Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Adi’s senior recital

 11 of of went to church. Adi played the organ, so that was nice for grandpa to see her in action. I had made a lasagna and prepped a bunch in advance, so when we got home we were able to get dinner together in a hurry. Zoe and her boyfriend stopped by with their dog. The boyfriend, who we all loved, but had to leave to get to work only stayed a few minutes and took puppy with him. Chantell didn’t know they were bringing their dog and came to me worried. My philosophy is that we don’t love to own dogs, but we do love people. Not to own them either, but you know.

We ate a delicious pasta bar and then it was time to celebrate Adi again. 
Frankie has a fancy filter so we got these steamy photos. 
She and Frankie did such a good job! 
It was simple, quick, and lovely. 
Johnna said in her close to 40 years of teaching piano she’s only had a handful of seniors, so this is really special. Adi has been with her for 12 years! That’s a lot of years. 
The Rays hung out for another few hours. We ate another round of food and played more games and visited. Chantel gives really good massages! Before church I had a fasting headache and she rubbed knots out of my head and neck and did this cool thing where she put her (freshly showered) feet on my shoulders and pulled at my raised arms. She said as a dancer she’s always had to be so in tune with her body and she’s learned little tricks. I know I have not been very in tune with my body, and I am working on it. I’m more of a bull in a china shop with my body, but I’m getting old and really shouldn’t/can’t do that anymore. 
On Monday Adi, Frankie, Lexi, Carter, and Emmett met up with Alli to go to a titanic experience in Baltimore. I got to hang out with Henners and caught him mid dropping his plate.  
He’s at that annoying stage where he drops everything and then when he’s done eating he even drops his food. 
The boys thought the experience was interesting, but our little sensi Emmett was a little anxious. 
We let Frankie miss school. 🤷‍♀️


I didn’t go because a.) we went to this not that long ago b.) Henry’s adorable but not that much fun to be out and about with and c.) it wasn’t worth it to spend the money, considering a and b.  




Henry was such a good boy!
Oh the point 5’s. 🙄 
He ate well and napped well and was happy and playful. 
Our simple guy loves cars, but unfortunately this house of girls doesn’t have any toy cars, so he had to resort to pushing one of the big boys roller skates around. 🤣 he’s resourceful. 
Pappy and I did walk camp with him and bribed him with marshmallows but I guess you’re not supposed to give babies marshmallows anymore? Or ever? I can’t remember. 
He’s so silly. He can walk, we got him to walk like 5 steps, but he stops himself and then just won’t. 
Delaney worked on her Amazing Digital Circus costume while we played and practiced in the grass. 
He just saw here for several minutes. You don’t even need a babysitter, because he won’t crawl because he doesn’t like the feel of the grass and he refuses to walk. He’s wild. 
🤷‍♀️
He loved the piano. He did that thing where he kind of waved his hand to let me know he’d like to sit on the. Each alone, thankyouverymuch. 
Won’t walk, but will climb on everything!
After their titanic experience and lunch, they went to Lexi’s first escape room. 
They lost. 🤣
Henners and I FaceTimed with Ruby and Henry was being so adorable!
They are always so happy to see each other!
We had such a good day with our precious Henners!

Full house

 Early morning cuddles in aunties bed. We said goodbye to Damian and i made an early copycat chipotle dinner for 13.

The Rays arrived around 3:00 and we ate a late lunch/early dinner. It was my night to volunteer, so I drove Delaney and Olivia down.  I did flower sales and it was so dumb because there were 2 other moms there so we just chatted and hung out. 
Out of order, but okay. Adi sent some graduation announcements to some companies and Maruchan sent her a cute letter and some coupons. Let’s go with your ramen loving self!
It was so fun to watch the show with Chantell and get her professional perspective. 
Poor Dan got cut off here, but it was cool to have a big group to see buggy!
Grandpa and his youngest grandchild. ❤️
So many granddaughters. There’s only 3 boys in the whole mix. 
There’s Uncle Dan!
I got a little emotional seeing Lilys last show!
Next years gonna be so weird without these 2!
 Carter and Emmett weren’t as impressed as they were last year, but they were good and patient. 
And very sleepy.   
Adi sent me this banger. Because we had so many people, Matt and Emmett went early in the day and bought a bunch of ice cream treats and Frankie, who stayed home with Henry made brownies so we had brownie sundaes and played games when we got home. 
We had Lexi and crew in the basement, grandpa in Frankie’s room, Dan and Chantell in Adi’s room, and Rue in Delaney’s room. I told the girls they could either sleep in our room or the basement, so they cuddled with the boys. I love a crazy full house!


Dancing queen

Alexis and Adi had long planned a trip to celebrate their 30th and 18th birthdays. It’s pretty cool how they lined up and were two big ones, for the first and only time really.

And then Lexi got pregnant and there wasn’t a ton they could do comfortable, so then it scaled way down. 
Damian and I planned and decided to decorate their car, with the boys help. 
We let them each do one of the back windows and Henry was the mvp again and was so good watching in his stroller. 
I do love a themed pair of glasses. 
Especially when these silly boys put them on over their every day glasses. ❤️
They loved it. 
They had to stop at the auto parts store in Leonardtown (Damian followed) because they lost a lugnut and they called me crying laughing because an older man came up to the car window while they waited for Damian and played them happy birthday on his harmonica. The whole song. I was like did you clap along or take pictures? And no, they both just sat there awkwardly smiling and laughing. 🤣
They got lots of honks and it was startling every time. 🤣
I made sure to write that it was a sisters trip on the back, otherwise it’s my 30th and my 18th birthday could be kind of creepy. 
They. Love. Pappy. I’m so grateful that blending grandchildren is so much easier than blending regular children. ❤️
I got to see some Delaney dancing that day on Facebook. 
Ballet Caliente shared a preview video and I watched a thousand times and screenshotted my little heart out. 
Very exciting week of practice and dress rehearsals. 
❤️❤️❤️
And then they were home. The boys, including Damian, did great! They enjoyed delicious food, an escape room, movie, a fancy hotel in Inner Harbor, and sleeping in. 
Friday was showtime! The backstage moms shared photos. Ms. Gasaway got them each a sweet goody bag. 
So glad they got pictures! 

And their cute American Bandstand dance. This was Delaney’s fav because they got to dance and act. 
She loooves being on stage. Ballet is a lot. A lot of time and money, but I’m grateful she has something she loves and that we have the time and money to support her. 
The show was called The Pursuit of Happiness and it was so creative and interesting. 
I wasn’t bored at all. 
Some of our Pax ward dancers. 👯 
The cute young women. 
St Mary’s City is one of my favorite places in southern Maryland and the drive home did not disappoint. 
We went to Dairy Queen after and ran into a bunch of studio company girls so of course we cheered when they walked in. Because even though the girls are awkward, Matt and I aren’t. 🤣