8th Grade Promotion

It's official:  We have a "high schooler"!

 The ceremony was lovely, but the best part was the jazz band performed so we got to see her play with them one last time!

 Shaking Principal Heckman's hand after she received her certificate.

This year she received awards for :

Most Outstanding Geometry Student

Most Outstanding US History Student

Most Outstanding Spanish Student

Best Female in Jazz Band

And nominee for the Daughters of the American Revolution Award.

 

 Callista chose to attend her last day of school, but Ryan did not hesitate at all to miss his last day to support his sister.

 

I would like to point out that she is NOT as tall as me, she's just standing on the bleacher in front of me.

 Starting this year out, we would have never guessed it would turn out so well.  From tears of sadness and stress on the first day of school to joyous smiles on the last day of school.  She's made some awesome friends that although they won't be attending the same high school, hopefully they will keep in touch.

On to:

The High School for the Visual and Performing Arts

5th Grade Promotion

Today was Ryan's 5th Grade promotion ceremony.  I had to include a picture of the stage because Ryan helped make the backdrop for it.  He was on the "Promotion Action Team" which helped plan the ceremony and scenery. The theme was "Big Lights, Big City, Global Thinkers and Leaders".

 Here is Ryan getting his name read off by Mrs. Dana Klusener.  He received awards for Straight A's all year, 2nd Highest AR Reader in the school, Math Achievement, Reading Achievement, and the Band Award.

 We couldn't have made it through this school year without this amazing teacher Mrs. Klusener...she always had his back, whether it was through an intruder drill, or a thunder storm, she made sure that not only was Ryan safe, but more importantly....that he felt safe! 

 Mrs. Maury Bryant was the other key player for Ryan this year teaching Math and Science.  She made sure he became a class participant when he would have rather sat back and quietly observed.

 Mr. Gonzales has been his band teacher.  He utilized his talent in every way possible.  The last concert I attended he started on mallets, then switched to his trumpet, then walked over to the piano, and ended the set with another mallet piece.

 It's been a challenging year, but also a year of growth that couldn't have happened without being in this exact setting.

Good luck in Middle School!  We are so proud of you!

Dance Recital 2016

Ah!  Dance Recital time.  It's a week of dress rehearsals, pinning, tucking, a few tears of stress, some long nights.......but totally worth it in the end.  Callista danced in 3 dances.  Since they discourage you from taking photos back stage (I still snuck in a few), here are pictures of the girls' costumes just from home.

This is Callista's Jazz "Boogie Oogie" costume.

 Here she is backstage with her awesome friend Alexandra.

 Her tap dance was to a pirates themed song from Peter Pan.

 And isn't she the cutest maid ever!  For ballet, she danced to the piece "Be Our Guest" from Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

Chloe was actually in 4 different dances, but we are missing a picture from one of her dances.
Chloe's beautiful ballet number was entitled "Gypsies".

 This was the costume she wore as the "helper teacher" for a younger group of students.  She was front and center to all the younger dancers so they would have someone to follow.  It was to the song "Rhythm Nation" by Janet Jackson.

 And her favorite....."Get Up Off That Thing" was the finale of the whole show.  It was her tap piece and she was featured quite a bit in it.  She even got to stand on top of a box and tap for a bit.  She wants to make sure everyone knows that she is wearing a leotard under the purple.

 Two of her Young Women leaders from church came to watch her

Bailee Hunt, and Shelly Thompson.  They are both such awesome examples in her life.

 It was a beautiful day watching our beautiful girls dance.  We couldn't be more pleased with how hard you've both worked this year.

Austin

Paul's been training hard to do the "Spartan Race Super". It was over 9 miles with over 30 obstacles along the way.  He did awesome, as usual.

 

 

 

 Chloe and I were the camera people because.....

 Callista and Ryan ran the kids spartan race!

 

The medals looked awesome amidst all the wildflowers growing on

Reveille Peak Ranch.

 It was a great way to spend a beautiful Spring Morning!

Then for the afternoon we drove about an hour to Barton Springs.

 

It was a fabulous day, in a fabulous city, with our fabulous family

Katherine's 41

My birthday started out dark and early with our phones buzzing that there was a flash flood watch beginning at 4:45 am and lasting through the next 24 hours.  Then about an hour later at 5:45 I was awakened by my phone ringing....it was HISD cancelling school due to flooding.  I mean, how thoughtful of them to cancel school just so I could spend my birthday with my kiddos!

 

 I opened Ryan's present early so I could wear my new work out clothes while I made the kids do a work out video with me.

 

 We watched a few movies, played a few games, and by late afternoon the rain had stopped.  We found an Olive Garden that was open on our side of the Bayou, since it was flooded at many points.

 

 Time for presents!

 This started out as a sweet hug and ended up a dogpile.

 Paul bought me this chocolate cheese cake at the youth dessert auction from our church.  It was delicious, helped out our youth group, and the pressure was off him to bake something...win, win!

 It was a perfect birthday and it got even better when they announced on the news that school would be cancelled the next day also...YAY!!!!