Let the Games Begin!

On Saturday we spent time at the Highland Games, where Ab competed for the very first time in Highland Dance.  I am so very proud of her, because she did spectacularly well for her very first time! 

All of the tears and gnashing of teeth finally paid off with her dancing to three of the four dances in her category.  She hasn't learned the fourth yet, but hopefully soon!

She was beaming with pride and accomplishement as she was awarded a first place medal in the Scottish Lilt, her favorite dance.  There were only three girls in her age catagory, but to be honest, she did pretty well considering they were 15 and 16 years old!

Now, to the costume.  It was amazing.  Thanks to Daniel, his mom Aneta, and his sister Becky, they were able to outfit her in style.  Take a look at the vest!



 So, we got the patterns a little late and had to rush to make everything.  Unfortunately, the vest pattern was sent in the wrong size, and Daniel and Becky learned how to alter a pattern.  Two days of intense sewing and trying to get everything fitted correctly, six muslin mock-ups latter, that was the fantastic result.  I think she was one of the best dressed, but I'm biased that way!



We spent six hours in the sun, and basked in the whole experience.  I think her smile is worth it in the end:

A First and Third!  Way to Go!!!

The End of Dog Days

Summer is starting to dwindle. As is the course in life, all seasons must come to an end to make way for a new and equally spectacular display of nature's beauty. As I look out my back window, I can see the remnants of my birds' nest that housed the start of life for four baby birds, who I watched with sheer amazement. The corn in my garden, that didn't grow much taller than three feet, and produced little fruit, is an experience I shared with my children, starting them as a seed and moving to some conclusion was well worth the effort.

School starts in two weeks. Like the final bell toll of summer, my children made their way to the lists, posted on the school doors, to find their names amid the others and discover who would have charge of them for the coming year. The beat of finality hit me hard as I thought about the coming months of homework, spelling tests, book reports, and backpacks. I have enjoyed the carefree time of unstructured bedtimes, late night activities, and shorts worn with flip flops. No longer can my kids laze around during the heat of the day, eating popsicles, watching cartoons, sprawling on the couch.

I find it so ironic that as a child, I preferred the structure of the school year, while as an adult, I prefer the summer days for my children. I think I may have narrowed it down to the fact that in our busy lives, it is one thing that is unbalanced and jubilant, lawless and carefree. There isn't a militant mother, hovering over children, trying to coerce them to finish the nightly homework, or study multiplication tables. I get to play, I get to giggle, and play "Go Fish" with my kids and not worry that there isn't something more constructive to do.

Our final two weeks of "freedom" are chock full of activities with family and friends. There will be times of celebration, and times of crazy antics, not to mention a party here or there. Traditions will be observed (one cannot leave out the annual rodeo excursion) and blessings performed by work roughened hands. This transition of summer to fall comes but once a year and I must say, it was well worth the ride.

*Image taken from Google Images, cause that is how I get most of them :)*