8th Grade Retreat

With this being her last year of middle school and confirmation approaching, Lily Grace is busy with retreats and prep activities.  
We've just returned from a three day team building retreat.  Yes, I said "we."  It was the full camp experience from bunk beds to sharing a bathroom with lots of girls.  
Gracie and I were both very ready to get home to our own beds and a home cooked meal.  

Gracie was the top bunk on the right and I was the one across from her.  This was the day we arrived.  Trust me this place looked quite different on the last day.

Lily Grace conquered the ropes and tire obstacle.

Of course she made some time for reading.

She made her friend Kate a mermaid tail on the "beach."

8th Grade!

Today was the first day of 8th grade for Gracie.  It's a big year for her!  Not only is it her confirmation year, it's also her last year of middle school!  I'm still not sure how she is already in 8th grade. 
Things were a little different this year because I started school with LG.  That's right!  For the first time in 12 years, I am punching the clock.  Our school secretary is out on maternity leave.  Our principal asked if I'd fill in while she is away for the next 6 weeks so I'm serving as her interim for a few hours in the mornings.  
I think Gracie and I both found it exciting to be starting school together.  I had to buzz her in later in the morning and she was all smiles. She's still holding out for me to do the morning announcements.  ha!  I don't think so.  
Thank you Matt for working so hard.  We are so blessed that Gracie receives a Catholic education and that I have the flexibility to serve and have an extra glimpse of her day.  

First day of 8th Grade- Beautiful inside and out

As always, she will be missed during the day and not just by me.

Our first day of school

Matt didn't want to get his dress shoes wet since the sprinklers had just gone off so he came out in his flip flops.  Gracie gave him a hard time about it so he made sure it was captured for her. ha!

26 Years!

Matt and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary yesterday.  We had plans to enjoy a dinner out and just as we were about to leave, Gracie surprised us with gift cards that she and Gran bought together to treat us.  It was so very sweet and touching. 

A Day of Silver and Pink

Lily Grace entered the world of braces (with pink bands) today.  She took it like a champ, and over the next 15 months it will become routine.  

Cooking Fun & Yummy French Macarons

Over the weekend, Lily Grace and I visited Sur La Table and took a French Macaron class.  
We had so much fun!  We are looking forward to returning for several more classes.  We couldn't wait to try and make macarons on our own Sunday after mass.  
In class we made macarons filled with chocolate ganache as well as tinted macarons filled with Blackberry Swiss Meringue.  
I had so much fun making "sweet" memories with you LG!

Baking with my girl

Macarons on average cost about $3 a cookie.  LG and Matt could eat their weight in them as they have long been fans.  Gracie and I learned exactly why they cost so much.  True French Macarons are worth it!

On Sunday after mass, LG and I made pink macarons with a strawberry, cream cheese Swiss meringue buttercream and they were delightful!  

We were quite pleased with ourselves!

Aloha!

We have just returned from an amazing trip to Hawaii.  We stayed on the island of Maui and had the best time.  We have TONS of pictures and memories.  There is so much to see and do on the island.  (We even got in one activity we weren't planning on.) We certainly made the most of each day and the pictures describe it best.
We stayed at the most beautiful ocean front condo.  The views from the condo were hands down the best! 
*This is a long post and the pictures honestly don't do it justice.  Be sure to click on "older post" at the bottom of each page until you get to the end. 

Matt found this magazine in the Sky Club at LAX.  It's no secret that he is missing Montana (Big Sky) this year so we all got a good laugh from his find.

I won't lie, the trip to paradise is a long and tough one.  We left Indiana at 6:10 am to layover in Detroit and then Los Angeles arriving around 5:30 pm in Hawaii.  Hawaii is 6 hours behind us so Gracie and I kept saying that we got a do over when we got to Maui.  And boy did we feel it!

Lily Grace got the most amazing picture of the Molokini Crater flying in.  

Our home for the week.

The pool looked right out over the ocean.

The condo was beautiful and the views were amazing!  The floor to ceiling windows let in so much light and ...the view!

Short path to the beach

Balcony view below

We had every meal out here and loved listening to the waves crash and watching the sea turtles. 

We even got in some shuffle board. 

Our First Day in Maui and It's a Memorable One!

When we arrived at the condo the night before, it was dark, so we were all up at the crack of dawn our first day, excited to enjoy all Maui had to offer.  
We started with breakfast on the balcony and a walk down the beach exploring.  
After returning to the condo, we lathered on the sunscreen, gathered all our beach gear and headed down to enjoy some swimming and snorkeling. 
Maui has awesome snorkeling.  You do however have to be very careful of the rock and coral.  Remember, this an island created from a volcano.  See where this is going?  
Oh yes, you guessed it.  Someone experienced the coral up close and way too personally.  Matt and Lily Grace headed out and captured a few pics with fish and coral and had been out not quite an hour when Lily Grace comes in from the water and Matt is following her.  Once she reaches me, I see it..her very cut knee.  I get her up to the condo and Matt stays back to gather everything knowing that we are likely on our way to get stitches.  Sure enough, we got to experience healthcare in Maui.  We headed down the street to the West Maui Urgent Care where Lily Grace got her first stitches.  She was also informed that she couldn't get her knee wet for 14 days.  Yep!  A family vacation on an island surrounded by water and pools and she can't get in.  Her spirits were a bit dampened, but she took it like a champ and we carried on having a blast and laughing and giving her a hard time along the way. It has actually made for the funniest memory.  

Our first morning in Maui and we woke to this beautiful sunrise.

First walk on the beach after breakfast

The coral signs are everywhere and you even have to wear water shoes in the water to protect the coral and yourself.  Shoes however, don't protect your knees when a wave pushes you on it in the shallow spots. This we would soon learn.

All packed up and excited to hit the beach for the first time.

They got in just under an hour in the water snorkeling and taking underwater pics before she cut her knee.  This was the only time she was able to get fully in the water. 

Coral Reef meets LG's knee and we meet the doctor.

The staff and doctor were wonderful here!  

She ended up getting stitches to close the cut since it was so deep and has to keep them until July 3. 

After a trip to the doctor Hawaiian shaved ice was definitely in order and the best is at Ululanis.

We also enjoyed a trip to the Fish Market every night of our stay.  I hate seafood, but I have to say even I ate the fresh Mahi Mahi every night.  LG enjoyed fresh crab cakes and shrimp and Matt enjoyed Moon fish and Mahi. 

Sunset