Lacey's 12th

Today is Lacey's 12th birthday.  She just completed 5th grade and loved every moment of the year.  She was a member of the safety patrol, supervising other students in the halls and on the bus.  She was in the school chorus and the all-county chorus.  She played violin in the school orchestra.  And, she was a member of the school's "Kindness Crew."  She did well academically, making the principal's A/B honor roll.  And, she was only absent once the entire year.

Lacey is the happiest kid I know.  And, with minimal effort, she makes other people happy too.  I chose some pictures to highlight the past year.

And Lacey didn't think she was going to enjoy Bloomingdale's!

At a recent dance recital:  "No thank you.  I'm good without flowers."

Who me?

Posing with the fox at REI, she's never afraid of looking silly.

Lacey volunteered to help me pick up the chunks of concrete left from the old sidewalk. She suggested that we work in the rain, thinking it would be cooler.  Yes, she's wearing a trash bag.

She will dress up for a bribe.

Sisters

All county choir

Look closely and you'll see Lacey!

Always ready to pose.

Lacey loves cooking almost as much as she loves eating.

Cassie asked her to try not to look like a tourist in NYC.  So, Lacey left the tag on her sunglasses.

Happy Birthday, Cassie

Today is Cassie's 15th birthday.  This is the year that she started high school.  It will also be the year that she celebrates her confirmation.  But, it will mainly be remembered as the year of ballet.  She joined the Manassas Youth Ballet; danced in her first Nutcracker; competed in the Youth America Grand Prix; performed in the wedding scene from La Bayadere; and will soon be part of the Manassas Ballet Theatre's "Cinderella."  I will remember this year as the year I gave her the freedom to follow her dream.  Oh, I will also remember it as the year I spent driving, watching classes, and helping in the dressing room.  We are really proud of Cassie and her hard work.  I selected photos that highlight Cassie's year.

My beautiful daughter!

The shopper!

Dancing Outdoors

Visiting the Capezio store in NYC

Mending costumes with a little help!

The Manassas Christmas Parade

Rocking that wig!

Backstage break

Christmas Spirit

Arriving at Youth America Grand Prix in Philadelphia

Warming Up

YAGP 2016

Cassie with her coach, Miss Kaitlin

Sisters

Party Girl

Being a Mom

Yesterday I went to feed the cats and discovered that we were out of cat food.  How could that be?  I was sure that we had plenty.  Lacey later admitted that she had taken all the cat food to school to donate to he animal shelter.  I had told her that she could take a couple cans, not half a case.  Although I wanted to get mad, the image of her struggling to carry all that cat food in her backpack had to make me laugh.  There are so many things about being a mom that make me laugh.  I'm going to share just a few of our recent experiences.

A few weeks ago I had volunteered to help with something at church.  I was really tired and mentioned that I was only going because I had promised.

"Just call church and tell them I have lice," said Lacey.

"Why would I do that?"  I asked.

"Well, it would be kind of hard for them not to believe that!" she said.

A couple weeks ago during dinner Cassie mentioned how fun it would be to study ballet in London.

"Good luck learning to speak British!" Lacey exclaimed.

"Hey, Lacey," asked Cassie.  "When you're in Wikipedia, what do you want them to list as your nickname?"

"Why would I be in Wikipedia?" asked Lacey.  "Oh, never mind.  I'll be in there by association because you're going to be famous!"

I recently bought Lacey one of the American Girl books that's designed to help girls understand their bodies.  After glancing through the book she said, "I already know most of this stuff.  We had to watch a video at school about girls growing their bodies."

Last month we had dinner guests.  One of them spilled a glass of soda in the family room.  Not wanting him to be embarrassed Lacey said, "Oh, don't worry about it.  I'm sure a cat has probably peed in here."

Last  weekend Lacey discovered why we told her not to play with insulation.

Cassie has always wanted to live close enough to school to be able to walk home.  A few weeks ago, she missed the bus and got her chance.  She later said, "Walking home is romanticized.  It's really not that fun."

While reading a book about dogs Lacey asked, "Other than reptiles, is there any kind of pet that Cassie's not allergic to?"

Recently during dinner Cassie said, "Lacey wants to know if Trump is going to deport her."

While contemplating what to get me for Mother's Day Lacey asked, "Is there anything you want that's not physical?"

"What??!!" I asked.

"Everything you ask for is physical," Lacey said.  "You know, you want a clean house, and yard work done.  Is there anything you want that doesn't take work?"

Communicating

I often wonder how my parents survived without cell phones.  I don't know what I'd do without mine.  I can check my bank account while I'm watching a ballet lesson, order from Amazon while  I'm cooking dinner,  and pay bills while I'm on the treadmill at the gym.  Let's not forget that I can use my phone to pay for coffee!  And, incredibly, I have the ability to reach out and communicate with my loved ones every minute of the day. 

Yesterday proved how difficult communicating can be.  The AC in my car was out and I simply couldn't go another hot day without it.  Les offered the use of his car so we dropped my car off at the shop.  I drove him to work, said I'd be back at 4:15, and drove off.  As I rounded the corner of his building, an alarm went off and lights started flashing on the dashboard.  "Warning!! No ignition key!!"  Oh no!!!  Les has a keyless ignition and had taken the keys with him.  I would be able to drive as far as I wanted.  But, once I stopped the car, I wouldn't be able to start it again.

 I slammed on the brakes, turned around, drove back and parked in front of Les' building.  As I dialed his office phone, available options flashed through my mind.  A little background is necessary here.  Les works in a "secure facility."  After he enters two sets of locking doors, he stores his cell phone in a cubby.  Although he has an office phone, I've never yet reached him that way.  Instead, I get the voicemail belonging to the person who used to occupy Les' desk.  It seems that can't be fixed.  In summary, it's virtually impossible to reach Les directly during the day.  I have to leave a message and wait for him to check his voicemail.  So, my options were to desperately try to reach Les or to drive to work so I wouldn't be late and then take a taxi home.  I spent 15 minutes dialing his cell phone and office phone.  In between calls, I pounded on the door.  I examined the buttons on the keypad, hoping to find some kind of buzzer.  Nothing jumped out at me and I was worried I'd set off an alarm.  So, I kept calling and knocking.

I saw lights on in the second floor windows and contemplated looking for rocks to throw.  As I leaned against the car in frustration, I thought about just leaving the car and taking a taxi home.  But, it would have been too late for me to get a substitute and I didn't want to leave my students alone.  As I was about to look up the number for a taxi, one of Les' co-workers drove up and rescued me.  Now, if we had an old-fashioned car that required keys, this never would have happened.

I had a pleasant day and left on time.  Cassie had asked permission to go to Starbucks with a friend.  I hadn't heard from her so I tried texting her.  No response.  I then tried calling.  No response.  I called again.  No answer.  I called home. No answer.  Finally, she texted to let me know that she and a friend had arrived home.  She apologized, saying that her phone had died.  Funny how that phone always dies when I want to reach her.  I pulled up to Les' workplace at 3:58.  I was early.  So, alas, no Les waiting.  Yes, I was dumb enough to try calling.  Of course, nobody answered.  I stood outside until another kind co-worker exited and begged him to fetch my husband.

Later, when Lacey asked about my day, I told her!  Lacey thought for awhile and then said, "You know, Daddy's not really a good communicator - at least with electronics."