School starts on August 14th, and just like that, summer is winding down. It went by fast—some days were long, but the season as a whole felt like a blink. We packed a lot into these few months, and I wanted to capture just a bit of it before the calendar fills with school supplies, sports schedules, and cooler weather.
⚽ Devin’s Soccer Summer
Devin had a full summer of soccer, and we loved every minute of it. We went to USYS Regionals with Crew ’08, which took us to Texas. In addition to the tournament itself, we got to tour the National Soccer Hall of Fame and visit the FC Dallas facility—a really cool experience for all of us.
He also represented Oklahoma ODP in Murfreesboro and later participated in Texas ODP, which made for a busy but exciting travel schedule.
To top it off, he kicked off a new season with the Crew, and I shared a bit about that here.
Oh—and he started a new job at AutoZone this summer too! He even took his little brothers to the Science Museum for me one day. 💛
🛴 Braden’s Neighborhood Adventures (and Football Fever)
Braden has basically lived on his scooter and in the neighborhood pool this summer. He’s had a great time running around with friends, soaking up the kind of freedom and fun that only summer break can bring.
While he’s recently stepped away from soccer, he’s already looking ahead to football season with the 7th Grade Deer Creek Antlers—and he’s excited. Pads, practices, and game days are just around the corner, and he’s more than ready.
He’s also become a regular at Skyzone, the trampoline park, where he can flip, jump, and bounce until he’s completely worn out (and then ask to go again the next day). It’s pretty much his dream summer combo: no shoes, all movement, and as little sitting still as possible.
🧪 Austin the Scientist (and Uno Champion)
Austin spent most of the summer at home with me or tagging along with his brothers. I think he got a little bored at times, but we fixed that by signing him up for a house team at Soccer City, just to burn some energy and keep him moving.
One of his favorite parts of summer? Trips to the Science Museum Oklahoma. He says he wants to be a scientist when he grows up, so we try to go whenever we can. The hands-on exhibits are always a hit.
But honestly, the biggest surprise hit of the summer? Card games. And Austin is obsessed. We’ve played Go Fish, Roll ‘Em, Yahtzee, Memory, and so many others. But the reigning family favorite? Uno. And let me tell you—Austin is damn good at Uno. That kid has strategy and swagger. It’s safe to say we’re going to need to start a Family Game Night this fall on the rare nights we’re not at soccer or football. I think it’s going to stick.
It’s been a full, fun summer. One with a little travel, a little work, a lot of sun, and even more family time—sometimes chaotic, sometimes calm, but always full of memories. Here’s to the new school year, new routines, and (hopefully) a few more game nights.
