It's Goodbye for a Little While

13 years ago on the first day of school, I pulled into the preschool parking lot ahead of schedule. The kids and I had left home with plenty of time to make the drive (early is on time and on time is late - that's how I roll), and because we didn't hit any traffic, ours and one other car were the first two in the parking lot. We were two of the first cars in the parking lot almost every day for the rest of that school year, so on occasion, Will, Hallie, and I crossed paths with this gold van's mom and two daughters. Our kids weren't in the same classrooms though, so we didn't really talk other than an occasional hello (or head nod and smile to acknowledge how cool we both were for always being so early to preschool 😂). 

The following year, we all officially met when the "littles" ended up in the same preschool class and the "bigs" started kindergarten at the same elementary school. And the rest - as they say - is history. 

For 12 years, Hallie and Kara - along with Avery, the third member of that preschool trio of best friends - have been as thick as thieves. They have giggled and laughed and disagreed and fought and made up and cried with one another. They have cheered for and supported one another. They have listened to, navigated discomfort with, and suffered in quiet pain with one another. They have learned how to give grace and forgive because of one another. Each are in so many ways who they are today because of this friendship.

And last Saturday, almost 12 years to the day after that official meeting and three years "ahead of schedule," they said goodbye for a little while.

~

A few weeks ago, Kara auditioned for and was accepted into Houston Ballet's year-round training program. This is an INCREDIBLE accomplishment and opportunity for Kara, and we are tremendously proud of her. Becoming a professional dancer is her dream, and she's making it happen. 

But this isn't easy...for the girls who have been each others' rocks for more than a decade, or for their mamas, who love all of them with their whole hearts.

Thankfully, Kara will only be 90 minutes away. We will take Hallie and Avery - and their now fourth, Abby - to visit Kara in Houston, and Kara will come home for program breaks (though not for Thanksgiving or Christmas, because of Houston Ballet's Nutcracker schedule) and hopefully to watch her sister and friends in Ballet Brazos' Nutcracker. We will make it work. 

I was already teetering on the edge of emotional stability (Will started his senior year of high school last week), and Kara leaving isn't helping. But as I sit with these big feelings, I continuously remind myself and Hallie: how wonderful to have had someone in your life so impactful that saying goodbye is so hard.

High Five for Friday (8.16.24)

One

While I'm not necessarily high fiving about the arrival of Will's senior year, I am high fiving that we were able to take his senior pics (those for the yearbook and in his cap and gown) as planned. 

You see, three weeks ago Will went into the brush in search of one of his discs and emerged - as he would discover 36 hours later - covered in poison ivy. And when I say "covered," I mean COVERED - either from direct contact or from spread, the rash affected his ankles, calves, lower thighs, entire torso, arms, neck, ears, and face. We ended up in urgent care, where he was prescribed a 14-day steroid taper to help him battle this full-body itchy, uncomfortable, and at times painful rash. 

Will's photo appointment - which I had scheduled months earlier - was on the calendar for six days following our trip to urgent care, and I had no idea if he (his face, specifically) would be healed enough to take photos. Thankfully the photographer was more than willing to work with me if we'd needed to reschedule...and even more thankfully, Will's face cleared enough that we could keep our appointment!

Photos to come...

No, we didn't take pictures with the Tiger, nor
was this the backdrop we used. I think this was
just for fun selfies, which Will did not take.

Two

School is underway! 

Will is already living his best life as a senior: he's happy with his classes, excited about his teachers, and thrilled to be back with the Lads. Oh, and he's pretty psyched to be charging second breakfasts and both first and second lunches - and not having to prepare any of these meals himself - once again. 

Hallie is finding her way. She's slower to find the good in new experiences and opportunities, as she's not a fan of change (she most certainly is her mother's daughter), but I hope and pray she'll get there with time.

 

Three

I'm, um, busy. I'm still on the board for Ballet Brazos. I'm still on the School Health Advisory Council for our school district. I'm still on the board of the kids' high school's PTO as the Volunteer and VIPS Coordinator. I've added to my plate, however... I'm now on the board for the choir booster club, helping establish and on the board for the brand new orchestra booster club, the boys soccer liaison for Tiger Club (the high school athletic booster club), and both "the bank" and the parent manager (I made up the title, but the job is very real - my friend Kristen created it and did it so well for the last two years, and I can only hope to do it half as well as she did) for the Lads. 

I'm so grateful to have all of these opportunities to serve my community as well as the kids' school district and school. I'm already tired, but I'm going to give it all I have this year. I don't want to miss a thing. 

Four

My beloved USWNT just won the Olympic gold medal in soccer. I'll have much more to say about this victory down the road, but for now, cheers to these amazing women for doing what many thought they couldn't do: crushing this opportunity for redemption and bringing home the biggest and brightest hardware.

This picture makes our living room television look
tiny, but it's not. (Though my family constantly tells me
it should be bigger.) This is how Tom and I watched the
entire game - we were too anxious to sit down, and I
walked 1,000 steps during those 90 minutes.

Five

Happiness Highlights

She still smiles when it's raining.

And in the car wash. 😂

Another weekend, another volunteer opportunity! We try to take on
as many as we can during the summer months, because once the school
year starts, the girls have dance almost every evening and on Saturdays.

Genetics are crazy, amiright?!

School day #2: Popeye cries and cries at Will's
bedroom door. This moment wasn't happy for Popeye,
but knowing how much he loves Will makes me happy.

Popeye gave up on Will and joined Plié in their new
tower. (He's in that bottom cubby, since the top shelf
is a little tougher for a tripod to reach.)

Happy weekend, friends!

The Last First...The First Last

Tomorrow is Will's last first day of school. Tomorrow is the first of the lasts.

Will on his first day of kindergarten.

Yes, he plans to attend college next year and he'll have a first day of school wherever he ends up. But tomorrow is the last first day on which I'll wake him up and serve him miniature powdered sugar donuts for breakfast. Tomorrow is the last first day on which he'll stand in the yard holding a sign that identifies his new grade and complain about smiling for the camera. It's his last first day with his sister. It's his last first day with me. 

More than ever before, I'm not ready for them to go back to school. I'm not ready for this summer vacation to be over. I'm not ready for my extra time with them to come to an end.

I wrote both of my kids a letter at the end of last school year. While I won't post the contents of these letters verbatim, in a nutshell I shared with Will what I wanted and wished for him this summer, his last as a "kid." I hoped he would find balance between working, volunteering, preparing for college, and playing; take good care of his physical, mental, and emotional health; experience new things and people; and prioritize time with those he loves. I acknowledged that his leaving home will be tough for him, for Tom, and for me, and that he probably already knew that. But I went on to explain that his leaving home will be equally hard - if not more so - for Hallie. 

"You are EVERYTHING to her, and she is already mourning your 'loss' a year in advance. Take this summer to solidify that relationship. Build and reinforce and fortify it so that when you do leave, it will be strong enough to withstand the physical distance between you." 

This summer Will made an effort to find balance between working, volunteering, preparing for college, and playing. He did his best to take good care of his physical, mental, and emotional health. He absolutely experienced new things and people. And he definitely prioritized those he loves. But more than anything else, he made time for his relationship with Hallie - and she made time for him as well - and they are ending this summer a stronger and closer pair than they were going into it.

This is the best/only picture I have of just the two of them
from this summer. Apparently they don't take pictures when
they're together, so I had to snap this one of them playing
in the sprinklers after soccer and dance earlier this week.

Summer vacation officially comes to an end tomorrow. I'm not ready, but when the train pulls out of the station, bound for its destination with nothing in place to stop it as it barrels down the tracks, I'll try to focus on how truly grateful I am for the wonderful (not perfect, but as I frequently tell my kids, something doesn't need to be perfect to be great) summer we all spent together.