Lilo & Stitch

 

Seth, Winnie, Emerson, and I joined Johnny, Joey, and Sarah at Polaris to watch the new Lilo & Stitch. It was a fun outing with mixed reviews—some of us loved the live-action take, while others still preferred the charm of the animated original.

Zoo Adventures with Luke

 

Emerson had an exciting day at the Columbus Zoo with his buddy Luke and Luke’s mom, Valerie. According to Emerson, the highlights were the reptiles and turtles—his absolute favorites!

He was especially excited to see a Minecraft-themed setup featuring two real tortoises.

Emerson’s First Day of Summer Break

Emerson and I snuck away for a couple of hours at the YMCA to celebrate his first day of summer break with a swim. He starts Kids 'R' Kids of Olentangy next week, but today was all about soaking up some fun.

To top it all off, later in the day he lost his fifth tooth!

Clapping Out and Moving Up

 

Seth, Kit, and I were able to attend Winnie’s 8th grade ceremony and clap-out at Berlin Middle School. She was recognized on the Distinguished Roll, awarded to students with the highest GPA level.

High school, here she comes!

Camp Skeeter Fun!

 

It was such a treat to see the photos Mrs. Slavik shared from Camp Skeeter week! Emerson had a blast, especially being paired up with his fifth-grade buddy, Quinn.

Emerson's letter back to Kit is saved here at her request! 

The fifth graders joined in this year since they missed their Camp Skeeter experience during the pandemic, which made it extra special for everyone. Emerson came home happy every night and loved ending the school year this way.

Emerson's First Grade Class

 

Here’s a peek at Emerson’s first grade class—so many smiles and growing friendships. It’s been a big year full of learning and special memories.

Patio Partners

 

Dad has a new helper for his patio maintenance!

Soccer Team Finishes Undefeated

 

The Lime Green Lizards wrapped up their season with a 7–0 record! We also got Emerson’s team photos back, and he proudly calls it his “preschool smile.”

A Special Choir Night

 

As soon as the Camp Skeeter performance wrapped up, we hustled over to the high school for the final choir concert of the year. 

What made the evening extra special was that Simon wanted to be there to support Kit. 

Camp Skeeter Kicks Off with Music

 

Emerson’s Camp Skeeter at SMES kicked off with a sweet performance featuring the music the kids had been learning. The school also shared a video showing the students getting into the Camp Skeeter spirit—laughing, learning, and soaking up every minute of this fun first-grade tradition as the school year winds down.

We spotted Emerson in the video three times—once rocking a Santa hat! 

Curious Like a Fox

So proud of Emerson and his first-ever research project for school! He chose red foxes—and I have to say, I learned a thing or two myself.

 

Mother's Day 2025

 

I had a lovely Mother’s Day! We started the day with a hike and some playtime at Delaware State Park (Kit was at work).

Seth surprised me with beautiful flowers, rich dark chocolate, and a thoughtful card. Later in the day, we hosted John and Teri, and Seth honored both his mom and me by cooking one of my all-time favorites: the Buddha Bowl, inspired by Northstar Café. He did an amazing job recreating it!

Papa and GG's Visit to Cross Creek

 

Papa and GG camped at Cross Creek and spent some quality time visiting with us. Emerson had the exciting opportunity to spend the night with them in Wally, their camper, for the first time! The next day, they joined us at Emerson’s soccer game. It was a surprisingly sunny and warm day, and we’re so grateful they made the trip!

Rolling Along at SourcePoint

 

Winnie, Emerson, and I went to SourcePoint to skate and rollerblade. Winnie turned out to be a great teacher, and somehow she and I both managed to stay upright while helping Emerson! 

Celebrating Ilene's 85th

 

I decorated Ilene’s door with a birthday poem before work as a surprise for her 85th birthday! After dinner, the whole family went to visit. She loved the door and said people kept stopping to take photos and wish her a happy birthday.

She even won bingo three times and shared her candy prizes with the kids. At one point, she asked Seth for a beard rub on her face, and he was a good sport. Winnie brought homemade sugar cookies, and we brought flowers to round out the celebration. We were happy she had such a good day.

Mother's Day Tea at The Inn

 

Winnie and I joined Ilene for a lovely Mother’s Day Tea at The Inn. We enjoyed fancy mini sandwiches, treats, and, of course, plenty of tea. It was such a pleasure chatting with her table of sweet ladies.

Thank You, Grandma Jo

 

We’re grateful to Grandma Jo for staying with the kids. She and Winnie went the extra mile managing Emerson’s game—even in the rain!

Anniversary Getaway

 

Big thanks to Grandma Jo for staying with the kids so Seth and I could sneak away for two nights to celebrate our anniversary! We stayed in Nelsonville and enjoyed some beautiful hikes at Wayne National Forest and Strouds Run.

We even lucked out and missed the rain both times we hit the trails!

Donuts with Grownups

 

Seth and I had the chance to join Emerson for Donuts with Grownups at Shale Meadows this morning. Krispy Kreme was a hit, of course!