It’s been about six weeks since I last shared a Life Lately update, and I’m not quite sure where the time has gone. The end of the school year always seems to arrive faster than expected, and this spring was filled with concerts, dance recitals, birthday celebrations, and a calendar that rarely had an empty day.
One of the reasons I love writing these posts is because they give me a chance to pause and reflect. Life moves quickly, and it’s often the small moments that fade from memory first. Before we jump into summer adventures, I wanted to share a little end of school year reflection and look back on some of the highlights from the past few weeks.
End of School Year Reflection
The girls finished school yesterday, and somehow this feels like it was the fastest school year yet. One minute we are back to school shopping and the next we are putting together thank you teacher gifts. Annabelle completed her first year of middle school, Ailey wrapped up 3rd grade, and Arbor finished her first year of preschool.
Every year I think I’ll be prepared for the last day of school, and every year I find myself emotional. Looking through first-day and last-day photos gets me every time. The girls look different kids, more confident, more independent, and somehow older than they did just nine months ago.
As part of this end of school year reflection, I keep coming back to how proud I am of everything they accomplished this year and the challenges they overcame along the way. Annabelle had a really rocky start to middle school, and if I’m honest, we were both a bit of a mess during those first few weeks of adjustment.
But what has stayed with me most is the way she handled it. She showed a level of maturity and grace that honestly surprised me. Even when things felt hard, she kept going—quietly strong, steady, and far more resilient than I think I would have been at her age.
I admire her bravery so much, and I’m still in awe of the way she worked through something that could have easily knocked her off course. Watching her come out the other side stronger has been one of those quiet parenting moments I know I’ll never forget.
Watching your children grow is one of life’s greatest gifts, but it also comes with the constant reminder that time moves far too quickly. I’m still searching for the secret to slowing it all down so we don’t miss a thing.
Dance Recital Season
The beginning of June was all about dance recital weekend. This year marked Annabelle’s 10th year dancing, Ailey’s 7th year, Arbor’s 2nd year, and my 3rd year performing in the adult tap routine. While counting up the years, I realized something I had never thought about before: this was actually my 15th year dancing overall.
Dance has become such a big part of our family’s life. There are countless hours spent at the studio, competition weekends, costume changes, and rehearsals, but watching the girls perform on stage always makes it worth it. I cannot believe Annabelle has been dancing for ten years! I’m so lucky to have a group of dance moms that have become my best friends and feel like my family, as well as my actual family.
And honestly? I still love getting up there myself.
Pool Days Are Back
One of our favorite signs of summer’s arrival is when the neighborhood pool opens.
We are so lucky to live in a neighborhood where the pool becomes the gathering place all summer long. The girls could spend every day there if I let them, and truthfully, I don’t mind it either. EXCEPT Arbor’s obsession with the ice cream man. We can text him to come anytime we want, but he also shows up announced or more than once a day. And Arbor thinks every time he visits she needs an ice cream. It’s going to be a long summer of toddler tantrums until she accepts the fact that ice cream is not part of her daily meals.
Date Nights & Celebrations
Brandon and I managed not one, but TWO date nights recently, which feels like a major accomplishment. I realized we hadn’t sat down alone in a restaurant in nearly six months. Between work, dance, school, activities, and parenting, it can be hard to make time for just the two of us.
Those evenings reminded me how important it is to reconnect outside of our everyday routines.
We’ve also spent the last few months celebrating birthdays, including Brandon’s, which means plenty of cake, family gatherings, and opportunities to appreciate the people we love.
Looking Ahead this Summer
Every year I think I’ll be ready for an end of school year reflection, but somehow it still catches me off guard how much can change in just nine months. Now that school is officially out, we’re stepping into summer a little differently this year. I won’t be taking on my usual full-time role of Camp Counselor/Cruise Director (as I like to joke), and instead I’ll be working three out of five weekdays at the office.
On one hand, I’m a little sad knowing we won’t be spending every single summer day together like we have in past years. But on the other hand, I’m honestly looking forward to my time at work—where I can focus, be productive, and not referee sibling squabbles every five minutes.
As for the girls, they’ll still be busy in their own way. Even though Brandon works from home, Arbor will be attending preschool camp, while the older girls will spend time with their cousin who is helping with babysitting. Here’s to hoping she keeps them off screens and doing one of these productive things. Annabelle and Ailey are also going to tennis camp for a week, and all three girls will be popping in and out of dance classes throughout the summer.
An Open Calendar
Another big shift this year is our summer calendar. In past years, we’ve usually been on the go constantly—anywhere from two to four family vacations, plus a work trip for the blog, and I’ve always felt so grateful for those opportunities. This summer looks a little more simple for us, with our only set-in-stone trip being our annual Cape Cod family vacation in August.
An empty calendar doesn’t feel boring—it feels like possibility. There’s so much room for unplanned family adventures, slow days, and neighborhood pool time. I stand by this list of summer essentials for Moms.
I’m excited to see how this summer unfolds and to really soak in all of it… especially because if this school year taught me anything, it’s that time isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
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