Milestones

We have reached a MILESTONE! This is just one of them – but it’s a big one (at least I think it is). 8th Grade Graduation! Isabella’s social (dance) and photos! This is the next step in Isabella’s journey into her teens and even closer to adulthood. She came home from school and asked me to take her dress shopping for her 8th grade social (dance) and pictures. “Mommy! We have to go now otherwise all the good dresses will be gone.” In that exact moment, I reminisced how long it used to take me to pick out a formal dress. My poor dad and sister, I really don’t know how they were so patient with me all those years we went dress shopping, the endless hours and trying on handfuls of dresses. I never knew what dress I wanted and always disliked how scratchy the material was. I wondered if I was in for a “ride” of five hours of dress shopping……..as Isabella likes to take her time and is very thoughtful. 

Before we left the house, I gave her the names of three stores that we were going to check out for formal dresses. As we drove away, she looked up all the stores online and was pleased with their selection of dresses. She showed me a picture of the dress she wanted to get. “All the girls are wearing this.” It was strapless, skin tight and just barely covered her bottom half. I looked her in the eyes and said, “Bella, think CLASSY, not TRASHY as you shop.” An hour into shopping, she tried on 3 dresses, fell in LOVE with one and we found a keeper!!! She was so sweet and precious while we were shopping, as it was her very first time shopping for a formal dress. When I was in the dressing room with her zipping up her dress, I bottled up that precious milestone moment. She looked so angelic in her beautiful new dress. Smiling from ear to ear. Thankful to receive such a beautiful dress.

Bellas Beautiful Dress she picked out.

One happy camper with a dress and shoes!

What I wore to 8th grade dance

Afterwards, we picked out shoes, earrings, and a necklace. 1.5 hours later, we were DONE! This calls for a celebration, right? We headed out to dinner together where she asked me what I wore for my 8th grade dinner dance. She laughed when I showed her the picture above. I am excited for this milestone. I am excited to see her graduate in June and also excited for her to start high school in the fall. I am also excited that she is way more confident than myself when it comes to dress shopping. You either have it or you don’t. And this beautiful young lady HAS IT.

Thanksgiving in Thailand, The Land of SMILES

I read somewhere once that "the best education you will ever get is traveling. Nothing teaches you more than exploring the world and accumulating experiences."  That we did, we traveled to Tokyo, Bangkok and then wound up in Phuket.  A TRIP OF A LIFETIME!!! I wanted to pack light and bring home souvenirs, so I visited the thrift store before I left and spent $30 on clothes to wear for the week to leave there once the vacation was over.   

I have to be honest and tell you that I didn't think we would be able to survive a 23-hour flight (the longest we have ever been on), but WE DID.  We watched several new movies, slept, ate, drank and played card games.  We stayed in bustling Bangkok for four days.  It was there that we visited Wat Arun, a striking temple that is one of Bangkoks landmarks.  We visited an interactive museum and learned about "all things thai.  The girls especially loved the museum. We hit the street markets filled with every kind of food imaginable and we tried to eat a bite of everything!  We got to visit the largest flower distributor in Bangkok, and it was oh so beautiful and fragrant!  We cruised the streets in a "tuk-tuk."

We took about an hour plane ride to Phuket from Bangkok, and it was there that we stayed for 6 days.  We had a beautiful room with our own personal pool outside and plenty of space.  In Phuket we visited more temples, walked in the jungle with several elephants and also visited the James Bond Island and Panyee floating village.

I can't tell you how REFRESHING it was to go on a cultural adventure vacation with my family.  Those all-inclusive trips to Mexico where you are herded like cattle get dull with a capital D.  I enjoyed watching the girls frolic in the water at the beach, trying new foods and learning "all things thai."  

Thailand is known as the "land of smiles" and that it is!!  Everyone SMILES at you all day; every day and they are such friendly people!  The weather was gorgeous - between 85-90 and SUNNY.  AND for a foodie like me, I was in my GLORY - eating freshly caught lobster and trying so many new foods.  It was so enjoyable, that when it came time to fly home, NONE of us wanted to leave.  Bob was joking that he was going to leave me there so I could explore more.  Reality calls and we are back home.  The puppies missed us immensely and are happy we are back.  Us girls had a hard time adjusting to time when we got home.  All three of us would wake up and stay up every day at about 2 a.m.  After 4 days of an off cycle sleeping schedule, we are back on Chicago time.  While I took well over a hundred pictures, here are some of my favorites from the trip to Thailand.  In the meantime, I will be crafting up our next family adventure.  I'm thinking Bali, Greece or maybe even the Maldives??  I am beyond blessed that Bob believes in my crazy travel ideas!

Giselle drew a picture for me, and Isabella collected seashells from the beach

A traditional longboat

At the temple, Wat Arun

James Bond, Phang NGA Bay

Thanksgiving Day 

Panyee Village, the floating Muslim village

Walking around the jungle with elephants!

The Sunday night market in Phuket

They would ride their bicycles to the beach almost every day

 

Giselle State Gymnastics Champion

We couldn't be prouder of Giselle, she worked hard this season and was the state champion at her final competition for Level 3.  Competition season runs November through April, which means she competes every weekend all over the state and it is an all-day event.  

Her perseverance, dedication and attitude amaze me.  She spends 6 months in competition, but it doesn't stop there.  During the school year, she attends school all day and then spends 3 nights at the gym from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. for a total of 16 hours per week training. We are talking about a very intense training schedule topped with lots of homework to accomplish.

As of today, I received AMAZING news from her coach!!!  She was evaluated based on how she performed last season and some of the factors taken under consideration for the placement were strength, flexibility, and mental fortitude.  On August 22, 2022, she will start training at a Level 4!!  She has moved up from Level 3!!!  Some gymnasts stay at the same level for years based on their skill set, but not Giselle!!  Keep flying HIGH little one and you are certainly working hard to move up that ladder!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Giselle State Champion for AA/Beam/Floor

Giselle's Gymnastics Group

FLY HIGH little one!!

Easter

Easter was super special this year!  Isabella made a homemade Easter cake with peeps, we colored eggs, had our traditional egg hunt in our yard, hunted for eggs at the church AND went to brunch at the Drake hotel which was absolutely delightful.

Getting ready to color eggs

Isabellas homemade PEEP cake

Easter egg hunt at the church

I FOUND the EASTER BUNNY

Giselle's eggs from her hunt

Isabellas colored eggs

Family portrait at the Drake Hotel

First Day of School

Giselle - 6th Grade

Bella - 8th grade

Do we have to take a picture together!?

Where did the summer go?  Today marked the first day of school.  

Giselle is going into 6th grade and Isabella - 8th grade!

Flip Fest 2022

 BEST.WEEK. EVER.

Giselle just returned from her second annual gymnastics camp - Flip Fest, surrounded by the beauty of Lake Frances in Crossville, Tennessee.  

She spent the week training with elite level coaching and world-class staff and even trained with American former Olympian, Shawn Johnson.  Every year that she goes, she builds her passion for this sport and improves her confidence to take her to her next level goals.

Her cabin for the week

Giselle got the top BUNK!

Training HARD

Her group

Getting ready to train for the day

Giselle pictured with American Former Olympian, Shawn Johnson (to her left)

Spring Break in Hawaii

Aloha!  It felt invigorating to get away for Spring Break and that we did!  We did a little island hopping filled with DEEP belly laughs, hiking, YUMMY food and lots of rainbows!  The girls had a great time on all the different beaches we visited.  We even survived "The Road to Hana."  Someday we hope to go back!