Good Bye Summer...

It is the end of July, yet it feels like the end of summer to me.  The kids have their "Back to School" orientation day next Friday, and the list of chores to do before the new school year starts sits on my desk staring at me.  New uniforms (how do they grow out of them in two months?), new tennis shoes, school supplies, physicals, PTO responsibilities...I face it all with a bit of dread, even though I know it's time.  Summer has passed quickly this year, with many fun times.  Great sports, camps, vacations, concerts...sleeping in, LOTS of TV, staying up late.  I'm going to will myself to enjoy these last few days and suck every last drop out of our summer break.  It's hard, because we are already at school five days a week for football and/or field hockey practices, but the pace is still slower than what's to come.  


Speaking of football, let the season begin!  John started practice last week, and he's loving his new third and fourth grade tackle team.  All the fourth graders from last year moved up to the fifth and sixth grade team this fall, so he's the big dog on the team this year, both in size and age.  He has all new coaches, and it feels like it's going to be a fun season.  Last week they started in just helmets, and with the heat, that's been plenty!

Running Indian drill lines

The lines are starting to fall apart!  Hard to keep up!

After practice prayer - praying for it to cool off, I bet!

Last week was also a busy birthday week, with Dad's, Joe's (happy 60th to my brother-in-law!), and Duncan's!  Duncan turned two on Dad's birthday, and John and I took him to the Three Dog Bakery for a doggie cupcake.  

We decided not to make him wait until he got home to enjoy his treat...he lapped the entire thing up right there on the sidewalk.  We love Duncan, and hope he's around for many, many more birthdays!

Mmmmm!  

This will be a busy weekend with the City Meet for swimming and diving at Audubon.  Praying it cools off just a bit (wishful thinking!), and for no rain delays!

Happy Birthday Mom and Dad!

On Tuesday night Shannon and I took Mom and Dad out for a birthday dinner.  Mom's birthday was back in June (while we were in South Carolina), and then Shannon and Joe left for Greece, so we had planned to take mom out to lunch when they got back.  Then one thing led to another and we could never get our schedules to all work, and before we knew it, it was time to celebrate Dad's birthday too (his is on Thursday).  Between football, lacrosse, field hockey and swimming, the kids are never all around on the same night, so we finally abandoned the idea of getting all of us together and decided to enjoy a nice, quiet dinner out with the original Antle family.  We went to Napa River Grill and had a wonderful meal while catching up on all the going ons in our lives...the kids' sports, Shan's and Joe's trip to Greece and Turkey, life in Russell County, and all the little things in between.  I love spending time with my family, and even though we all live in Louisville, we aren't face to face as much as I would like.  Mom and Dad both turned 68, and I'm praying for another 68 years for both of them (OK, that's probably not possible, but you never know...)!

Gift card for mom - her favorite!

I don't think they look a day over 50 ;-) 

My fabulous family!

Taylor Heads to Romania

Last weekend we said a bittersweet farewell to Taylor.  He left on Sunday for a new chapter in his life...studying and working in Romania to prepare for a career as a medical missionary.  This has been his dream for as long as any of us can remember...he has always had this calling in his heart, and we gathered over the weekend to send him off.  


On Saturday night Rich and Lori had a going away party for him at their house.  The entire family was there (and lots of friends).  Since he won't be home until next July, this was our last chance to all be together for a long while.

The Young Family

On Sunday we went to the airport to see him off.  I knew this would be hard, and there were definitely tears all around, but also excitement and anticipation.

The Young Cousins

All of Taylor's cousins look up to him, and I know they were sad to see him go.  I still remember when they looked like this.

The Young Cousins, 2003

Taylor has tons of friends, and many of them came to the  airport to hang out with him until it was time to go.  His friend Stephen went with him to Romania to help work at some youth camps over the next few weeks, but he is coming home in August.

Taylor and Stephen - travel buddies

Taylor and some of his friends

Soon it was time to head through security, and everyone got their last chance to give him a hug and say goodbye.

I have no idea how Lori got through this

Lots of hugs from friends 

Best friend Conner says good bye

I find myself getting weepy again just looking at these pictures and thinking about him leaving.  Taylor was the first grandchild and nephew on this side of the family, and we have watched him grow up and become his own man.  It is astonishing how quickly the time has gone, and it reminds me that these kiddos won't be under our roofs forever.  Am I worried about what he's doing?  Absolutely.  Does that matter?  Not at all.  He is following what God has put in his heart...not mine, not his parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents or friends.  I am so conservative and have taken so few risks in my life - what courage and faith he has!  We could not be more proud of him, and I know he is going to do great things.  

We love you Taylor - see you next year!

Happy Birthday John!

Last week John turned 10, and he had a wonderful day celebrating.  Our family tradition is to come down first thing in the morning to open gifts (they are always lined up on the fireplace), and John was up bright and early, ready to go!  

The birthday boy

This was a sports themed birthday for sure, with new football cleats, football gear, and a new tennis racquet.

Like most boys, John grows out of his cleats every six months!

This was the "big" gift he had asked for

This was supposed to be my first day back to work after being out on vacation for 10 days, and I was a bit bummed my first day back fell on his birthday, but John was actually excited for his babysitter, Jessie, to come spend the day with him.  They went to Renaissance Fun Park and rode go carts and played putt putt.  


That night we had the family over to celebrate (John was very adamant that we have everyone over on his actual birthday), and he had a great time playing with his cousins.  He received lots of nice gifts, and made a wish while blowing out the candles on his Red Sox jersey birthday cake (he has requested a jersey-themed cake the last three years...his 8th birthday was the Lakers, and last year was the Celtics).

John's baseball team this year was the Red Sox

Wonder what he's wishing for?

Wow, that's a fun surprise in that water bottle!

A funny card from Papa

His new weird addiction - the 80s/90s TV show "Saved by the Bell"!

I would say John fell into bed that night a very happy 10 year old boy.  Presents, cake, fun, and family - his day was a perfect 10!

John with his grandparents 

A Happy 4th of July

One of our favorite ways to spend the 4th of July is up at Hurstbourne.  Other than a few years when we've gone down to the lake, it's always been our tradition to spend the day at the pool and hang out until the fireworks go off at dusk.  There have been sunny years, rainy years, and a year I especially remember is being a week past my due date with John and hoping the fireworks would wake him up and put me into labor!  I always tell him that was his first 4th of July at the club, and 10 years later he's still going strong.

Living it up at the pool

At dusk I pulled out a few boxes of sparklers and before you knew it Lawrence was surrounded by kids!  He lit one for every last one of them, and they had fun parading around.  It's funny that with all the technology and gadgets kids have today that a single sparkler would still bring such a smile to their faces.

The sparkler man

Andrew and John

John and Andrew took our blanket down to the edge of the driving range and watched the fireworks.  The night was beautiful, and another 4th of July is in the books.  Happy Birthday America!

Friends

A Perfect Last Day at the Beach

Yesterday was as perfect a day at the beach as one could ever have.  The day was bright and sunny, the winds calm, and we had nowhere to be and all day to get there.  The first item on the agenda was to lay around in our favorite new chair in our condo...if we could fit this baby in our car we would take it with us!

Sarah and Lawrence watch some Wimbledon action

 Next we headed out into the surf and sand to play and relax.

Tony and MT played some frisbee



Love this pic of the two girls - they've had a great time together this week



I think this will be a favorite of Tony's

Dick and Sydney check out what in the world is living in that shell

 In the afternoon the kids went parasailing - what an adventure!  I think this was the highlight of their week, as they sailed high above the island (I don't even want to know how high it actually was!).

Bye bye...hope you make it back alive!

Yeah, that's them.  Pretty high, huh??

Some fellow parasailers snapped this pic and emailed it to Sarah

After the kids got back and walked up to the Grand Pavillion where Dick treated everyone to ice cream for lunch.

Dick and his grands

The Milliner clan

A perfect lunch

Next the crew stopped by the sand volleyball courts for a few games.  I gotta say, between our guys and a few teenagers that joined them, it was quite a match.

Of course, our team won!

After hanging out at the pavillion for a while, we headed back down to our tent.  Soon it was time to take the tent down, but Mary Taylor and Lawrence refused to move from their spot until the tide reached their feet, which I have to admit I thought would be this morning.  After awhile Dick and John joined them.

Looks like it finally reached them...

...and flipped MT out of her chair!

After dinner we went up to the Boardwalk for the outdoor movie night.

Movie under the stars

The grown ups sat around the pavillion during the movie and enjoyed some live music and conversation...the food and beverage manager treated Lawrence to a cigar, which made him a patron for life, and we ended the night back at our place.

This has been a wonderful week at the beach...we were blessed with good weather, and what a treat for the kids to be with their grandfather on vacation (I still remember going to the World's Fair with my grandfather and cousin when I was their age).  I remind myself often that not everyone gets to have these moments...family time, down time, fun time...it's all a blessing, and something I don't want to ever take for granted.  Now I'm saying a prayer for safe travels home, and hoping the memory of the beach doesn't fade too soon.