finito completo

Done.

Three albums.

Two hundred and seventy eight pages.

Kindergarden through twelfth grade.

A whole lot of memories.

A whole lot of pictures.
First days of school.

Last days of school.

Field trips, field days, teachers, friends, awards, handwriting, notes, sports, dance, milestones, accomplishments and smiles.
All there. All documented. A life of school days.
My gift to her, as I did for the boy when he graduated from high school four years ago, and one I will do for the younger girl next year.

Because, as a Mom who was fortunate enough to be there for all those accomplishments and memories, it is an honor to give it all back for them to have forever. Hopefully, when their kids someday ask them... what did you do when you were in fourth grade? They can pull out an album and show them.

I officially started in February and finished this week. I could have started when she was actually in kindergarden, but then I would have missed out on all the days of reminiscing I have done these last few months. And, I probably would not have had teary eyes if I had done it as it was happening. You can bet I have reminisced and had teary eyes. Lots of them.

This is what I have been doing to prepare for the big graduation. There are a few bits and pieces that will need tweaking at some point. But for now, the albums are done. The mess is being cleaned up and I will look forward to it again next spring.

Ahhhhh.

the graduates

The sister.

The brother.
She graduated from high school. He graduated from college. It was requested that I show them both in their cap and gown attire. It was a pretty big week around here. Okay, four years for each of them is a long time, but for us...we say it went by pretty fast. Not to mention all those years before that. As I said, we think it went by pretty fast.

Because for us...

...this just doesn't seem that long ago.

Ummm...yep they were cute!

another shiny tassel turned

Last night, another proud moment for this dad and mom. The second tassel was turned, marking the end of high school for the oldest daughter.She had the biggest smile.
And so did we.

In our hearts and on our faces.

Two graduations in less than one week. How much can our hearts smile?

As much as they want to.

Way to go Rachel... now we can't wait to see how the next chapter in your book reads. We know you will write it well...because you are you and you have the ability and the skills to keep making us proud! Shine on girl.

Shine on.

turning the tassel

We had a very proud moment last friday.

The college boy walked the stage and turned his tassel from the left side to the right side, making him a graduate of the 2011 class. Turning to a new chapter in his book of life. We hope it will be a good chapter. The rest so far have been worthy of a best seller so we can't wait to see how the next one turns out. We will be anxiously waiting to turn the pages!
And we couldn't be prouder.

As we boarded the plane I couldn't help but think about all those chapters. It was all I could do to not get all sappy and become that tearful mother that I'm pretty good at being. So, I just closed my eyes and took a much needed nap.

When I woke up I was told to look out the window.
There at the end of the wing, above all the clouds... was the moon.

And then a little while later...

Sunset alert!

A perfect ending.