming back next year.

As we said at the beginning, the season went by quickly. And as often happens it had a variety of ups and downs. The good thing is that for the first time in three years the Blue Devils had a winning record at 9-7-3. Though they finished as runners-up in the district for the second year in a row they won their first regional game in convincing fashion. Lexington Catholic ended our season in the regional semi-finals but the team played tough all year long. Callie led the team in points and co-led the team in goals. Not a bad precursor to her senior season.

The Henry Clay junior varsity squad had a great year as well. They dominated their opponents more often than not and by season's end it was clear that Reese was one of their stronger players. Her coaches gave her the 110% award and praised her work ethic and positive attitude. We couldn't be prouder of her and her sister.

When the banquet comes to a close everyone is trying to get pictures to capture one last memory of the season and the team. We are glad that we got this picture that captured the four captains. Callie is really going to miss all of them as players, but especially as people.

The Rhythms of Summer

 This summer was a little unique since it was the first time we didn't have camps planned or other scheduled activities for the girls. That meant they were going to have to find ways to be productive and/or entertained. Reese jumped at the chance to be productive with the promise of some payment for her efforts.

 

The landscaping in the back yard has been in need of assistance for years, but we especially needed to deal with three dead boxwoods.

The initial request was for Reese to do some weeding, but with some encouragement and some tools from Sharon Chrisman, the weeding soon turned to full out boxwood removal. Easier said than done of course, bu Reese was relentless and over the course of nearly six hours she got the job done. She did earn a good amount of money along with some sore body parts, but nothing she couldn't bounce back from.

July 15 this year meant more than just the beginning of Callie's junior year soccer season. Reese was joining the Henry Clay ranks as well because, like her sister, she was a trapped 8th grader. Because almost all of her teammates were freshmen her club team didn't have a fall season and Reese was able to play on the JV team.

It was great for the girls to be a part of their respective high school teams, but it got even better just a couple of weeks into the season. Callie was named a varsity captain along with three seniors and Reese was named a junior varsity captain along with a freshman and a sophomore. We are incredibly proud of both girls for their leadership on and off the field. Although we both knew they have what it takes to lead it was wonderful to see this recognized by their coaches and teammates.

The season heats up quickly with the Bluegrass State Games happening shortly after tryouts. The girls enjoy getting a chance to play right away but it isn't always the best indication of how the season is going to go. It was a hot one this year, but the team looked pretty good overall.

One of the things that also happens in the beginning is that the coaches let 7th and 8th graders practice and play with the team until their club season stars. Reese played with the middle school team for the Bluegrass State Games which meant she got to play with a lot of her classmates, which she enjoyed. It's amazing how many girls are going to be coming up the ranks with Reese over the next several years.

A big milestone that happened before the beginning of Callie's junior year was the much awaited removal of her braces. She had them for a solid two years and was very happy to get them out of her life before she started the second half of her high school journey. We can check that milestone off now.

One cool event that the soccer team held this year that we hadn't done before was Flicks on the Field, where the girls got to watch a movie while hanging out on their soccer field. They brought candy, had popcorn, took pictures, and maybe watched a little of the movie. A good time was had by all.

Another summer staple of ours is Ballet Under the Stars at Woodland Park. It's been years since Callie performed in the pre-show but we always go when we remember it is happening and our schedule allows. This year Reese brought her friend Ella and Callie planned on meeting us there with some of her friends.

It takes some getting used to have Callie pop in and out with friends while we are doing something we always used to do together. We are trying to get used to the new rhythms of having an older teenager in the house who is slowly but surely spreading her wings and becoming more independent. In the end it is fun to watch, especially when she seems to be making mostly good decisions.

From Cape Cod to Connecticut

Although our rental had ended, our time on the Cape was not done yet. Since Nana Banana, Sport, and the Hannens were starting their week we hung around for another two days.

We hadn't gotten miniature golf in during our first week, so we jumped at the opportunity to get in a round with everyone. We had just enough people for two teams of five. Aunt Suzy got to go with all the girls. They were a lively bunch and everyone took turns helping Abby keep the ball on track.

The other team had a higher average age by far and walked a little more gingerly, but it didn't stop us from strutting our stuff on the course. This crew has forgotten more about miniature golf than the other team knows and used that experience to teach a lesson or two. It certainly was a fun afternoon and no one got too competitive.

After golf we got some pizza at the Red Barn and snapped this sweet picture of Nana Banana with all of her granddaughters. There is a whole lot of love and personality in this picture, that's for sure. 

Speaking of love and personality, we got this picture of the OG Bowes family before we left town. This summer on the Cape marked the 52nd year that Nana Banana and Sport have spent at least a week of vacation on Cape Cod and it will always be a special place for the whole clan as a result. 

When we left Cape Cod we had a plan and a packed schedule. In three days we were going to hit four college tours as we began the process of getting Callie to think about where she wants to spend her college years. Boston is the ultimate college town and we did our best to show Callie a range of schools. We hit BC, BU, MIT, and Tufts. All were incredibly cool campuses but Callie enjoyed BU the most, especially because of how it is built right into the city.

We can never visit Boston without seeing the Basak family. Amit, Una, Maya, Sachin, and Anjin are dear to us and are always so generous with their time and space. Amit prepared lobsters for us and enjoyed teaching Callie and Reese the proper way to get the meat out. This certainly came with a whole lot of messiness, but that was nothing compared to the fun and laughter. We are always lucky to get time with them.

Our New England tour took us next to Madison in time for the 4th of July parade and everything that went along with it. We met the whole Skonieczny crew downtown where they had a prime spot reserved along the parade route. It is an absolutely fantastic parade that highlights all that is good about a small town like Madison. And John got to keep pointing out all the people he knew.

After the parade we headed back to Mike and Kristen's for some quality pool time. That obviously made Reese's day, but we all had fun hanging out with the crew. John did not impress anyone with his Marco Polo skills, or lack thereof. And the entire Bowes family was a step or two behind since we don't get as much regular pool time. 

The 4th of July celebration continued with the concert on the town green. Kristen had prepared an incredible picnic dinner that we all got to enjoy. Mike and John's high school graduations took place right off this green over thirty years prior to this and neither one of them could have predicted they would be hanging out like this with their families all these years later. It doesn't get much better.

Time with the Skonieczny's also means time with Kristen, Ella, Ethan, and Eli, who are just wonderful folks. It's amazing how easy of a friendship it is. Whenever we get together it is as if we had just seen each other. And of course we also want Callie and Reese to spend as much time with Ella as possible so all of her adventurous spirit will rub off on them.

Just when you thought we couldn't fit in one more thing we made a final stop in Fairfield to see the McBeans and catch up with them before beginning the drive back to Kentucky. Michelle kept the beach vibes going and brought us down to their club where we took advantage of their chairs and table to enjoy one last ocean view before heading back to lake country. 

While it wasn't planned, the fact that our last stop was at the house of a dermatologist worked out well for Reese who had suffered a close encounter with a solo stove earlier in our trip. Jason went to his office to get some medication and bandages to properly treat the burn and instructed Sarah in the appropriate daily treatment moving forward. We left the McBeans at the crack of dawn the next morning and tied a bow on another fantastic summer trip.

Our Favorite Cape Cod Rental Yet

 We have rented more than our fair share of places on Cape Cod by this point in our lives, but we hit the jackpot this time around.

Our rental cottage was just north of the Orleans roundabout and right on Town Cove. It was a two-bedroom cottage with great amenities, but what really set it apart was the outdoor space. Beautiful yard and right on the water. The views couldn't be beat from morning to night. The hammock, outdoor shower, firepit, and access to kayaks sealed the deal.

Hopefully one day we will return.

We have been to Cape Cod a lot as a family but we are still finding fun things to do and see. It was a short trip from the house to Nauset Beach to take in the ocean as well as the light house that continues to move further back from the eroding coast with each year.

If you are only in town for a week it can be hit or miss, but when the Wellfleet Drive-In has a good movie you have to take advantage. We were lucky and caught Inside Out 2 as the first of two movies. We left before they started Garfield and felt just fine about it. There were no complaints.

And since we knew we would be there for a whole week we bought an Eastham beach pass and headed down to South Sunken Meadow beach, which is where John spent a lot of time as a kid. You can't go wrong on the bay side where the water is warmer, the beach is less crowded, and you can have a lot of fun at low tide.

Although the girls are old enough where they are getting more interested in the UV rating and getting a summer glow they both still love playing together in the water and sand. Reese is definitely the ringleader and would live in the ocean if possible. We could spend every possible minute at the beach and would still not be enough for her.

Walking the flats at low tide is a lot of fun but you also have to stay on your toes. The shallow waters of the bay are filled with all sorts of sea creatures and this picture captures Sarah and the girls caught in the midst of a slew of crabs. They were larger than one would think and were determined to pinch all the feet they could. 

We also got some frisbee time in and enjoyed the sunset while Callie played music on the portable speaker she refused to leave behind. We must admit the music added to the ambience. 

Just when we thought there was nothing new for us to do Sarah made plans for a day trip to Martha's Vineyard. We got an early ferry out of Woods Hole, rented bikes for the day, and had a fantastic adventure on the beautiful island.

We biked to Edgartown along the bike path and stopped at a farmer's market before we hit the main drag. And where is the first place Reese wanted to go on this quaint island? Lululemon. Callie and Sarah each got a Martha's Vineyard shirt from a local store, Reese bought a Lulu tank top she could have purchased anywhere. But everyone was happy, so we can't really complain.

On the bike ride back we stopped at the Jaws bridge and swam for a little bit. Then we had dinner in Oak's Bluff before we caught the ferry home. Everything about the day was great except that somehow biking ended up hurting John's foot. Who knew that a man who runs every day could be laid low by a bike ride?

During the week we also managed to make our way to Chatham to watch the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League. It is a great experience to see a game at these small town venues that have a strong community following and good baseball. Unfortunately for us the game was called after the fourth inning because of the heavy fog that rolled in and didn't leave. 

It wasn't until the second to last day that we left the girls sleeping in and took the kayaks out on Town Cove. This picture captures the view of our place from the water. We could have kayaked out to the ocean if we wanted to but just chose to circle around the cove for an hour or so to get a good look around. 

Our usual trips to Provincetown involve shopping and whale watching. This time we exchanged the whale watching for a sand dune tour. It was worth checking out and we enjoyed hearing the history of the dunes and the various shacks in the dunes. Since these are now protected the experience is very different from when John and his family got to run wild on the dunes.

Sarah and Callie did get an opportunity to run up and down a down when our tour guide stopped at one point and let us out of the truck. Orange Theory had clearly prepared them well for the incline but not so much the sand.

We couldn't leave Provincetown without a good dinner though and we found a great restaurant on the main street. Reese was very excited at their mocktail menu and ordered a strawberry daiquiri. The meal was good and was a fitting end to another great day.

Sport and Nana Banana joined us for the last day of our rental and the day before they started their own week on the Cape. It is always great to spend time with them but being on the Cape makes it even more special. Not pictured here is the late night trip John and Sport made into Boston to pick up the Hannen family as they were joining everyone on the Cape.

Few things capture all that is great about the Cape better than family at the bay watching the sunset. As beautiful as the picture is it still does not do justice to the whole scene. We have always loved spending time on Cape Cod as a family and can't wait to get back.