ballet, track, Mom's Day

Ah...the annual track meet. This year was pretty darn miserable. It was 43 degrees and vaccilated between a light, steady rain and downright downpour. #1's relay team, which has won the event for the past three years, didn't make it to the finals. Zippy was faced with the fact that although he is extremely fast even against bigger kids, he simply cannot get going fast enough against the other three fastest 7&8 year olds who are all at least a full foot taller than he is. It was freezing. It was wet. Results didn't measure up to what the boys had hoped and dreamt. But they do love to run fast and it was fun to see everyone from all the surrounding towns and see how much all the kids had grown and changed over the winter when we really don't see anyone from the public school system since none of our kids do winter sports with them. No track photos this year since our hands were too numb to hold a camera.

Then there were dance photos for the local dance studio. Always the same day as the track meet. Not sure why that has to be, but it is. The Spark got all dolled up in her costume for the Memorial Day weekend recital. We didn't spring for the expensive, professional photo package so I took these before we headed to the studio for the group shot. All the group photos from years past hang in the hallways at the studio so I didn't want to miss being there.

And then there was Mother's Day. It was snowing and bitter cold, but I still got out for a nice long walk with #1 who, after all, made me a mother in the first place. Before that though I was treated to the ultimate treat for a woman who despises morning yet lives in an echo-y house full of children and dogs: I got to sleep in! I didn't even believe J when he brought me coffee and donuts and told me it was almost 9:00. Then I was regaled with several homemade gifties from the troops. Oh, and for lunch? Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate bars on top. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Mother's Day ended at the stroke of midnight. It was about 12:05am when Cupcake started yelling that night. She continued relentlessly bopping between our bed and hers with short burts of quiet sleep mixed with long, loud bouts of tantruming until 5:20am. She is good at sleeping soundly when everyone else in the house is starting to rise. When she wakes up just in time for school or the days' morning activities, she has no recollection of putting us through the wringer all night long. Maybe it's just her way of making sure she continues to be the only child in the family who does not have to share a bedroom.