high school graduation

Life has been lovely lately. And I just want to write all about our North Carolina Vacation. But at the same time I don't want things to get out of order. So I'm going to try to tackle the month of June.

Saturday June 2 was my open house. We spent the day before and the morning of getting everything set out and ready. It was fun to decorate with the food, art pieces I have created, my senior years, scrapbooks on tables, senior poster boards from soccer and gymnastics, and SLU stuff.

It was from 1-4 at my mom's house. I stood by the front door welcoming people as they walked in, giving me a chance to make sure I was able to talk and greet everyone (even though I didn't get to talk to anyone for as long as I liked). I was so happy to see so many dear people from my life show up. It meant so much to me and was fun to see everyone. But by the time it was over I was so relieved. I can only stand and talk and smile continuously for so long, no matter how happy and thankful I was!

However I didn't get much of a rest. The celebrating continued. I quickly packed up to spend the entire week at my dad's house and drove Maria over there. Our cousins Seth and Brody were anxiously awaiting our arrival as were my Aunt Helen, Aunt Elaine, and Dad. We played all night and had cake and homemade ice cream (yummmmy!) to celebrate Maria's birthday and my graduation.

Sunday morning we got up and went to church and said goodbye to my cousins and Aunt Helen. Than that afternoon we got ready and went to the high school for the graduation ceremony.

It was so crazy that it was actually occurring. I was officially done with high school. The past four years have been full of great people and important decisions and memories shaping who I am today. I can honestly say that nothing would be the same had I not been a CHS graduate. I love my school and being able to be so involved with many different groups of friends, with teachers, clubs and organizations, and sports teams. I was happy in my silky blue gown, many chords and tassels, and my new black classy heels that I hoped to not trip or slip out of them (I didn't!).

After the ceremony there was chaos, but eventually I was reunited with my family. I am so thankful they were all there and for all of the help and love and support and encouragement they have provided that helped me achieve what they were all there to celebrate with me.

I didn't stay at home long after we returned to my dad's. I got ready and went for another round of friends' open houses with Hilary and Colby. Then that night the three of us plus Josue and a few other friends went camping at Colby's dad's shop. It felt good to finally lay down and get some rest. And also to laugh and laugh with my friends.

After helping put up the tent in the morning, Josue and I went to my mom's house where I made chocolate pancakes for breakfast. Just the fix after spending the night sleeping on the ground in the tent.

Finished with May [finally!!!]

Sunday May 27 my dad, Josue, Maria, Emma, and I went on a canoing adventure after church. Josue and I had our own canoe. We had a lot of close calls almost running into people tubing and got passed by Maria and Emma. But it was fun to canoe and talk with him and be in the sun. After we finished we stopped for ice cream before heading home.

Monday May 28 Maria and I went to Lafayette with Hilary and Colby which was funny. We went to Plato’s closet, the mall for lunch, Hobby Lobby, and the shoe carnival. We got tye dye supplies and I bought heels for graduation! Then Hilary, Colby and I went back to Colby’s house to tye dye. I had never used spray dye before and after a second attempt it ended up turning out pretty well!

Tuesday May 29 Hilary, Colby, and I got together for another round of tie dye and also watched Colby amaze us with his spray painting picture making.

I also (finally broke down and went to Fantastic Sam’s) and got my hair trimmed. Yay!

Tuesday night Hannah, Clancy, Kayla, Marlee, and I all spent the night at Hollie’s house. We had a campfire and went on a drive with lots of Chinese fire drills and a polarpop run. We slept in the tent and had Letter’s to Juliet projected on the side wall with Marlee’s projector. Even if it wasn’t top quality from using the tent as a backdrop, it was super cool to lay down and watch it in the tent! Also I got just so excited when the picture of the kiss was on the screen (I don't know the name. But its of two identified people. black and white. 1930s? super cute. sailor and his girl reunited.) I love the picture and have it in my bedroom

Wednesday May 30 we stayed at Hollie’s and swam in under the warm sunshine for a while. Then I left for my first day of summer babysitting for Jensen! I was so excited to hang out and play with him all afternoon!

Thursday May 31 was Maria’s birthday! Wooo hooo! We celebrated by all going out to the Country Club for a yummy dinner. Then we went to my grandparents' house and got to share Maria's birthday present from Michael and I- DC cupcakes!

More May Days

Saturday May 19 I woke up early to go with my mom to yoga. She usually goes weekly, and I love to tag along every chance I get. When we got there, we ended up being the only ones to show up! It was so peaceful and felt so good on my body. I love Diane the instructor and the way she pushes you and helps you stretch and the way she calmly talks and soothes your mind-reminded you to always breathe. Then at the end we lay on our mats and close our eyes while Diane covers us with blankets and a lavender eye patch. It is so good and so relaxing for my entire self, body, and mind.

When we got home there was a surprise at our house. Maggie had a friend! A little stray dog was just hanging out with Maggie. It was so funny to see the small guy follow her around. She would run and chase the soccer ball and he would try to keep up the pace chasing after Maggie. I really just wanted to keep him. But couldn’t because he had a collar and belonged to someone. However, a few hours later he had left our house and we saw the animal shelter van picking him up down the street. I was pretty upset by this and wished we just would have kept the little guy.

Josue came over and helped Dan paint the shed. It looks much better with a new coat of paint. But as they were working my Grandpa came over. We thought he was coming to help out, which he ended up doing. He loves to paint and is very good at it- he couldn’t stay away. He taught me to paint when I lived with them. We painted a bookstand and my Grandma’s old chair from the well baby clinic. But anyways. My grandpa also came over to deliver some sad news. Our good friend Mae Pinkstaff had passed away that morning. She was 97 years old! Before recently moving to a nursing home she lived in my grandparents neighborhood. We used to always walk up the hill and go visit her. All of my family (grandparents, mom, siblings, aunts, cousins) loved to listen to her stories and eat Hershey kisses she always shared with us. While it is sad that she has passed away, the last time I had recently visited broke my heart more than hearing this news. She was not her self and was very confused and upset thinking there was poison all over the place that needed cleaned up and asking where her husband (who died before I remember) was because she hadn’t seen him that day. I am happy and relieved to know she is no longer in that condition. But she is and will continue to be missed by many. An incredible woman with a big heart.

Tuesday May 22 we had our very last health careers breakfast. I made and brought a yummy fruit pizza. I have loved breakfast days in this class-everyone brings really good food. The class was one of my favorites ever. I loved the people and the content and the teacher and the set up (it shared a building with the st. Claire neighborhood clinic and was composed of students from 3 different high schools) and I loved clinicals a lot and also volunteering at the developmental preschool.

Wednesday May 23 I had period 6 and 7 finals. For me this meant turning in an economics paper then playing (but mostly watching from the playing field) ultimate Frisbee. Then working on the yearbook and eating an ice cream cake from DQ.

Thursday May 24 was a good day. I showed up in a vneck and Nike drifits (we aren’t allowed to wear shorts to school) and so did Hannah! I was happy our minds were thinking alike and feeling a little on the rebellious edge. I went to health careers in the morning where we played minute to win it games and watching youtube videos. When class ended Clancy and I wasted no time leaving for Lafayette. We went to Plato’s Closet and both bought some dresses then took a quick stop at the mall to Auntie Ann’s Pretzels for lunch and to look for graduation shoes.

Friday May 25 was my very last day of high school. Ever. I got there earlier than I ever had before for breakfast with my English honors class. Not nearly as good as a health careers breakfast-but that’s okay. Then we took turns presenting our senior projects. The assignment was basically just do something that interests you/learn something new/challenge yourself that you can show or explain to the class. It was cool to see all of the different things people ended up doing like a spray paint picture, learning to alter clothes, learning poker, making paper and then a book, a painting, and a presentation about one of the victims from the Columbine shooting. I did a pencil drawing that I was really proud of. I took a picture and doubled it by drawing one inch squares on the pictures and two inch squares on my paper. Then I did the picture square by square. This helped the accuracy so that I drew lines and shading rather than a tree or a house. I had never drawn a picture of myself and I really struggled with the face. But that’s okay. I also had my 4^th and 5^th period finals which were my student assistant period spent working on the yearbook and my sociology final which was opinionated essays about the societies each group had previously created and presented.

Both Friday and Saturday nights were spent attending various friends’ open houses with Hilary and Colby. I was really happy to go with them, because it is awkward just going alone. But mostly because Hilary and I don’t like to stay long or talk to lots of people. But we do like to look at all the pictures and eat food. It worked out really well. I like dressing nice and seeing all of my friends at their own open house and all of their accomplishments and memorabilia and whateves.