I did it!

Our family committed to doing the 3,000 push-up challenge in May for St. Jude's. It's a fundraiser for them, and we decided it would be a challenge for us. I made myself a grid to track mine--each box being 10 push-ups with a goal of 100 a day. Yesterday, I finished it:

 Most of them were definitely modified, but I was able to do more and more at a time. I used a different color for each session, and by the end of the month I was doing 100 at a time! 

I'm super proud of myself, but my shoulders are also definitely ready for a break.

Celebration Weekend

We officially ended the dance season this weekend. Friday, the team performed at Final Fridays:

They did so well, and we managed to have dinner at Radius afterwards, which was a lovely way to kick-off the long weekend!

Saturday, we had the end of season soiree:

Issa was voted most-prepared by her team, but the highlight was Brooke and Stephanie's mash-up of all of the team dances from the year. They had to admit their choreo was harder than they thought!

Sunday morning I headed back into the pottery studio with my new apron and tools:

These babies were a lot sharper than my last set:

This is what all that replaced:

It's the set we cobbled together when I was just going back to the studio in the pandemic. I wasn't sure I would keep going, so I didn't want to spend any money. The second dragon mug survived the kiln and was ready for glazing:

And I threw my first big platter:

"Big" is relative, but I'm pretty pleased with it!

Sunday afternoon Brad and I went to a wedding for one of my former students. Five others were either in the wedding party or at the wedding. I was a little too excited when they asked me to jump in a Meredith picture with them. So often we don't get to see then end result with students, and it's so fin to see them all grown up and celebrate with them.

Yesterday was a blissfully quiet day. Kai hung out with us for most of the day, and Mom came over for dinner. Brad and Evan went to see Fast and Furious Ten before making us all burgers, and everyone helped me unpack and put away Gram's candlewick dishes. We ended the night with a toast from them, which was a great way to kick off the new week.
 

Wild Friends

Students have gone home and summer camps haven't started, so we are in the very quiet period on campus. I had a meeting across campus, and I met two friends:

There is no zoom on that photo. That little baby bunny was that close to the sidewalk. So was this robin:

Last night, I took a quick walk around Gold Park between dropping Issa at dance and picking Evan up from Black Dragon, and I met this friend:

He is a green heron, and he is just gorgeous. I'm hoping to see him again soon!

 

Book 14

I finished book 14 of the year yesterday:

I loved her last memoir, and this one was just as good. I so appreciate her candor and also her wisdom. It was a quick read, and I just felt good every time I read it--definitely recommend!
 

A Fabulous Recital Weekend

We had a fabulous, but exhausting, recital weekend! Issa and I were at recitals one and two all day Saturday:

We did get a lovely lunch break outside on the picnic tables with another dance mom and half the high school team:

That is also when I discovered a new snail sticker that had been sneakily added to my water bottle by a former student:

We had a great weekend, except are hangers are slowly resigning from duty:

Sunday was her big recital, and she had the best support team! Aunt Beth and Uncle Nick made the drive up from Atlanta:

And the usual team was all there:

Allison joined us for the second year:

And Kai joined the party this year, too!

Issa danced so very well. And we are so very grateful for her teachers and their amazing choreo:

The dancing just continues to get stronger, and she is so very well-celebrated:

The family gave her the big arrangement, Kai brought the smaller one, and the studio gave her the roses for being a staff member. 

We still have a community performance Friday and the end of year celebration Saturday, but I'm already bracing for next year. That senior solo is going to be one to remember.
 

Hobbies

I have a new hobby:

I'm growing my own sprouts! I have been eating them every day lately, and a friend mentioned how early they are to grow in these cool jars:

The seeds soak for a day, and then they are rinsed twice a day for a week:

The bean sprouts start in the sleeve, and then both the bean and alfalfa sprouts finish in the sun. On day seven I had a great harvest:

these alfalfa sprouts are absolutely the best I've eaten:

I also finished Book 13:

This is a YA novel Issa heard me talk about and picked up at a book fair. It's a hard read, but it's historical fiction about three children refugees in three time periods. It's a really powerful read covering the Holocaust, Cuba, and modern Syria. I will definitely recommend it to my students!
 

Celebration Weekend

This was a weekend full of celebrations! Friday night we had our graduate hooding ceremony on campus, which is one of my favorite nights of the year! It is just our department, and I have taught every single student. The best part is I get to read their names, and there is no greater joy than seeing their faces when I call their name and listening to the people cheer.

To make it even better, I came home to Brad's first attempt at smoking on the new grill:

He did a brisket that rivals any I have ever had:

Saturday morning I was back on campus at 6:45 am for our graduation ceremonies:

I absolutely love commencement. I love celebrating our students and watching their people celebrate them. There is just nothing better.

We had Mom and Shannon over for burgers Saturday night, and the kids and I went over their last night for Mother's Day dinner. Since Brad had to fly out yesterday, we did a mini celebration and will do a full day June 10! Issa did give me a beautiful flower she crocheted, and Evan have me a new set of pottery tools! Brad got me a double sleeping bag since he and I plan to do more tent camping in the near future. And Jet gave me some great snuggles while I had an easy morning in bed:

I'm still exhausted from all of the celebrating, but I will take it!
 

A Show and Book 12

Last Friday night, Brad and I went to see  Moulin Rouge:

The whole theatre was red when we arrived, and it was one of the coolest sets I've seen:

The whole show was fantastic; I would see it again in a heart beat!

This week I also finished Book 12:

This book chronicles the other biographies of the Brontës. It's a really fascinating look into how biography is shaped by the author, the era, and the audience. Admittedly, you have to be a bit of a Brontës nerd to follow the text, but I loved it! This is one of the few books I haven't passed on recently.
 

Happy Birthday, Evan!

I can hardly believe it, but my baby boy turned 14 Sunday! We actually started celebrating on Saturday. He wanted to go see the new Guardians of the Galaxy movie, so we headed to Silverspot to see it and eat movie snacks for dinner with Aunt Shannon and Nana. Then it was back to the house for his cookies and cream ice cream dessert request:

Nana gave him and apple watch, and Aunt Shannon came through with several super cool bands:

And he now actually gets himself up in the morning!

His actual birthday started with his requested NC Jelly donuts:

And plenty of decorations:

The best sister ever is designing his own candy box each month. She even designed her own shipping labels:

We gave him another Munch Box subscription now that his braces are off:

He spend the morning at the dojo before Bojangles for lunch, and then he spent the afternoon playing his video games undisturbed. He requested a cookies and cream cake for the actual day:

He was lamenting that smash cakes were not a thing for his first birthday, so we gave him permission to try it for his fourteenth:

He was not a fan of Oreo up his nose, but it was hysterical.

The only birthday hiccup was his dinner, which got postponed to Monday night when our grill decided to retire itself after 20 years. Five Guys made a great substitute, and we did the grilled Caesar salads on the new one last night:

We can't wait to play with this grill and its smoker box!
 

Evan declared it a perfect birthday, and I can't wait to see what this year has in store for him.