JULY! Part Two.

On Friday, July 7th, Lainey and I left for her last-ever dance competition, The Dance Awards in Orlando. It's a nationals competition, meaning we saw SO much talent from around the nation. It was incredible! And it was a fun (yet exhausting) week.

My college friend Emily was in Palm Beach so we stopped by to see her on our way to Orlando!

That same day, Friday, Mary, Allyn, and Walker stopped by to see Ben at his new hospital! 

Avoiding the rain...raindrops don't do well with self-tanner products! Ha.

Adriana, Lainey, and Jackie (Adriana's mom)

On Sunday, Walker went to Texas to spend time with Bud and Yiyia and friends and family. 

Here he is with Kate and Cally after playing some mini-golf.

He also spent some time with Declan! These boys are getting so big!

Former neighborhood crew:

Thatcher, Daniel, Nico, Declan, and Walker

I'm so thankful for this group of boys!

with friends Emma, Adriana, Mariana, and Emi

Lainey performed her last-ever solo on Monday, July 10th. She was incredible!

(This is her with her friend Adriana)

after she walked off stage (a little teary)

Ben drove in from Parkland to watch her perform! :)

with Mom and Dad

"Athem" Choreographed by Jessica Hendricks

"Did a Bad Thing" with the Choreographer Chase Hudson

"Spice"

"Let me Go"

"Chasing Time"

"In Sync" with Choreographer Ben

Me, forcing a dog to be friends.

Walker in Texas with my good friend Jessica. :)

"A New York Minute"

with the Choreographer Chase Hudson

Proof of life of Gracie... we miss her!

after Lainey's final performance onstage (cue the tears)

We made time to go see our Texas friends at another nationals. Camilla has since moved to Tennessee but we always love seeing her and her mom Shannon!

with Juliana (another friend from Texas but she still lives there!)

Walker, still living his best life in Texas with cousins Ella and Cally

Lainey, Adriana, and Marianna ready for the closing show...

mom friends :)

Walker got to see his best buddy Kasen in Texas. These two are too cute.

He also got to see Brayden!

I'm not sure who's winning the "taller" race at the moment.

One last moment with Studio 61 owner Gina and Company Director Taryn...gosh we will miss these ladies. They've been nothing but fabulous. I took this picture on our last night, after the final gala. Lainey was a little teary! Onto the next chapter...!

***

The Dance Awards Las Vegas, 2016

The Dance Awards Orlando, 2023

SO proud of my beautiful, strong, confident Lainey. You'll always be my favorite dancer. We love you!

JULY! Part One.

Celebrating a friend's birthday - and us middle-aged mamas mastering the .5 angle. :)

My new friend Smokey, he's 37 years old and such a gentleman!

He belongs to my friend Perri.

Boat day! We spent the day on "Lake Boca" on the Intracoastal.

I love boat days. Thank you, Gorham family!

Gracie, Chase, and Walker

at lunch :)

Gracie's giant Squishmallow. Ben and the kids got it for her at Costco.

Boo-bear! Hi Belle. She's so cranky.

Beach Day for Lainey and her dance team. I just love them! Lainey's in there somewhere...back row, third from right, I think.

so sunburned, after the beach day

(with Sophie and Adriana)

Nationals send-off party for their company

Lainey's award for the year: "Outstanding Technical Achievement"

Lainey and Dakota

with Gaby :)

and with Iliana

with Adriana in the bathroom, at the send-off party :)

***

Next up, Nationals!

Our Respective Weekends

Photos from Lainey's trip to Ohio!

(Or at least, the ones that were shared with me.) :)

Lainey, Ainsley, and Kaitlyn... on their way to Cedar Point (an amusement park)

this is my favorite

candle making :)

While Lainey spent time in Ohio, Ben, Walker and I spent time with friends at the Turnberry Resort near Miami. Gorgeous view from our room!

I could even see the boys playing.

Walker is on the far left...in the blue shorts.

with my sweet friend Meghan, Chase's mom

Our neighbors took care of Belle! She behaved!

Ben picked up Gracie from Pompano Pet Lodge (where she stays during our vacations).

a slightly massive alligator in our neighborhood

AND, on Monday, Gracie took herself on a little adventure around our neighborhood. I'm the "A" and she's the "photo"...way far away from me. Shockingly, just as I was loading up to go get her, she made it home to our back gate. (Our back gate had been left open...that was how she got out in the first place!)

The "path" of her escape. I love her collar; it provides me with such accurate information and when I mark her as "lost" it sends me updates every 45-60 seconds. Very helpful!

Lainey is off to Ohio! (And other things!)

Gracie :)

Baby Walker...how cute is he?

Lainey flew BY HERSELF to Ohio yesterday to see Ainsley! Kaitlyn also met them there!

Lainey and Ainsley...friends since they were itty bitty. They met as one-year-olds, I think.

They met Kaitlyn when they were three years old!

And - as a fun little activity... last week, Lainey got her ears double-pierced and I got mine re-pierced! But it turns out mine never closed completely...amazing. I haven't worn earrings in those holes in at least 15-20 years! So I just got the holes re-opened. :) Fun times!