Thursday, June 5, 2014

The Best Thing I've Ever Done/Created


It all started here, well a couple months earlier than this picture, but this is one of my favorite photos.

Waiting ten years after you get married to get pregnant has its benefits and a few drawbacks. You're more mature. You've finished your education and hopefully paid off your student loans. You have a career, so you'll be able to provide well for your child/children, but the unexpected can happen. It's much harder to get pregnant when you are twenty-right than when you were in your early twenties. It took us two years of surgeries and drugs to finally get pregnant. So when our precious little girl finally arrived we were filled with joy and commitment to give her the best life we possibly could.

When she was old enough she did gymnastics, then ballet, tap, and jazz. She even gave soccer and volleyball a whirl, but she found her passion when she entered the 9th grade. Theater.


Just seeing this photo again takes my breath away.

 In this scene Erik Mueterthies has been institutionalized for mental health issues caused by an abusive mother and Katherine is his social worker. I swear no one in the auditorium made a single sound in this powerful scene. The Boys Next Door was an amazing play. My daughter will be pursuing a BFA in acting. My husband and I are so excited for her.

I may have gotten a bit carried away with our launching her into the real world/college party.




The best compliment of the day (for me) was when one of her friends said our house looked like a Pinterest Page.




I may have gotten a little carried away, as I'm not showing you all the pictures...you don't have the time...so I'm just trying to hit the highlights.



The next weekend was full of smiles and tears and family fun, as 15 family members traveled from 10-18 hours to see her graduate.


After everyone went home we hit the airways...and went to New York City for the first time.


This was the view from our room. That's the Hudson River in the distance. The front of our hotel was on Times Square.

We went to three shows...this trip was all about letting our daughter sample NYC. I'm pretty sure she had a wonderful time.





We walked between 5 and 8 miles a day. It was wonderful: the sounds, the smells, the people, the sights and the lights!

One day we did take a bus tour. I would recommend doing that to anyone going to NY. It was outstanding!


 Freedom Tower



The World Trade Center Memorial



The Bull of Wall Street


Any Law and Order fans out there?



A couple things really surprised me...


I did not expect there to be so many trees.


There were all kinds of vendors lining the street: food, souvenirs, purses, sunglasses, artwork and many more.


I fell in love with Central Park. The contrast between the old and the new was just amazing.



Times Square was full of people no matter what time of day or night it was and I never felt unsafe.


There were street performers everywhere: everything from people dressed up in Statue of Liberty costumes, to artists and musicians.  We even saw a couple guys making giant bubbles.

This trip was mostly about celebrating our daughter, but we managed to throw in one thing especially for me...


I could continue to go on and on, but I'll stop and reflect for a moment...

Our daughter is the best thing in my life (don't tell my hubby). I'm going to miss her tremendously when she goes off to college, but I know with her talent, passion and drive that one day we'll be back in New York watching her on Broadway.

Thanks for stopping by and indulging my proud mommy post.  

17 comments:

  1. Proud Mommy, indeed and so deserved. Tell K to go break a leg and let me know which show she'll be in. ;) I am so glad you had such a wonderful trip.
    Memories added to the many memories already stored.

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  2. What a nice celebration of your daughter. It is a wonderful send off for her next big phase of life. Lucky daughter.

    Thanks for sharing the pictures.

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  3. Nice post from a proud mother. Makes me a little teary eye'd.

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  4. How beautiful, Sharon. With your love and guidance, I have no doubt we'll all be watching her do great things. I'm so glad you saw the beauty that is New York. I'm so glad you mentioned the trees : )

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  5. hi blom!
    love love love this post! lots of cool pics! the one of you and katherine when she was a baby is really special. for sure youre soooo proud of her. shes a wonderful daughter and youre a fantastic mom.
    ...love and hugs from lenny

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  6. Looks like an amazing trip and celebrations for an amazing young lady and her amazing family! What a perfect place to take an actress for her trip, too! I bet she loved Broadway!

    And your party does look like a Pinterest page! Well done, Sharon!!!

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  7. The party looks for fun. Good for you for being so supportive. I do not look forward to ELF going to college.

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  8. Hey, Sharon...

    What a wonderful tribute to such an extraordinary young woman!

    YOU MADE ME SO HOMESICK! I WANNA GO HOME!

    So happy to see such wonderful memories made.

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  9. What a WONDERFUL post to celebrate your daughter. You are one proud mama and rightly so. : )

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  10. What a lovely way to celebrate the joy you all share as a family! Congrats to the graduate! You and your husband have built a strong foundation for her to leap into her next chapter. And New York...how cool is that? Thanks for sharing your special moments.

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  11. Hey you! What a great tribute! K is the light of your life and always will be. She's beautiful! And so are you! Inside and out. Love the pics. Love you! xoxoxo

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  12. Awww! Congrats to you both. :) christy

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  13. Awwwww Sharon!!! Your daughter is beautiful!! And and artiste! She's totally her mum and dad and her own person too! I wish her all the best with her dream career and look forward to seeing her name light up all of Broadway and beyond! Take care
    x

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  14. Hi Sharon - that's amazing to see .. no wonder you're so thrilled and proud of yourselves and her!!

    I loved all the photos and tour of New York ... also how lovely to have such a pretty daughter - I loved her red graduating robes ...

    Then the first photo of the two of you .. just brilliant - and yes it sounds as though she will be a real star ... bet she truly loved the weekend and her opening to the world of Broadway and theatre in the big city ...

    Your party photos are just amazing - love the great platters of healthy foods and colour everywhere ... great memories ...

    Congratulations to one and all ... cheers Hilary

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  15. Congratulations to you and your beautiful daughter, Sharon! Thanks for sharing all the great pics. That looks like a wonderful celebration and trip. Tons of memories to treasure in the years ahead!

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  16. How wonderful Sharon!! That is a beautiful photo of you and your baby. And it looks like you had a fantastic time in New York. Good for you!!
    Wishing all the good things in life for your daughter.
    Hugs to you!
    xo Catherine

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  17. Sharon,
    You are quite the artistic one! Your daughter is lucky to have such an incredibly supportive mom. And yes, NYC is amazing. My daughter and sister and I spent five days there over her spring break. We also walked nearly everywhere except when we went to Ellis Island, then we took a subway to get there, but we walked home. And those shows! Took in Bullets Over Broadway, Kinky Boots and our HANDS DOWN favorite: Rocky, the Musical. AMAZING!

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