Buh Bye to 6th and 7th Grade 05.24.24

 Dear Leah and Logan,

I'm writing this entry on May 24, 2024--officially the last day of school for Logan's 6th grade and Leah's 7th grade.  Leah, for reference- you had Day 1 of volleyball tryouts today. 

I wish I could explain in words how insanely chaotic the last few months have been and exactly how proud I am of both you. So let's go through the Spring semester 2024...

Logan, once fall soccer ended (Pool 2 under Coach Tommy), they introduced a mandatory 'Winter League' for Kings Hammer. The time commitment wasn't huge, but you were also doing wrestling. Per all the wrestling coaches, your improvement from Year 1 to Year 2 was incredible. You were aggressive in all your meets and had a new set of skills that led to several medals. Grandpa was super proud of you as he came to several of your meets. 

Logan's 1st Middle School Goal via Direct Kick

Once soccer came around, not only did you get the bump up to Pool 1 (Coach Brian Grogan), but you also made the Rockvale Middle School team. That meant you had practice all 5 nights a week and 2 practices on Tuesday and Fridays. It was a lot to juggle, but you did it with almost zero complaints, and your grades never suffered, so ultimately you got your first real test of Time Management in school. For 4 months, you were a Rockvale Raven and a Kings Hammer P1 Centerback. 

13-Silver, 1st Place Boro Bash

Leah, right after RMS tryouts, you tried out for Middle TN Volleyball club and were selected to the 13-Silver team.  Those practices started in January 2024, and the travel schedule had you going from Birmingham, Alabama, to Atlanta, Georgia.  Honestly, I had no idea that travel volleyball was so intense. We showed up to tournaments that had 500+ Teams in giant auditoriums, that had elements of carnivals (food vendors, etc) and crazy parents. You had a lot of fun traveling with Kalea and Eden, and I enjoyed mingling with all the parents. 

Leah, your team won 3 of your Spring tournaments, and in April '24, your team beat '13-Blue' in one of the tournaments which was a huge upset. Like always, I made a video for you, but, per you....the video was 'fire', but not good enough to pass along to your friends. Um, skibidi?? 

Logan, when Coach Brian invited you to Pool 1, that invite included a position change--full time Centerback. You basically learned a brand-new position on-the-fly in a few weeks against the best competition. And with every game, you gained a little bit more confidence to a point where all the other dads were noticing your improvement. It was special to watch.

Leah, your confidence was growing with every match and practice as well. I'll always remember when the moment you were excited to do a jump serve in a game. You also became a solid passer and a blocker this spring. 13-Silver led to you being a more all-around volleyball player, and it was fun to watch. 

There's an X-factor here. Let's not forget that in the middle of all these crazy sports, little Brother Brecken was yelling Ba-ba-ba-da-da-da-ma-ma-ma in the background. A new baby in any house, brings a lot of emotions and a lot of situations that require patience. And you 2 handled it was a lot of grace, and I wish I could thank you a million times over for always being such a great older sibling to Brecken....he is soooooooooooo lucky to have you both. I know there have been times where you both want peace and quiet...or maybe just wanted to mind your business. And there's a baby there just messing everything up.  But you 2 fed him, and held him, and played with him, and even changed a couple of diapers. It was amazing to watch!

So after all that...after all the practices...and all the homework...and all the scheduling....then came the moment that Mary and I were most proud of: On May 18, both of you walked across the RMS stage and received your plaque for Principal's List...all A's in year of complete chaos. 

Leah's 7th Grade Awards Day Principal's List

Logan's 6th Grade Awards Day, Principal's List

I'll never get tired of telling you how proud I am of both of you. You each have your own style and your own personality on how you deal with just about everything. And, and guess what? Both of you continue to find your individual path to success. I love that!

Keep doing great things!

Love,

Dad

Grandpa Onsite for 13-Silver 1st Place

Orion Cup Champions 05.24

 

2023 Finale

 Dear Leah and Logan,

Happy 2024 means Good-Bye to 2023! and, of course, Dad made a video!

So much fun and so many memories....

Here's the link: https://youtu.be/pFTjOxdTa6Q

Love,

Dad

The Chaos of Idaho, Volleyball x 2, and Wrestling

Dear Leah and Logan, 

Li'l Bro Brecken was born on September 5, 2023, and that began the insanity of what we shall remember as the Fall and early Winter of 2023. First, no family that claims to be sane would ever embark on a major journey with an infant. Yet, we did. For Fall Break 2023, a mere 1 month after Brecken was born, we headed Out West with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Mike, Aunt Daniela, and (Great) Aunt DeeDee. We had a beautiful cabin in Island Park, Idaho, and we were all able to see 2 new National Parks (Yellowstone, and Grand Teton). Here's the video from the week: 

Here's the link: https://youtu.be/pUPFz1IRhGo

Leah ended an exciting 7th Grade volleyball season with a long tournament run which gave your JV team runner-up in the county. But the that was followed up with tryouts for Middle TN Volleyball Club where you were selected for the Silver Team. An era of 2 kids in travel sports as begun! 

Rutherford County Tournament 09.23

Logan, you and Kings Hammer Pool 2 found a lot of success this fall that included a major position change of playing Centerback. That success dominoed into a tournament invite from Pool, which lead to a Spring invite for a Pool 1 Roster spot. On top of all that, wrestling season started, and everyone commented that you were a different, more intense wrestling with a year under your belt. 

Gatlinburg 12.23

Biscayne National Park 12.23

For the last few years, skiing and Colorado has been our annual Winter Break trip, but Brecken asked us to take a year off in 2023. So, we went South to Key Largo and the Florida Keys.  2 more national parks and the realization that the Keys don't have a lot of beaches. Luckily, we were able to find an okayish beach in Marathon Beach, but even better, we left our Saturday open and hit Miami Beach for a couple hours before flying out. 

Marathon Beach 12.23

By the time Christmas got here, we all needed a nap!!!

Love,

Dad

Giraffes and Wakeboarding, Summer '23

 Dear Leah and Logan,

One might guess that a house or family with an already-crazy schedule and with a baby on the way would take some summer downtime to relax and chill for a bit. But that's just not us. 

Navarre Beach 07.23

So what did we do this summer? How about a recap:

June 2023- Annual Pontoon party on Center Hill Lake. Celebrated Dad's birthday with Aunt DeeDee. Headed to Navarre Beach...and for us that means Navarre Zoo. This year we met a Sloth!

July 2023- Still at the beach, we got to experience 4th of July fireworks from the Navarre Pier while eating insanely huge ice cream sundaes.  After the holiday, Leah's volleyball started a 3-week gauntlet of non-stop practices, sometimes 2-a-days!  We managed to sneak in a couple of lake trips, and both of you tried wakeboarding. 

August 2023- School starts. Soccer starts. Lots of NSC games. Lots of volleyball games. Logan ran a triathlon. 

Here's a photo recap, in no particular order:

Monster Fish, Times Ford Lake

NSC Tailgate with Kings Hammer

Center Hill Lake

Center Hill Lake

Leah's gift for Dad's B-day

Birthday Bowling for Dad

Logan Wakeboarding 8.23

Navarre Zoo

Navarre Zoo

Navarre Zoo

Navarre Beach

2 Middle Schoolers

Leah Staff Against Blackman

Nolensville Triathlon

What an amazing summer!

Love, 

Dad

Spring Things 2023

 Dear Leah and Logan,

It seems like the older you get, the crazier the house schedule gets. Logan your Spring was highlighted with your 11th Birthday party, and another successful Kings Hammer season. Your KH Team made it to the finals in all 3 of the tournaments and came away with 3 silver medals.

Logan's Birthday Party, #11

Orions Cup, 04.22

Leah, you went full-speed-ahead (pun intended) into Rockvale Middle School Track. Your main event was the 100m dash, with occasional double feature with the 200m. It was your first experience with a 'team' atmosphere in 5 years (youth soccer), we watched you set Personal Records in the last 3 meets. Well done!

Leah, 100m @ Blackman Meet, 04.22

Logan your school year ended with the 5th grade dance, and Leah's year ended with a last-minute decision to try-out for volleyball. So, with one week to prepare, we did a volleyball crash-course in the backyard with the occasional visit from Logan and Mary. I'll always remember driving you to the Middle School on the Saturday of Try-outs, Day 2. I was so nervous I thought I'd have a heart-attack.  And then--BOOM! there your name was!!!  Junior Varsity--Leah Slivensky.   You were happy, and I was a proud dad.

Leah made the JV Volleyball Game, 05.22

Leah, I want you to look at this photo closely--what do you notice?  in the background maybe?   I want you to remember that FOREVER....no matter what you're doing and what you're accomplishing, I'll always be in the background being your biggest fan.

Logan, you're off to Middle School! We went to Orientation night, and you got to see all the sports and clubs and opportunities.  

Last but not least--your report cards to end the year were outstanding...BOTH of you! It's especially impressive because you 2 are so active with school and sports. You both will go far with all the responsibilities you're learning to balance.

6th Grade Honor Roll

5th Grade Awards-Superior Math

Love you both!

Dad

Safaris, CJ, and Baby Announcements

 Dear Leah and Logan,

In late Winter/Early Spring 2023, we took a road trip for the ages to the Tennessee Safari Park. In a 90-minute loop, we made so many friends and watched the outdoor zoo animals empty 10 feed cups in the car. The 'happy' faces are priceless! Llamas, alpacas, and buffalo--oh my!

 

And just to add some more spice to an already insanely fun atmosphere:

1. We welcomed Colby Jack to our home!! I never would have thought an animal could bring so much joy and laughter to our house!!

And 2. we broadcasted the birth of your future sibling to the world!

2023 promises to be as CRAZY as ever!!!

Love,

Dad

Fairwell to 2022

 Dear Leah and Logan,

As we dive into 2023, we have a ton to be thankful for in this amazing year. And, of course, I have a video 😁!  It truly is incredible how much we're able to fit in one calendar year...

Our 2022 Video

But first, let's see what's new? Leah's dive into Middle School included joining the 6th grade band as a percussionist. We hear you practicing upstairs a few times a week, and your first concert was a couple weeks ago (December 2022).

Logan, you had a really busy fall as well with Kings Hammer Soccer, which included a new coach with Coach Raul and a tournament in Cincinatti where a bunch of Michigan family came to watch you.

Leah, you had your 12th birthday party at Urban Air, and one of your guests showed up on crutches! (Everyone still had fun, though).

We capped it all off with our annual December ski trip, and Grandma and Grandpa joined us as special guests this year. Although their skiing was less than spectacular, they joined us on a couple Rocky Mountain hikes and for some dogsledding. 

Rocky Mountain National Park 12.22

Leah and Grandma, Dogsledding

Let's not forget Logan starting wrestling!!

I'll say it again: I LOVE ALL OF OUR ADVENTURES!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love,

Dad