Before June Comes to a Close

 

Grace (in the back, right hand corner in the stripped leo) with her class during the summer dnace intensive. 

Grace and Emma at the end of the year party. 

In which Grace, Emma and Violet hang out before bedtime. 

Judging bunnies. Clearly, breakfast is late....again! 

How is it the final day of June already? This year is flying by at warp speed and it's hard to believe that we are more than half way through 2024 already. The girls first month of summer has been a busy and fun filled one, and I am proud that I managed to blog more this month than I have in a long while (even if I didn't always get a post fully up until a lttle bit later).July brings "birthday month" and many trips to Maine for the girls to be at camp (both as CITs and as campers) and I am sure a few other fun filled things! We are still hoping to get to NYC to see Hadestown at some point this summer (maybe in August?), too. Fringers crossed we can make that happen! xo 

In Which Emma Earns the Girl Scout Car Care Badge

 

On Tuesday, while Grace was at the dance intensive, Emma and the rest of the Girl Scout troop went to a local mechanic and learned all about changing the oil and tires. A very timely badge for this crew who is all learning to drive (or relatively new drivers)! xo 

So This Just Happened

 

When you're having a low key family night and get some incredible (and unexpected) news from Convention! So grateful to my team for all they do to support the amazing Delta Gamma's at Brown! So thankful/grateful/blessed to be Theta Delta's ATC! I  💓 my Providence daughters! xo 

Summer Ballet

 

In which Grace begins a week long ballet/pointe/contemporary intensive at Metrowest Dance Academy! xo 

A Bedtime Snack

 

Every day ends with a bedtime treat of dried cranberries for the buns. Clover took her time arriving so I was able to capture this sweet moment between Grace and Violet (with Emma on Summer Solstice 2015 in the background). xo 

A Solstice Treat

 

It's our tradition to enjoy homemade strawberry shortcake on the Summer Solstice. This year, Grace made the buscuits, Emma prepared the strawberries and I made the whipped cream. Strawberry lemonade was the prefect addition to our traditional Solstice dessert! xo

Last Night

 

Last night The New Englan Center for Children (where I work) held a staff event at the drive-in! They covered the cost of admission as well as unlimted consessions for all who went. When I heard that they were showing Inside Out 2 I had a feeling that Dave and the girls would want to go and I wasn't wrong! Even though it was the start of the first heatwave of summer the weather last night was really lovely. So glad that we went and were able to see this wonderful movie (highly recommend)! Thank you NECC for a wonderful family night out! xo 

Father's Day S'mores

 

In which we roast s'mores on Father's Day using the teeny Solo Stove the girls gave Dave earlier that day. xo 

On Father's Day

On this Father's Day I would like to take time to honor all the amazing, hands-on dads that we are fortunate to count among our friends, but most importantly I would like to take a moment to honor my dad, David and his dad. Three men who are quietly strong and our biggest champions. For without these men life as I know it would not be possible. It is due to their hard work, and dedication to their families, that we are able to live this absolutely incredible life.

To David: I am so honored to get to be your wife, your best friend, the mama to your children and your all around partner-in-crime. Thank you for all the diapers you changed, the boo-boos you bandaged, the babies (and toddlers!) you wore, the tears you have dried, the costumes you have steamed, and the dance comps and recitals you have attended. Thank you for all the meals you have made (both during and after bikini comp prep), the dishes you have done, the stories you have read, the games you have played, and the adventures we have taken. Thank you for the laughter, love and friendship and thank you for embracing each of my ideas no matter how crazy they are! The girls and I are the luckiest ladies on earth! We you! 

Scenes from Recital

Dance dad mode engaged. 

With both girls in costume for the 12:00pm show we gave theme their flowers early and snapped a few pictures as I knew that they would not be in costume together again when Grace performed all her class dances in the 5:00pm show. 

Emma was amazing on that stage! You would never know that she has been dealing with a knee injury for almost six weeks. She took the last couple of weeks very easy as she wanted to be able to dance full out in the recital. She did, though she did end up not attending Grace's show (at 5:00pm) as her knee was in a lot of pain. Good thing she has an appointment with Dr. Rockett on Thursday. 

Lyrical

Pointe

Ballet

Jazz

Tap

Not pictured: Contemporary. Not sure why I didn't take any stills of that when I was recording the video. 

Grace with her bouquet from us as well as the flowers she was given as a teaching assistant. 

And that's a wrap on her twelfth year of dance. Next year is sure to be an emotional one as it will be her senior year and with that will come lots of "lasts". The last time she auditions for the team, the last time she dances in the holiday show, the last time she competes, the last time she dances in the recital. It's sure to be very bittersweet, but for now we will revel in how wonderful this year was for both girls and we shall soak in the slow pace of the summer. xo 

The Desert In Maine And Other Early June Moments

 

While the girls were at CIT training at Pilgrim Lodge, Dave and I had some time togher just us. After we dropped them off we decided to explore the Desert in MaineDesert in Maine (and yes, it really is a desert in Maine)! 

Dave and the hermit. 

A little bit of how the Desert of Maine Desert of Maine came to be. 

Back at home, Violet decided she needed a bit of a recharge! 

The hens are at max production level. We are getting six eggs every day and as a result our counter is overflowing with them! 

And finally, a little about me thanks to the latest Instagram trend. xo