The Beginning of Summer

I love the beginning of summer.  I have been very luck the last couple of years that I have been  out of school before Calah and Chuck.  There is the obvious benefit to that (he has to get up early and I get to sleep a little later) but also, I get to attend all the end of school activities for Calah.  I was able to go to her end of school singing and dancing celebration, fun day, and the final school Mass of the year.  After Mass, Calah was awarded with the Outstanding Reader award for her class.  They may be an understatement.  This kid reads constantly.  It was very appropriate.

And I got to spend time with my boy.  His birthday fell right in the middle of last week, so we played all the games he wanted and went to lunch with Daddy.  It was a great day.  Now he is 5 and is happy to tell you all about his new bike!  I hope that he will catch on a little quicker than Calah, and I think it will help that his bike is an appropriate size.

And there was the dance recital.  I am so very proud of my children.  Gabe has worked very hard this year.  I know that it isn't easy to be the only little boy in class, or for that matter, in the studio, but he did it.  And all the little girls loved him.  He got dress as a T-bird from Grease for "We Go Together" and he did very well during his ballet number, "I Believe I Can Fly"

And Calah, well she is becoming quite a dancer.  She has practiced and practiced for this recital.  Although we may be at odds sometimes over what some of the steps are, but I think that she did everything wonderfully.  And being the over exuberant dance mom, Chuck and I had seats in the front row.   It was handy to be able to get in and out, because I had to change make up for some of the girls in between acts.

( I can't get Calah's videos to upload, I'll try again later)

Our dance studio is wonderful.  Miss Caety outdoes herself every year.  And I can't believe how much the studio has grown. Four years ago when she opened, the recital was about 12 acts.  This year...27.  She really cares about all of her dancers and makes sure that the girls and dances are age appropriate and modest.

                                               Miss Caety, Miss Jennica, and Miss Ashley

Then it was back home for a family get together for Gabe's birthday.  And an awesome cake.

Sunday was our parish festival and a BBQ at the neighbors.  Monday was haircuts (thank goodness!  I couldn't take Gabe's long hair anymore!), playdates, and work at school.  The kids have a gymnastics camp Monday through Thursday so that keeps us busy at night.  I have been swimming every day, Calah's has had two playdates, we have been to the library, and I have been doing laundry and cleaning.  Last night we went out for ice cream and tonight we are going to see a movie in the park.  So that is how summer has started.  We really aren't any less busy, but now we are busy having fun!