Softball at Salsbury

Posted on June 29, 2025 by Stefanie

Four Days

Three Nights

Dorm Rooms

Teammates

Roommates

Shared Bathrooms

Dining Hall

Softball at Salisbury University

Six hours a day on the field

In a heat index of 110

The Nightmare before Production – Recital

Posted on June 14, 2025 by Stefanie

For me, this year’s recital was different…in a good, beautiful way. I still did Avery’s make-up, but she did everything else….her own hair, gathering of all her costumes, preparation of her snacks, etc.

For recitals, I no longer go back to the dressing room with her; there is no helping with quick costume changes. In fact, she does so much on her own that I literally forgot I had to do her make-up for the 3:00 Saturday show!

It also escaped my mind to take pictures. Normally, I take pictures at dress rehearsal. She had so many dress rehearsals (ok…three) that I wasn’t at all of them and even the ones that I was at, I flat out forgot to take pictures. Good thing Avery took it upon herself to get professional pictures taken in most of her costumes! And they are great…I may actually buy some this year!

And for the first time ever, two of Avery’s dance performances in the Friday night show (Jazz III and Lyrical A), I had never seen before. I hadn’t even seen the costume, which she hid in her closet for several months.

I absolutely love watching the company dances over and over; at the same time, there was something really beautiful and special about watching a dance for the first time at recital.

In total Avery, performed Friday night in four dances:

Days Like This – Lyrical A
Mambo Italiano – Junior A CDC Jazz
Baby I’m a Star – Jazz III
Brand New Day – CDC

Saturday 3:00 afternoon show:

Hold On – Junior A CDC Solo
Consider Yourself – Junior A CDC Musial
Brand New Day – CDC

Saturday 7:00 pm show:

Landslide – Junior A CDC Solo Lyrical
Brand New Day – CDC (that was the plan anyway)…

…Avery injured her already hurt knee in her second to last dance to the point she couldn’t walk and perform the final dance in production. She was heartbroken.

I went back to the dressing room after she was injured and seeing the girls and teachers come together to care and support her is truly heartwarming. What these girls have with one another is so incredibly special…a true gift.

Avery performed beautifully and it was extra rewarding to watch her perform her solo in front of close to 400 people. While there is more at stake performing a solo at a competition, there are far less people watching you. At recital, it’s all eyes on you!

As for her knee, we have had several appointment and have more to come…we are holding are breath and remaining calm for the news.

Last Day of School

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Stefanie

I’ve been trying to think of something clever to start this blog, but the words escape me; I try to quell my mind of the reality of this year’s graduation. Avery and Emerson finished 8^th grade and will be freshman at James Madison High School, the same high school I went to just a few years ago…alright maybe more than a few but not more than a decade 🙂 ! Harper finished 6^th grade and will be a 7^th grader at Thoreau. Our family’s run of elementary school is officially over. Nine years at OES have come and gone.

As young toddlers, they watched the big yellow bus from the kitchen window thinking “one day they would be on that bus”. They got their turn after several years and now next year when that big yellow bus comes by in the afternoon, if they aren’t at their activities, they may just think “one day, I was on that bus”.

Avery and Emerson are thrilled to not have the 6:30 am bus stop departure time.

Harper will inherit it.

I am not too thrilled. This is pretty typical of my days of driving the girls to the bus stop….rolling out of bed in my pajamas and getting straight into the driver’s seat!

Thoreau did an 8^th grade party during the school day for the 8^th graders.

OES had a formal graduation, where Harper received two awards:

Presidents Education Awards Program for Outstanding Academic Achievement
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Youth Citizenship Award

Only 5 students (out of 125) received the DAR Award….I’m not surprised…..Harper is always helping others and cares deeply about doing the right thing.

Harper and her entourage.

We arrived home to Avery and Emerson’s surprising Harper with a driveway celebration!

Later that night, Harper attended the Oakton Elementary 6^th Grade graduation party. We carpooled with a few of her friends. Such a great group of girls and wonderful friendship.