Happy Monday! I hope that you are ready to conquer the last week{s} of school!  I am not sure I can remember a more jam packed weekend. On Friday, we traveled to the campus of A&T in Greensboro to cheer on 4 of our All-Conference varsity track team members compete in the State Track Meet.

 

 

That's Maris is Lane 2!!

 

It was almost 90 degrees, which made those metal bleachers a little warm.  

 

 

She competed in the 100 and 300m hurdles and although she didn't have her best times, she placed 9th in the State in both!

 

 

A few hours after Maris competed, Jack's baseball team won the 3rd Round of the Conference Play-Offs! This is the fartherest {is that a word??} a SM baseball team has ever gone!! We compete in game 4 on Tuesday.  

As soon as the hand-shaking ended, Jack ran to get himself to the campus of WCU for opening night of the high schools amazing performance of 'Pirates of Penzance'. 

 

 

Doesn't our ship look 'floatable' ???!!!

 

Here's a close-up of Jack, my favorite dancing Pirate.

We truly have the most talented high school kids and some incredibly dedicated teachers and moms.

 

And the 2 happiest Stage Managers ever, Steph and Maris. {We got her back in time for Saturday's shows!}

 

 

As the final performance was wrapping up Sunday night, Maris snuck out of backstage to make it across town to the Hall of Fame Banquet.

 

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I can't tell you how special it was to be among such honored former Jackson County athletes, to hear their recounts of past games, their touching stories of the coaches that shaped them, and the lasting team friendships.   

 

 

But the most special part of the night was witnessing Maris receive the 'Most Outstanding SM Athlete of the Year' {yes, she beat out all of the boys!!} for her participation of 4 years of Volleyball, Basketball and Track. She has worked so hard, on and off the court/field, to better herself, her times, and her technique. She never settled and continued to put in as many hours as possible to get a little better and a little stronger and she always encouraged her team mates to do the same. {Her cheerleader, Cal, was also pretty proud, I think}  

It was a fantastic end to a pretty amazing weekend!

 

 Now I need a weekend to recoup form the weekend...  

 

  

 

 

I can't wrap my head around the fact that it is the middle of May. Of course, freezing temperatures several nights this week haven't helped, but this year just feels like some crazy fast-forward whirlwind. Reality is, that in 2 short weeks my daughter graduates, my son turns 15, and then he can legally operate a motor vehicle. Ridiculous.  

I have been working on a big project that will happen in a few more weeks. I can't share anything now, but I will have lots to show you in June.  

There are so many great things going on in my kids lives this month. I am really trying to hold on to these special moments and breathe them in. It can be a little overwhelming as I look at my calender each day, but, I am making every effort to appreciate them and their amazing talents and accomplishments and be present. Just a few more weeks of high school...

 

  

 

I found this great site, The Glow, that shares glimpses into the world of inspiring and fashionable moms.

 

 

They are all hugely accomplished successful ladies, but, in all of these photos we are allowed to see them in their homes, with their kids, and in just the sweetness of being moms. 

 

 

 

They share their passions, resources, sweet stories, and great tips.

 

 

 

Being a mom -- it's really what it's all about.

 

{all images via The Glow}

 

 

 

Did you have a great weekend?? Were you mommas loved on by your littles? Or, perhaps you got to spend the day with your own mom? I had a wonderful brunch with my kiddos and we spent the whole weekend on a lovely 30' sailboat.

 

Sounds lovely, right???

 

Well not the whole weekend, but most of the weekend.

 

And not really a sailboat. More like a pirate ship.

 

And, we really were no where close to water. More like on a theatre stage at the Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University....

 

 

There she is....the beautiful 'Marbella' that we were honored to be a part of making.

 

  

   Our kids are performing the comic opera, 'The Pirates of Penzance', this weekend and we got to help create the pirate ship.

 

 

 She is 30' tall and 30' long and she is making her debut this weekend.  She will host 100 of our kids as they perform on WCU's stage for 4 performances. And just in case you weren't aware--this cast includes a bunch of our nationally ranked Show Choir. The same Show Choir that performed as back up singers for Foreigner {!} a few months ago, and just returned from perfoming at Carnegie Hall in NYC. Yeah, we're good like that...as in THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY!!!   

 

{part of our Play Production class. Maris is the Stage Manager}

 

A few drop cloths, rope and some PVC, and we had the Marbella a-float!

 

   

 

And when you see her floating in front of the fancy pants painted backdrops along with the other set pieces -- it's pretty darn impressive!!

 

If you are able, please come see one of the performances and support our incredibly talented high school kids!!! Look for my Jack -- he's a pirate!

 

 

 

 

I have so many old patterns {and sooo many more that I unfortunately gave away years ago} so this pretty prancing pattern princess, getting her groove on, makes me terribly happy.

* if you have teenagers, you know that this dance is the dougie. It makes me cooler for knowing that, right?!

**check out Miss Too Cool for School in the black. oh yeah. oh yeah.

***a size 16 has a 29" waist???? what the?

This week is out of control, who am I kidding, May is out of control -- real posts coming soon, promise!} 

 

{dancing patttern via poppytalk}