It's BACK TO SCHOOL for Isabella and Giselle

The school season officially has begun! First day of school pictures and extracurricular activity photos!! Isabella is a Junior at Lockport High School and is enrolled in Math, English, Earth Science, U.S. History and Sign Language. Outside of her academics, she is in her second year as a Football Team Manager. Four days a week she stays after school and helps the football coach by flying the drone, taking pictures and setting up football plays. Maybe she can teach me a thing or two about football? Giselle is a Freshman at Providence Catholic High School and is enrolled in English, Foundation Catholicism, French, Honors Geometry, Honors Science and is also taking College Technology Classes which will be applied to any college she chooses. Outside of her academics, she is on the Cheer Team. Four days a week she practices over 43 cheer routines to cheer on the football team, basketball team, volleyball team and also compete at State. Two girls, two different school yet both have one common denominator. Every Friday, is “Friday Night Lights” where the excitement and tradition of High School football commences each weekend under those floodlights illuminating the game. As a parent, it is fun and a new experience to bounce between two different schools on a Friday night to support my girls. The spirit at each school is completely different. Ladies, these are YOUR YEARS to build character, work hard, embrace challenges, pursue your dreams and persevere as High School IS A STEPPING STONE to FUTURE SUCCESS. A famous quote by Dr. Suess – “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and I will be by your sides every step of the way.

Giselle Graduates 8th Grade from Homer Jr. High

Giselle graduated from Homer Jr. High and was recognized as a “first honor” graduate due to her academic achievement and exemplary character. She received a special gold tassel to wear on her graduation cap to honor all of her hard work! Additionally, she received The Providence Catholic Veritas Award. This is awarded to incoming freshmen who best embody the Mission of Providence Catholic High School and show the potential to emulate the Augustinian core values of Truth, Unity, and Love. She also demonstrated a commitment to leadership and talent. We couldn’t be prouder of you Giselle and all your hard work and efforts this year in 8th grade. You knocked your GPA out of the park every semester with all A’s every subject and only one B! Lastly, you got accepted to Providence Catholic High School, quit gymnastics and then got accepted to join the Cheer team!! WOW!! It takes great strength to leave your school and all of your friends only to join a brand-new school with individuals you have never met before! The future has never been SO BRIGHT for you and I know you are going to do great things over the next four years in high school! To help celebrate your achievements – Grandpa Dale, Isabella, Daddy, Mommy and Tom were at your graduation. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT GISELLE – KEEP SHOOTING FOR YOUR DREAMS AND GOALS!

Giselle's 8th Grade Time Capsule - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL 2032

As part of an 8th grade project, Giselle had to create a time capsule that she cannot open until 2032. Inside, she included pictures, 30 things that make her smile and/or happy, a friends list, a bucket list and a letter to herself. She put it inside a manilla envelope and created a picture collage on the outside. I just know she is going to smile from ear to ear once she opens it seven years from now! It was cute for me to read her “bucket list” that included running a marathon, to travel to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and also live in Utah because she loves nature, mountains and cold weather!!! She asked me to put it in her special bin where I keep all of her keepsake memories – like trophies, special books, art work, etc. She also asked me if I could to put some “loot” in there. (I slipped a $50 bill in there!) In the event that no one remembers to open that envelope in 7 years, I chose to blog about it so she can read this and know where to look for it. I have turned this blog into printed books for them and each have a copy in their special bin – I don’t really create photo albums, but I have created this blog for them with pictures – so they can one day read about where they were in time and look back and their memories. Giselle – I hope you get to Paris – I know you will because you are even taking French classes right now and love it. I can’t wait to tag along with you! LOVE YOU!

FIRST DAY of School Photos

 I am surrounded by empty nesters.  For now, I am still celebrating the firsts.  There are always firsts in life...right? I have never been one to keep score.  Unless we are competing. Like sports.  And then there are lasts.  Work hard, play even harder.  And ALWAYS give 1000 percent in EVERYTHING YOU DO.  And do it with LOVE and your HEART.  At the END of each and every day, we are only accountable to ourselves.  We are responsible for our OWN actions.  

CHEERS to a new journey ladies.  GG - you're rocking it out in gymnastics!  7th grade here we come!  Bella!  You're just starting high school.  Geez you are a freshman!  And goodness...you're slaying it at tennis!  I am going to cherish these years.  Am I in for a wild ride?  You bet your bottom dollar I AM! Did your mother always tell you that you would have one JUST LIKE YOU?  Is it an old adage?  My favorite and still to this day was.....do you know what that means?  You don't?  GO GET THE DICTIONARY and LOOK up the meaning!  Hated it at the time.  But guess what.  VOCABUARY expands.  And its ALOT better than social media.

Have an epic year Bella and GG.  I know you're going to rock it.....Keep your eyes on the prize and shoot for the moon and stars! LOVE

READY TO ROLL

DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE MY PICTURE

LOOK out 7th grade

EXCITED

Back to School

 Just like that the summer is over!  It's time to head back!  I am not sure where the time goes, but we went from having a kindergarten graduation to an 8th grade graduation to starting high school!  We had the pleasure of attending her high school orientation yesterday where we walked around the entire school, took her photo ID, picked up her chrome book and gym uniform.  She was so excited to show me every single part of the school.  Earlier in the year, we signed her up for "Fresh Start- a program" where she spent three weeks getting acclimated to her new school where only the freshman attend.  She was able to learn her way around and also meet all of her classmates that chose to take advantage of such a great program!  I am so excited to see what her freshman year has in store for her.  I know she will do great things!  Have a great year Isabella!

8th Grade Photo Fun at Sunset

Kindergarten Graduation at Mary Sears

High School Orientation Day

Talk SOUP

My mother always had the craftiest sayings.  And when she DID, I would say TALK SOUP!!!!  She would get a SMILE from ear to ear, and her eyes would twinkle.  I believe sometimes you can recreate that memory without even trying.  Nostalgia?  Memory? Love?  Its ALL of the above.

For example, Isabella was at the dinner table tonight and said - "Can I have an 8th grade graduation party?" Of course, you CAN!  And then she told me what kind of party she wanted.  It was at that moment that I said - LET ME SHOW YOU YOUR KINDERGARTEN graduation photo. THEN and NOW.  She gave me that twinkle in her eye and laughed hysterically.  IF you point out the ONE similarity, everyone gets a DONUT in the MORNING.  Can you SPOT IT?  

LOVE IS HER THEME.  In her K graduation photo, grandma chug picked out her dress for her from Sams Club.  In her dinner photo, she picked out her sweatshirt from Target.  LOVE

KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION

8th GRADE

One year

I thought it would be fun to post a picture from Christmas 2021 when Jasper and Chloe were puppies and then a year later, Christmas 2022.  What a difference a year makes in dog years.  My how they have grown and melded into their personalities.....

CHRISTMAS 2022

CHRISTMAS 2021

Let's start with Jasper (a.k.a) Jazz Man, Jazz the Spaz, Big Belly Jabber:  He weighs a whopping 20.7 pounds and that is his final weight.  He loves to chase squirrels, play ball, go on walks, car rides and his favorite thing to do is BOMB you when you're in bed and give you wet willies.  He has the most energy out of all three dogs and is always playing with a toy or chewing on a bone.

Next up: Chloe (a.k.a) Coco:  She weigh 15.4 pounds.  She loves to sleep with Giselle and cuddle under the blankets.  She is very sweet, mild mannered, gentle little pup.  She bites my ankles every time I walk down the stairs.  She hates going on walks and can be considered to be "prissy." 

And then there is Lily (a.k.a) Lily Bear, Big Booty Bear, Lils:  She weighs 48.5 pounds and has officially been with us for 3 years now. She has been an exceptionally good dog with guiding Jasper and Chloe getting settled into their forever home.  It warms my heart to see all three of them get along so well and often times cuddling together.  

Milestones

We have reached a MILESTONE! This is just one of them – but it’s a big one (at least I think it is). 8th Grade Graduation! Isabella’s social (dance) and photos! This is the next step in Isabella’s journey into her teens and even closer to adulthood. She came home from school and asked me to take her dress shopping for her 8th grade social (dance) and pictures. “Mommy! We have to go now otherwise all the good dresses will be gone.” In that exact moment, I reminisced how long it used to take me to pick out a formal dress. My poor dad and sister, I really don’t know how they were so patient with me all those years we went dress shopping, the endless hours and trying on handfuls of dresses. I never knew what dress I wanted and always disliked how scratchy the material was. I wondered if I was in for a “ride” of five hours of dress shopping……..as Isabella likes to take her time and is very thoughtful. 

Before we left the house, I gave her the names of three stores that we were going to check out for formal dresses. As we drove away, she looked up all the stores online and was pleased with their selection of dresses. She showed me a picture of the dress she wanted to get. “All the girls are wearing this.” It was strapless, skin tight and just barely covered her bottom half. I looked her in the eyes and said, “Bella, think CLASSY, not TRASHY as you shop.” An hour into shopping, she tried on 3 dresses, fell in LOVE with one and we found a keeper!!! She was so sweet and precious while we were shopping, as it was her very first time shopping for a formal dress. When I was in the dressing room with her zipping up her dress, I bottled up that precious milestone moment. She looked so angelic in her beautiful new dress. Smiling from ear to ear. Thankful to receive such a beautiful dress.

Bellas Beautiful Dress she picked out.

One happy camper with a dress and shoes!

What I wore to 8th grade dance

Afterwards, we picked out shoes, earrings, and a necklace. 1.5 hours later, we were DONE! This calls for a celebration, right? We headed out to dinner together where she asked me what I wore for my 8th grade dinner dance. She laughed when I showed her the picture above. I am excited for this milestone. I am excited to see her graduate in June and also excited for her to start high school in the fall. I am also excited that she is way more confident than myself when it comes to dress shopping. You either have it or you don’t. And this beautiful young lady HAS IT.

Thanksgiving in Thailand, The Land of SMILES

I read somewhere once that "the best education you will ever get is traveling. Nothing teaches you more than exploring the world and accumulating experiences."  That we did, we traveled to Tokyo, Bangkok and then wound up in Phuket.  A TRIP OF A LIFETIME!!! I wanted to pack light and bring home souvenirs, so I visited the thrift store before I left and spent $30 on clothes to wear for the week to leave there once the vacation was over.   

I have to be honest and tell you that I didn't think we would be able to survive a 23-hour flight (the longest we have ever been on), but WE DID.  We watched several new movies, slept, ate, drank and played card games.  We stayed in bustling Bangkok for four days.  It was there that we visited Wat Arun, a striking temple that is one of Bangkoks landmarks.  We visited an interactive museum and learned about "all things thai.  The girls especially loved the museum. We hit the street markets filled with every kind of food imaginable and we tried to eat a bite of everything!  We got to visit the largest flower distributor in Bangkok, and it was oh so beautiful and fragrant!  We cruised the streets in a "tuk-tuk."

We took about an hour plane ride to Phuket from Bangkok, and it was there that we stayed for 6 days.  We had a beautiful room with our own personal pool outside and plenty of space.  In Phuket we visited more temples, walked in the jungle with several elephants and also visited the James Bond Island and Panyee floating village.

I can't tell you how REFRESHING it was to go on a cultural adventure vacation with my family.  Those all-inclusive trips to Mexico where you are herded like cattle get dull with a capital D.  I enjoyed watching the girls frolic in the water at the beach, trying new foods and learning "all things thai."  

Thailand is known as the "land of smiles" and that it is!!  Everyone SMILES at you all day; every day and they are such friendly people!  The weather was gorgeous - between 85-90 and SUNNY.  AND for a foodie like me, I was in my GLORY - eating freshly caught lobster and trying so many new foods.  It was so enjoyable, that when it came time to fly home, NONE of us wanted to leave.  Bob was joking that he was going to leave me there so I could explore more.  Reality calls and we are back home.  The puppies missed us immensely and are happy we are back.  Us girls had a hard time adjusting to time when we got home.  All three of us would wake up and stay up every day at about 2 a.m.  After 4 days of an off cycle sleeping schedule, we are back on Chicago time.  While I took well over a hundred pictures, here are some of my favorites from the trip to Thailand.  In the meantime, I will be crafting up our next family adventure.  I'm thinking Bali, Greece or maybe even the Maldives??  I am beyond blessed that Bob believes in my crazy travel ideas!

Giselle drew a picture for me, and Isabella collected seashells from the beach

A traditional longboat

At the temple, Wat Arun

James Bond, Phang NGA Bay

Thanksgiving Day 

Panyee Village, the floating Muslim village

Walking around the jungle with elephants!

The Sunday night market in Phuket

They would ride their bicycles to the beach almost every day

 

Giselle State Gymnastics Champion

We couldn't be prouder of Giselle, she worked hard this season and was the state champion at her final competition for Level 3.  Competition season runs November through April, which means she competes every weekend all over the state and it is an all-day event.  

Her perseverance, dedication and attitude amaze me.  She spends 6 months in competition, but it doesn't stop there.  During the school year, she attends school all day and then spends 3 nights at the gym from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. for a total of 16 hours per week training. We are talking about a very intense training schedule topped with lots of homework to accomplish.

As of today, I received AMAZING news from her coach!!!  She was evaluated based on how she performed last season and some of the factors taken under consideration for the placement were strength, flexibility, and mental fortitude.  On August 22, 2022, she will start training at a Level 4!!  She has moved up from Level 3!!!  Some gymnasts stay at the same level for years based on their skill set, but not Giselle!!  Keep flying HIGH little one and you are certainly working hard to move up that ladder!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Giselle State Champion for AA/Beam/Floor

Giselle's Gymnastics Group

FLY HIGH little one!!

Easter

Easter was super special this year!  Isabella made a homemade Easter cake with peeps, we colored eggs, had our traditional egg hunt in our yard, hunted for eggs at the church AND went to brunch at the Drake hotel which was absolutely delightful.

Getting ready to color eggs

Isabellas homemade PEEP cake

Easter egg hunt at the church

I FOUND the EASTER BUNNY

Giselle's eggs from her hunt

Isabellas colored eggs

Family portrait at the Drake Hotel

First Day of School

Giselle - 6th Grade

Bella - 8th grade

Do we have to take a picture together!?

Where did the summer go?  Today marked the first day of school.  

Giselle is going into 6th grade and Isabella - 8th grade!