High School Open House

Tonight Gracie and I visited the Bishop Dwenger Open House.  It's a chance for 8th graders and their parents to tour the school, learn about all the clubs and what the school has to offer.  
Lily Grace and I had a lot of fun completing the school treasure hunt we received on arrival and hearing about all the clubs.   
There are so many opportunities for Gracie and she is looking forward to high school.  I can't wait to see all that does.

LG and I enjoyed dinner out before going to the open house.  While waiting on our food, we had fun with the new (addictive) filter/video app Gracie recently got. 

We ran into friends from our middle school in one of the physics labs and had fun trying out the static electricity ball.  Needless to say, Gracie grabbed on and tried to transfer the fun to me by touching me.  And the chain reaction began as they tried to shock one another.

Oh the little things in life- Lily is so excited about getting a full length locker in high school vs the half locker she's had all through middle school. 

Part of the scavenger hunt involved selfies with different objects.  Here she was directed to take a selfie with an equation in one of the math rooms.  She went to geometry and yes, she could solve it.  She's actually taking 9th grade Algebra this year in order to skip to geometry her freshman year.  She loves math. 

On our hunt we ran into Tuffy, the Bishop Dwenger mascot.   Now you may be wondering about the eye patch and the black eye?  A lot of people including my own family have wondered about that black eye.  The eye patch is an easy one, tonight was a themed "Treasure Hunt" throughout the school.  Now, about that infamous black eye.  We are all sinners, even saints.  We often get knocked down by life and we all need help getting back up.  It's through the mercy of God that we are forgiven.  Through His mercy and forgiveness, we are able to get up again.  Life is hard and we need God and prayer to stay "tuff."  

Of course, she was very interested to see the library.  While it didn't quite live up to her expectations, to be honest, as much as this girl love to read, I don't know that she could ever be satisfied. 

The chapel is absolutely beautiful and I am so grateful that Christ is a part of her school life.

One of the clubs she talked with was, table tennis.  We have a table in our basement and she is pretty good.  She took on the representative and is thinking it could be pretty fun.

Shadowing High School

I can't believe that I dropped Lily Grace off to shadow a freshman for the day at the catholic HIGH SCHOOL we have decided on.  
She was excited and looking most forward to visiting Honors Math class.  She's also eating her FIRST, yep her first EVER school lunch.  I've always packed her lunch and it was strangely odd to send her to school without one.  She wanted to just blend in this first time so she insisted on buying.  She laughed if off and reminded me that one day of processed food wouldn't kill her.  ha!  

Of course I wasn't leaving without a pic of her first High School experience.  And of course she wasn't as into it as I was. 😁😁
We were barely even out of the parking lot.  I did manage to leave without any tears.  Now, come the first real day of high school next August.... I see a full blown ugly cry in my future.

  Here she comes...waiting in the office I was able to catch her walking in with the Amy, the sweet freshman she spent the day shadowing.  According to Gracie she really enjoyed the day and some of the perks that come with being in high school.  Oh! Her first school lunch was chicken strips, macaroni and slaw.  She says it wasn't bad.  I have certainly enjoyed hearing all about everything she experienced today.  

Slicing and Dicing

Lily Grace and I took a little "field trip" today.  Yes, we missed school to get a lesson in knives.  We visited Sur La Table for another cooking class.  This time we took the two hour knives class and learned all about cutting, chopping etc..  
As always, we had a lot of fun, learned a lot and can't wait to take another class.  

My Last Day of School

Today was my last day to help out in the school office.  I've really enjoyed getting to share in this with Lily Grace and  getting a glimpse into her day.  
This seven weeks has flown by and while I only helped out 3 hours each morning, I'm looking forward to getting back to my routine as a stay at home mom.  It truly is the best job I have ever had, or will have.  It is my blessing!  
God bless all working moms!  What you all do is so admirable and I have so much respect for you.
Thank you so much to everyone at the school. You have all been so kind!  Thank you for the delicious luncheon, gifts, kind words and thoughtful send off.  
Sarah, I enjoyed chatting with you when we traded off at 10:30.  You were a delight to "job share" with.

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.