High Five for Friday (1.27.23)

 

One

Last Thursday we celebrated Mandi's birthday with brunch at The Village Downtown. It had been ages since I'd been to this fun and quirky local establishment, and I was reminded when I walked through the door how perfect it is for reading, working, brunching, and/or lunching. The food - and seasonal cranberry mimosas - were delicious, and the company even better.

Two

Thursday was the day for good food...that afternoon I took Hallie to Smoosh for a school spirit night. That place certainly knows how to do sweet treats!

Three

On Saturday morning, Hallie and I got up at 5am (?!?!) so she could board the school bus headed to Region Choir auditions a couple of hours away. Because she and I needed to be back in College Station earlier than the bus would arrive home that evening, I followed the bus in my car and then chaperoned the choir kids until Hallie had finished her audition. 

Hallie was nervous going in, but felt afterwards like she had done a good job on one of the songs and an "OK" job on the other song. Later that night, her choir teacher messaged me to let me know that Hallie had made Region Choir! She'll go to Killeen on February 4th for a day of rehearsals followed by a concert that we'll all attend. 

Four

The GOOD: on Saturday evening, I joined a few of my fellow Tiger soccer moms for an "instrument decorating party" ahead of the Lads' first district game on Tuesday night. We've been getting increasingly louder, prouder, and rowdier (and more musical) since the start of the season, and we're excited to keep it up as the next stage of the season gets underway.

The BAD: later on Saturday evening, Plié and Popeye popped and then shredded all four of my boom sticks. 

Flat as pancakes thanks to lots
of little - but very sharp - claws.

The GOOD: thankfully, Plié and Popeye weren't able get their paws and claws on my light up tambourine.

The GOOD: the lads played their first district game on Tuesday night. The night before, a few of us moms decorated The Dungeon (the space they use as their locker room) and set out treats for them to enjoy before - and then another round for them to enjoy after - the game. It looked awesome, the Lads loved it all, and the Lads added a tally to their win column!

The BAD: Will sprained his ankle (thankfully it was much milder this time than last time) at practice on Saturday, so he didn't play at all on Tuesday night.

The GOOD: Will and his coach were "twinning" for the game, and Will expects to get back on the field tonight!

Oh look, he CAN smile!

Five

I've spent quite a bit of time this week working on a special project with special friends. I'm not going to go into detail except to say - because I think we all understand this feeling - that I was reminded that while it's wonderful to be invited to share in the joyful, celebratory moments of friends' lives, it is a true gift to be invited to share in the moments that are heart-wrenching and painful.