Hello JULY!

And just like that, it's July! Our sitter "ghosted" us and just stopped showing up on Zoom. No word, no email, just stopped.  Coincidentally, our neighbor texted us to ask if we needed a sitter.  An incoming senior was supposed to be a camp counselor this summer, and with everything canceled, she was looking for work.  So, she started coming over to keep the boys' schedule.  In the first week, she had them outside playing and they seem to really like her.  She is extremely flexible and that is what we need right now.  I was supposed to go back to the office starting this week, but that has been delayed with the COVID spikes happening in Hamilton County.

Hayden started back with his coach for personal training sessions.  I have taken him the past couple of weeks, while Marty goes to the gym.  

Thursday night, was our "Friday" with the long weekend.  We had the Carrolls over for wine and dessert.

Hayden made dessert pizza as part of his Brain Chase challenges.

Friday, we surprised the boys with our first visitor into our house.  They asked me if it was better than Kona Ice and if it was a puppy.  I told them it was bigger and warmer than Kona Ice.  They told me it was better than a puppy. 💞

Disney + streamed Hamilton for Independence Day.  It was perfectly fitting to have Rachel join us to watch.  One of our favorites and one of our favorite actors!

Saturday morning was yard work and housework.  We had the Bernicke boys and Kyle Reckamp come over.  Steve Bernicke also pitched in to help.  With so many hands, they were done before noon!

After yardwork and mulching, Marty cleaned the gutters.  The boys wanted to check it out too.

Hayden and I stopped at Blooms and Berries to pick up a few things.  He matched. 😂

I laid in the hammock and the boys ran through the sprinkler.

We had dinner around 5:30 outside.

Lemon fruit tart from Good Pie Y'all. I love supporting local, especially Madeira local, these days.

Sunday, we went to Bass Island for a short hike.  Because it's gotten so hot, we headed out around 8:30.

The boys rode their bikes first and then we walked into the woods.

The boys skipped rocks.

We had intended to go straight to lunch at 50W but Beckham got into something poisonous, so we went home to wash his legs off. We determined it might have been stinging nettle.

50W opened a burger bar, just while quarantine was happening.  Apparently, it's been extremely popular.  We decided to check it out.  We are still a little nervous about restaurants and shared spaces, so we got there right when it opened.

We each got a different burger. Mine was the Colorado: Spicy green chile, salsa, Ghost Pepper Jack Cheese and Jalapeno. 

The boys had Cookies n' Cream milkshakes.  This may have been their first or 2nd time.

We love our neighbors.  It's going to be the hardest part about moving.  Alex (21) and Samuel (18) hung out with the boys for a while, after the yard work was done.  They came back over today to jum on the trampoline with them.  Their personalities are very different, and reminds me of the boys.  Samuel especially, has similar characteristics to Beckham.  They are the nicest and very respectful.  We hope the boys get to keep having such a positive influence in their lives.

Boy, are 3 day weekends NICE!  We needed it this week.  We were supposed to be in Seattle and then Banff this week.  Banff has been on my wish list for 2 years.  Now it's at least 3.

Rounding out June

We are still working from home and we unexpectedly had to extend virtual connects with your sitter, instead of in person.  She had to take her roommate to the hospital 2x in 3 weeks.  

Now that the boys are not in school, it is a little hard to keep them occupied and not completely lazy.  Normally, we would have someone keep a decent schedule, take them to the pool (which we canceled this summer).  One day, I decided to surprise them.

Speaking of surprises, after waking up to a wild cat in our house, I discovered a wild chipmunk a couple weeks later.  We thought he managed to escape back outside, but then, while the boys were at the driving range, I found him in the pantry. Marty bought a couple traps and we managed to catch him over night and set him free.  We are overrun with chipmunks this summer.  Our neighbors are killing them, but it's hard when they are so cute!

I borrowed our friend's Grand Valley Preserve pass, just before they went on vacation.  It was a beautiful weekend to check it out.  We borrowed the Parker's canoe and went out last Saturday morning.

Last Sunday, we invited the Reckamps for an outdoor grill out.  We do miss our friends and it's helped to have our backyard to host people to come by.

Other happenings at the Vanderstelts: sleepovers in the sitting room and snuggles.

Pokemon cards

 

Weeding

Reverse Parade at Crossroads

What we ate: Dim Sum & Ramen

Vie Vite "Restaurant Week"

Happy Birthday and Happy Father's Day!

The weather has been really nice with low humidity.  Last Sunday afternoon, we went to California Woods Nature Preserve for a short hike. 

On Tuesday, we celebrated Marty's birthday.  He took the boys to piano lessons, so as soon as my last meeting was done, at 4:50, I raced to get everything set up and dinner started, before he got back. Decorations were up and everything was in the oven in 15 min.  We had breakfast for dinner: eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, fresh fruit and chocolate chip pancakes.  For dessert, since Marty doesn't like cake, we had ice cream cones.

Our routine has gotten a bit busier with the added activities outside of the house.  Beckham still has karate each day, Hayden takes a dribble up class most days, the boys are back to in-person piano lessons on Tuesdays, and we have tennis Mondays and Wednesdays.  We are still trying to figure out what the best child care solution is for us, when we have to go back to work and when the school year starts.

The boys have gotten interested in golf.  Marty took them last Saturday to the driving range and Wednesday night, we went and played 9 holes.  Marty estimated 1 hr.  It took 2, and Beckham only hit a couple balls.

Friday, I had book club and we went back to in person.  We still kept our distance and had a picnic at Summit Park.  It was hot, but in the shade, it was a really nice night for it.  The restaurants were open, so half of us grabbed Mexican food from Tahona.  It was a great night to catch up!  It's amazing that half the group has been part of this book club for nearly 8 years.  Debbie (to my left) actually started it with me, Laura, Crissy and a couple others.

Yesterday, we split wood at the house, because they are in the process of grading the property.  It ended up being a Parker/Vanderstelt project.  It was HOT, but productive.  I also took a walk from the house to the elementary school and back.  It's about 20 minutes there and back. 

Coincidentally, this was posted today.

Today, was Father's Day.  I had a plan to get takeout at a particular restaurant, which didn't open until 11.  So, we opened gifts first.  Then, I went to order and they had decided to close for the day.  I assume it was because of Father's Day.  So I had to go with Plan B.  I ordered Sleepy Bee, we drove downtown to pick it up.  I had Marty wear a blindfold to make it a little more of a surprise.  Then we went up near the Art Museum for a picnic brunch, followed by a walk around the museum.  Of course, Beckham had to go inside.  We might have all gone in, but they required marks and Marty didn't have one.

We brought the selfie stick to try and get a (rare) photo of all four of us.

Then, the boys got a hold of the selfie stick...

A quick stop at Eden Park.

It was a full week of celebrations for Marty!