Tuesday, May 31, 2022

School's Out for Summer

I'm thrilled this school year has come to an end. It wasn't a bad year necessarily, at least overall, but we (and I mean "we", because while the kids were "in it", Tom and I were along for the ride) had to navigate some complicated, difficult, and frustrating situations. Just like last year, none of what any of us - in our family and in families and households around the world - did this year was easy, and we're all stronger for it.

But... The kids need a break. I need a break. And we all need to celebrate, even if it's just our traditional summer basket "surprise" (Will and Hallie are of course not at all surprised anymore, but I love this tradition and I'm keeping it alive, surprise or not) and a toast with sparkling grape juice.

~

This kid just wrapped up 9th grade. It's truly mind-boggling to think that he only has three years left before he graduates from high school...

End of Kinder

End of 1st Grade

End of 2nd Grade

End of 3rd Grade

End of 4th Grade

End of 5th Grade

End of 6th Grade

End of 7th Grade

End of 8th Grade

End of 9th Grade.

                    
And this little pipsqueak only has one more year of middle school. 

End of Kinder

End of 1st Grade

End of 2nd Grade

End of 3rd Grade

End of 4th Grade

End of 5th Grade

End of 6th Grade

End of 7th Grade.

It goes SO fast...

~

Note #1: I say this every year, and I'll say it again - I should have started with a bigger or less fitted cut of shirt for my girl...not sure why I went with the baby tee. 😂

Note #2: It's crazy to me how much Hallie's hair has changed over the years. She had such fine hair as a baby, toddler, and elementary schooler, and while her hair has gradually thickening, in the last year it's gone from thin and wavy to thick and CURLY. (I'm trying to help her learn to love her new hair...we're not there yet.) 

Note #3: Speaking of hair...I've given up on Will's.

Friday, May 27, 2022

High Five for Friday (5.27.22)

 


One

Last week Will attended Cavalry Soccer tryouts ahead of what will be his sixth year with the club. On Monday night we found out he made his 06 Black team again, which made him both relieved and happy, and that result marks the end of the tryout/audition season for the Ferris kids, which makes their mama relieved and happy...until it all starts over again in August. 😝


Two

Last Thursday night Hallie and her bestie Kara performed in their middle school talent show. They choreographed their dance and handled all of the details themselves, and they did an amazing job.

 


Somewhat surprisingly to me, the talent show was a competition, with three guest judges determining the outcome. And wonderfully surprising to me, Hallie and Kara won. My favorite part about the series of pictures below - taken as the winner was announced - is that they never stopped holding hands. They were in this together, and I love that about their relationship.







They were tremendously proud of themselves, and their fantastic cheering section - both sets of parents, Kara's grandparents, two kid friends, and two mom friends - was proud of them as well. 





This wasn't the first time Hallie and Kara performed a dancing duet in a talent show...it seems like just yesterday (except it was three years ago) that they took the stage together in their fourth grade variety show.  



They ended this year's dance with a nod to that dance - and the dancers they were - three years ago. Few people watching would know or notice this, but it felt impactful to me; a lot has changed, but not the joy they feel when they're dancing.



And we had to recreate this picture as well. Sweet Avery, supporting her besties...having come straight from dance. 😂


Avery goes to a different school than Hallie and Kara, which is why she hasn't been in these talent show acts with them.


Three

Swimming season is upon us! (Swimming weather arrived quite a while ago. Swimming season arrives when we actually have time to swim.)



We swam on Saturday with our besties, and then again on Sunday, when we celebrated the (almost) end of the dance year with a company party.


Four

When your 15-year-old son asks if you'll go to the park with him, you literally drop everything you're doing and go. Man, I love spending time with this kid.


Five

A couple of weeks ago my uncle Russ - my dad's older brother - passed away, and last weekend his family and friends celebrated his life. We couldn't attend, but we were with in spirit those who could.


When I was a little kid he was SO MUCH FUN. He wasn't married nor did he have kids back then, and he was good at and seem to really enjoy playing - like really playing, the way only some adults know how - with me and my sister. He was the kind of uncle who let us stay up late and jump on the beds and watch grown up television shows and drink (regular and caffeinated) Pepsi when our parents weren't around, and we thought he was the absolute coolest. I remember that he loved cats, trains, and Pepsi, so it's fitting that his ashes were placed in this, a Pepsi train car.


Rest in peace, Uncle Russ. High five for a life well lived.

~

Happy weekend, friends!

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

In Texas We Drive Trucks

Tom and I aren't car people. We never have been, and I suspect we never will be. We have opinions about the colors, features, and passenger capacities of our vehicles, but we don't get excited about nor are we willing to pay for bells and whistles; I'm more of a "does it have room for my kids and their friends? Does it have enough cup holders?" kind of girl, and Tom just wants enough space to transport his disc golf bags and keyboard. 

After a few years of living in Texas, however, Tom started to think about (slightly) more than his vehicle's capacity...he started to think that trucks looked kind of cool. Trucks serve a purpose too, of course, especially when it comes to moving large items - like I mentioned, Tom transports his disc golf and music paraphernalia weekly, but we take quite a bit with us to summer soccer games (think tent, lawn chairs, coolers, etc.) and make a lot of trips to Lowe's as well. So we made eventual plans to gift Tom's car to Will for his 16th birthday and then purchase a truck for Tom.

Well, our timeline sped up a bit when a few weeks ago someone rear-ended Tom while in Austin for a concert. He was traveling on the interstate when the traffic in his lane came to a complete stop, and while he was able to stop, the car behind him was not...and that car slammed into Tom and pushed Tom's car into the car in front of him as well. Thankfully, NONE of the people in any of the cars were hurt at all. But Tom's car was totaled as a result of the two collisions.

So now Tom - Texas Tom, as we should probably start calling him - is the proud owner of a new (to us) truck and has become a card-carrying member of the "In Texas We Drive Trucks" club. 

Anyone know where the club meetings are held? He'd like to attend.


Friday, May 20, 2022

High Five for Friday (5.20.22)


Is anyone else drowning in May? It's a crazy, crazy month for school-aged kids and their parents, as we attempt to navigate the end-of-the-year rehearsals, recitals, concerts, performances, tournaments, graduations, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and banquets. These are all beautiful, important experiences, but there are A LOT of them and only so many hours in the day. Hang in there, friends - the finish line is in sight!


One

Midway through last week I did something I rarely do - I carved out two hours...in the middle of the day...on a weekday...to have lunch and go swimming (or float around on pool noodles in the swimming pool) with a group of old and new friends. Soon I'll share a bit more about how these lovely ladies and I came to know and befriend one another, because our story is unique and interesting, but for now I'll just share a cute pic. 


Two

PTO responsibilities are wrapping up for the year, and as a thank you for volunteering throughout the last 10 months, the teachers/staff at both of my kids' schools hosted lovely luncheons for us. I thoroughly enjoy this kind of work, even when it's hard and regardless of whether or not anyone throws us a luncheon, and it feels good to close out another good year. (And the luncheons were both delicious and appreciated!)


 

Three

Tom and I didn't make it to the end-of-the-year orchestra banquet with Will - there were just too many other things going on that night - but he enjoyed getting to spend the evening eating Olive Garden catering and then watching movies with some of his friends. And he didn't spill spaghetti on his suit like he did at the Cavalry banquet! 

Speaking of Will's suit... I was worried he wouldn't get enough use out of it, but I needn't have worried - he's worn the full suit, with different shirts and tie combinations, at least 15 times this semester. Money well spent and a bonus high five!

We did, however, make it to the last choir concert of the year!



Four

Last weekend was one to survive - car shopping, orchestra banquet, two-day soccer tournament in Houston, 13+ hours of dance recital dress rehearsal, and dance photos - but we did it!


Though we (moms) spent much of the day at the
theater as well, first thing in the morning we just
dropped them off...and then went in all alone for
the very first time. It was a strange feeling...

The amazing Shannon Morton capturing
my girl as the sun sets in the background.

Still smiling at the end of their shoot! (I'm sad I didn't get a pic 
of them and Kara at the beginning of their shoot, but I can't wait
to share Shannon's pics of the three of them together very soon!)


Five

Usually the kittens (all the kittens, from this litter and from litters past) sleep with Will, but on Sunday Hallie turned out to be the best napping option for these three. 





The funny thing is that she wasn't asleep - she was faking it, and when they all fell asleep she had to just lay there until they woke back up...never wake a sleeping kitten!

~

Happy weekend, friends!