London 2023

Although this was officially Callie's birthday trip, we start with a picture of Reese pointing at our final destination. We had been thinking about this trip for a while and even got the girls passports back in March to prepare for the possibility. But the real planning began as soon as Callie made London her birthday destination of choice. Once we knew the destination the research team went into action and we started planning a schedule around the tickets we could get for soccer games in London. It's not as easy as it sounds but we managed to put it all together and there we were at the airport ready for our redeye flight to Heathrow. We landed in London at 10am their time. No one had slept well but Reese hadn't slept at all. We got our bags and headed to our rented flat in the Battersea neighborhood. The plan for the day was to check out the neighborhood before grabbing dinner and heading to our first match - Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
 

Selhurst Park is in the middle of a residential area in South London and is an incredible place to watch a match. Reese had taken a solid nap that afternoon so was ready to go. Callie and Sarah had taken a brief tour of Battersea instead, but all of us were excited for the game. Our seats were not far from the field so we had a great view and could feel the energy that rippled through the stands from beginning to end.

Getting tickets was no small feat and for this match it meant that John had a single seat one section away from Sarah, Callie, and Reese. He had to share this picture with Sarah, though, because Selhurst Park is an old stadium and not built for tall individuals apparently. The leg room left much to be desired but this did not dampen the experience at all. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. We were just happy to see a good match and soak in an in-person Premier League experience on our very first day. It was a great way to kick off the trip.

If we were going to London for only seven days we were going to make every minute count. That meant no sleeping in on Friday morning. We got up early, had some breakfast, and headed to the tube to meet our tour guide for a morning visit to some iconic London spots. We started at the Tower of London with our guide, Amber, who was recommended to us by some friends of ours from Lexington. She walked us around and shared all sorts of stories about the history of the Tower, the lives of its residents, and even the names of its ravens. 

 

We were very lucky in that there were so few tourists there and we seemingly had the place to ourselves. This might be because it was early in the morning or because it was a weekday, but either way it was ideal. We didn't have to wait to see the Crown Jewels and we got to linger in any spot we wanted to. Another cool aspect about our tour was that Amber knew we were going to see the musical Six that night and therefore made sure to tell us all about Henry the VIII and his history with the Tower.

From the Tower of London we walked about half a mile to St. Paul's Cathedral. This was where Charles and Diana were married, a generational talking point for people John and Sarah's age. It was gorgeous and there was much more to see than you might anticipate. Not only do you have the main cathedral space but there is a huge dome overhead you can walk to as well as memorial spaces all throughout the first floor.

 

And down below the cathedral is the crypt, where the bodies of dozens if not hundreds of notable English men and women are laid to rest. This also is home to the Chapel of the Order of the British Empire. It is so very interesting to visit a place that is drowning in tradition and nobility, things that you have only read about or seen in movies. And we wouldn't have fully grasped most of it without the help of Amber to guide us through. She was an absolute delight.

That evening, after lunch downtown and a stroll through Covington Gardens and a few other spots we headed to our Friday evening big event, seeing Six in the West End. We weren't sure exactly what to expect but knew that a musical about the six wives of King Henry VIII was at least fitting for our trip. We loved it and ended up listening to the music for weeks and months afterwards. The show had a lot of great humor and energy and we would recommend it highly.

Once the show ended we made our way back to the flat by walking for a bit and then catching the tube. One of the best parts of the trip overall was navigating the city using public transportation. Callie and Reese loved figuring out the best way to get places and Callie especially enjoyed the idea of the freedom that public transportation could bring someone of her age. It also helped us that we had a bus stop right in front of our flat. Day 2 in London was a success and we fell asleep quickly that night.

Day three brought another early morning because we had reservations for breakfast at the Sky Garden which is located at the top of what the locals refer to as the Walkie Talkie building. This was a cool indoor arboretum that provided panoramic views of the city and we were lucky enough to have very good weather and could see for miles around.

As might be expected, the early morning get up and go did not always sit well with the younger members of our crew, but once we got going they both appreciate the opportunity to see as much as we did. Not only did breakfast have a great view, but it allowed us to sample some interesting English breakfast cuisine. No blood sausage, but the coconut quinoa was intriguing.

We left breakfast in order to catch a train to East London where we had tickets to see West Ham United play Manchester United. After reassuring the West Ham ticket office that we had no intention of saying anything nice about the team from Manchester they let us have our tickets and we entered a stadium very different from Selhurst Park. This stadium was originally built for the 2012 Olympics and West Ham managed to get it as their home once the Olympics were over. It is massive and the seats have plenty of leg room. We had a great time watching the Hammers beat the Red Devils 2-0 and watching the bubbles fly high in the air.

But the day was nowhere near over. It was December 23 and London is known for its Christmas light displays. If you ask Callie and Reese, it appeared that Sarah was intent on seeing every single one of those displays. We may not have seen them all, but we saw a lot of them. You would turn down a street and see a different them for the lights hanging across the road. It was very impressive.

There were a couple of areas that had massive storefront displays as well. This one was set up as an advent calendar, which was quite a sight to see in person. The streets were filled with locals and tourists preparing for Christmas and even though it was not the holiday preparation we were used to, we were definitely getting in the spirit.

We spent Christmas Eve morning with thousands of our closest friends outside the gates of Buckingham Palace to witness the changing of the guard. We knew we wanted to experience this but didn't know the treat we would get. Since we were there on Christmas Eve the band played several Christmas carols along with their traditional music. Fortunately we were right by the gates and got a great view of the whole proceeding.

Once that was over we walked to visit a few Christmas markets in Trafalgar Square. Everyone was still a bit fatigued but a tasty donut can help cure even the largest ailment. We didn't have any specific plans until a little later that afternoon so took our time walking around, did a little shopping, and walked through Chinatown.

We knew that during our trip we would have to have afternoon tea at least once and there are all sorts of options offered by hotels in the city. On a recommendation from the same friend who pointed us toward Amber, we chose the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory themed afternoon tea. We didn't know what to expect but all went in with open minds. This especially applied to John, who did not have high expectations for the amount of food that "afternoon tea" would provide.

The meal started off with some fun cocktails and mocktails, followed by scones. This led into a variety of sandwiches that were very tasty. Even better, we could get more if we wanted to. John was pleased. Eventually we did have some actual tea and even hot chocolate, but the grand finale was the sweet finish to the meal which included all that you see in this picture. It was decadent to say the least. That night we made it back to the flat and made a simple meal of ravioli in the flat and watched a movie before heading to bed so that we would be ready to go on Christmas Day.

All public transportation is closed on Christmas Day in London, and after a brief thought that we might have to ride e-bikes into the city John was able to secure an Uber so that we could make it to Westminster Abbey for Christmas Day mass. Because we were unsure of the timing we got there early, which turned out to be fantastic because we ended up getting seats right near the pulpit and the altar. It was an incredible experience to be in that space on such a special day.

When the service was over we walked out through the main entrance. It was somewhat slowgoing, which was great because it gave us time to soak it all in and take some photos. Everything about the building was impressive and we were so happy that Sarah's planning had enabled us to be part of the experience.

Even though it was Christmas Day we still had things to do and we were clearly not the only ones. John could not stop commenting on how busy the streets of London were. We had scoped out some places to have lunch in Chinatown the day before, but on our way made sure to get the requisite picture of us with Big Ben.

Lunch in Chinatown was very tasty, but it is quite possible that the dessert afterward was even better. Sarah and Reese had their eyes on these bubble cones long before we finally got them and they were not disappointed. We headed back to the flat a little earlier than our norm because all of our activity was catching up to us. We recognized that it was not the end of the world if we didn't see everything this time around.

December 26 was our last full day in London and we started off by taking a bus to Richmond. All of us but Reese had watched the three seasons of Ted Lasso and wanted to get a glimpse of where some of it had been filmed. It was also a great opportunity to see a smaller community in the greater London area. We ended up having a great meal and making sure that the London area Lululemon store was not overstocked. 

On our way back to our flat we stopped at the Tower Bridge to get some photos and check out another Christmas market that was spread out along the Thames River walkway. It was so fun to be in a city where almost every direction you looked you saw a recognizable building or landmark. 

On that final night we ate dinner in a pub and watched a soccer game. It was the perfect way to wrap up a fantastic trip. We truly could not have asked for it to have worked out any better than it did. We have a feeling that this won't be the last trip to London for us and we can't wait to get to all the things we missed this time around. Thanks for turning 16, Callie!

Reese Turns 13

It 's always a pretty quick transition from Thanksgiving to the next phase of holiday preparations. But there is much to do before we get to Christmas. We have to get the house ready, of course, but most important we have to celebrate the youngest member of our household.

A Christmas tradition that we have had for quite some time now is dipping chocolate. Kelly and Sarah typically take a day off from work only for them to put in eight plus hours of back breaking effort creating masterpieces of tasty chocolate morsels. This year Brian asked if he could join in the fun. He arrived early and even had his own heating pad for his back to ensure he could keep up. The day was long, but it was a success.

This year Reese turned 13 which meant it was a party year. After some discussion of what type of party to have, we decided to do a throwback theme to when she turned 7. This involved decorating gingerbread houses and other crafts. Fortunately, Reese and her friends are much taller now and we didn't have to find stools for all of them to reach their houses on the kitchen island.

They all showed up appropriately attired for a winter birthday celebration. And one of the things that is always fun is when a party brings together friends from all different parts of your life. Reese had a great time with all of them.

The girls may be older and taller than they were six years ago, but they are still as messy as ever. They also put as much candy in their mouths as they did on their houses, which is to be expected. Sarah did a great job packaging up each house so they could take them home and not leave us with all of that sweetness to tempt us.

In the end all of the girls seemed to have a great time. The weather was warm enough that they even played outside for a bit. Not pictured here are the various attempts of Reese and her friend Sophie to recreate the epic final scene from Dirty Dancing when Patrick Swayze lifts Baby into the air. Trust us, it was a special moment. And now Reese is officially a teenager. Time certainly flies.

November Adventures

The fun did not stop at the end of October and in fact we threw in a little bit of travel to keep things exciting. First up was a whirlwind trip to the Northeast for Sarah and John.

We were excited to get back to Beantown, even if it was only going to be for a short visit. John's college friend Amit was celebrating his 50th in style and we couldn't miss it. We left early Saturday morning and had time to walk around the city before the main event. It was a beautiful fall day and we even got to hit a holiday market for good measure.

John and Amit met on the very first day of college freshman year and have been great friends ever since. Phil, pictured here as well, has been close friends with Amit since high school. It's a testament to what a great guy Amit is that the two of us and many more flocked to Boston to celebrate him.

Some of the folks at the party didn't have to travel quite so far for the fun. Masu and John have also been close friends since freshman year of college. She has lived in many places since then but now lives with her husband Badar in Boston. It was wonderful to have some time to catch up with them as well.

Amit and his wife Una throw an impressive party, that's for sure. It started with meditation, then moved into cocktails and apps. This included lobster claws, oysters, and plenty of other food options. No one went hungry, and once the band started playing, no one stood still. Throw in a photo booth arrangement and the recipe for good times was complete. The following morning required a little bit of determination to get moving, but we made it to the airport and headed home to Lexington in good spirits.

This weekend getaway was quickly followed by a more common travel event for us these days. Sarah went with Callie for a soccer tournament in Indianapolis to kick off her club season. And although Callie wasn't on the same team as her friends Maddie and Addie, we managed to meet up with them for lunch and a tasty milkshake flight.

Meanwhile, John and Reese had a longer drive to the Windy City for a couple of games against the Chicago teams that are part of her club conference schedule. For November the Chicago weather was not too bad, but the real bonus was the mall near the hotel that Reese and her friends visited. It is always important to see if the Chicago Lululemon stores are the same as those in Lexington. You can never be too sure.

 

And before you know it, Thanksgiving was here. A few blocks from our house is a street that is lined with gingko trees and every year there is a week or two when you can capture the radiant yellows of the leaves that give the street a beautiful glow. We were excited to be able to capture the moment since we were home for Thanksgiving this year.

Thanksgiving at home means spending time with our Lexington family. As we have done before at previous holidays we were able to share the meal and quality time with Sharon, Chris, and Chris's sister Cissy and her family. It's always good food and the company is even better.

We were also able to squeeze in a Friendsgiving with the entire Wine Club, minus Ella and Claire, who had stayed in Oregon for the holiday. They were certainly missed but we had a good time catching up before two of the college kids headed back to school. It is hard to believe that this crew has been getting together for the last thirteen years. 

Big Doings in October

High school soccer is always a bit of a sprint and it is over before you know it, but it doesn't mean that our lives were only about soccer. We managed to fit a few other things in during and after the season.

2023 was all about live music for Callie and her friends. They saw Taylor Swift in the spring, Callie saw the Chicks with us and the summer, and then when fall came around Sarah and Callie headed down to Nashville to see SZA in concert. Three great shows and three very different musical styles. The girls were ready for it all.

The SZA concert was also a great opportunity for Sarah and Callie to make some memories, which included an early morning drive back to Lexington in order to get in a half day of school so Callie could still play in the soccer game that night. Callie loves being busy and having a full schedule, but this may have been pushing the limits a bit. The show was fun, though, and Sarah got to learn the lyrics that are seldom played on the radio. 

October also brought a pretty monumental event to our household as Callie turned 16. It worked out well that there was a soccer team bonding dinner the night before her birthday. Her teammates were very sweet and helped her celebrate. And we already did this post, but she then went out and scored a couple of goals on her birthday against Scott County. Just saying.

The actual day of her birthday also fell during fall break which meant that Callie was able to go out for a birthday lunch with her friends. It was a very sweet way to celebrate a milestone that all of them were on the verge of reaching. Because of the soccer game our family dinner celebration occurred on another night where we unveiled the gift - three envelopes that provided Callie with three choices. One was a shopping spree. Two was a trip to a beach of her choice. Three was a trip to London that would include some Premier League soccer games. She wanted some time to decide but ultimately chose number three. That was exactly the choice we hoped she would make.

Of course the 16th birthday also has another big rite of passage associated with it. Callie was prepared, went to her appointment, and passed the test necessary to obtain her learner's permit. It was game on for getting another driver in the Bowes household. We just needed to find the time to get her behind the wheel. The ultimate test for her will be learning how to back out of our driveway. The roads are nothing compared to the pressure of that maneuver.

This year Callie also got the opportunity to go to Homecoming at Henry Clay with a group of friends. Things have changed a little since her parent's homecoming days in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The girls make pretty elaborate bridesmaid style bouquets for themselves on the morning of the dance. They use them for the pictures and then they are put aside. Most important, Callie had fun.

At the end of the month we had a different kind of dress up as Reese and her friends gathered to go trick or treating. As a group they represented two of the hot trends of 2023 - Barbie and Taylor Swift. Reese did a great job of designing her own sweatshirt for the Speak Now Taylor Swift era and it worked out well. She had a great time of course, because it involved friends and candy.

Now that we have a teenager and a tween in the house, there seems to be a lot of time when they go upstairs and we have no idea what is going on. We were delighted when we came across this picture as we learned that they are still just kids at heart with a little extra time spent on beauty regimens. 

Although Reese did not get to go to see Taylor Swift live, she and Sarah met up with Mary and Erin Oakley to see the movie version of the tour. The four of them had a great time and while nothing beats a live concert, they certainly enjoyed singing along throughout the show.

2023 Blue Devils Girls Soccer

After a summer of travel and fun, it was time for Callie to buckle down for her sophomore year of soccer at Henry Clay. After a great freshman campaign she wanted to make sure she didn't rest on her laurels and take anything for granted.

We were all very proud and happy that she made the varsity squad again and she loved participating from the other side on the grand tradition of toilet-papering the homes of the new varsity team members. It is a great group of girls and Callie enjoys the time she gets with them on and off the field. The team lost some strong players from the year before but they were ready for the challenge ahead.

After playing much of her freshman year at the forward position, Callie adjusted to being one of the outside wings/midfielders. It required a lot more running in the transitions from offense to defense and back. Her time in club playing defense certainly helped her be effective on both sides of the ball. 

One of the big adjustments for Callie in the new role on the wing was also mental because she was not the point person for the offense as much. In her first year on varsity she led the team in scoring, but now she was supposed to create opportunities for others more than focus on scoring. And in the first month of the season as the team worked to get into a rhythm Callie played well with two goals and five assists. She was also proving to have very reliable corner kicks, with two of her assists coming off her deliveries.

It was an up and down season for the team and for Callie as well. Henry Clay had a nine-year streak of winning their district heading into this season and to keep that streak alive they would have to come together as a squad. At times they looked unbeatable and at other times they struggled. 

Regardless of how the team was doing, however, the team dinners, morning bagels in the parking lot, and just the overall camaraderie continued to feed Callie's soul. Through the ups and downs, and there were plenty of both, Callie never stopped loving her teammates and being part of the team.

And as happens with every mad rush through the season, districts were upon us before we knew it. Our first game was against Scott County, a rematch of a thrilling 3-2 Henry Clay win from earlier in the season. This game proved to be even more exciting as Scott County took an early 2-0 lead and had the Blue Devils on their heels. But Callie and crew dug deep and tied it up by halftime. Less than a minute into the second half Callie scored a go ahead goal and the show of offense truly commenced. At the final whistle the scoreboard registered a 6-4 victory for Henry Clay. 

On to the championship game we went. It was a rematch of the previous year's district championship against Frederick Douglass. Henry Clay won that game 2-1, but in this regular season Douglass had beaten the Blue Devils pretty handily 4-0. Fortunately this game was a much better contest. Unfortunately it ended with a 2-1 defeat. 

The good news is that the runner-up still moves on to the regional tournament. This meant the girls had at least one more game to play. And the Blue Devils received their 2nd place district trophy eager to move on and show what they were made of. When the schedule came out they were headed up the road to Georgetown to play Great Crossing High School.

The Great Crossing field is where Henry Clay had won districts the previous year so they felt confident going into the match. To say this was an exciting game is an understatement. As was the case at points during the season, the girls fell behind early and clawed back. The game went back and forth heading into the final minutes. A free kick goal put the Warhawks up 4-3 with only 4-5 minutes left. The Blue Devils refused to give up and literally fought to the very last second. There was one second left on the clock and the referee had the clock stopped to allow Henry Clay to take a corner kick. Callie delivered a beautiful ball and Grace Plummer headed it into the back of the net. As Blue Devil fans went bananas the referee signaled that the goal did not count because time had run out. Safe to say there was a flurry of emotions and one of the Blue Devil assistant coaches got a red card in the process. Such a difficult end to the season.

And just like that, Callie's second year of varsity soccer at Henry Clay came to an end. It was a tougher year than the first one, but no less rewarding in the end because of the bonds she continued to build and the joy she continued to have playing with her teammates. 

Hitting the Books Again

And just like that, even though meteorological summer wasn't over until September 21, the Bowes summer was over and a new school year had begun.

Both Callie and Reese were starting their second years in their respective schools, so we didn't have any nervous jitters around what to expect or how to get around the building. They were calm, cool, collected, and ready for the year ahead. We were excited to see what the new year would bring.

For Reese, the new year brought a new sport. After her successful 6th grade track season the Morton cross-country coach came calling and recruited her for the team. Reese was a bit wary but likes Coach Travis so was willing to give it a try. It was an impressive feat because much of the fall required her to juggle cross country practices and a soccer practices. She did great in the meets she was able to attend and finished off that season with a third-place finish in the Fayette County championships. If you asked her, though, she would say that the anxiety around the races were too much for her to take. We'll see if she continues this sport but we are proud of her for trying it.

Of course the girls aren't the only ones with school affiliations in this household and it turned out that one of UK's first home football games featured the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky University. Sharon and Chris generously offered to bring us to the game and even allowed John to wear his EKU gear in their seats. It was a little tense early on when EKU actually had the lead and the Cats were not looking good. The tide soon shifted, but it was a little dicey at the beginning.

We feel so fortunate to have not just good neighbors but good friends in the Chrismans. Whenever we get together it is always a good time and we are able to talk anything and everything. Sharon even told Sarah how to pose for this picture to get the most flattering profile. Sarah always appreciates any opportunity to learn from the wisdom that Sharon provides.

Nana Banana and Sport came out for their fall trip to visit and catch some soccer games. We decided to give them the full experience which meant they got to drive up to Indiana to see Reese's club team play. Nothing beats six hours in a car just to see a 90-minute game. Even better, the timing of the game meant we drove up the night before and added a hotel stay to the mix. If you asked them they would say they would have driven twice as long if it meant they got to see their granddaughter play. 

Here is a picture of Reese's squad for the fall season. They ended up having their fair share of wins in various states, all while getting to know a new coach. Reese loved Coach Kurt and ended up starting at left back for the season. She continues to show tremendous grit and skill as she holds her own against girls half a foot taller and who, it is safe to say, have a few pounds on her. Reese is deceptively tough and fun to watch.

Ending Another Summer of Fun

Out two weeks in the Southwest made the summer magical, but it did not mean that summer was completely over just yet. We still had a few trips up our sleeve.

Before Ella and Claire went off to college we fit in some family fun by going with the Abrahams to see The Chicks play in Louisville. It was Callie's third concert of the year but this marked Reese's debut on the concert scene. The four adults sat in one section and the four kids sat together several rows away in seats with a better view. It was a great show and the girls enjoyed watching Reese react to concert shenanigans going on around them. Education doesn't just take place in the classroom.

Meanwhile, the year of celebrating the half-century mark continued. This time Sarah flew to Jackson Hole to join her crew in marking Lauren's birthday. Following our experience in Zion, Sarah had recommended e-bikes for excursions into Grand Teton National Park. And yet again, they were a huge hit as each individual could rely on the alternative power as much as they wanted. The bikes were deemed the Great Activity Equalizer. We all need a way to keep up with Lauren, who appeared to return her bike with almost a full charge remaining.

It was absolutely a wonderful weekend filled with biking, hiking, eating, and drinking. In short, a perfect way to celebrate both a birthday and over thirty years of friendship. Sarah loves the Grand Tetons and can't wait to find another reason to return and spend more time in the area. 

While Sarah was high in the mountains, John was on the eastern edge of Long Island having his own birthday celebration. For the first time in four years the whole crew was able to gather in one place, thanks to the fact that we could all crash at Bill's house. For a couple of days we were able to reconnect, tell stories, eat, and drink. There was far less hiking involved on the Atlantic Coast, that's for sure. But for a crew that has known each other for more than four decades, the bonds remain strong and it is so easy to be together.

We did venture on a very short hike on the beach one evening and this is proof. Perhaps we were all tired because of the distance traveled to get here. Bill now lives in Madrid, Spain, Tyler in Long Beach, California, and Ted in Seattle. It makes the journey from Kentucky seem like a walk in the park. Regardless, getting together is so important. We even manage to take some time away from talking about the past to work through the trials and tribulations of the present. There is nothing quite so valuable as true friendships.

We must also note that the trips with friends were made possible through the love and generosity of Aunt Katie, who flew down to Lexington to spend time with Callie and Reese while their parents were gallivanting around the country. Katie didn't have an easy assignment either, as she had to get the girls to their soccer obligations, which for Callie included toilet-papering houses to welcome new varsity players to the high school team. Thank you, Aunt Katie!

Speaking of soccer, Callie took all the courses required to become an official referee and thus entered her first paying job. She wasn't quite ready to tackle the responsibilities of being a center ref but was happy to run the lines and take care of things that way. It's a big step and a fun one to see.