I would never have guessed that June 2 could be a busier time for a birthday than a November or December birthday, but I have quickly learned that's the case. This year wins the award, though.
Truthfully, his actual birthday was on a Friday and wasn't that busy, but prom was the day before and the dance recitals, Austin's piano recital, a soccer game and Erik's fun fair were the next day. Plus, I was planning for the grad party to be held two weeks later, so my mind was very preoccupied. Technically, we could have had Austin's birthday party, but we had decided to wait (we're still waiting till he decides to text his friends). I'm really glad we did because it turned out that Austin was pretty sick that week.
There was no school Monday for Memorial Day. We had a great time at a family friend's house for a bbq and outdoor games. Tuesday he came home from school early with a fever, which meant he couldn't go to school Wednesday, and his fever was a high 103 that day which also meant no track meet. He still had a low-grade fever Thursday morning, but was starting to be on the mend. Friday was his birthday and he didn't feel 100% to go to school and I didn't want to push it, so he got to relax at home on his birthday, which is actually pretty nice. Jason even got them a pizza lunch, since he was working from home that day. We had planned to go see Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse that evening all together as a family, after eating a bbq hamburger dinner, served with rice, which Austin likes better than potatoes. It turned out that Victoria couldn't go to the movie, so one of Austin's best friends joined us. We brought candy and some popcorn and were ready to relax at the theater!
Birthday breakfast: his favorite egg-bagel sandwich and a doughnut!
As you see, he was feeling pretty good that day. He's officially obsessed with Star Wars, btw.
He not only loves video games, but he really loves the music in them and will play them on the piano. He's very talented in both playing the games and the music!
Star Wars Uno!
The gift he asked for: Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch game!
He was pretty stoked about it!
Sibling gift. (Kai was trying to make a face, she wasn't actually mad here!)
$ from Grandma.
Happily playing his new game.
Dad's special-made dinner.
Well, 3 times during the movie, Austin came over to me telling me he had a bad earache. Luckily, I had some Aleve in my purse and gave him some, not knowing what else to do and not wanting to leave. He still came over twice more complaining about his ear, but we made it through and came home for ice cream cake. He went to bed with the heating pad and seemed to feel okay the next morning. I gave him more pain killer so he could go to his piano recital, but he rested most of the day, besides attending Victoria's recital. He made it to Monday when I could take him to the doctor because his ear still bothered him. Apparently, his ear looked so bad, the doctor said it must have hurt to turn his head.
Poor kid. Still made a silly face for his cake.
Now remember, I also had to take Kai to the doctor that day to get her cast off and I had to take Erik to the urgent care to look at the pinky that he jacked up at the fun fair. It was quite the day!
While Austin had an amazing swim season, his track season was okay. He started the first meet under the weather due to something he picked up at the 8th-grade field trip to Washington DC, of which he barely took any pictures for me, but he had a great time. He did pretty well in the 400 and 800 on his second meet, but the third meet he had to leave early for the orchestra concert and only ran the 800. The next meet he missed due to his fever and the next meet was the final one and he was still recovering, but ended up doing pretty well. He kept up with all the fastest kids for most of the 800, but the lack of training the final week showed during the last 1/4 of the lap. He got 2:36 on it and I think about 8th place.
He's the 4th kid back here.
This is the last lap and he was kicking it in gear, but the first 3 were already out of the shot.
Home stretch!
That seems like just yesterday and now that we're into the full swing of summer, he's been training at the high school with the cross-country team and running daily with them. He's back into full health and even ran 5 miles for the first time with them! There was also a hs track camp he attended for 2 nights and a day he went to the gym with Victoria. He's getting super strong and eating a ton of food!
Kai's been attending the all-day marching band camp. Austin was torn between joining the marching band or cross country in high school. Ultimately, he decided to do cross country for long painful runs, but not all-day practices like marching band. Plus, two of his best friends are on the team and they even had a swim party already. He might try winter percussion, but his musical outlets in high school will be the piano and orchestra.
The weekend after his sick birthday he got to go on yet another trip. This one was with the 8th-grade band. It wasn't as far, just Cleveland and a bit in Toledo, but he had the time of his life at a science museum, zoo, baseball game (which they were supposed to play at, but it fell through), they saw Spiderman: Across the Spideyverse, this time with no ear pain, and went to Dave and Buster's. They were only gone two days and do you think he took any pictures for me?? No!
I was just glad he was better and didn't get sick again on this trip. He had a great school year! Onto highschool!!
Here's a video of his piano recital with his plugged-up ear.
And a song from his recent band concert.
And from the last orchestra concert.
My favorite orchestra players!
Bonus: Since Kai didn't get to play in the last concert, here's a recording of her at an orchestral event a couple of months ago. She's gotten so confident in her playing! There's only the 3 violas and she really carries them!
If you haven't noticed by the uptick in my Facebook posts, we have had many big events happening. I'm way behind in blogging it all, so this one is all devoted to dancing, in some form, and Victoria.
Almost a month ago now, she went to prom with her prom "squad" as the group quickly became close and they hung together in the days leading up to prom and then afterward. You may also remember the cute "promposal" that Jack did at Senior Night for track.
My mom and I got to sneak a peek at the girls getting ready and when the boys arrived to pick them up. We followed them to Mill Race Historical Village where we took group pics and I had to contain my excitement at all the cute couples. 💓
It took Victoria, my mom, and me to get the boutonniere to stay on right, but his was the only one that stayed on the whole night!
Each one of these kids is one of Victoria's really good friends, so it made it extra special and fun!
They went to dinner at Ford's Garage, which offers grill and food items similar to Applebee's, and then to the dance. Instead of going to a big party after the dance, they opted to go to Mallory's for a movie instead, which I was happy about. When Victoria returned home just after midnight, I was shocked and pleased. It being on a Thursday night probably helped with the earlier arrival home. The seniors were done with school by then, but there were a couple of juniors in the group, so they had to go to school the next day!
A week after prom was Victoria's last dance recital. Since she has been dancing at Dancin' Feet for 15 years, this was probably the hardest "final thing" for me. 15 years is a long time! They highlighted the seniors with a picture video of them at the beginning and a segment where each was highlighted by how long they've been dancing and what they're going to do next, plus acknowledgments for all the teacher and family support. When I went to take her lunch in between recitals and before volunteering at the bake sale, I was already losing it and broke down. Luckily, that ended up being the biggest emotional moment for me, besides just getting teary-eyed later while watching her dance. We had some friends come and watch and when I'm around people, I tend not to be as emotional, so that was good. They kept me calm and level-headed!
This is when I lost it.
Senior highlights. Victoria was the Tinman.
James Bond contemporary.
Tap Company
Jazz
Senior number. It was Old McDonald and was hilarious! Victoria was a pig.
Jason was in the Dad's dance again.
Grandma fan!
Fans!
Dance buddies
We didn't get a family pic there.
This was why: Jason was coughing like crazy and had to wear a mask, except when he was on stage, Austin had an ear infection, Erik had just broken his pinkie, Kai was still in her cast, Victoria broke her toe, and I was just exhausted!
We ordered the dance DVD (thanks Gramms!) so I didn't record the dances at the rehearsals or the recital, which we're not supposed to then anyhow, but I recorded some of my favorites from the DVD to my phone so I could put them here (I know- weird and backward). There will be one more dance event to go to in a couple of weeks at Nationals! (Here are a few of her 12 dance numbers, plus the Dad's dance because it's awesome!)
A week after the recital, Victoria and I went to see Taylor Swift! You may remember that her Christmas gift was the tickets that somehow Jason got, even though everything crashed when all the "Swiftys" were trying to buy tickets. They were very affordable too! A quick background on T. Swift for the grandparents: this was the Eras Tour where she featured songs from all of her different musical eras. There are many of them. The thing to do at her concerts is to dress up as from one of her eras, or a combo. Victoria helped me find a top that represented the Reputation Era. Also, my top was bejeweled, so it went with one of her songs. I got it from Plato's Closet which actually had sections of the store dedicated to the concert and I only paid $8.99 for it!! It totally reminds me of my Grandma Joyce. She would have worn something like that to church! Victoria got a skirt and decided to wear one of her dance costumes as the top and sunglasses that represent the Lover era. It was very fun!
Of course, the dance costume is a little different when you're going out in public, but she still looked sweet and innocent😇
The concert was super good, just as everyone has said. Girl in Red was one of the opening acts, one of Kai's favorites, so we enjoyed that part for her. For the main concert, everyone got lit-up bracelets that were connected to the music and lit up at just the right times in different colors, too! In the song Lovers, somehow the bracelets lit up in the right places to make heart patterns at either side of Ford Field. It was amazing! The dancing, the music, the special effects and props, the costumes, and Taylor's supporting dancers, singers, and the band were all fantastic. It was a great show. My one complaint is that Swiftys are too excited to sing way too loudly! My eardrums were about to explode because at parts of songs they were all screaming the words. At times I almost couldn't hear Taylor, but she must have had a pretty good mic.
I was a zombie the next day, due to lack of sleep for my old bones, but it was worth it. I had different Taylor Swift songs in my head for the rest of the week!
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