On Friday evening, Andrea and I went to play pickleball with neighbors. There's a group of ladies that Andrea has played with in the past and they put together a mixed group on Friday. We were thinking it would be a relaxed and fun activity, but holy smokes it was not. Apparently pickleball is serious business and we got quite the workout.
Andrea and I played together a couple of times, and then she went off and mostly played with the ladies. I played most of the time, but did take a break to take pics of Andrea in action.
It was a great workout and it was also a great opportunity to meet some of our neighbors. As long as we have lived in the neighborhood (9 years now!), there are many people that we've never met or talked to.
PV played in the Regional Tennis Tournament this past week on Tuesday and Thursday. Connor's team was ranked #1 since they won at Districts and they won their matchup on Tuesday fairly easily. We knew that their third matchup of the year against Nease for the Regionals final matches would be difficult, and it certainly was. Unfortunately, their team lost and will not be going to the State tournament this year. With that, their season comes to a close, and as such so does Connor's high school tennis journey.
While we were watching Connor play, it got me thinking, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. This was the last time I will ever watch him play a sport. Over the years we’ve taken him to soccer practice, basketball, flag football, and tennis. There has always been the next season or next year or another sport. Not this time.
I was thinking about how often you don’t know that when you're doing something that it is the last time. I don't remember specifically the last time I took the kids to a park, or had a picnic, or picked them up. It was an emotional day. After his match we all told him how impressed we are of the work he's put in, how he's always been a good competitor and a good sport, and how he has always made us proud.
You are an amazing guy Connor, and we love you so much.
For Andrea's birthday this year, we went to the Ritz-Carlton at Lake Oconee. It's one of our favorite places and is so peaceful and beautiful. We were planning to have the kids come with us, but Paige wanted to do some things with friends and Connor decided he'd be happy to stay home with her as well. At first I was going to demand that they come along, but after Andrea and I talked, we realized that we've gone a lot of places with the kids lately and it might be more fun if it was just us. What made the weekend especially special (other than Andrea's birthday) is that Millie Mae got to come along with us.
Millie did great during the drive and we took turns driving. Millie spent most of the time in her dog bed, but enjoyed looking out the window when we held her.
After we arrived, we went to do s'mores, which is one of Andrea's favorite things at the resort. It was a bit crowded and of course the kids are wild waving burning marshmallows and sticks around. One kid managed to burn a lady's hair, but we avoided injury ourselves.
In the morning, we went on a kayak and paddleboard adventure with Millie Mae. I expected that she'd be eager to jump aboard, but the dock's movement set her on edge and she was not relaxed at all. Andrea took a kayak and I took a SUP, and Millie Mae jumped between us. The weather was perfect for it and we paddled around for quite a while.
For lunch, of course we went to Gaby's by the Lake. We think they've changed their menu, but we enjoyed the nachos and sweet tea. There's a doggy seating area where we sat during our meals along with the other dog families.
For dessert, we got a big cookie with ice cream.
In the evening we watched some women's gymnastics and relaxed.
On Andrea's actual birthday, we went out on the water again with Millie in the morning. This time we took a kayak together and Millie was much more relaxed with us all together. The wind was a little difficult at times, but we went all the way around an island area and managed to survive all the speeding boats and jet skis.
For Andrea's birthday meal, we ate at Gaby's again and got a big juicy burger with sweet potato fries.
We put Millie Mae in the kennel that we brought, along with her bark collar, and she survived while Andrea and I enjoyed the pool.
In the evening we went on a long walk through the woods on the trails.
Our last night at the resort we got a margherita pizza in the room while we watched the finals of the NCAA women's gymnastics.
It was a fun weekend and a relaxing way to celebrate Andrea's birthday. Happy birthday Andrea!
Connor's team went to the District tennis tournament at Nease on April 15th and 16th. Their first matches were fairly easy, but they had to face Nease in the final on the 16th. Nease had beaten PV earlier in the year, so we knew it was going to be a difficult matchup.
Andrea went on both days to cheer on Connor and his team. I took a little time off of work on the 16th to go and watch, but unfortunately wasn't able to be there for all of it.
The Nease matchup was as difficult as predicted and Connor's team barely managed to win 4-3. Connor winning both his singles and doubles match was instrumental to the victory and the boys were very excited to hoist the trophy.
While we were there, we ran in to our friend and coach Andrew who was coaching another high school team. It was fun to see him after so many years and Andrea snapped a pic of him with Connor.
