Brooke's High School Graduation

I can't possibly be old enough to have my 2nd child graduating from high school!  Brooke has always seemed more mature than most kids her age and that has really shown this past year.  She's tolerated High School for the most part but also had some great teachers and classes her senior year.  She said she barely wanted to go to graduation herself.

Brooke was a good sport to get up early on her graduation day
so I could take pictures of her with her little sister

and with Jared and Kamryn

and her little brother
(Taylor had already left for his last day of school)

what cute kids - all 3 of them!

It was a sunny but very windy day

Before the actual graduation ceremony we went to brunch at Mimi's Cafe
with her grandparents

Granddad, Brooke, Grandma and Grandpa

Brooke with her parents at the E Center
where Brighton holds graduation

Brooke with her best friend, Annee

We happened to sit on the same side as Brooke but almost the same row so we couldn't really see her
I texted her to look to her right, back and up and this is the picture I got

Brooke with her diploma,
smiling because she's a free girl
for a few months, anyway

Spring Recital

Kamryn's been doing really well in her dance lessons this year and has seemed to enjoy it and progress too.

Every year there is a big spring recital with all of the classes in the studio - which is about 17 classes.  Each class does 2 dances so its a pretty long recital but always very good.

Kamryn's first dance was to "Here I Am" from the movie Spirit

Every year there is a theme to the recital.
This year it was "Leapin Locations" and all the songs talked about a place, city or location

Kamryn in her 2nd dance costume which was to a song from the movie RIO

Field Trip to the Zoo

I was lucky to be able to go with Jared and Kamryn to the zoo on a field trip on the first day of June.  We had perfect weather and were able to be there for the grand opening of the new part of the zoo, Rocky Shores (of course that meant it was super crowded but it didn't really bother the kids).  We had a good time going around seeing the animals and having our picnic lunch.  Our group of kids had as much fun posing on the animal statues as seeing the actual animals.

Reinacting when they saw the tigers walk by

enjoying a cool treat in the shade by the polar bear

Finishing First Grade

These are some pictures from Jared and Kamryn's 1st grade class.  These were all taken on their last Friday in school, which happened to be the day they were taking a field trip to the zoo.  They had such a great 1st grade class with really cool kids and an AMAZING teacher!

This photo was on the last day of school - Their teacher had them all go around and say what they liked best about first grade and what their plans were for the summer.  I wish I would've taken notes so I could remember some of the funny stuff that they said.  Jared said he liked learning about animals, bats especially.  Kamryn said she remembered when their teacher left a cup on her chair and then forgot it was there and then sat on it.

Jared and Kamryn's awesome 1st grade class

Kamryn's 7th Birthday

Kamryn's birthday party was in the afternoon in our backyard, thank goodness for beautiful spring weather.  She also had a party put on by Little Dress Up Parties.  Her party was a fashion queen party complete with a fashion adviser all the way from Paris.  I loved watching all the girls having fun with all the great dress ups.  They created their own outfits and modeled them and then did makeup and had another fashion show in evening wear.  The girls were a little shy at first but got into it after a few trips down the runway. The biggest surprise of all was Kamryn, who can be pretty shy - she really had fun modeling and knew how to strike a pose and strut her stuff on the runway.  Man was her Dad rolling his eyes during all of it.

Kamryn with her Granddad

The fashion adviser explaining to the girls about putting together their fashion outfits

Kamryn with her self designed outfit

what a cute little model

after designing their outfits they practiced walking on the runway

Kamryn with her friend from school, Olivia

Kamryn showing off her evening gown

now she's added some accessories

The fashion adviser explaining about adding accessories and makeup - every little girl's dream

Kamryn checking her makeup

Now she's ready for the runway

beautiful fashionistas

cute cousins

Kamryn on the runway in her outfit of choice

Being crowned fashion queen

she's quite the fashion queen

all the divas

check out those beauties

Kamryn with her fashion adviser

getting ready for treats

my grown up birthday girl

modeling their birthday hats that came off the pinata

The fashion adviser also stressed to the girls that beauty comes from within and the most important part of any outfit is their smile.  Glad she added that very important lesson.