Mama On The Move

 Before she was injured, Katie had her first harp recital. She played several songs with the girls in beginning harp.  I was a little disappointed because they played songs like "Twinkle Twinkle" and "Mary Had A Little Lamb".  I've heard Katie play more advanced songs and those seemed a little too easy to me. But then, Katie stayed up on stage as the Level Two class went up to play.  And she played the first three of their five songs with them! Emily and I looked at each other, "Did you know she was going to play with the next class?" "No.  Did you ?" Katie really enjoys harp and I'm so pleased it's something she can continue to do despite her injury. They had a professional photographer there who took pictures of each of the girls with a harp. All of them stood next to their harps pretty much like this: Katie posed like this: I don't know where she gets it!

Kerry and I picked up the dogs from the kennel today.  They had been bathed and smelled really nice, but hair was coming off Ringo in handfuls.  I asked Kerry if he would take Ringo outside as soon as we were home and brush him to get all the loose hair off. Kerry texted Emily, "Can you locate Ringo's brush, please?  He's shedding like crazy!" EXCEPT.....the phone autocorrected the word "shedding".  It was a similar word that meant Ringo was actually pooping a lot. Please tell me you get it. Emily texted back, "Woah.  Not sure the brush will help with that.  Try giving him some toast."

Katie got the cast off today. She had it less than a week!  I wonder if that was a record of some kind. They were able to remove the sutures.  Yay!! Katie's surgeon told her that the outside of her foot might not look so great right now, but the inside of her foot was the most beautiful he'd ever worked on. He also reiterated that she had REALLY messed up the inside of her foot. She now has this robotic leg boot she has to wear for protection. She's not happy about this at all. She will have to do physical therapy for quite a while and when the screws and metal plate are ready to come out, she will have to have surgery again - probably in two to three months. She's not happy about that either.  She realized today that she will likely not be able to ballroom dance in the fall and possibly no archery either.  That hit her fairly hard.  Tears made an appearance.   She resilient though; she will adapt and overcome. ...

These are some of the fun things that were written on Katie's cast at the wedding:  I went to Hawaii and all I got was this lame cast! Anything for attention!!  Love Daddy! Nice to meet you.  Get well soon. I don't know you but get well soon. Your brother is my friend and that's why my name is here. I wrote this one because someone asked Katie if she was in college with Noelle and I said, "She's only fifteen."  He stepped back and yelled, "Fifteen?!?!  You need to put a sign on her!" Can you see me now?  (This was written on the back of her leg where she couldn't see it.) Insane scooter skillz! You work that cast girl! I think your cast is hot! Full view just before it was cut off!

The musical "Hamilton" has turned my girls into history fanatics. Never in my wildest dreams would I have suspected that they would beg to stop and see the grave of Aaron Burr while we were in New Jersey.

It finally happened! After five and a half years of dating and two years of being engaged, Ben and Noelle got married! Emily and Katie were both bridesmaids. We are now a family of six! The wedding was in New Jersey but we still had family who were able to attend.  Ben and his groomsmen.  The Princeton chapel was phenomenal! Noelle's sister and Katie both started crying during the ceremony.    Mr & Mrs!

The reception was awesome!  We had an absolute blast!  Someone from Noelle's side of the family told me I was the happiest person they had ever seen.  I was very happy!  I can't remember the last time I laughed so much! The newlyweds had a cupcake tree with one small cake on the top for them to cut.  The cupcakes were all different flavors and were awesome! Ben's tumbling team performed some stunts outside for the guests. Gracious, I hope she had shorts on under that skirt. Noelle's accapella group performed as well.   When Noelle started singing, Ben's friends all looked at him in surprise and Ben smugly nodded at them as if to say, "Yep.  That's my wife !"  We had very good friends who came all the way from California! We had wrapped Katie's cast in a gray scarf to match her bridesmaids dress for the wedding.  At the reception, we had a giant pack of colorful sharpies and had people sign her cast. ...