🧢Sandlot Summers & Festival Fiascoes

We’ve all seen The Sandlot (if you haven’t, seriously where have you been for the last 30 years??) and you know it’s the blueprint for a perfect summer. Especially while raising three boys.

Framing everything from:

🎯 Friendly name-calling
⚾ Ultimate summer sport
🎡 Carnival rides & fireworks
🏊🏻 Endless swimming with besties
😏 A little mischief that becomes legend

Now fast-forward to real life: 80° and sunny. No school. Nothing but time and little to no rules. This is the childhood dream in motion. Living their best life, if you will.  Plus, data suggests it encourages healthy youth development for years to come: Summer Science 

But here’s your parent-warning moment:
Summer fun has a sneaky way of overloading the family calendar to bust at the seams. Between sports, festivals, pool days, BBQs, and the occasional “just because” ice cream run… you’re suddenly running on empty with a side of FOMO.

So, take a breath.
Lighten your load. Not everything has to be jam-packed. Trust us, they’ll still (mostly) enjoy it.

⚾ America’s Pastime

Baseball isn’t just a sport in our house.  It’s a summer tradition. From evening practices to tournament weekends, we’ve spent our fair share at the diamond. 💠

“A” and “B” both played in the local Little League. Our oldest even earned a spot on a travel team for a couple of years, which meant crammed coolers and folding chairs packed in the collapsible wagon (still a great feature for family adventures!) 🛞

Helping coach while watching them grow and develop their skills?
That’s the good stuff. Proud parent kodak moments. 📹

Enter our wildcard: the 4-year-old 🤪

We figured he'd fit right into the lineup. I mean, he had ALL the gear.  Hand-me-down glove, cleats, bat, helmet, balls, etc.  He was a walking baseball catalog. 🎒

But when Tee-ball practice started? Let’s just say… the game plan changed.

After some serious hesitation and a bit of bribery, he finally stepped onto the field with the rest of the toddler squad. Once he was out there? No stretches. No warmups. No base running. 🙅🏻

The team split into three stations and he ditched his group like a mini free agent, only to make a beeline straight for the batting tee. One swing. Big smile. Mission complete. 🏳️

Apparently, he came for dingers, not defense. Fielding? Nope. Base running? Fuhgeddaboudit. When we asked him to give it a shot, he hit us with his frequent mic-drop response:

“No… me not want to.”

Every team needs an unapologetic slugger with a strong sense of boundaries, right?

Or maybe baseball wasn’t his vibe, as he recently confessed - “I like soccer.  You signed me up for the wrong thing.” 🙃

🤮The Festival Fiasco

We kicked off this summer festival season on a partly sunny 75° afternoon with no faint of heart. Spirits high. Unlimited ride wristbands secured. Kids hyped. Feeling invincible. What could possibly go wrong?

Cue the Big Chief scene with “Tequila” by The Champs playing in the background:
Our 6-year-old daredevil is powering through ride after ride with no wait time in sight.

Two hours later… boom 💥
First official festival vomit of the year.🚨

He exited the giant pendulum swinging boat ride and let it all fly, mostly French toast and bacon (our morning staple, of course 😜), right next to the balloon-dart game tent.

Like a pro, only two drops hit his shirt. It was oddly impressive.  This kid’s situational awareness would put him in a weird but quirky Vomit Hall of Fame.

And what’s his next move?

“Can I get some cotton candy??” 😳

Dude…you just barfed.

We negotiated. He crushed a footlong corndog, downed a water bottle, and within 30 minutes he was back on the rides like nothing ever happened. So resilient. Resistance is futile.

🦸🏻 The Real Summer Superpower

You give these kids a shiny toy, a sweet treat, or a fun ride and nothing else matters. Their focus on that item is elite. If adults could channel half that energy, we’d be out here unlocking secret levels of productivity.

So, here’s your summer call to action:
🍭 Let them have the cotton candy.
🍰 Share the funnel cake
🍧 Cool off with a sno-cone
🌭 Wield some food-on-a-stick
🪀 Reward them with a toy (Just not those deafening plastic trumpets 😖)

Summertime is only here once a year.  They’ll remember these moments forever. You probably will too. Because these are the messy, entertaining and absolutely perfect memories that make up the best parts of parenting. 

🗣️ Take a Look in the Mirror

While we’re at it, don’t forget to treat yourself this summer. You’ve earned it. 🥳

Close your eyes and picture it: an ice-cold tap beer, a frozen cocktail, or whatever refreshing concoction helps cool off your ever-sweating dadbod and “cheers” to your ride-or-die crew standing by your side. 🍻

Whether you're at your local neighborhood festival or front row at the concert you’ve been hyped for all year, take a break for some “YOU” time.  Soak in the sun, bring the good vibes, snap some selfies with your besties and go all out. 🕺🏻

Just, uh... maybe listen to your stomach before you recreate more pendulum puke parties. 😅
Your future self will thank you for knowing your limits yet still making killer memories.

🫣 Worst Case Scenario?

You have to rinse off the puke with a standing bath by the sink in the public bathroom? 🚿

Your hard-earned money gets “donated” to a community recreation since your child won’t participate? 💸

Eating on the road so often you need a garbage bag in the car for the weekend warriors? 🍔

Realizing your kids probably won’t become professional athletes, but you’re still absolutely proud of them? 🎽

Sign up for the extracurriculars, treat them to the summer treats and take them on the rides.  

The journey they take you on will be even more enjoyable then their favorite thrill 🎢

🙋🏼‍♀️ Someone That’s B.A.

Mel Robbins │NYT Best Seller │Award Winning Podcast │ Mel Robbins

Creator of the “Let Them” theory = A mindset on how to stop letting other people's opinions, drama, and judgment impact your life.

Two simple words, Let Them, will set you free from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. It’s time to build a life where you come first—your dreams, your goals, your happiness.”

Her podcast and content are an absolute must if you need a little kick in the arse.  🥾

😎 Something That’s B.A.

Summerfest – Home | Summerfest, The World's Largest Music Festival

In honor of opening week, step into the largest music festival in the world on the beautiful lakefront of downtown Milwaukee.  600+ artists – including some of the biggest acts, hundreds of food and beer vendors, unique experiences, special events, entertainment attractions, sample new brand activation’s, and unique item shopping.  WHEW… that’s a whole lot of B.A.

There is plenty to keep the kids busy while the adults get to soak in the sun and enjoy whatever music genre tickles your fancy.  If you’ve never been, this is the ultimate summer experience! 

🏘️ This weeks Sponsor: Cole Thomas Real Estate, LLC

Want to have the most delightful experience while buying your future forever dream home and make the selling process of your old house a breeze?  These are your people.  

Willing to go the extra mile to make sure your needs are met with the highest standards, personally and professionally. Seriously, they are the best!

But don’t take our word for it, give them a call today!

💡Inspirational Quote:

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there” - Theodore Roosevelt

There’s nothing quite like living a life That’s B.A.