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. 

Just like that - summer begins

Sarah has loved Orange Theory since she first started in January 2023. This summer, to keep Callie in shape she invited her to join in the fun. Unfortunately for Callie, this meant she had to go with Sarah to early (5am) classes during the week even while school was still in session. She was a trooper and seemed to really enjoy the structured workouts and her mom enjoyed that she could still lift heavier weights. Callie still got her on the treadmill though.

Since we always capture the first day of school we figured it was worth getting the girls on their last day of sophomore year and 7th grade. Callie is now halfway through high school and Reese only has one more year of middle school. Everything is moving so quickly, except for Reese, who still had to wear her boot for a little while longer.

It doesn't take long to shift from school into summer mode and camp is certainly a major catalyst for that. Callie enjoyed year at Cathedral Domain, the camp she first started attending back in first grade. She and her friends have always enjoyed their time there and can't wait to go back.

We have pictures like this one from when all these girls were probably half as tall. And now many of them spend even more time there as counselors than as actual campers. Callie had a great time as always and it was the perfect kick off to her summer.

Reese started her summer with a different camp experience. It was a Wyldlife Camp in Missouri that started with a 12-hour bus ride departing from Lexington at 5:30am. These girls are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with excitement for the week ahead. And Reese was especially happy because she got her boot off just days before. Reese came back with nothing but raves about the camp and hopes to do it again next year.

Soccer, track and relatives, oh my!

 Spring also meant lots of soccer and a visit from family. But first, lots of soccer.

Reese was in the middle of her full year with her club team but Callie's team only got started once the high school season had finished. Both girls were excited for spring and the possibilities it held. For us it was another year of making sure that people had rides to practices, hotels for away games, and some kind of family time when we could all eat together. And of course there was school and work to consider. 

The great thing about travel sports is that it can sometimes provide great opportunities to see people. It just so happened that when Callie had a tournament in southern Ohio in mid-April his friend Michelle from Connecticut was only a few miles away because her daughter had a basketball tournament. Michelle played soccer through college so was more than happy to drive over, chat with John, and catch some of Callie's game. Callie made it worth her while by scoring twice while she was there. We are hoping our paths will cross this way again so that we can see Hayden play basketball, but it hasn't happened yet.

Of course soccer is not the only sport going on in the spring. Both girls ran track again this year. Although they did not get to go to a lot of the meets because of their soccer commitments, they did their best to show up for their teams. Reese continued to love running with her soccer buddy, Emerson. Whenever the two of them had a meet they tried to make sure they lined up next to each other at the start and ran together as long as possible in the race. One of the best displays of their friendship came in one race when they gave each other a high five heading into the final lap as a show of support for each other. It was one of the coolest things ever.

They say April showers bring May flowers, but for us April brought a wonderful visit from GA and GU, aka Uncle Ron and Aunt Teri Lucas. It had been a while since we had seen them and so it was fantastic that they made the effort to come and see us. Sarah took off a couple of days to hang out and their first stop was a day at Keeneland during the spring meet. They started the day with lunch at the track kitchen and took photos with some of the locals.

Sarah made sure they got a picture with the iconic Keeneland clock and bet on some races. It was funny to watch the sequence of events as Ron placed his two dollar bet for his horse to win, got excited when his horse won, and then found out just how much (or how little) his two dollar bet actually paid. The rollercoaster of emotions was enjoyable and in the end everyone had a great time.

One of the main reasons GA and GU wanted to come was to see the girls playing their sports. Unfortunately the soccer schedule did not completely line up for both girls. They were able to see Callie play a game and then showed their dedication by sitting through all of Reese's track meet on a chilly evening. 

 

Since we had a little more free time than we thought we were able to enjoy a new experience for all of us at the Kentucky Theater in downtown Lexington. A renowned organist was in town and he played for a number of silent movies from the 1930s. The main feature was "The Freshmen" and it was truly a fun night though we all agreed that one of the two shorter films was the best one of the night. The Freshmen could have used some editing, in our humble opinion. We capped off the evening with a night of sushi and ice cream, which is the perfect way to complete a great visit.

This spring also included an important milestone in Callie's life at First Presbyterian Church. She was officially confirmed and Kelly Abraham served as her mentor, which was so fitting. As we told Callie several times during the process, we are proud of how involved she is in the life of the church community and how she has been engaged in developing relationships with everyone there. Confirmation indicates that you are officially a member and there is no doubt that she is a contributing member to that community.

Toward the end of the spring soccer season we had a trip to Michigan for the whole family. Callie got invited to play up with the top team and it just so happened that her game was at the same time as Reese's game. Fortunately they were playing on fields right next to each other so we just had to keep our heads on a swivel to keep up with the action in both places. Callie played well and was happy with her performance. Reese played tough but complained that her foot was hurting. However, since they had no subs she played the whole game.

Well it turns out that Reese's foot was hurting for a reason. Although she couldn't tell you when it happened, at some point during that game she broke a bone in her foot. She was in a boot for four weeks and unfortunately had to miss her last soccer game and final track meets of the season. All in all, though, it was a pretty smooth recovery and not a bad thing that she had to take a break. 

Fortunately Callie's season did not end with an injury. Instead, she and her team made it to the finals of the President's Cup tournament in Elizabethtown. Although they lost in the finals to Eastern Elite and their IV drips the team played tough and had a great time doing so. And in all honesty, most parents were happy that with the loss they would not have to figure out travel plans for Kansas City which would be the next step of that tournament. And as both soccer and school began to wind down we could start thinking about summer.

Charleston in the Spring

We have never taken a full family trip during spring break because John's spring breaks have never lined up with the Fayette County spring breaks. But this spring because John wasn't teaching it was easier to get away and we just made it happen.

The girls were thrilled to get out of Lexington and Callie just wanted to make sure we could go to the beach and get some sun. It didn't really matter what beach. We just wanted to make sure we could drive there. After doing a bit of last minute research we found a good deal at a hotel in Charleston, South Carolina. The hotel had a couple of pools and we could see the ocean from our room so it hit all the right marks. 

Sarah was the only one who had been to Charleston before, so for the most part it was a new experience for all of us. A great feature of our hotel was a free shuttle to and from downtown so we could get there easily. On our first full day we took a horse drawn carriage tour through the heart of downtown and learned some history. We could have done without some of our fellow tourists who clearly had different ideas about the Civil than John, but these things happen. 

The city is beautiful and has a lot of character in its older houses and structures. With the girls being 13 and 16 we somehow also found the high end shopping area that made them like the city a little more than they expected. We also had a great meal one night and the bill highlighted that the girls are not eating off the kids menu anymore. Traveling as a family these days is more and more enjoyable on a number of levels.

The timing of our trip also coincided with Easter, which meant Sarah was prepared to ensure the girls were spoiled and had another themed basket to remember the day. The balcony of our room provided the perfect setting and when the girls found out that the theme was beauty and skin care they were over the moon, or sunrise, based on the time of day.

Once we had properly enjoyed our Easter morning we took advantage of another benefit at our hotel. We got bikes and headed out for a day of sunshine and fun. We started by riding to Vicious Biscuits, a place recommended to us that did not disappoint. Once we were properly fueled we headed to downtown Charleston, which meant we rode over the Cooper River Bridge, which is 2.5 miles long. Sarah was confident we could do it, John was doubtful, and Reese wanted an e-bike. 

Well we made it without too much hardship or whining by John, and then got to spend the day exploring different parts of the city. We went to the aquarium, which allowed us to get the picture to the right. Our aquarium snobbery got the best of us here and so we didn't spend too much time here. But it was a good stop on the way into the heart of the city.

We rode along the park near the Battery area on the bay and found our way to what is called Rainbow Row, which is an area where the townhouses are all in rainbow and pastel colors. These houses were originally built three hundred years ago and over time have served as homes, warehouses, and shops. Local preservationists saved them from destruction over one hundred years ago. It was a fun spot to see and we were not the only out of towners looking to get a picture or two in the area. 

The ride back over the bridge to our hotel was actually a bit easier than the ride there, but we were certainly ready for a reward once we parked the bikes. Luckily the Easter Bunny was there to help us with some smiles and popsicles. One of the fun features of the hotel was that they had afternoon ice cream treats which delighted all of us whether we were at the pool or coming home from a bike ride.

That next day we secured our visit to the ocean to make the trip complete. Just a short drive from Charleston is Folly Beach and while the weather wasn't perfect, the sun was out and those who wanted to try and get a little color could give it a go. It certainly wasn't warm enough to get in the water but we were able to get some sun and dip our toes in the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes that is all you need.

On the drive home we made a stop in Tennessee to meet up with one of Callie's friends and her dad. Callie went off with them for a couple of days while Reese traveled home with us to make sure she got to her soccer practice. It was rainy and overcast but we didn't think too much of it until we pulled off the highway in Lexington and started to see trees down on our drive back to the house. And as it turns out we came back to a house without power and a canceled soccer practice. Such a fun way to end our spring break trip. But we carried on and were only out of power for a couple of days. Life is never dull.