This weekend Leo participated in a two-day dive meet. He competed in 3 meter on Saturday and there were 44 kids diving in his event (not all on the same level but all sharing the same board). It made for a long morning. He didn't perform his best that day but he handled it well. I worked the snack shack all afternoon as part of my volunteer hours. I got to see some pretty incredible diving while I worked.
Saturday night there was a vegan pop-up next door to one of our favorite pizza places. Serafina was with Nana, so Tom, Leo and I went to check it out. I had delicious vegan food, Leo had pizza and Tom had both.
Today was the 1 meter event, which is Leo's stronger event. There is less time in the air for things to go wonky. He did a great job and it earned him a second place medal!
He was really proud of himself and with good reason. He works hard three times a week training to do well and his improvement is really noticeable.
This is his coach, Karla. She is absolutely wonderful with all the kids but especially Leo. I don't know if he would stick with diving if she wasn't so great and encouraging.
He did some serious chilling this afternoon after two busy mornings in a row.
Serafina did a week long dance camp with her friends, Millie, Emma and Lane. It was a jazz camp titled "Fab and Fierce". The moms had a google spreadsheet for carpool. We're very modern like that.
They did a little performance for he last day of camp.
Then we took some pictures after and the girls were quite Fab and Fierce about it.
At the beginning of ski season last year, we were all getting a little tired of the playlist we had been listening to on the drive there and back. I suggested we give the Hamilton soundtrack a try. I knew other kids the same age as my kids were big fans so I thought it might click with them. Did it ever! They became pretty obsessed, until the point Tom and I had to say "no more Hamilton!" They knew all the words and really wanted to see the show live. Hamilton came to San Francisco in February so Tom and I started playing the daily lottery to win tickets. We never won and even if we had won, the lottery only gives you two tickets. Who would go and who would forever be scarred by missing the only show that matters? In April, ticket prices came down and just about everyone we knew was going to see it in April and May. We decided that as an end-of-school-year gift that we would take the kids in June. Tom created a riddle for them to figure out what their special outing was going to be, but he made it a little too easy for our Hamilton obsessed kids.
Last night was the big night. We headed up to the city pretty early and the kids explore a park in the city center.
This cool sculpture was in front of the Asian American Art Museum.
We put our name in at the restaurant down the street and headed to the theater for some pictures.
I'm glad we did the pictures early because when we returned after dinner, there were lots of people milling around and it would have been much harder to take a picture.
Here's a couple from inside the theater before the show started.
I was definitley worried it wouldn't live up to the hype but it went above and beyond all expectations. We were all awe-struck and moved by the show. We all want to see it again but I'm not sure that will happen. I'm very glad we did get to see it and it's an experience we won't ever forget.
On Sunday morning, we were eager to hit the road to get back to Chicago but I was determined to recreate this picture from our 2013 family reunion.
For some reason, Carly didn't want to come downstairs and participate so it's incomplete but still pretty cute.
Since the original picture was taken, my cousin Kaycee had two more kids (just 13 months apart). Here's Charlie, Serafina, Ruby, Russell, Leo and Abby.
We made it to Chicago by mid-day and the kids were excited to see some sights. There main point of reference is Leo's Lego Architecture set of the Chicago skyline.
The set includes Cloud Gate, which is commonly known as "The Bean".
Here's their enthusastic approach.
Under the belly of The Bean.
We walked across a cool bridge to a park.
That's when things began to go sideways. Leo's glasses broke so we headed to Walgreens to get a repair kit. Here's Tom and the kids admiring some architecture before crossing the street to get to Walgreens.
After Walgreens we started walking back to the car but then the skies opened up and the fastest, hardest rainstorm I've ever experienced happened. This threw Serafina into a full-blown panic because she has an unhealthy fear of thunderstorms. I won't go into the details of the misery of the next couple hours but it involved screaming, soaking wet clothes, terrible driving situations and stressful airport time. We made our flight and made it home, but I will never visit Chicago without an umbrella and I will never drive there again.
The real purpose of the trip was to celebrate my cousin Jonathan's wedding. He married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth. They are a young couple with lots of young friends. But us old people clean up pretty well too.
Here's my Uncle Tim with his granddaughter Elle. He's a proud grandpa!
My cousin Timmy doing his best man duties and giving a heartfelt speech.
Timmy and Dillon
My mom greeting the bride.
Here she is probably telling Jonathan about the times she used to visit him in Michigan when he was little.
Amy and Timmy
Mike, Nana, David, Sheila and Tim.
Cousin picture! Kaycee, Amy, Jessica, Sarah, Jonathan, Dillon, Timmy and me. When I was in South Haven, I saw a group of tiny kids in matching shirts that said "Cousin Crew (for life)" and I think this group needs those same shirts.
On Friday everyone gathered in South Haven to do what we do best - eat and laugh.
Once we hugged hello, we headed to the beach. Here's (right to left) Margie, baby Elle, Megan, Timmy, Nana, Tim and Sheila.
Leo and Russell, my cousin Jessica's son.
Abby didn't want to change into a bathing suit. Carly and Serafina braved the cold water and were proud they went all the way in.
Leo decided he wanted to paddle board and Dillon was an excellent facilitator of that activity.
Leo got pretty good at it.
He even gave Russell a ride.
He fell in love with paddle boarding and asked when he can do it again.
After the beach, he spent some quality time with Kayleigh. She is my cousin Amy's granddaughter. I struggle with this a bit since Amy is less than a year older than me!!!
Leo was really good with her.
While the kids were entertained at home with lots of adults around, some of us snuck off for lunch.
Me, Dillon, Tom, Zoranna and Jessica.
Cousin picture. If I don't stand on the curb, I'm too short for this picture.
Because it's always about the next meal, here are my Uncle Mike and Uncle David manning the grill for dinner.
Jessica, Dillon and Amy.
Kayleigh and Ruby.
Carly, Serafina and Abby.
We were all s'mores masters by the end.
Adorable Charlie.
We walked down to the park that's across the street from the lake for a kickball game.
Well, Leo and Russell peddled there.
Dillon and I took on five people and still won! We were very proud of ourselves.
