Yes, it is that time, the summer college tours. He’s been to WM, UVA, and Duke, with Duke the far and away favorite. On the agenda this week: Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Brown, UPenn, and Georgetown. Whew!

This mama is definitely rooting for the 3 hour away Duke vs 12 hrs to Brown, but whatever makes him happiest.

More Seuss, more fans of Liberty and Adleigh. The girls love Madi, and she is so supportive of them!

Adleigh’s friends Amelia and Kinsley came to support her!

That’s a wrap on Seussical! Great experience for everyone!

Liberty and Adleigh are making their Act 3 Stagelights debut in the ensemble in Seussical tonight!

Canton is the assistant music director. We are so proud of each of them and how they have grown during this production!

Spotted the cuties pre show

The girls had a whole fan club in the audience tonight! So nice of Canton’s friends SashaRyan, Kara, Reagan, and Lucas to come out!

Proud Parents!

Excited for three more shows!

Happy Birthday to my sweet girl!

Thanks for the card, Pap!

Squirrel Cake!

And to three years of Owen 🙂

Happy Birthday!

Best Sisters Forever!

Thanks for FaceTiming to Rhonda and Nanny. Liberty loved her clothes, sheets, books, crochet stuff, and her musical bag!

Congratulations on another beautiful year, Liberty!

Happy 20th wedding anniversary! What an amazing 20 years it’s been with many many more to come!

Dear Liberty,

You are 12! How are you 12? They say time is a thief, and I feel it so strongly with this birthday. 12 for girls is a time of big changes, your “last year” of true childhood before becoming a teenager, and all the things that come along with that. Of the three of you, change is the most difficult for you, and this is a year that will be full of change. But, change that I know your determination, curiosity, and strength will see you through. And I’ll be right here beside you.

Twelve years ago, I held you in my arms for the first time and thanked Mal for sending me my girl. Now I am thinking of today, and tomorrow, and this year, and six years from now when you’re an adult. Here you are in the middle of growing up and finding yourself, and you are doing a remarkable job. 

You are smart, funny, responsible, driven, determined, talented, creative, kind-hearted, and beautiful. You are everything I could have ever dared ask for and more. You are fierce, when you want to do something, you do it. But you are tender and loyal, family means so much to you. There are times when I catch a glimpse of who you will be when you’re older, and you are you, and that is everything. I am so proud of you. 

I’m proud of you when I see you get up, get ready for school, make your lists, and get it all done. I’m proud when your teachers tell me how much they enjoy you. I’m proud when you make french toast, cookies, and pasta. I’m proud when you unexpectedly clean the table or vacuum. I’m proud when you struggle through a harp song and keep working until you get it. I’m proud when you make up a new game to play with Adleigh or when I find you in a corner reading. And I’m proud when you do nothing at all, when you just are. You bring so much light into our world, in the big moments, and in the small moments too. 

You and Adleigh continue to be your best friends, I’ve never seen two sisters so close! Your bond is such a huge testament to YOU and the amazing big sister you are. You always look out for Adleigh, encourage her, and include her. You are there for her gymnastics meets, to build forts, to create make believe (peep) worlds, you even lay out her shower stuff for her when you get your shower first. May the coming years only find you drawing closer together. The teen years can be tough with heartbreaks, drama, and just the angst and struggles of growing up. It’s such a rare gift to have the unwavering love you share with your sister, protect it.

You were incredible as always in school this year: straight A’s, near perfect SoL scores, taking advanced math, near perfect attendance. You continued to play in the harp group. You joined the cast of Christmas Carol at Williamsburg Players and sang beautifully in the ensemble and as a “Shelly Child”. As I write this you are at Seussical practice with Stage Lights. You continue to push through your anxiety with the same determination I saw when you taught yourself to ride a bike. That doesn’t come without tears and exhaustion, but you are always so proud of yourself when you can overcome any challenges in your way. I’m glad you have learned to take time to rest and recharge, as you prepare for another challenge. And the coming year will likely be full of them as you begin a transition into school. You want to attend high school full time, so attending electives at JBMS next year is a great step in achieving this goal. It will be hard, there will be tears, but there will also be a lot to be proud of, and we will always be behind you!

Don’t let the high expectations you set for yourself and the sneaky demon of perfectionism consume you. You don’t need to prove yourself by getting straight As or filling a shelf full of medals. If time is a thief, as Teddy Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Your worth is not defined by academic or athletic achievements. You are you, and that is everything.

There is nothing you can do or say that would make me love you any less. There is no mistake you could make that you would need to hide from me. There is nothing so terrible that it can’t be fixed. There is no achievement you need to reach to make me more proud of you. There is no path you need to take to please me. When you were born, our world rebooted, and my heart grew more, for you. My love is not and will never be conditional. I will always have your back. I will be here cheering you on. You will wobble, you might fall, but you will get back up, and we will always be here to help you. I love you more than I can express. Happy Birthday my sweet girl!

Me and Lou, and Lou and me, so happy together!!!

Love, 

Mom

Canton enjoyed most parts of his trip to ITF. It was a bit of a rough time for the rest of us, we missed him terribly. He did not enjoy the dorm life, but certainly gained a lot in workshops and performing.

Canton and Ian performed “Agony” and won a Superior rating! This is the highest rating. Canton now has his eye on a Thespy, which is a perfect score. Hopefully he’s happy with how well he performed at an international festival! This was a fitting capstone to an unforgettable, incredible year! Congratulations, Canton!

Canton is spending the week in Bloomington at ITF. The Bird of the Sea was selected to represent the state of Virginia as a Chapter Select. He gets to attend workshops, watch shows, and experience a week in college dorm life. Canton also got to sing on Monday.

We always miss Canton when he is away at conferences. But, this time feels a little different. High school is half over and two year from now we will be taking him to the dorms for real. I think we are all taking this week a bit harder knowing time keeps marching.

He has been good about texting and FaceTime. We have asked for pictures but he has only this, not a big phone kid that one…

I took a snap of a FaceTime in his dorm, of which he is not a fan 🙂

We took the girls for PF Changs and the Mariners Museum to distract them.

Canton did make sure to hang out with them a lot before leaving 🙂

Watching a show—Drowsy Chaperone. Bird of the Sea performs later tonight (Thursday)

Some snapshots from the final showing of Bird of the Sea. Thanks to Rani for sending!

Canton and Ian—Proudly showing their Superior pins for scoring in the top category at ITF! This is a great accomplishment! So proud!