Summer Evenings

 This Thursday was the last music in the park and Marshall, Tanner, and I rallied to attend. We packed our chairs and picnic dinner and enjoyed the music while surviving a few sprinkles. Tanner found some folks throwing the frisbee around and had to participate of course!

Tanner then accompanied me to my slow pitch softball game and even got in to bat and in on a couple plays. He was a great cheerleader and it was fun to have him come along. We got smoked (but it's super casual and something different). 

The boys are making the most of it too - they spent all Monday at Water World and Drake has been in Chicago all week (Cubs game, searching for a place to live, Mustache crawl). It's hard to believe the end of July is here - we're doing our best to take it all in. 

rainbow at music in the park 

playing for Pat's Tap 

With Dom - fraternity brother and future roommate from Ann Arbor 

Pool Mahjong!

Monday nights is for Mahjong! I've really enjoyed learning to play and getting to have a weekly night to play with friends. We recently acquired a pool mahjong set (thanks to my sister's Sam's Club membership) and we finally were able to enjoy it in Lynne's pool. Seven of eight of us were able to join and we enjoyed a couple games of Mahjong and then some hot tub time to wrap up the evening. Looking forward to many more evening of Mahjong in the future! 

A New Car!

Finally! Replacing my totaled 2023 Genesis with a 2026 Genesis. Tanner was a good sport and hung with the entire time. We celebrated with a dinner out in Boulder (had to drive the new car somewhere!). (Drake made a last minute trip to Cleveland so wasn't around). 

on Pearl Street

At Home

So far this summer, all four members of the Peavy household have yet to hit double digits nights we have all slept at St. Andrews Lane (yes, I'm keeping track). So, when it happens, I try to soak it in. In July, we had a Friday night sushi evening complete with a family outing the Asian market after Marshall and I finished work. 

Last Thursday, we hit up Tilt and Sweet Cow after Tanner finished up Ultimate practice. 

And, this past weekend, we enjoyed a lazy morning, watching sports - British Open and the World Cup Finals - some pool time, Pickleball, homemade pizzas and "card Olympics" (Pitch, Euchre, and four-handed cribbage). Yes, Marshall and I defeated the boys after getting crushed in Pitch). We weren't as successful in Pickleball. 😜

Here's to soaking in the last few moments of summer together. 

Spam Musubi (made by Tanner on sushi night) 

pinball at Tilt

serious Pickleballing 

outdoor cards (powered through despite the bugs and bad cards) 

4th in Louisville

I'm fortunate to have a company that shuts down every 4th of July week. When the entire company is gone, there is much less to catch up on and the coverage you need is much less as well. I don't take this perk for granted - but even being back at work for a couple of weeks - it is good to be reminded about all the benefits of my current employment situation. 

Drake and I spent the first two days in Nebraska, and then Drake took off for Chicago the afternoon of our day back on Wednesday, but I did enjoy the morning with both boys home. The rest of the week was spent relaxing, spending time at home with Tanner, catching up with an old co-worker, etc. 

Friday brought a nice hike with Marshall and then 4th of July festivities over the weekend in the hood. Happy Birthday America. For all your flaws, you are an amazing place. 

Scotcheroos for the pool party 

Benji and Tanner taking on a couple in corn hole 

'merica! 

besties

decked out 

fireworks over the golf course

Greece >> Germany >> USA

 I almost don't want to write a post about traveling home from our wonderful trip as it is like reliving the end all over again. Travel was easy for all of us, but we didn't travel home together. Tanner left in the evening and had an overnight in London due to exorbitant price of tickets. I got up and walked around old town before coming back for breakfast at the hotel and heading to the airport. We had an easy flight to Munich and then a bit of time before our big flight to Denver. I'm so glad to decided to "take the trip." I know this won't be our last trip together, but life changes.  Embrace the moments. Do the thing. 

morning streets are calm and quiet 

 

Albania >> Greece - Day 8

On Monday, we woke up to make our way to Sarande in southern Albania to catch the high speed ferry to Corfu, Greece. We stopped at the bakery to pick up byrek - pastries filled with spinach, cheese, meat, etc. There were incredible views on this drive up and down the coast. Unfortunately, the Albanian roads don't make for a good spots to pull over and take pictures. 

We waited longer than I would have liked at the ferry dock, but this is not something we wanted to miss. The high speed ferry too 30 minutes, but we lost an hour due to the time changes so arrived at 2:30. 

We grabbed a cab and headed into old town Corfu and our hotel. It was very warm so we all just relaxed at the hotel before heading out around 5:00. We walked over to the Old Venetian Fortress that our hotel overlooked, the gardens and the old streets of Corfu. Corfu is the only part of Greece not to fall to the Ottomans thanks to their allegiance to Venice. The streets of Corfu were small like Greece and fun to explore. We then grabbed a drink a snack on the Liston, a street that is an exact miniature replica of the iconic Rue de Rivoli in Paris (which was built during the brief French occupation of Corfu. There is also a cricket pitch in the Spianada park which is a nod to the fifty years of British rule. 

After sitting on the patio of our hotel to have our free champagne (and some yummy fries). We relaxed a bit before heading out to a late dinner. Due to the time change, the sun set very late. As we walked around to find a dinner spot, we were quickly reminded that we were not in Albania as the restaurants all had lines. We found a spot that was fine and then walked around a bit before heading back to the hotel. This was our first time in Greece, but I have a feeling it won't be our last (and I have a feeling the rest of Greece is quite different than Corfu). 

trying to take a picture from the coastl drive 

The Old Fortress

Old Town 

Happy Hour 

Drinks on the Liston

balcony on our hotel with the fortress in the background

so cool 

Our last vacation meal together 

The Liston at night 

fortress through our hotel room window