Brady's a Bulldog!

This is my 10th year at Austin High School, so it's been about that long since Brady has talked about playing baseball for Austin High School. Even though we still have a week left of middle school (ugh) they have already held tryouts for the high school summer baseball league and guess who is now a member of the freshman Mickey Mantle league team??

Today was their first day to scrimmage in their official new uniforms. He is so excited!

This week is final exams, but Brady managed to earn A's in Algebra, Science, Social Studies and ELA, so he's exempt from all those final exams! (The district allows exemptions if you have an A or B, fewer than 5 absences, and pass TAKS. In our house, you have to have an A or take the final). He only has to take finals for Spanish, Band, and PE! KC's exempt from 2 finals with A's in Math and ELA (the only ones 6th grades can be exempted from).

Spring concert and Spring awards were held the past 2 Tuesdays. Brady's giving up band in high school, so it was bittersweet to see him play in his last concert. He was selected as Outstanding 8th grade musician for Brass.

During Spring awards, he won awards for A/B honor roll and a President's Achievement Award for having a 90 average and being commended on state tests. And I got him to smile for a picture!! You can actually see his braces!

Counting down to the end of the year! Very exciting . . .

Dance Recital

The girls had their dance recital the first weekend of May (it's been a busy month).

Now that a few weeks have passed and the stress has died down a bit, I can honestly say that they were wonderful (as always).

The recital theme was New York. KC began the day as a policeman in the NYC opening number.

The order of the recital worked out in such a way that KC had 3 dances of the first nine in the show, so we got to use the "quick change" room for the first time. After the opening number, she had 3 dances to change for her lyrical dance, Dream Like New York.

This was her first year to take lyrical and this was by far her favorite dance! After lyrical, she had 3 dances to change for her third dance (tap) No Bad News.

After tap, she got a break for about 30 numbers until it was time to go back on. She actually put on her street clothes to watch Abby's first two dances. Again, the program order was not in our favor as Abby had the first 20 numbers off (during which time she managed to end up "accidentally" turning on the shower backstage - thankfully she didn't wash off her makeup, she just got her costume a bit wet). When she finally took the stage, it was for her tap dance, Anything Goes . . .

Then she had 2 numbers (one dance plus a 1:30 solo) to change into her costume for Cats, including her nose and whiskers. That was a rough one - we barely made it. She ran to her spot seconds before the curtain went up. I ran back out to videotape and you can see the camera shaking at the beginning from my panic. She was wonderful, though, and terribly cute.

After that, it got much easier. KC continued the Broadway theme, finally making her 4th appearance of the day in Little Shop of Horrors. This was my favorite of KC's dance. They performed with a group of young girls and they were all wonderful.

Abby was back out next in Please Don't Rock the Boat. This was her favorite costume and dance. She did great!

KC's ballet was next, Cinderella Waltz. This was definitely her least favorite costume (Abby liked all of hers). It was kind of like a bathing suit with netting sewed on the sleeves and skirt. A bit itchy and little-girl-ish for her taste.

Abby's ballet was next, the Flower Dance. They had very cute costumes with real tutus!

KC finished up the day with their competition dance Boogie Oogie Oogie, and she was wonderful in that one also. Both girls did a great job, and we were so proud of them.

So, a short 4 hours later (seemed like even longer if you can image) we were finished for another year.

A week after the recital, KC had auditions for company and this year she made senior company! Next year she'll compete in jazz and lyrical in January, so that will be exciting! Abby has decided to retire from ballet and just do jazz and tap next year. I'll miss her ballet (she's so cute) but maybe the recital will be a bit less busy next year!

Next week, KC begins a new dance class. She's taking Irish Step Dancing! She's wanted to for a while and we've had her on a waiting list for the only Irish Dance Company in Houston and she finally made it! She begins June 7th. Should be fun!

Happy Birthday, KC!

Today my oldest girl turned 12.

I look at her and I can't believe how grown up and beautiful she is becoming. Smart, smart, smart, and sweet as the day is long (most of the time - when she's not fighting with her sister). She's quiet as a mouse most of the time at my school, but I'm friends with the ITS at her school who sponsors the book group that KC loves and she tells me how much KC reminds her of me! Chatty and outgoing, definitely not quiet. :-) The highlight of her day was finally being old enough to sit in the front seat with the airbag.

KC's dream is to be a writer someday. Or a lawyer. Or a dance teacher. Or all three - LOL. I have no doubt she will be amazing at whatever she decides to do.

Katherine Carol, I want to wish you a very happy birthday! I love you so much and every day you make me proud to be your mom!