August Wrap Up

Before I can jump into September, I need to fully digest August. I think we packed so much fun in because of last Winter here in Michigan. With record snowfall and very cold temperatures, we knew we had better enjoy each day and make some last-minute memories! Winter is right around the corner.

Here are some of our highlights:

It was fun planning our niece, Samantha's shower and decorating pretzels with Monica.

M. came home to be a bridesmaid in her friends' (Danielle and Joe) wedding.

The four of us spent an afternoon out at the cottage, taking a cruise on the pontoon, followed by dinner at The Firehouse in Fenton.

I've come to accept quality time vs quantity time with M. when she comes home. She has so many places to go and people to see; seriously! Unfortunately she didn't even have time to see any of her extended family.  We celebrated Lincoln and J's birthdays with a nice seafood dinner in Birmingham, followed by the infamous attempt at taking the perfect photo for this year's Christmas card. Wouldn't you know that J. just happened to have to wear his glasses that night (eye issue) and M. happened to be wearing her sunglasses in most of the pictures. No, I'm not being negative here,  just making an observation. ;)

Taking a road trip with J. down to Cincinatti for the Western Southern Tennis Tournament was definitely a highlight. We watched the Bryan identical twins play Jack Sock and another guy, while sitting in the best seats in the house (front row on the right corner!).  I especially loved watching Ferrer and learning about his work ethic. J. taught me all about these guys and really got me interested in following them. We also saw some of the best female tennis players of today. Both J. and I love the sport of tennis and the level of class of the fans. We decided this might have to be an annual event!

Harbor Springs is one of our favorite spots in Michigan. We took J. up there to stay at the Baylis Birchwood House. We had a blast! My golf game finally came together and I played my all-time best round: 45 + 40 = 85. To say I was excited is an understatement. I had the cart to myself, so there were no distractions. I tried to remember all J. taught me about coming back slow and low; straight back (not like a baseball swing); accelerating to 100% speed when I hit the ball; my hands go out to right field;  and follow through. There were photos and a whole lot of bragging going on! We played a lot of golf and ate a lot of good food and enjoyed our time together.

On our way home from up north we attended my Godmother and her husband's 50th Wedding Anniversary Party. We were able to see a lot of my Aunt Winnie's family. It was nice to see everyone when it wasn't a funeral. We enjoyed celebrating  Jane and Jerry!  My take-aways came from their son, Bob's speech, where he shared what his parents taught them about Passion, Partnership and Playfulness in marriage. What a legacy!

We celebrated the long Labor Day Weekend in Arizona. The Sanctuary is the place  to go and get totally pampered in luxury if you can handle the heat (109 degrees in the afternoon) of Summer.  We've been there at least four times, but this time Linc was determined to climb Camelback Mountain. We woke up super early on Friday morning to get an early start. I may write a whole blog post about the trip up there if I get a few moments later.  It was not easy, but I was so proud that Linc made it to the top! There were photos and a whole lot of bragging going on! We spent most of the time IN the pool at the Spa because it was the only way to stay cool. If you know me, I only get in if it's HOT.  My favorite outing was when we took a tour of Taliesin West, which was Frank Lloyd Wright's Winter Home and School from 1937-1959. Linc and I love his "Organic Architecture." It really made us want to build a home! We ate a lot of great food and enjoyed our time together and focused on a few things in our marriage that needed tending. It didn't bother me that Linc accidentally jumped in the pool with his phone in his pocket. There was a sense of freedom knowing I had him to myself, so it actually felt like a gift. We each read a whole "real" book with pages and everything! I tried taking some photos but forgot most of what I have learned about manual mode in photography. For some reason I opted for auto so I could get a few snapshots and just enjoy the moment.

J. went to visit his sister in Santa Monica. I absolutely loved that they had a weekend together by themselves. I wish I could express how much it means to me to have them be friends. M. surprised him with a concert at the Hollywood Bowl to see John Williams and hear all of his music. They took a picnic and had a great evening. I'm so proud of the way M.  is such a good hostess and makes sure people have the best time!

Well, that about wraps up August in our household. We really haven't spent a lot of time here, but I have a sneaky suspicion that we'll be "nesting" sooner than later!

We.

Are.

So.

Blessed!

xx