Harry competed in a huge, nation-wide national-qualifier speech tournament on Friday and Saturday. It was virtual, so he made himself a speaking area in his room (which required moving his giant recliner and one of his desks (lol) into storage).There were 250 kids entered in his event, and the top 16 qualified to nats. Everyone was guaranteed 3 prelim rounds, and on Saturday morning, the tournament cut half the entires to pick the top 128. Harry was still in! He spoke again, and the tournament cut to the top 64 speakers. Harry was still in! He spoke again, and the tournament cut to the top 32 speakers. HARRY WAS STILL IN! He spoke again and then waited an agonizing hour for the qualifiers to be posted on YouTube... and he did not qualify. **whomp whomp** He was third at his district qualifying tourney (the top TWO go to nats) so this was his last chance. He appreciated that his high school speech season ended the same way it began-- with Zooms from his bedroom. But, he was disappointed that he wouldn't be making a return trip to nats. Luckily, he has 4 more years and a potential EIGHT national tourneys in college.
The rest of us were... actually really happy that he didn't make it because that's the very same week we are going on vacation, and we didn't want to change locations to Des Moines, IA (even though we love Des Moines and have fam to visit there-- THERE IS NO OCEAN IN IOWA, actually) (fun fact: the guy who wrote the book in that link grew up literally next door to my mom).
And then! While we were solidifying trip plans (it is SO HARD to travel in the summer with Cooper and Dorothy's activities, my in-person teaching assignment, Dorothy's dance tryouts, Harry and Jack's lifeguard schedules, etc. We are cutting it VERY CLOSE to dance nats with this trip, but **yikes face** **shrug**), Ben was like oh you know ha ha this might be the very last vacation Harry wants to go on with us, and now the stakes feel VERY HIGH. (I also JUST LOOKED at dance nats dates again after I wrote this because I was worried I got them wrong.)
ANYWAY. Other things.
I am trying to upgrade my pajama wardrobe. Where do you buy your pajamas, and why are they great? I got 2 pairs at Nordstrom Rack and cleaned out at least 4 pairs I hate, so I can maybe get a couple more and would love your recs.
Also, I would perhaps like to lose weight with but I also would not like top change any of my food habits. THIS IS A HARD PLACE TO BE, friends. Bah humbug. (I am eating pretzels and cheese while I eat write this).
Related to all of this, I need to buy more swimsuits. Blergh.
Coop qualified to zones for diving over the weekend, meaning he is one step closer to USA Diving nationals-- super excited for him! One more qualifier to go (in Madison! the same exact days as dance nationals **melting emoji**)
Saturday brunch:
It's so exciting that nationals are on the cards for Harry, Dorothy, and Cooper... what a BFD!
ReplyDeleteI've had the same pajamas and nighties for years, so if you find something good, I'd love to know. I don't actually need to replace anything. I think that's because I like to wear them several days in a row before I wash them... shades of safety blankie? LOL
Woot, woot Harry!
ReplyDeleteI have gained quite a bit of weight the last 6 months - for a few reasons, but it's still a shock because I'm basically eating the way I have been for several years. While I'm trying hard to stick with my intuitive eating and letting my body take the lead it is HARD to not feel a bit panicky when my go-to clothes for years are no longer fitting. Living inside a body is HARD!
WOW, what a fantastic accomplishment for Harry! He got so far!
ReplyDeleteI FEEL THIS: "I would perhaps like to lose weight with but I also would not like top change any of my food habits. THIS IS A HARD PLACE TO BE"
I am the same age as you and have just entered the era of middle-aged lady weight gain where I eat the same or less but get bigger and bigger. The joy of aging, I guess? I also don’t want to change the way I’m eating (any more than I have already!) so I guess it’s time to start fighting 40+ years of conditioning that smaller = better at all costs? Sigh
ReplyDeleteI have been in that 'Gee I hope you do well, but if you do it will mess up our schedule for X' boat. Harry did awesome! So exciting. I thought you were going to say that the rest of the fam was glad it was over, because they were tired of being ordered to be quiet. I like Karen Neuburger pajamas. Like everything else, I buy them at Von Maur.
ReplyDeleteThe meds I'm on are making me gain weight, which sucks. I'm trying really hard to only choose healthy foods between meals. Grrr. A bump up in exercise can help - like lifting a bit of weight?, but Coach always tells me when I'm upset about weight gain that it's mostly what I eat. Not what I want to hear. I've seen photos of you in your skirts and I think you look great, so don't be too hard on yourself.
Ugh. Same on the weight and not wanting to change my eating habits. I feel like it's taken me 40+ to have a healthy relationship with food and so my reward should NOT be to gain mystery weight. But alas... Re: pajamas. Hear me out. Walmart. They're super soft, super cheap, and they hold up really well. Almost all my cute matching sets are from there.
ReplyDeleteOMGGGGG-- I went to Wal Mart just for this and I LOVE IT! I got a cute nightgown and robe and there were others that I wanted! I will be back!
DeleteI am so with you on the weight gain without wanting to change my eating habits. Peri-menopause can suck it! We got a puppy 3 months ago. I thought surely with all of this extra activity I'm getting, the pounds would just be falling off but the scale hasn't budged an inch. I give up. I also recommend Walmart pajamas, the Joyspun brand! I have several of the long sleeve and pant sets, but I see they now have short sleeves for summer. Very soft!
ReplyDeleteI GOT A JOYSPUN SET! Thank you!
DeleteYay!! I am about to order more!
DeleteWhat I learned from this post is that people wear pajamas and not just yoga pants from Old Navy and whatever free tshirts come your way. Huh. I am obviously a sexy beast at night.
ReplyDeleteWith online nationals and Interstate, Harry could have 16 chances at nationals! I'm exhausted just typing that - lol
ReplyDeleteWow, what a huge accomplishment for Harry! That's so awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm in my nightgown era, and I've gotten some nice stuff from Amazon. Sometimes Target has some great finds.
I'm with Engie - schlumpy old flannel pants, random t-shirts (long- and short-sleeved, depending on the season) and usually a sweatshirt until I go to bed. Glamourous, I am not. ;)
ReplyDelete