First Payment Down

Dad here again. So we've gotten the cashier's check for the first payment ($750), and are now setting to work on the next eight payments ($650 each). With about five weeks to go, we're more than halfway to the October payment, and Gail has a scholarship audition the day after that.

Overall, the garage sale went really well, and a few other items have sold nicely on eBay, bringing us pretty close to 20% of the total. Not bad for the first month. We're also seeing if Gail's school will allow us to do a fundraiser there, but this may conflict with other school fundraisers, so we're not really sure if this will happen. We have a couple of big-ticket items to put up on eBay still, and with a little luck, these will get us to the total of the October payment and perhaps a little bit beyond.

I've re-updated the thermometer. We're actually a little ahead of what it shows, because we've deducted some of the total as spending money for Gail in Europe. This is money that she already had, not money from the sale.

The current goal is to get enough for the October payment (on the 15th) by the end of September so that we can start putting the next one together. Any scholarship money will be really helpful, and then we get Christmas, which will help as well.

Update from Dad--Garage Sale, Day 1

Not bad! We made a little more than $300 today, and only a few of the big-ticket items sold. It bodes well for the next few days, although traditionally, the first day of a garage sale is always the biggest.

So, we have enough for the down payment on the Europe trip, and about six weeks before the next payment. Essentially, the rest of the garage sale is seeing how close we can come to that one...and possibly beyond.

Company Auditions

Today I auditioned for Company at the Rockford Dance Company. I was appointed a full company member. It is important to me because I love to dance and I skipped 2 levels. I am super excited to be the youngest full company member.

Our Garage sale is September 1st-4th. Please come or donate!

Garage sale update

Thank you to Dylan Fields, Lily Wellen, and Lindy Dokken for donating to my garage sale. The garage sale dates are September 1,2,3 and maybe the 4.

Also thank you to Kim Leopardo who will be having a tastefully simple party for me.

I'm packing for North Carolina. I leave on Monday to go and visit my grandparents. I come back Thursday and Saturday I have auditions for RDC's company.

Pointe Shoe Shopping

We went to Chicago by train to get new pointe shoes. Get home and sew them to find they are TOO BIG! Won't stay on my feet. Now we probably need to go back on Tuesday to get new ones again.

On a positive note I've got over $400 between my savings and money I got for my birthday in July to start my Europe fund. Only $5,600 to go.

10 Months and $6,000

Another week of dance is done. This week was four hours every day with Randy Newsom, who worked us really hard! I have giant blisters on the sides of my big toes, and they really hurt! Well, they hurt a lot on Tuesday, but they're better now.

Mom and Dad have agreed that we can have a garage sale on Labor Day weekend, and the money we make will go to my Europe account. So if you're around here, come buy stuff!

Yes, I know it says my dad is posting stuff. I'm using his account to do this.