Last Day of School

The kids finished up their school year on May 23rd. 

Someone was a *wee* bit excited about 12:30 dismissal !!

 I don't know if they grew a ton from August 2017 to May 2018, but I do feel like their faces look more mature. Where did my babies go!?

We went to a friend's house for a Pool Party after school, but only got about an hour of swimming in before it started storming. Bummer! 

Regardless, we are excited for summer.....sleeping in, playtime with neighbors, camps, going to the beach, and according to Nate - lots of device time :)

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Here are the "favorites" surveys the kids fill out every last day of school.....

NATE

TV Show – Anything on YouTube

Movie – “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”
Song – “Legends” by Kelsey Ballerini
Color – Blue
Subject - Math
Toys – iPad & iPhone 5c
Activity – Playing with friends
Game – Fortnite on PS4
Food – Pizza
Outfit – Under Armour aqua shirt & gray shorts
Treat – Baked Bear
Book – Maze Runner trilogy
Best Friend – Evers & Mason

I am good at….Running
I am not very good at….Swimming
My favorite thing about school is….Math
My least favorite thing about school is…Grammar
Three words that describe me…..Nice, Funny, Smart

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ABBY

TV Show – “Fuller House” on Netflix

Movie – “The Greatest Showman”

Song – “Havana” by Camila Cabello

Color – Mint green/light blue

Subject - Handwriting

Toys - Tape

Activity - Dance

Game – Blue Blob with Daddy

Food – Grits

Outfit – Pineapple shirt from Justice

Treat – Cookie cake

Book – Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events

Best Friend – Cate O & Kate R

I am good at….Softball

I am not very good at….Football

My favorite thing about school is….Music

My least favorite thing about school is…Math

Three words that describe me…..Gorgeous, Smart, Funny

Abby's Softball Season

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Abby played her first season of softball this year! They started practicing in February, and ended the season on May 22nd.

Back on April 27th, both sets of grandparents were able to come see Abby's game (they were in town for Abby's First Communion). Little did they know that they would be witnessing history....the Unicorns won their first game in *two* seasons!!

#sweetgirls

#gameface

Abby was pumped up!!

I was SO happy we had family in town to witness Abby's first win. The whole team was *so* excited!!! Abby contributed one run herself, so she was very pleased with herself!

Nanny & Poppy, some of Abby's biggest fans.

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The Unicorns had their last game on May 22nd, and Abby was thrilled that she was #5 in the batting order AND playing 2nd base! (The coach let all the younger players be in the infield on the last game, and the older players in the outfield. As you can imagine, we lost! But the girls had so much fun and Abby did a *great* job at 2nd base. She has one really good stop!)

The Unicorns ended their season with a 2-7 record, and Abby has decided that Nanny was her lucky charms since she witnessed both wins :)

When I asked Abby what her favorite part of softball was, she replied "Playing second base, scoring runs, and hanging out with my friends in the dugout!" 

More than half of Abby's team (including the coach) will move up next year to the U12 league, so I'm hopeful that we can find a coach for the remaining 6 players. Abby did such a great job for her first season of softball and I hope she continues to want to play!

Recital Week

The week of May 14-20 was "Bama Week" for Abby's dance classes. This was where the whole dance studio pretty much moved into the Bama Theater for a whole week, in preparation for recitals on the 19-20th. I had heard about Bama Week from a few friends with older girls, but had no idea what madness would ensue. Let me tell you, it was a *super* chaotic and stressful week!!

First, for Abby's Lyrical class, she had a practice on Monday, dress rehearsal on Thursday (from 6-9:30 pm! On a school night!) and the recital on Saturday. 

{Sidebar.....I am NOT a "Dance Mom." Most of my stress from this week was doing her hair & makeup for each practice. I spent numerous hours leading up to this week practicing her two assigned hairdos (half up/curly for Lyrical and bun for Ballet). Then I had to go out and buy red lipstick for my 8 year old - ridiculous I know - and practice putting that on her as well as blush & mascara. The mascara endeavors ended in tears many times and Abby saying she looked like a skunk. Ha! I pushed through though, because many other/older Dance Moms told me that she needed it so that the stage lights wouldn't wash her out. They were right.}

Anyways, Abby loved being on the big stage for the first time at the beginning of Bama Week, and I was really glad she had those two practices to get the nerves out and get used to the bright lights. When it came time for the recital on Saturday, she was super excited!!

 Backstage fun before the Lyrical recital:

 Although Abby's dance only took about 3 minutes, the recital was 3 hours long. Luckily, she was in the first half so we could leave at Intermission. (Thank good ness because I don't think Poppy could have sat through the second act!) Abby's class did great; they danced to "True Colors" from the Trolls soundtrack. Click here to watch them at the dress rehearsal (no cameras are allowed at the recital). She has a little bit of a solo at the *very* beginning!

Abby had lots of fans at the recital....

Nanny & Poppy

Mia, Cate, Molly, Lily, and Lucy

Sweet Cate & Mia brought her flowers!

Proud parents and bro :)

Abby LOVED all the flowers she received from her adoring fans!

Funny story.....I re-touched Abby's makeup backstage before the recital started. (See above picture with Nanny, Lucy Claire, her class, etc.) Well I noticed after the show when we were giving her flowers and taking pictures that her cheeks were a LOT rosier than I remembered. I asked her if she was hot/flushed and she said no. Later she admitted that she did an extra touch-up on her cheeks right before she danced. (Note to self: do not leave make-up in Abby's bag while she is unsupervised!)

**Stay tuned for a few professional pictures of Abby; a friend took some of her during the Lyrical dress rehearsal and I'm anxiously waiting for her to send them my way!**

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Now, as for Abby's Ballet class.....she had practice on Tuesday, dress rehearsal on Saturday, and her recital on Sunday.

 We grabbed a quick picture with Lucy Claire, Nate's "friend," before the recital

 Let's just take a moment to admire my handiwork on Abby's hair & make-up my beautiful daughter :)

 Ballet cuties ready to hit the stage! They were the very first number!

 A good friend (that is also a dance teacher) caught this cute moment backstage, right before Abby went on. She said Abby was very focused and READY! :)

 This was the "Rec" (recreational) recital, so it was only about an hour long. Abby's class was up first, and they did great! Click here to see their dance from the dress rehearsal.

Abby's classmates couldn't come to cheer her on at this recital, but she still had quite a few admiring fans in her family....

Greg and I are SO proud of Abby for trying something new this year, even though she was scared to and didn't have any friends in the class. Now, she has 2 new dance styles under her belt and 10 new friends! We can't wait to see where dance takes her in the future!

Tuscaloosa Kids' Triathlon

One of the main events Nanny & Poppy were in town for was Nate's triathlon on May 19th! This was the 3rd consecutive year Nate had participated, and the first year moving up to the "big kids" age group of 11-13 years old.

To say Nate was nervous before the race is an *understatement!* It didn't help that he had to be there early to set up all his equipment in the transition area, and then his group didn't start to race until 10 am!  The waiting was brutal.

Nate's fan club

Finally, it was time!

For the first time, he didn't use a swim shirt for the swim portion of the race. (He was hoping not having a wet shirt to take off would help him save time at the transition area.)

As expected, he didn't do great at the swim portion (100 yards). Even thought I had worked with him a few times in the month leading up to the race, he still struggled and was near the back of the pack.

He was soooooooo happy to get the swim over with first!

Look at that smile! He's like "I have the bike & run next. I love biking and running!"

For the month leading up the triathlon, Greg had been working with Nate on so many things.....biking, running, endurance training, etc. They also spent a lot of time on transitions - what to put on first, doing it fast, and so on. Well.....little did we know that they would have volunteers working in the transition area this year! Not only did they NOT help Nate, but they actually slowed him down. He was too polite to speak up, but next year, he will let them know he can do it on his own :)

He started out the bike portion of the race with only 2-3 people behind him. We knew he would kill it on this part though, thanks to his fancy new racing bike (courtesy of one of Greg's cycling friends) and an outfit (called a "kit") to match.

I mentioned that he moved up to a higher age group this year: 11-13 year olds. Both the swim and biking portions doubled for him, so I told him many times to do his best but to have low expectations. Well lo & behold, this guy came flying through the race area in FIRST PLACE on the 2nd mile of the biking and I about fell out! I could not believe it! What a stud.

He had to complete 2 two-mile loops, and here he is headed out for his 2nd loop. 

Each kid had their age written on their bicep & calf muscle (and it was your age as of 12/31, so Nate's said 11). My favorite story Nate told after the race was that during the biking portion, he was creeping up on the 13 year old in the lead on the first mile. As Nate got next to him, the kid asked "Which age group are you in?" Nate said "YOURS" and then passed him. Ha!

In the zone! Love his determination.

He finished the bike portion in 1st place and since the run was only 3/4 mile, we knew he'd kill it. That was basically a sprint for him.

Look at him go!!!

I was waiting for him at the finish line and not only did he finish in first place for his age group, but he also beat every single girl in the 11-13 age group except for one. (There was a 5 minute gap between the girls and the boys.)

When I told him he got first, he didn't believe me!!! He said he knew he was close to the front but just was not 100% sure what place he was in.

We could not be more proud of Nate and all his hard work.

Relieved / happy Coach

It's official!

We had not planned to stay for awards - remember, I didn't think he would medal - and Abby had a softball game at 11:00. I had sent her with a neighbor since I knew we wouldn't get there in time. But, Nanny & I left the triathlon to go catch the 2nd half of the game.

It killed me not to stay and see this little guy stand on the podium!! Luckily, Poppy & Greg were there to capture the big moment.

He's so proud! :)

The boys headed to Cookout for a celebratory lunch & milkshakes, (while the girls were at softball and then dance dress rehearsals).

I am still in shock that Nate only won his age group, but KILLED it. It was sweet how the 2nd and 3rd place kids came up to Nate right after the race and congratulated and complimented him. I love good sportsmanship. And so funny, I said to Nate "I'm sorry I didn't believe in you," since I told him he wouldn't medal. He said "It's ok; it just motivated me to do better." 

Whatever works! :)

Royal Wedding watch party

If you know my neighborhood well, it's no surprise that we had a Royal Wedding viewing party. My sweet neighbor Mandy hosted the party at 5:30 am on wedding day. I am shocked so many people agreed to come (including me & my mom!)

As to be expected, Mandy went all out with the theme & decorations.....

As excited as you can be at 5:30 in the morning!

Everyone brought a brunch item to share - I brought sausage balls - and someone even brought a wedding cake!!

We had quite a crowd!! More neighbors were in the kitchen getting coffee & mimosas ;)

How cute were these shirts!?

Proof that we watched it live! :)

The Duke & Duchess of Sussex

Bobbie Jo & Mandy, our amazing hostesses!