Happy Sunday! I am coming to you today from my porch, watching one of the best sporting events of the year, enjoying the weather, and trying not think about working tomorrow. Yes, I have to work tomorrow. Damn month-end falling onto a holiday doesn’t change my due dates, and there is no way I can finish everything on time. So, I am sitting here with just the dogs for company but enjoying the weekend as much as I can.

School events are winding down. This week was the last week for those. Connor had his last track meet of the year. He did not run as well as he had hoped he would, but what I was impressed with was his ability to recover from his disappointment. Even six months ago, he would have sulked and obsessed about it for days. By the end of the meet, he was okay with it and already thinking about his training for cross-country. I love seeing these spurts of maturity happening more and more often.

In addition to track, we had the last band concerts of the year. I will admit to getting teary for both. Holly enters seventh grade, which is middle school here. I look at it as the end of innocence for her as well as the next stage of her growth. It definitely makes me sad. As for Connor, well…next year is it. With some of our friends graduating this year, it has been difficult to avoid the emotions of it all. Even Connor admitted to feeling the emotion a bit as this year’s seniors were feted at the concert.

As if that were not enough, this was the last week of dance classes before we hit dress rehearsal week and the variety shows. All costumes are in, and the girls worked on cleaning up their dances as much as possible.  There are three variety shows this year, so Friday and Saturday are going to be busy but fun. After all, this is what they have been preparing for all year!

Jim had a fun week this week, as he got to experience a candy and snack convention in Chicago. All of the familiar companies were there, and he came home with 25 pounds of goodies. It was obviously his first time attending, but I know he had fun, made some connections, and came up with some plans for his own company. In all, it was exactly what you hope a convention is going to be.

I mentioned earlier that I am all by myself today. Jim took the kids and headed up to my aunt and uncle’s house to celebrate my cousin’s high school graduation. It kills me not to be there because I haven’t seen my extended family for a few years now, but there is no way I could go. The party does not start until later this afternoon, and they live about four hours away. With month-end and three-hour dress rehearsals every day this week, I am going to need all the time I can get to meet my deadlines, something they have said they are not extending. I will be heading into the office tomorrow for a few hours and working from home for the rest of the day. I love what I do, but sometimes my job really does suck.

We have other exciting news this week. One of my closest friends is Holly’s tap and Irish teacher. She competed in Irish dance as a girl and has always had a dream of having her students compete in Irish as well. However, the rules are completely different for Irish competitions than for other dance competitions, requiring certified instructors and other rules. However, after some intense research, my friend figured out a way to compete, and so Holly will be competing in her first Irish feis later this summer. My friend is ecstatic, and while Holly’s excitement is a little more tempered thanks to nerves, so is equally happy. I think it will be a blast. She is the only one at the studio who will be competing, but hopefully this will draw more interest to the program. More to come as I learn more details!

On the site this week, here is what I posted in case you missed them the first time:

• What Are You Reading?
• My Best Friend’s Exorcism
• The City of Mirrors
• My Favorite Things – BEA Edition
• Fabulous Friday
• What’s For Dinner

Now, it is time to go enjoy the rest of the day. The sun is shining, a breeze is blowing, the Indy 500 is on. It’s going to be a good day. Have a great weekend, everyone!