Sixth Grade Dance Festival and Graduation

Time is going so incredibly fast with these little ones.  One more chapter in our lives is coming to a close.  While I love watching them grow and turn into what they're supposed to be, I will miss the stages that come along the path of growing up.  With Brooke being our youngest, I know to savor each of these moments and enjoy every last drop.  I'm grateful that she is so wonderful to let me share in each of these experiences with her.

 The whole school puts on a dance festival the last week of school.  They have practiced for weeks ahead of time.  Parents from every grade show up and park streets away and put chairs out early for a good seat.  It's a tradition we've done with each of our kids.

 It was funny watching Brooke practice this move at home!

 This was the first year they did an actual 6th grade graduation.  I love this look on her face!

 These cute girls sang the Eaglecrest school song.

 Seven years of accomplishment went into that handshake!

 Cute friends that graduated with her.

 Brooke loved Mr. Young.  We had requested another teacher and she was heart broken when her request didn't go through.  We didn't know anything about Mr. Young and weren't sure what to expect.  Several of her friends that got him transferred out of his class before the year started.  I felt very strongly that this had happened for a reason, and through her tears I asked  her to go to his class for a week, and if it didn't work out, I would transfer her.  I told her he may have something to teach her that none of the other teachers could and there was a reason she was assigned to his class.  It was one of Brooke's best years ever.  Mr. Young truly loved the kids and I watched Brooke's self-esteem grow as she felt loved and learned so many things from him.  All year long I heard, "Mr. Young taught us this and Mr. Young taught us that..."  Even though he was working on his master's, building a new home, and he and his wife were having twins, he managed to be an amazing teacher.  I am so grateful for good teachers for my kids.  

 We're so proud of her!  Congratulations Brooke!

Brookie is 12!!!!

Brooke turned twelve this year.  She's now in Young Women's, is going to junior high, wearing contacts, and so many grown up things!  She's even going to girl's camp in a couple of weeks.  I can't believe I won't have anymore elementary schoolers.  

Brooke is a  joy and so easy for everyone to get along with.  She is a peacemaker in our home and we love her so much!

 The traditional bite out of the cake got a little "out of control" this year, thanks to her dad!

One More Day In Venice

Venice was so beautiful.  We had all day to sight see and enjoy our surroundings.

Life on the Grand Canal...

We saw several cathedrals, enjoyed the sights and just strolled and took lots of pictures.

Life on the Venice streets...

We had to be up by 3:30am to catch the water taxi to the airport by 4:00am. (apparently, I can't take a clear picture that early in the morning)

   It was crazy windy and rainy.  The shutters on our 200 year old hotel whipped all night.  We ran through the cobblestone streets to the taxi cubicles with our umbrellas folding inside and out and hoped the taxi would show.  It did.

It was a magical trip.

So long Venice!

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik, Croatia was the most beautiful port of all.  We went into Old Town which is surrounded by a giant marble wall 3-19 feet thick.  The streets are marble-paved squares.  The houses are tall and there are churches, palaces, fountains, and museums all cut from light colored stone.  The water was azure and clear, pristine and beautiful.  We walked the steep stone steps to the top of the wall and walked the perimeter of the city, looking down among the red-tiled buildings and crystal blue waters below.  We had pizza and gelato.   We acted silly and took lots of pictures!