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

Florida Beaches -----> Statue of Liberty

 Dear Leah and Logan,

Father's Day Pontoon at Center Hill Lake

Happy Fall of 2022--To put a time-stamp on when I'm writing this, we just got back from NEW YORK CITY for your Fall Break. But it's been a few months since I've written, so lets hit rewind for a recap of the Summer. 

June 2022: Father's Day Pontoon Party--always a big hit!  

June 2022: We ended up in Miramar Beach (Gulf Coast) for our Biennial vacation with my high school crowd.  Beach Olympics! Dessert every night! Tortilla Slaps!  Golf Cart adventures! This vacation had it all.

Video here: MIRAMAR BEACH 2022

NSC Game w/Sophia

Then there was the Nashville SC game where Logan's soccer team went together and Leah had fun with Sophia in the stands.

Kings Hammer, NSC 

But lets not forget our end-of-summer traditions with  a kayak outing and roller coasters at Six Flags...

Six Flags with the Chilton's

Kayaking the Piney River

This summer you even talked Grandpa into taking friends on his boat....many tubing spills were seen that day!

Grandpa, see if you can knock us off!

And after that--Fall Break!  Now I've always said it would be really hard to top the excitement of our Road Trip out west for Fall Break 2020...well this trip would definitely compete for honors. We got in
as much as we possibly could in 4 days including: Ms. of Liberty, Escape Room, Time Square, Wicked, Big Red Bus, Empire State Building, World Trade Center Memorial, the Bronx Zoo and tons of great food. The best pictures probably came from the Wax Museum where you 2 played the part perfectly!!

NYC Times Square

Wicked on Broadway

Making New Friends in Central Park

E.T., Phone Home!

Captured by Godzilla

Leah and Bruno Mars

Leah and Michael Jackson

That's a lot of fun in 4 months!!  Remember our deal: when I'm old and senile, you have to take me to the beach and just leave me there in peace 😃

Love,

Dad

May 2022--Off to Middle School?

 Dear Leah and Logan,

WE SURVIVED SCHOOL YEAR 2021-2022!

It's practically June 2022, and with the school year being over, that points to the end of 4th grade for Logan and the end of 5th grade for Leah, which really just means one thing:

Leah is officially a Rockvale Raven Middle Schooler!

That seems crazy to think about, but here you are--doing Middle School Orientation with all of your friends. 

Leah 5th Grade Awards

Dad also lost his mind and let you both have massive sleepovers. You'll appreciate the following sentiment one day, but somehow 10+ 10-year-old boys is way less drama than 7 11-year-old girls (who didn't let me take their picture).

Mega Sleepover May 2022

We all need a little rest and relaxation...but after that--who knows what this summer will bring?

Love you both,

Dad 

June 2022

2021, Year in Review

 Dear Leah and Logan:

After Surviving 2020 COVID-19 craziness, 2021 was a combination mix of COVID and normal. A little bit of 'masks'...a little bit of adventure.  Here's your video recap of 2021:

Jake, Leah, and Logan 2021

Gulf Breeze Zoo 03.21

We found the Beach twice...once for Spring Break at Navarre (just us 3), and once for Fall Break with the Kings and Allemores.

Navarre Beach 03.21

Logan was the king of the Jumbotron at Nissan Stadium. Logan also found a lot of success with his Strikers Team, moving up to Pool 1 for the Gatlinburg tournament.

Jumbotron, Nissan Stadium, Nashville SC 07.21

Gatlinburg Invitational 11.21

Destin Beach 10.21

Navarre Beach Pier 03.21

Fall Break Video: Fall Break 2021, Santa Rosa Beach

Right before school started, we did two adventures: 1. A group kayak outing on the Ducker River.

And 2, a quick getaway to Six Flags...we rode roller coasters until your dad practically threw-up. I don't think either of you were phased.

It should also be noted that we mastered the art of finding the cameras and posing!

And then we ended the year skiing in Breckenridge!  This time, we did a little bit more exploring in Colorado. We headed North to do a sunrise hike in the Rocky Mountains National Park (Estes Park), and then added another hike outside Breck.

Rocky Mountains National Park 12.21

This year, both of you escalated your skiing skillsets and tackled newer and harder slopes. Logan you couldn't get enough 'Blue' runs, and Leah, you checked out a couple Blues as well. I wonder who will be the first to try a Black Diamond?!?!?

I can't say enough about how much I love traveling and exploring with you 2. I also can't say enough about how proud I am of everything you 2 have accomplished...the last 2 years have been weird and stressful, but very rarely did I ever hear you complain about the challenges (unless it's about bedtime or eating vegetables). :)

On to 2022!

Love,

Dad

Breckenridge 2021

Summer 2021 & Rip Cord

 Dear Leah and Logan,

After surviving a school year where you had to wear masks the entire year, we decided that we were going to maximize the summer as best we could. So made the following list...and if we could check off this list, no one would doubt how much fun we had:

When the middle of July came around, we ventured to Weidman, Michigan to see the cabin--a trip that we had been robbed of in 2020. 3 days of the cabin led to 3 days of cabin things including fishing, s'mores, and giant ice cream at Cool Dips. I'm so thrilled that you 2 got to spend another vacation with GiGi. You're creating great memories with your great grandmother, and that's super rare and special.

On Monday, July 12, we took our trip to Michigan Adventure, only this time, both of you were tall enough to ride every single ride in the park. Our day started with Shivering Timbers included Thunderhawk...but we ended it with a grand finale of sorts. With 1 hour until closing time, you 2 had to map out your rides. And you chose.....drum roll..... Rip Cord.   Where they pulled us 190 ft in the air and sailed us over a small pond after Logan pulled the Rip Cord.  For about 45 seconds, I had the greatest adrenaline rush of my life as the 3 of us felt like super heroes.  Video here.

After roller coasters and rip cords, we travelled north to Traverse City and ate fudge before heading even more north for the Mackinac Bridge. There we ate at Weinerlicious and had even more fudge. 

Weinerlicious, near the Macinaw Bridge, 07.21

Our trip concluded with a perfect day at Sleeping Bear Dunes and North Bar Lake...we relaxed and skipped rocks and jumped waves, and our road-trip vacation ended perfectly.

I'm happy to say that we crossed off almost the entire list. You guys liked tubing so much that learning to ski was cast to the side. Nonetheless, the summer was one to remember!!

Love, Dad