A Happy Father on the Golf Course

When  Mike's daughter, Stacy, started showing interest in golf he was very excited.
Saturday was her first time golfing that wasn't a scramble.

Our tee time was for 10:30 and heading to the course it was raining. Truly, it was not our first time to head out to a course while it was raining, or our second or even third, so we drove on out to Sycamore. Mike really wanted to spend the day golfing with his daughter.

After  a 45 minute rain delay (where I pointed out to Stacy that we were the only women in the clubhouse - Welcome to Golf, my dear, where the ratio of men to women is 30 to 1) we partnered up and teed it up.
Stacy rode with Mike for the front nine and Kory and I shared a cart.
Mike was very patient and helped Stacy. She paid close attention and improved on each hole. Kory and I were both impressed.

The back side I rode with her and she drove, She had never driven a golf cart and I told her she had to learn some time. Just a few tips from me about where to park around the greens and tee offs and she did really good.
 Oh and I did tell her not to stomp on the brakes, which she never did. Why do men Have to lock the damn brakes on the carts - every time they stop?

I told her I wasn't going to help her with her game unless she asked for it. I lied! Just a few obvious shout outs about back swing and lining her shots up - That's all...honest.

I did tell her that men DO NOT like women golfers and especially beginners, sure enough, 3 a**holes behind us proved me right. :)

We had a long fun day and Yes we are planning on going out again - just to a shorter course. I told Stacy it's more fun if you don't have to take 6 to 8 shots (or loose count of how many) just to get to the green. I'm getting old and can't hit the ball as far as I used to either. My 3 pars were all par 3's.

Happy Golfers!

The Zoo

I got a last minute invite to go to the Brookfield Zoo with Carrie and the kids.
YES - of course! 
I got to spend the day with Carrie on her birthday.

The drive there was pretty smooth. Of Course I had to tell Carrie which way to go, and not to follow any vans or trucks with ladders on the top and, of course, she couldn't talk on the phone will she was moving. Stopped at a light was OK, but not driving. Kinda put a crimp on the birthday calls. She was a good sport about it.

I thought it wouldn't be crowded  because there weren't many cars in the parking lot, but OMG there were buses and tons and tons of school children.

The girls had to walk  - no stroller for them. Kendell likes to watch EVERYTHING! She doesn't miss a thing and walked into people, strollers, picnic tables, fences and rocks just because she was looking somewhere else. NO hand holding for her either. She surprised me a couple of times and ask me to hold her hand. I think she is warming up to me - or maybe it was because Grandma wasn't there. Probably because I held her the whole time in the monkey house.

Matthew was wanting to see everything and we would walk ahead of the others. "Lift me up, Aunt Karen!"  I, of course, had to oblige.  He did call me Grandma a few times, but I told him that was OK lots of people get us confused.
 It's been a long time since I had taken a little boy into the restrooms, but I made him stand up against the door so I could see his feet. I remember playing the potty game with Bryan - I would call out his name and he would answer back. Bryan, Mom, Bryan, Mom. maybe next time I will teach it to Matthew.

I am glad I brought my camera, because I got some pictures of the kids with their Momma. Carrie is such a good Mom, 3 kids going 3 directions and she never even flinched. She had packed lunch and snacks and water bottles and even their swimsuits for the splash park. I am glad that I could fill in and help when needed.

 Fun running through the water with all three.

 Finally got them all to sit for a ride at one time. We are heading over to the tigers and then the exit.

My back is sore from lifting and carrying and walking and picking up dropped things, but I had such a great time with Carrie. Thanks so much for inviting me.

On the way home the girls were singing Happy Birthday to Mommy. I thought that was so cute and Carrie said. "Just wait - They sing that to everybody."
Sure enough - next came Grandma, Daddy, Jon, Erica, then Papa and I even got a shout out.