Dances, Grads and Dads Oh My

One and a half days left of school. I am officially off for the summer as I have no plans to sub the last two days. The kids unfortunately have to go. Essica is all prepared for the 9th grade dance tomorrow night. Her friends and her have everything all planned out. It sounds like my part is easy. I only have to get her ready with make up, hair, dress, nylons, shoes, accessories and send her on her way. One of her friend's neighbor is driving the group over in a trailer pulled by a tractor. This I can't wait to see. I guess it's going to be all decorated with lights. Should be lots of fun. The weather has been given strict instructions to cooperate for them. Afterwards they will stay the night at said friend's house and wear their dance clothes to school for the last day.

This is the weekend for Graduations and Dad's Day. Yesterday we endured enjoyed going to the rival school's graduation for Bubba's good gymnastics buddy, Alison. (Stargazer's daughter. You can read more about this on her blog.) Afterwards we went to her house for a cupcake party. I tried a vegan chocolate cupcake and it was amazing! It was a nice casual time with just a few family members and friends. I felt very honored to be included. While I know that our friendship with her family will always remain I was worried about how it will change now that Alison will be going off to college. In the few short years that our girls have been training together we've become very close. We've traveled all over the country together. We've experienced tornado warnings and electrical storms in the mid west, blinding downpours, flooding and oppressive heat waves back east, the Mall of America, police chaperones in Minneapolis, hotel hallway parties, DC in an hour, casino hopping in Vegas, Cirque Du Soleil, cheese heads, restaurants galore, airport sitting, car riding, bleacher sitting, beach walking, wilderness wanderings and so much more. Then there is the daily carpool driving, injury commiserating, booster club politics and meetings, meet hosting extravaganzas, competition stresses, check book blowouts and coaching dramatics. Is it any wonder that we've bonded over the years? It is the lack of these future shared adventures and debacles that causes me to worry that things will change too much and we might fade apart.

Then today Bubba and I attended a grad party for a senior whose family we've known for a very long time. This was another family that we met through gymnastics. There is actually a group of us that met this way when our girls were very young and training together. Over the years the girls have since scattered to different places. But today's gathering is proof that our friendships still remain as strong as ever. Four of these families showed up in support of the sister of their x gymnast friend. How cool is that? On the way home I was pondering over these similar events for different friends who all met because of a childhood sport. I got that warm fuzzy feeling inside and I now feel much more confident that all our bonds will continue to flourish and grow. Thank you guys for still being there. I love you all.

Dad's Day. Not so very different from Mom's Day around here. Mr Rainy went out and splurged on Mochas for us this morning. Then he put some pork in the crock pot for dinner, cleaned his garage, cut down a tree and did a bit of Costco shopping. He did receive cards and a present at some point, so not quite like Mother's Day. :)