Florida Trip: Day 12 - Coming Home

 Day 12

Our final day in Orlando – we would wake up at 7:15 to have breakfast and make it to the airport for an 11:55 flight.  But the flight was delayed to 12:45 so M1 went back to sleep for a bit.  When we go to the airport, the flight was delayed again to 1:10.  Then again to 1:35, 2:05, and finally 3:02.

We ate lunch at the airport around noon and at 2:15 they announced that we could get food vouchers because of the delay.  But just 10 minutes later they started the boarding process, so we could not use the vouchers.  They are good for 1 year and can be used in Toronto, though.

When we landed at Pearson Airport, we used the vouchers for drinks from Booster Juice.  Uncle Pepe picked us up and Cousin Lee picked up Uncle Kaka and Auntie Sally.  Then we had a full circle moment as we drove alongside each other on 16^th Avenue again, just like when we were leaving for the trip, 11 days ago.  This time it was a greater coincidence because we left the airport at different times.  We went to Booster Juice but Uncle Kaka and Auntie Sally did not.  We took Highway 407 while Uncle Kaka and Auntie Sally did not.

When we got in our house the girls yelled and screamed, saying how much they missed their grandma and their home sweet home.  As YC would always say, “The best part of vacation is coming home.”  We enjoyed a nice home-cooked meal by Grandma and told her all about our vacation (even though we had been calling home almost everyday).  I was very happy that we all had a great time on this vacation!

Big Oh

Florida Trip: Day 11 - Hollywood Studios

Day 11

This would be our last day at Disney and M1 wanted to end with Hollywood Studios because that’s where the Star Wars Galaxy Edge was and other rides that were supposed to be more for “older kids”.  But in some ways it didn’t meet expectations.

First, this felt like the hottest of the three days.  Although, the temperature was 34 degrees vs. 40 degrees at Epcot, there were less places to rest indoors.  We were in the heat longer and so it felt hotter – personally I thought we were in an oven.

Second, the lines were longer.  Longer wait times meant more time outdoors, which also contributed to feeling hotter.  Of the three parks, this was the one where we went to the least attractions/rides because of the lineups.

The day started off great with the Aerosmith roller coaster ride.  This was a really fast ride and likely ended up being ranked #2 in terms of all rides we went on, just behind Guardians of the Galaxy.  The day got even better when we got the chance to meet and take a picture with Darth Vader.  M1 opted out because she was terrified of him, claiming he brought back childhood nightmares of how he was living in her bedroom closet.  Perhaps I introduced her to Star Wars too early?  I asked if I could have a picture of Darth Vader choking me but the lady in charge said no because they are running a “peaceful operation”.  So I suggested just force choking and Vader was about to agree but the lady in charge still said no and promptly dismissed us.

We went to the Star Wars cantina for a drink but it didn’t look like the one in Episode IV.  Maybe it was something out of Episode VII – IX.  Most of the props, locations, and rides had Episodes VII – IX as the theme.  (This was unfortunate and I would blog about that but I can’t because in my mind those episodes don’t exist.)  For example, the most popular ride was the Rise of the Resistance but we thought it didn’t live up to the hype and the Avatar ride in Animal Kingdom was better.  I took a lot of pictures and a video as we walked through the Millennium Falcon.  The ride itself wasn’t that great and M1 and M2 blamed it on the fact that M3 and I were the pilots and we didn’t know how to maneuver. 

Since this was our last day, we thought we should get souvenirs for ourselves.  M1 had purchased a Monsters University hat and I got a t-shirt at Epcot but M2 and M3 did not get anything yet.  So M2 got a Baby Groot that sat on her shoulder and M3 got a deck of Disney Uno cards – Uno is one of her favourite card games.  I went all out and got a set of Jedi robes at $200!

This Star Wars experience was significant because the girls (especially M1, who kept asking me what I wanted to do and see and experience) really wanted me to have a good time and not the other way around with most parents and kids at Disney.  My girls are growing up.

Big Oh

Florida Trip: Day 10 - Animal Kingdom

Day 10

On this day, we went to the second of the three Disney parks that we had booked - Animal Kingdom. The forecast called for rain again and after what happened the day before, I didn't want to get soaked again.  We brought with us ponchos that Auntie Sally had in the vacation home.

Life's funny in that when you don't want something to happen, it usually happens.  One of the first rides we went on was the Kali River Rapids.  It's just like the White Water Canyon in Wonderland, but it seats 12 people instead of 6.  Similar to White Water Canyon, everyone gets a little bit wet, but one or two people will get soaked, depending on where they are sitting.  So of course, I was the one in the lucky seat that got drenched!  I could have worn a poncho on the ride but I didn't want to be the silly-looking Chinese guy who was afraid of water.

We went on guided safaris as well self-guided tours to see various animals - giraffes, monkeys, elephants, zebras, rhinos, cheetahs, bats, crocodiles, flamingos, ostriches, and more.  We were able to take lots of pictures and M2 did some silly pictures where it looked like she was kissing or eating a giraffe.  The one group of animals we didn't get to see that I really wanted to see were the tigers.  They were crouching (like in the movie) behind some rocks to stay cool from the heat - that was the explanation we were given by the guide.

We also went to an "Animation Experience" where we learned to draw Ed, the hyena from The Lion King.  My drawing skills are so bad that when I play Pictionary, I draw a dog, a horse, and a monkey the same way.  And no one is able to guess any of them.  So I was curious to know what I would draw.  But it turned out okay.  The sketch paper had lines and ovals pre-drawn to help us.

Another highlight was the "A Bug's Life" 3D short film - or maybe it was 4D, because water and mist was actually sprayed on us.  Then there was a part where bumps in our seats moved around making it feel like bugs were crawling on our bums!  The girls were equally amused and disgusted by that.

In the afternoon it rained really hard so we got out our ponchos.  M3 said her poncho was stinky and seemed to have sand all over it.  M1 said her poncho smelled funny too and was a little wet.  But they were still in the package and didn't look used.  M2 said hers was fine.  I opened the last one and found that it was greasy!  So we threw those out (even M3's) and bought new ones - matching ones.  We had been looking for matching hats or t-shirts to buy but couldn't find any we all agreed on.  So now we have something matching.  Later Auntie Sally explained that the ponchos could have been there for many years and she did notice that the closet they were in had an oil spill of some sort.

After this, I was getting a headache - from being wet (2-day streak), the alternating between the heat and A/C, and just general fatigue.  So one of our last rides for the day was going to be the Avatar ride.  It was another virtual reality ride and I thought it would make my headache worse.  But it was the opposite.  It was a refreshing ride, with lots of good scenery and the drops felt real - not just like my chair tilting.  This actually made my headache go away.

None of us like animals particularly so we were skeptical of how much we would enjoy this park but I think in the end it exceeded all of our expectations.

Big Oh

Florida Trip: Day 9 - Dinner with Uncle Rich

Day 9

After a tiring day at Epcot Center where we each walked more than 25,000 steps, we decided to just have a rest day at home before meeting Uncle Rich's family for dinner.  So in the afternoon it was more Wii games.  M1 was so tired from the previous day, she fell asleep in the game room.  I, on the other hand, napped properly in my bed.  M3 also fell asleep - only M2 did not nap.

When we got up, we swam for a bit but it started to rain so we rinsed off and got ready for dinner.  Driving to dinner, the rain was so heavy, it seemed like we were driving through a waterfall.  At one point, we were under a bridge and the water could not drain into the sewers fast enough.  The water was probably two feet deep and cars looked like they were driving across a pond.

I dropped the girls off at the restaurant entrance and then parked the car so we didn't all have to get wet.  The water in the parking lot came up above my ankles.  So my socks were soaked.

Uncle Rich's family was already there - Auntie Celeste, Cousin Earl, his wife Grainne, and their son Connor.  After the greetings, I excused myself to go to the bathroom to take off my socks.  When I returned, Earl agreed that was a good move so he proceeded to remove his wet socks too.  Of course, he was scolded by Grainne for doing so at the dinner table.

We were at an authentic, upscale Chinese restaurant (a rarity in Orlando) owned by a business associate of Uncle Rich and Auntie Celeste.  They chose a Chinese restaurant because I said we hadn't eaten Chinese food in a week and it's difficult for M1 and me to go so long without rice.

It was nice to talk with them and get caught up.  Uncle Rich and Auntie Celeste always have interesting stories about their business associates and latest travels.  Connor, who was two year-old was currently into dinosaurs and mermaids - quite a strange combination.  When Earl told him that M1, M2, and M3 were actually mermaids, he promptly looked under the table to see their tails.

And of course the food was amazing!  In fact, the fried rice dish was called, "Amazing Fried Rice."  The menu was an 8-course meal which became 9 because they also cooked Uncle Rich's favourite dish, which wasn't part of the set meal.  There was Peking Duck, twin lobster, and grouper fish prepared 3 ways, just to name a few of the fancier dishes.

It was a hearty and satisfying meal and in the end, there was enough food left over for our dinner the next day.

Big Oh

Florida Trip: Day 8 - Epcot Center

Day 8

This day marked the beginning of the second segment of our trip - the real vacation portion - going to Disney World.  We bought the 3-day pass and our first stop was Epcot Center.  Uncle Kaka and Auntie Sally dropped us off before they went to the Kennedy Space Center.

With the Disney App, M1 was able to map out our itinerary showing the best times to visit the rides and attractions we were interested in.  The top 2 the girls wanted to experience were the Ratatouille ride and the Guardians of the Galaxy ride.  The Ratatouille ride was not as great as it was hyped up to be, but we all agreed that the Guardians of the Galaxy ride was our favourite.  We were all pleasantly surprised by the Soaring Around the World ride and we actually went on that one twice.  There was one virtual ride that simulated a rocket launch to Mars and that made M2, M3, and me want to throw up.  Sometimes the virtual reality stuff is worse than the real roller coasters.  We needed a break after that one.

We did a lot of walking on this hot day and luckily we had enough bottled water, heeding the advice of others who had gone before in the extreme July heat.  It was 34 degrees Celsius (40 with the humidity) and we were constantly looking for gift shops with A/C in which to rest.  When walking outside, M3 would ask to go inside every 2 minutes.  Luckily when waiting in line for rides, most of the waiting was in a covered area with fans or A/C.

I liked seeing the different countries' exhibits at Epcot and watching the short video on China made me want to visit there.  The Canada one was a bit weird though.  There was a higher content of indigenous people compared to what we actually see everyday in Toronto/Markham.  M2 was particularly amused by the song they wrote for Canada.  She kept playing it in the car on the way home after finding it on the web somewhere.

For lunch, we enjoyed a savoury crepe and a dessert crepe at a French restaurant.  We all agreed that the dessert crepes tasted much better but it would have been weird to just have dessert for lunch.  I guess we could have - we can enjoy whatever we want on vacation, right?

For an afternoon snack, M2 got a caramel candy apple and M3 got a Mickey-shaped pretzel.  I bought a Darth Vader t-shirt for myself, M1 got a cap, and we got a Japanese fan for Grandma.

There were fireworks at 9:00 so we decided to stay and watch them.  They were quite spectacular, especially "The Grand Finale".  After that we got picked up by Uncle Kaka and Auntie Sally.

It was a tiring first day at Disney but M1 summed it up as a "successful day"!

Big Oh

Florida Trip: Day 7 - Rest Day

Day 7

On this day we were supposed to go to the Kennedy Space Center but after several days of dancing, M2 needed a break.  Uncle Kaka also thought it wouldn't be enjoyable for the girls if they weren't into space stuff, which they weren't.  So we decided to have a rest day at home.

The girls played Wii again.  I also participated for a few rounds of Tennis, Bowling, and Just Dance.  That gave the girls a few good laughs.  Somehow the Wii tired me out or maybe it's the Florida heat again.  I took a nap in the afternoon while the girls went swimming.  Uncle Kaka and Auntie Sally also joined them.

Later M1 wanted to go watch two dancers that used to dance at M1's and M2's studio.  They are a brother and sister that M1 choreographed solos for before.  They are now dancing at a higher level studio and the competition they are at is also at a higher level than the one M2 just competed in.  M1 doesn't like to do anything on her own so she made M2 accompany her.  (So much for M2 getting a break from dances.)  I dropped them off at the competition venue which was about 30 minutes away.

I came back for dinner with M3 and Uncle Kaka and Auntie Sally.  Then we watched some TV and M3 and I played some on-line riddle games before I had to go back to pick up M1 and M2.

It was a nice rest day!

Big Oh

Florida Trip: Day 6 - Dinner at Olive Garden

Day 6

This was the final day of the dance competition.  The top 10 groups in each category would compete in a final dance-off.  M2 had a teen group and a senior group competing.  They announced the top 4 and M2's teen group was 3rd and her senior group did not make the top 4.  Nevertheless, as I said yesterday, I thought this was a successful competition for M2 and her teammates.

After the competition, we went to dinner at the Olive Garden.  This is YC's favourite restaurant in the US and whenever we come down, we try to find a chance to have a meal there.  My girls enjoy pasta and the unlimited salad and breadsticks.  But the portions are bigger and saltier than we're used to so we could not order more salad or breadsticks.  We even had breadsticks to take home along with portions of our unfinished entrees.

We also went to a cookie store called, "Crumbl Cookies" where they have freshly baked cookies.  M3 saw this on YouTube and really wanted to try some.  There is only one location in Ontario and that's in Mississauga.  We got 4 cookies for $16.  They were quite big and somewhat tasty but I think they're a bit overpriced.  We've had freshly baked cookies from Felix & Norton in Markham and I prefer those.

When we got back to the house, M1 was going through the closet in the game room and she found ... the Wii system!  So the girls were able to play a few Wii games before going to bed.  We definitely did not bring the Wii controllers for nothing.

Big Oh

Florida Trip: Day 5 - House Party

Day 5

This day was a break for M2's team because it was the younger age groups competing.  So M2 invited 9 of her friends/teammates to the vacation house for an afternoon swim and pizza dinner (I can't do anything more fancy than that).

In the morning, M2 and I went to Walmart to pick up some paper plates, snack, and drinks for the mini-party.

In the afternoon, there was a change of plans.  The girls wanted to swim at the resort where the competition was taking place because most of them were staying there and there was a water slide.  So while M2 went swimming with her friends, M3 and I swam at the house.

Afterwards, I went to pick up M2 from the resort and the pizza on the way home.  Her friends arrived shortly after, but two of the nine could not make it.  I think the girls had a good time and I really want that for M2 because she doesn't usually play the part of hostess.  The girls were laughing and gossiping over dinner.  Then they played for a bit in the game room.  It was the 4th of July so they also went outside to see fireworks from a distance (probably fireworks from Disney).

When the girls left, Uncle Kaka and I went to the airport to pick up M1.  Her flight was delayed and landed after 1:00 AM.  We didn't get back to the house until 2:00.

Big Oh

Florida Trip: Day 4 - Group Dances

Day 4

On this day, M2 had her group dances.  She started at 1:00 PM so we were able to enjoy a brunch with omelettes and sandwiches by Auntie Sally before all heading over together.  M2 had 6 group dances and 5 of them won first in the category.  The remaining one was second in the category.  M2 participated in Senior (age 15-17) as well as Teen (age 12-14) groups.  The age grouping is determined by the average age of the dancers in the group.

For overalls, all 6 placed in the top ten. Two senior large groups finished 10th (1st in category) and 5th (1st in category).  Two senior super groups (in Canada we call them Extended Lines) finished 9th (2nd in category) and 4th (1st in category).  The two teen groups finished 1st and 2nd overall.  I think these are really good results for her team, considering American dance competitions are generally viewed as being of higher caliber than Canadian ones.

Unlike solos, duets, and trios, group dances attract a bigger audience since there are more dancers at one time.  So it's difficult to get a seat.  Then what we found out was that even if you have a seat, it's difficult see the dance and hear the music because the American parents are way rowdier than we're used to in Canada.  They get up and cheer, yell, scream, dance, and even ring cowbells.

So instead of watching the American studios dance, M3 and I played cards to pass the time in between M2's dances, .  There was also an area in this resort/convention center where there were crocodiles, turtles, and fish.  M3 was not really interested as she doesn't like animals but I took a few pictures.

We left the venue around 9:00 which apparently was not late enough to get free parking on this day.  We had a late spaghetti dinner back at the vacation home and relaxed for the rest of the night.

Big Oh

Florida Trip: Day 3 - Solo Dances

Day 3

On this day, M2 had a solo at 11:00 AM, another solo at 9:30 PM, and that was it - it was solo day at the competition.  Again I took her early in the morning and came back to get the others.  But this time there was a little problem.  The lock for the house was a digital lock with a code and the batteries died.  Luckily I brought some spare batteries for the Wii controllers but it still took some time to put them in.  So I didn't bring the Wii controllers for nothing!

We made it back in time for M2's solo then we had practically a whole day of spare time before the next solo.  Auntie Sally wanted to watch some of M2's teammates' solos so she stayed there with Uncle Kaka until mid-afternoon.  M3 and I went to have a nice lunch at a place called, "Bahama Breeze".  It's a chain restaurant, kind of like Red Lobster.  We had seafood chowder, coconut shrimp, a salad, and a pasta dish.  The portions were so big, we practically had to take all the pasta home.

After lunch, M3 and I went to a souvenir shop to get some A/C while we waited for Uncle Kaka and Auntie Sally to finish watching dances.  We did buy some souvenirs for the grandparents then picked up Uncle Kaka and Auntie Sally and went home.  They then went to Walmart while M3 and I napped again.  This Florida heat really tires you out!  After a brief nap, we went for a swim before dinner.

After dinner, we went back to watch M2's second solo.  The venue has no in-and-out parking privileges so I would have to pay for parking again.  There is a special price for the competition of $20 vs. regular price of $38.

M2 won her category just as she did in the morning.  She did an Acro solo and an Open solo.  "Open" is kind of like freestyle and M2's Open solo has many Acro elements.  Recall I had a blog last year where I said M2 would not win an overall award if she did a solo in a genre other than Acro?  Well this year it was her Open solo that won the second overall prize - out of 214 solo dances!  This was for the age group 15-17.  The winner was 15 and although I didn't see her dance live, I did watch the video replay.  As a biased Dance Dad, I think M2 should have won.  (Her Acro solo was 8th.)

In all this excitement, I forgot to get my parking ticket validated for the special competition price and the booth was now closed.  So I thought I would have to pay $38 instead of $20.  But when we got to the gate there was no attendant there.  Perhaps he was on break or it was too late at night.  The barricade was lifted and I was driving slowly, afraid it would come down.  But Uncle Kaka shouted, "Just go!"  I like getting unexpected discounts like this, but they really make Uncle Kaka and Auntie Sally happy!

Big Oh

Florida Trip: Day 2 - A Little Bit of Everything

Day 2

M2's only dance on this day was at 11:15 AM and the general rule is to be there 2 hours before to rehearse and in case there are scheduling changes.  So M2 got up at 7:45 to do her hair and make-up and have a quick breakfast.  I took her to the venue around 9:00 and there was so much traffic with people going to Disney.  After dropping M2 off, I came back to pick up M3, Uncle Kaka and Auntie Sally.

Today's dance was a trio, and a particularly emotional one.  These 3 girls have been dancing together since they were 10 years-old and now it's their graduating season.  They won their category which had 6 dances competing.  But they did not place in the top ten for overall Senior (age 15-17) duets/trios.

After the dance, we went to Sam's Club to pick up groceries and also had lunch there.  Auntie Sally was going to cook several dinners for us during the stay so we wouldn't have to eat out all the time.

I don't know if it's the extreme heat (almost 40 degrees Celsius) but we were all tired in the afternoon.  So M2, M3, and I all took a nap.  Then we went swimming in the pool for a little while with Uncle Kaka to cool down.  Good thing the pool was enclosed because there was a lizard climbing on the fence.

Then we went to play air hockey and foosball in the game room, but there was no Wii!  There was an older Nintendo system though, and M2 played on that for a bit.  Did we bring the Wii games and controllers for nothing?

After dinner M3 and I played cards and watched TV while M2 did some research for her university next year.

It was a nice start to our vacation.  We did a little bit of everything - dancing, shopping, napping, swimming, playing games, watching TV - just relaxing, like a vacation should be.

Big Oh

Florida Vacation: Day 1 - Arriving in Orlando

This summer our vacation plans are to go to Florida, mainly because M2 has a dance competition in Kissimmee (near Orlando).  While we're down there, we might as well go to Disney World.  The competition is from July 1 - 5 and we will spend the following week in Disney.  M1 has a summer job so she will join us on July 4.  We will be travelling with Uncle Kaka and Auntie Sally, who continue to support my daughters' dance activities.  They come watch every competition and help with hair, make-up, transportation, and food supplies.  They have a vacation home in Kissimmee that is 20 minutes away from the competition venue and 15 minutes away from Disney.  So that's perfect.

The vacation home is spacious with 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a game room with an air hockey table and a foosball table.  There's also a swimming pool and hot tub in the back.  The pool is enclosed with a fence and roof to prevent crocodiles and lizards from getting in.  The game room has a Wii system so the girls packed Wii controllers and games that we got passed down from their cousins.

Day 1

Our flight was at 5:45 PM and Uncle Pepe drove us to the airport.  Coincidentally, we saw Uncle Kaka and Auntie Sally along 16th Avenue as they were also on their way to the airport in cousin Lee's car.  (Okay, I did text them when we were leaving but that's still quite a coincidence.)  We got to the airport with plenty of time to spare.  Security and customs also went smoothly.  The flight was delayed an hour so we got some dinner at the airport while we waited.  We landed at the Orlando airport around 9:30, got our luggage and went to pick up the rental car.  When we crossed the street to parking lot, we didn't notice that the traffic signal had the "hand" instead of the "walking man".  A driver honked us and gestured at us to open our eyes.

 After getting the car, we were hungry so we went to a McDonalds near the vacation house.  There were a lot of restaurants and souvenir shops in this area for people who didn't want to spend as much as they would at Disney.  Even at 11:00 PM, there were lots of cars and people.  After McDonalds, we went across the street to Walmart to pick up some bottled water and breakfast for the next day.  We had to be quick because it closes at midnight (just like Cinderella's coach).  At the self checkout, Uncle Kaka didn't want to lift the water to scan so he used the hand held scanner.  It had a plastic bag wrapped around it - maybe that's the style in the US?  The worker, who's supposed to help people at the self checkout said to Uncle Kaka, "It's broken!  That's why there's a bag around it!"

M2 pointed out, "We've been here for an hour and already got yelled at twice by these Americans!"

When we got to the vacation home, we quickly showered and went to bed.  M2's first dance is the next morning.

Big Oh

Graduation #5

The last Thursday in June was M3's grade 8 graduation - one day after M2's high school graduation.  Both took place in the same high school.  M3's elementary school is too small to hold the ceremony so they have it at the high school just down the street.  There are less grade 8 graduates than high school graduates so this time the ceremony could take place in a nicer auditorium with a real stage.

There's no graduation gown for grade 8 so M3 had to buy a graduation dress.  We did this a month before and it was a real adventure, but I won't get into that because it's a bit embarrassing for me.  She also got her nails done - it's a big deal for young teenagers!  Luckily for me, I didn't have to do that for her nor did I have to help her get ready.  Why?  Because M3 is becoming a party girl.  I didn't see her for the better part of 2 days around her graduation!

Wednesday after school she and 3 friends had a sleepover at one of her friend's house down the street, to celebrate their graduation.  So they got ready there and helped each other with their hair and nails.  However, the dress was hard to zip (not a size issue, just difficult to work the zipper) and M2 had to walk over to help her.  They had so much fun, M3 asked to stay over again the Thursday night after the ceremony.  I said it was fine since the girls were so excited.  Besides, it's just down the street, so M3 did come home each day to shower.

A few weeks ago, M3 misinterpreted a homework assignment and got 50% on it.  She was very upset so I asked her to ask the teacher if she could get a second chance.  Explain what you thought and explain that you do know the correct answers.  M3 was upset because she said she wanted to graduate with honours and if she messed this up she wouldn't.  I still think she would (most of her marks are in the 80s and she only has one 70) but I was very happy that she showed this kind of concern for her work.  In the end, the teacher was nice and did increase her mark.

When M3 walked across the stage they announced that she made the honour roll!  Also, she won the Lifelong Learner Award.  I felt this was a funny name - implying that the person still has a lot to learn.  But it was explained to me that the person always has a thirst for learning.  M3, Mommy and Daddy are very proud of you!

Big Oh

Graduation #4

The last Wednesday in June was M2's high school graduation.  It's a big milestone in many teenagers' lives as it signifies the first step into adulthood.  M2 is a very responsible and a serious person so I think she is ready for this next step.  She always finished her homework, completed her tests, and she graduated with a 90+ average.  Now she needs to develop her softer skills - like socializing and conversational skills.

M2 got off to a rocky start in high school (as did the rest of her grade) because she started during the COVID lockdown when schooling was on-line.  She told me it was difficult to make friends when school started in-person again.  There were people she knew from her elementary school but there were so many more from other schools.  She does have a small group of friends she hangs out with and went to the prom with.  I'm also hoping her interactions at her dance studio, where she is more outgoing, will help her socially.

Back to the ceremony - it was at the same high school as M1's two years ago and the setup was pretty much the same - a makeshift stage in the gym.  I guess that was the only place in the school big enough to hold the ~400 graduates and their families.  I went back to read my blog about M1's graduation - I mentioned how I was sad that YC was not beside me and I would let you know when it gets easier.  Well, it was easier this time.  All events and experiences for the first time without her are difficult.  But with more experiences, I learn to prepare myself so it does get easier.  I remind myself that she is watching with me and she doesn't want me to be sad.  YC is happy with me for M2 reaching this important milestone in her life.  When M2 walks across the stage to receive her diploma, YC is smiling and clapping with me.  M2, Mommy and Daddy are very proud of you.  Congraduations!  (Three's Company reference.)

Big Oh