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.