valeria out loud

Hey WordPressers!

Hope you are all doing well, enjoying some warmer Spring weather! I am doing great- now that this glorious weather is upon us. Yay! My family is in the midst of rolling up onto a lot of end of year celebrations and end of school milestones!

Let’s get into it.

My oldest daughter’s HS graduation is next week! So exciting and I am trying to control my emotions still lol. The seniors are enjoying their last week together during Senior Week. Yesterday they went to an entertainment complex and today they are on a field trip in Maine – enjoying the beach and lobster rolls! <- imagine this was how you ended the year with your high school? Insane, right? Tomorrow is their semi, I believe. I need to see the schedule.

So her graduation is on a Monday and then her big bash will be on the following Saturday. I’m about 90% ready – we are having about 70 ppl here for a patio party. The invitees have all replied ✔️, the food is ordered ✔️ , the tent, chairs and tables are ordered✔️, decorating is being created✔️. Woo! I am excited for her and all of this celebration.

And. Last night we celebrated my youngest daughter- it was her 2023-2024 GLR Rowing Team Banquet. The season is finally over! I get my life back for two months!! 😆

All joking aside- Last night was a lot of fun-celebrating achievements, growth, and the bonds that made her team so special this season. I mentioned in the past, how our youngest daughter finally found her sport niche and began crew rowing two years ago. It has changed her in so many ways. Idk if it’s from the mentality of sports in general or if it’s unique to rowing. But either way. She is all about row and has changed a lot. And it was no surprise that she won the award for Most Improved Athlete last night!

Rowing is a pretty demanding sport that requires extraordinary athleticism, skill and dedication. From not just the athletes but from their families! It’s an almost seven day a week sport- consisting of a two hour practice 5 days a week after school, the team pasta dinner night on the Friday before the regattas, which regattas occur over the weekend. It can be a one or two full 8 hour days on the weekend for families. Crazy early start times, everyone!

There are a dedicated dozen of us parents who are there from sun up to sun down. The regattas are a lot of moving parts with the rowers, their gear, the trailer, the rigging and de rigging, setting the tent space, buying food, cooking and feeding everyone. Bringing your own gear. Etc. And all this is in between watching races, cheering the kids on. Then breaking it all down at the end of the day. It’s exhausting.

As demanding a schedule this may be, the highlight is that I have made some great friends. I have become close to the President of the parent committee, and last month I was asked to be on the parent committee. So come this August, I will be the Treasurer. 😀 It will be a lot of work, I got a taste last night at the event, but I will do it all for my daughter gladly.

Plus, this new role will occupy my brain while my oldest is away at university next year! 😭

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Here are some fun pics of last night:

To all the athletes, families, and coaches—thank you for making this night and this season unforgettable. Here’s to many more nights of celebration and success. And to my daughter, congratulations once again on your well-deserved award. We are incredibly proud of you! 💕

Stay tuned for more updates! Thanks for stopping by- Valeria