Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to our wonderful Daddy!  We love you so very much.

Ryan and Tessa posed in front of the 1987 3 series that has become quite the project car.  Tessa loves riding in Daddy's "new" car. 

After church, my parents came over and we did a huge shrimp boil.  Daddy and Gampa had all the shrimp they could eat.  It was a great day.

These are a few of my favorite things

Swim Team

Tessa was absolutely awesome at swim team this year.  Looks like those private lessons over the winter really paid off.  She swam with the guppies, the youngest age group of swimmers on our neighborhood swim team.  The bonus of being a guppy is that they have their own swim meets which usually last less than one hour.  Tessa's best stroke is freestyle although her backstroke is not bad.  She doesn't like the kick board, that is her slowest event, but she always has fun with noodle relays.  This is video of her very first meet.  She liked freestyle so much that she swam it again.  That is the beauty of guppy meets, the official was like "sure you can swim again in another heat!"  Go for it my little mermaid!         

All of the kids get ribbons, of course, but Tessa did actually win a few of her heats of freestyle. 

While Tessa could still swim with the guppies next summer, her coaches tell me she is so good that she should join the regular swim team next year.  I'm so proud of my little swimmer!

Dance Recital

It's dance recital time again!  We were in town this year for dance pictures, she looks so sweet in her costume.  

True to my word, I volunteered to be a backstage mom this year.  There were thirteen kids in Tessa's class ranging in age from five to seven years old.  No other moms signed up to help me, yikes!  Dress rehearsal was a little chaotic but actually fun. 

One of the perks of being the backstage mom is that you get to film dress rehearsal.  Here is Tessa's ballet number, she is second from the right in the back row.  She danced to My Girl, how sweetly appropriate.

Things were a little more hectic the actual day of the recital.  My kids had two numbers and a minor costume change.  The ballet number went smoothly but then headbands and gloves went missing, tap shoes had to be tied, buns had to be repaired, make up had to be reapplied.  I was hopping busy backstage.  But the kids did fabulous.  I watched from the wings while my baby danced her heart out. I cried through both numbers, it's just so sweet to watch these little ones dance.  Here they are dancing to Twist Again.     

After the recital was over, I lined everyone up and we headed out to the lobby.  Parents came to pick up their children and finally my job was done.  I wouldn't trade the time with Tessa backstage for anything, but I was worn out.

G&G had a present for Tessa.  She loves having them in the audience.   

And Daddy brought his ballerina flowers.  We all walked down Main Street and had dinner, with Tessa staying in costume the whole time.  

Mid year Tessa had told me she wanted to quit dance.  I told her that she needed to finish the year first, that we don't quit activities mid season.  I talked to her teacher and she moved Tessa to a different spot in the class.  Tessa was much happier after that, maybe it was just that simple.  Judging by how much fun she had at recital, I'm fairly confident we will be dancing again next year.  I sure hope so.