sweet caroline

dance season 2017-18 is coming to a close this year.  today d is rocking out her final performances at her end of year recital.

it never disappoints to see my girl on stage.  she shines.  she displays a confidence that i didn't know she had.  she puts her sass into her hip-hop, her elegance into her ballet, and her eyes and smile radiate when she dances her lyrical number.  jumping into the competitive dance arena was a weird one.  i am not exactly savvy in this department.

but sometimes, you don't have to be savvy.  sometimes you just need a friend by your side as you figure it all out.

when d and i jumped into this dance story, a friend emerged.  the momma held my hand as i learned about sock buns and fake eyelashes.  we laughed at the comedy that ensued as i took on these new tasks.  she showed me the ropes to managing dance costume bags and rolled eyes together as we paid the bill for this sport that our daughters adore.  she was my person.

her daughter is d's person.  and ironically, also p's person.

you see, sweet caroline dances with d and was in the same class (a while back) with p.  and this precious friendship emerged.  as sisters, my girls learned how to navigate sharing a friend.  i knew when p was born just a year after her sister that there would come a time  when the friendship circles might overlap.  c was the perfect person to learn to navigate this with.  she just fell into place.  she is such a special girl.  for the last two years she has been d's go-to concerning all things dance.  they hang together between dances at competitions, make up dances when they have play dates, rehearse together and critic each others dance moves.  at the same time, she is still super tight with p.  pops knows that she can share her with her sister and has never once felt like her toes were being stepped on or her feelings were not considered.  it has been lovely to watch and has made me pause multiple times over the year to celebrate how sweetly they have all handled this.

today we say goodbye to them as their family moves onto their next chapter.  they will love their next adventure and we will be fine.  i know.  but today it stings just a wee bit.  my heart nearly burst as they danced their final number together.  it was too much for this momma's heart.

the song that these girls danced together to for lyrical had me from listen one.  it is a remake of an r. kelly song and oh so very beautiful.  it is a good send off message for our sweet caroline.  i know she will rock boise with all of her sass, but if she is ever feeling even a bit overwhelmed or scared, i hope she remembers these lyrics.

I am a mountain,
I am a tall tree, oh
I am a swift wind
Sweeping the country

I am a river,
Down in the valley, oh
I am a vision
And I can see clearly

If anybody asks you who I am, just stand up tall, look 'em in the face and say

I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest

I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest

I am a giant
I am an Eagle oh
I am a lion
Down in the jungle
I am a marching band
I am the people oh
I am a helping hand
I am a hero

it is a song about confidence and knowing who you are and belief and overcoming obstacles and something that matters to me so very much... strength.  

we are so thankful for the time that we were able to spend with them, know them and dance on the same stage together.  it is a hard chapter for me to close, but one that d, p and i will remember forever.  

swim team 2018- Pop-a-licious and her coach

my girls swam their first swim meet of the season this past week.  pops, who tends to be a freestyler, hadn't quite found her focus.  she was swimming fine, but not quite digging deep.

 i, as a mom am cool with her jumping into the water and having fun, have met my match with our coach who taps into her full potential.  he pushes her in a beautiful way, to find her best.

this past saturday, we arrived at the pool a smidge early.  upon hitting the pool deck, the amazing coach brett approached my fam.  as per his usual, he gave fist bumps and encouragement to the family buser.  and then he paused.  he looked at pops and said, "girl!  if you give me a one breather today, i will give you a baby bottle pop from the snack shack."  she was IN.

her event arrived and baby girl approached the blocks.  i grabbed her towel and headed towards the other end of the pool prepared to warm her up post event.  i had forgotten about the deal.  i was just worried on keeping her motivated for the remainder of the day.  warmth goes a long way.

rewind for a minute.

a few weeks ago, baby girl was fitted for a roof expander at our local orthodontist.  pops, who tends to be emotional and dramatic, has rocked the new appliance in her mouth.  she shows up every other day for "expanding".  she has been easy breezy... which is unlike her.

the night before the swim meet, baby girl reclined on the couch for the expansion "crank" that momma has been implementing.  when i went in for the expansion, i noticed a roof full of food.

"pops!  do you want me to get that out for you?"

pops- "nope.  i'm all good.  it's just a carrot."

"pops!  are you sure?  i have a tool that can pull that right out!"

pops-  "nope.  i'm all good.  it will come out eventually."

fast forward to the swim meet.

pops hits the other side of the pool and kills her time and knocks out a one breather.  after the ceremonial hand-shake with her lane neighbors, she exited the pool to be met by her momma with warm towel in hand.

"pops!  that was awesome!  did you just do a one breather?"

pops- "yep!"

"yay!  i am so proud of you!"

pops-  "where is coach brett?  i need my baby bottle pop!"

momma remembering the bet, "let's go find him!"

pops- "oh, and the carrot came out."

"while you were smimming?"

pops- "yep.  i told you it would come out."

and off she went.