Nationals Prep Week

Love these pictures from Julia's national prep ("hell") week. Tomorrow is the send off...and they are READY!!

JAZZ...

POM...

GAME DAY...

Team Bonding...dressing up as the first letter of their name...

So funny!!

Stoning

I spent all day yesterday at Endicott stoning the jazz team costumes. It was so relaxing!  We also got to see the competition routines. They are ready!!! This year is by far the best pom and game day routines Julia has competed. I loved the past two jazz routines so much and I'm so happy this one is amazing too!  If they perform well, they should make the top five for all three and hopefully even higher placement!  They hired three new choreographers and it shows!! 

It was the best spending the day with my girl and watching her do what she loves. She is such a hard worker and has achieved all this greatness because of that. I am so incredibly proud of her...and the whole team!! Just so excited for nationals this year!! 

After they performed each routine, they would gather to watch and review...

My day's work...

Their snack table... 

The "stoners". That room was filled with glue fumes so the word "stoning" was so true...

Endicott College "Home of the Gulls". The best decision Julia has ever made...

Update: Julia sent me a picture of the costume I stoned. They were wearing them for dress rehearsal. I think I did a good job!! 

2023 in review

I'd say 2023 was overall a good year. It was filled with good things and eventful only in the best ways. Just the way I like it! We of course started the year strong with Julia's second UDA Nationals. Always the best time and so exciting!!  

Game Day 4th place in the nation...

Pom 5th place in the nation...

and Jazz 5th place in the nation...

Then came the New England Dance Challenge with two first place wins for Pom and Jazz! If they had done Jazz at Nationals like they did it at this competition, I think they would have won at Nationals. It was perfect!

Our beautiful spunky Gianna Mae turned 18...

Gianna had a fabulous last competition season at NEDA with THE best routines. Lacrimosa being my absolute favorite dance ever...

She and Makayla were the last two standing seniors at NEDA...

April school vacation, we headed to Cancun and had THE best hotel room we've ever had. It was literally just steps from the ocean...

Julia sadly couldn't join us because she was in school so Gianna brought Makayla for company...

and Nicholas got to join us for a few days...

College decision day and Gianna chose SHU...and we're not quite sure it's the best fit for her...

Danny closed the office in Norwood and moved to Walpole center. It was an end of an era...

Gianna's senior festivities began with her senior prom. She was stunning...

Then the Rolling Rally...

and finally Graduation Day...which was freezing cold and rainy...ugh...but she did it!

After 14 long years...she had her very last dance recital with NEDA. I was so impressed with her commitment to dance after all those years...

We had a fun early 80th birthday celebration for CeCe so the kids could all be there...

It was also the year for the last two kids to get their wisdom teeth removed. Thank goodness that chapter is over with!

We became empty nesters with Gianna leaving for college...

Julia turned the big 21!! 

Nicholas has had quite the first half of the hockey season, this being his second year at UofL. He played almost every game! We traveled to Louisville in October to see him play in a hockey showcase. He also won the belt after an impressive game in net against their rival University of Kentucky...

We also traveled to St. Petersburg, FL for Marcy's daughters wedding. We had gorgeous weather and fun times with good friends...

My sister finally completed her book. I've read two chapters and it is amazing!! So proud of her!

I loved every minute of having the kids home for Christmas break...albeit very short. My heart was so happy having them all under one roof again...