We are in June and full-on-summer-mode full of family fun, pool days, sports, sports camps, attending sports events, Father’s Day, Dad’s birthday, helping Mom and Dad pack up and get some things from Mansfield to Dublin, and so on. Another full and fun month.

Driveway lego and pool days. We love the summer days spent down the street at Jane and Bryan’s pool with friends. We have so much fun with swim lessons and then just pool fun afterwards or on separate days.

I signed the boys up for Locker Soccer summer camp this year – both during the same week, Reid’s for a half day and Griffin’s for a longer time into the afternoon. This is Reid’s first time in an organized camp and his first instructional group outing (like school) since March of 2020. He definitely had fun, but he has lots to learn in regards to sharing, taking turns, and listening. Ugh, it was rather hard to watch him struggle so much in the first few hours and day or two. Many moments of sadness, sitting by himself, not listening to his teachers, and so on. But eventually he turned a corner and participated and listened much better. Being on his own, not really having played with friends his age or having been in group settings for such a prolonged time has certainly had an impact on him.

The following week Griffin attended the Barca Academy soccer camp at Liberty Park in Powell. Kevin and I were both really impressed with how well-run this camp was. From daily check in, starting with a song and national anthem of Spain, organized team groups and two instructors per group. Each group was on the same schedule taking break at the same time, etc. This was our first experience with an all-day camp (9a-3p) and I was a bit nervous leaving him in a public park with strangers! But he absolutely loved it and had a blast every day.

Kevin, Jim, and Griffin were able to go to the last game at historic Crew Stadium. This was special to Kevin, as he has attended each opening game (at Crew Stadium and the first game of the Crew in 1996 at the Horseshoe) and he wanted to attend the final game at Crew Stadium too. The boys had perfect weather and enjoyed a great game. The Crew won in front of a sell out crowd 2-0 versus the Chicago Fire.

It was an evening game, so Reid and I stayed home and had a relaxing night at home complete with a fun bath and movie snuggles in bed.

For Father’s Day, we gifted Kevin tickets to the Columbus Clippers. In celebration of Father’s Day, they allowed field access to run the bases and toss the ball around on the field with your family.  What a fun time! Sports for Griffin, snacks for Reid – ha!

After the game we walked through Kevin’s Base22 office, which is on Nationwide across from the Arena. The boys thought it was pretty neat and it was my first time inside too. Then we headed for a burger at R Bar.

Sean, Max, and Charlotte came to Ohio for a weeklong plus visit and came to Powell a couple of times. We were able to enjoy an outdoor concert in downtown Powell on Village Green. The kids absolutely loved playing together and seeing each other again – it’s been a couple years!

 

Millcreeks end of Spring Celebration was a family event this year held at the Columbus Zoo and Zoombeezi Bay. We had a fun family day walking a bit around the zoo but mostly spending time in the water at the Bay!

In early June we headed to Mansfield to rent a U-Haul in order to move down a few key components from Mom and Dad’s house to their new home in Dublin. Things like the kitchen table and chairs, their bed frame, the dining room china cabinet and buffet, and so on. We packed up the rental pretty full, secured everything down, and headed to Dublin. We are becoming excellent packers, lol. We all drove separately, Kevin in the rental, me in the van with the kids, Mom and Dad in their cars. By the time I stopped home to feed Brutus and let him out and then got over to Dublin they had the van all unloaded thanks to help from Andy and Rowan. Whew – way faster to unload than load that’s for sure! Everything is fitting really nicely in their new space.  From the time Mom and Dad secured their new home, Dad said he wanted to close and have possession in order to celebrate his birthday there – and that is exactly how it played out! We got City BBQ carryout and enjoyed our first family dinner there to celebrate Dad’s birthday.

This year on Nathan’s birthday, we visited the cemetery with flowers I’d cut from our gardens. We cleaned up Nathan’s headstone and prayed for our family. Reid had some questions as each year he has more of an understanding of who Nathan is and of course this year questions about where he is. It’s always an emotional visit.

This picture I snapped of the sunrise a bit before 6 am from our back patio. The colors were beautiful! I seem to be in a normal routine of waking up about 5:40 every morning, without an alarm clock. So Brutus and I head downstairs for coffee and breakfast together. We’ve been doing some yard clean-up, including trimming trees in the back. We’re hopeful that this will be the year we are able to put in a new patio and revamp our back yard.

I’ve planted a handful of annuals out front: angelonia, lantana, salvia, verbena, and new guinea impatiens to spruce up the front and add some constant color.  Looking forward to these things getting big!

 

1179 Pearce Drive is beginning to look much different with things moved out and what is left having been rearranged. I headed up to Mansfield for a trip to dig up plants for Millcreek – some ginger and mini-polygonatum. We got many many crates which I drove down to Millcreek and loaded on to a rack. It was hot and we were sweaty but it was fun!

Reidy is usually my morning buddy, joining me on the patio this morning for coffee and cuddles. He also likes to help Kevin mow the lawn.

We’re excited for Griffin to have the opportunity to play on the Olentangy United Football Club soccer team this upcoming year. He will play on the U9 Blue Team with practices and most games in Lewis Center and Powell areas. Griffin is pretty excited!

And here are a few to wrap up June.  Matching PJ’s, a visit from Haya and baby Summer, and a celebration for Chris Howard’s 50th birthday complete with a really cool cake!

 

Reidy got a splinter in his foot (from our kitchen floor, ugh!) and he was really upset! It was a challenge to get out, but we got it!

 

And here are some fun videos.