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

A Fall Break to Remember: Out West Road Trip (10/20)

 Dear Leah and Logan,

Our Fall Break 2020 took a quick turn when New York City was too ravaged with COVID-19 for us to visit. So with 3 weeks until departure, I switched our flights in the opposite direction, and it became a National Park Road Trip for the ages.

We landed in Las Vegas on Saturday, October 3, 2020, and the second we got our rental car, our adventure began. It started in the Las Vegas strip where we bought $40 worth of M&Ms.

Day 1: M&M Store Las Vegas

On Saturday, October 10,2020, we completed our last hike in Colorado with the Tucker Family, and it ended with a picture that not only will I cherish forever, but also one that was being cheered by all our family and friends:

Day 8: Mount Falcon, Colorado

You both were troopers, and even though our agenda was aggressive and we were in the desert, you both embraced the challenges and appreciated the different terrains of every park we went to.

SUNDAY: We departed Vegas and headed to the Grand Canyon. We took in the sights on the South Rim before dropping into the Canyon on the South Kaibob trail. It was a perfect sunset hike to Ooh Ah point. That night we drove to Page Arizona.  Since we took 100's of amazing pictures, it's incredibly hard to pick the top 3-4 from each place!!

MONDAY: Hike to Horseshoe Bend. Evening Hike in Zion National Park: The Narrows

Horseshoe Bend, Page Arizona

Zion National Park: The Narrows

TUESDAY: Zion National Park: Canyon Overlook Trail where Leah made friends with gophers.  Evening Hike in Bryce Canyon: Sunset Point to Queens Garden (Logan left a present for the queen). Played a little Cobra Kai, too.

Zion National Park: Canyon Overlook Trail

Queens Garden

WEDNESDAY: Bryce Canyon Hikes: Inspiration Point.  Wall Street. Navajo Loop. Drive to Moab Utah. 

THURSDAY: Canyonland National Park Hike: Mesa Arch.  Dead Horse State Park: Dead Horse Point. 

Dead Horse Point

Canyonlands: Mesa Arch

Arches NP: Delicate Arch

FRIDAY:  Took a break from hiking and road horses at Hauer Ranch...and then we drove to Denver, Colorado.

SATURDAY:  Final Hike with the Tuckers: Mount Falcon, Colorado

There are very few families and groups that would have even attempted this road trip...but WE knocked it out!  And I'll say it again: Never ever stop traveling the world and seeing new things!!  Make a list of 100 things you want to see, and you go see every single one of them!!  (Feel free to invite your dad along!)

Love,

Dad