Crazy Days Are Almost Over...

We have one more week of the crazies around our house and then summer can begin. Kelsie is in the middle of final exams, then next week is all practices for graduation on Friday the 18th.

It certainly hasn't been boring around here this past week or so...We are experiencing lot of "Lasts" around here...

Last dance recital. She was beautiful. She danced in 10 dances and was perfect in all of them. (proud mama!). I never took dance when I was little, so I am still amazed when our girls remember 10-15 dances for a recital or competition. I must confess, I cried after every dance. I think it was the culmination of all the dance classes since they were 3 and now to have it come to an end. I even cried when the little girls who were about 2-3 years old danced. It reminded me of Kelsie when she was little.

I never mentioned before, but Kelsie has been through a lot in her short life. She was born with congenital defects of her shoulder and spine. Her first surgery was when she was 2 years old to move her scapula down in the correct spot. She then wore a body and neck brace forever. Her last surgery was 5 years ago. It took 11 hours. She has 2 rods, pins and screws and her spine is fused from the neck to the lumbar. The way she moves you would never know a thing. I think this is the reason for the extra tears this recital.

Here she is en pointe.

Ballet. She's the one with the leg extended. Sorry so blurry. I had other pictures of the other dances, but they move so fast they were too blurry.

and here she is at the end right after they celebrated the 3 seniors graduating from the dance school.

Then we had her last parade for Memorial Day. That's her waving away.

Right after the parade we drove the family to Newport, Rhode Island for the day. Beautiful day of food and shopping. This picture's not mine, but isn't it pretty here.

I took these in a candy shop. Those huge logs are FUDGE!!!

These are freshly made ice cream cones.

Chocolate covered Twinkies.

and here are the slabs of fudge cut from those logs. It was ridiculously delicious.

Then June 3rd was Courtney's 19th birthday. Can't believe she's that old. She's grown into a beautiful woman right before our eyes. Smart as a whip too. Just finished her freshman year of college with a 4.0. Here she is with her boyfriend Courtland.

Bite of birthday cake...

and blue teeth from the frosting.

Annie wanted to give her a birthday kiss too.

This past Saturday was Kelsie's senior prom (last prom for us). She was so pretty (tears again).

Here is her date for the night. Very nice boy.

This last pictures is with one of her best friends Sofia. Kelsie put together this split picture of the two of them in first grade. They were both in the play The Wizard of Oz. Kelsie was Dorothy and Sofia the Scarecrow. This makes me cry again. Where does the time go?

We have one more week of activities and I'll be back in full blogging swing. I have some snowballs to show you and other projects in the works...just bear with me. I think my last day to cry is next Friday!

space

See you in a little bit,

~Karen~