School was out for the summer and it was time to have some fun. First up was a end of the season soccer party! The girls had a great season and celebrated at a teammates house and pool. They were runner up at the Indiana State Cup tournament so they had lots to be proud of. This a great group of girls, and they make one heck of a team!
Cece dove right into her summer activities by starting a week at Franke Park Day Camp. This was something she was a little nervous about. She did not know anyone else that was going and it was something new for her. There were butterflies the first day, but she quickly made friends and had tons of fun. Her counselor was sweet and she quickly warmed up to everyone. They had a week full of crafts, songs and games, exploration and education. I am proud of her for stepping out of her comfort zone and trying something new. She ended up enjoying it, just like I knew she would.
One of the biggest events of the summer for us is the annual dance recital. The girls work hard all year long on their dances and improving their technique. This year was extra special as it was the 50th anniversary of Northeast School of Dance. To honor the 50th anniversary we were asked to either recreate dances of the past, or at least use songs that have been used before. It made for a fun and interesting year. The first night was packed full of dances for both girls. One highlight for me was getting to dance with Cece on stage for a few minutes in her ballet dance.
The rest of the night consisted of multiple costume changes and awesome performances on stage. Each year I watch these girls grow more and more comfortable with their performances. They each have their own strengths, but they both make me equally as proud!
After the first night of recital the girls got to unwind with a pool party at one of the older's girls houses. They swam, had some pizza and just got to unwind before having to head home and prepare for night 2!
The next day consisted of not one, but two recital shows! It made for one very long day, but they handled it like pros. They both went out and did all of their dances with huge smiles on their faces and performed with such poise.
I say this every year, but the best part of being a part of Northeast School of Dance is the friendships they have created over the years. Each year we say goodbye to the Seniors, which is never easy. This tends to be most difficult for Cecilia. She becomes very attached to these girls and to see them leave is tough.
Olivia has developed some very strong friendships with the girls she dances with over the years. They are a great group of girls, which makes this part of her life so much more rewarding. Between the wonderful teachers they learn from, to the great things they learn each year, they always leave the recital feeling proud of what they have accomplished!
Early this summer Todd's Uncle from Hawaii came to visit with his wife. They had not been to Fort Wayne in over ten years. During their visit the family made a point to spend as much time together as possible. We had a nice dinner with them the day before they were heading back to Hawaii. It was nice seeing them, and we hope to make a trip to see them next time!
What was Cece looking forward to most this summer? Turning 8, of course! Cece's birthday celebration spanned an entire weekend. Things kicked off with a day of swimming, followed by a night at the Tin Caps game. Todd's company was holding an employee appreciation event at the game that night, so it was the perfect outing to celebrate our girl's birthday. We even ran into a family friend who gave her a game ball he caught that night. A night at the ball game was a great kick off to Cece's birthday weekend!
The next day was the official birthday celebration. After lengthy discussions Cece settled on a gymnastics birthday party with her friends. We had a fun gathering with some of her best buds at the gymnastics studio she attends.
After some stretching, the first part of the party included an obstacle course around the gym, using some of the apparatus. They also took turns jumping on the trampoline and jumping into the foam pit. It was all high energy and super fun!
Next, it was present time. Cece was all smiles as she opened the gifts from her friends. The gymnastics studio surprised her with a big pink teddy bear, which made her day!
Things wrapped up with cupcakes and snacks, and of course singing, "Happy Birthday"! Cece getting to celebrate her special day with her closest friends was all she needed to have one awesome birthday! How my baby has suddenly turned 8 is something I am still trying to process.
The girls were in the middle of enjoying their summer break, and part of that includes spending lots of time with their Nana. When they aren't spending time at the pool, my Mom tries to find fun things to do with them. Some of their favorite summer activities include trips to Starbucks, doing their own grocery shopping and of course...getting their nails done! Summer was just getting started for these two. So much more fun was still ahead!
