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Both kids lasted one day in swim team. “We will do anything else! Please!”

Speed training it is. And my rule is, “get yourself there and home.” Bike, walk, run…I don’t care but figure it out on your own.

Happy to report, they are much happier running sprints and doing burpees than in the slowest lane in the pool.

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One of his many happy places.

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This kid summers hard.

Speed training, to golf, to tennis, to basketball.

And then also needing to get in his 100 miles for XC season.

Side note - why are there so many dang pillows (with tags on!) on our couches??

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Took home first place this past (very long) weekend. By the championship game on a Sunday night, almost 3 hours away from home when we all have to work the next day, parents don’t even care if we win or lose as long as it’s quick. 16 hours in a gym with 14 courts and nonstop whistles can drive a person crazy. But alas, they left champs and all is well.

Please note her coach’s complexion. Never seen anyone to abuse a tanning bed more than her.

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Travel hoops photo session. And yes, of course Ben has the best shoes on the team.

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Awards ceremony. 4.0 students. Making it look easy, Benny boy.

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Last day vibes for Ben.

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These girls! These girls I adore!

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These girls had a good run. And some of these friendships will go on and some will not move past that brick wall that they keep hitting over and over. Grateful for it all and the fun she’s had with them.

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This day was wild. We had girls in tears. Girls saying, “you didn’t tell us that you were hanging out without us!” “It’s our last day and you two ruined it!”

Yuppppppp Abby and Ava just wanted to get ready at our house and two of these girls didn’t think that was ok. “You are leaving us out!” Mean controlling texts were received. “We don’t have to clear our schedule with you” texts were sent. It was 4 hours of back and forth texts.

And then, “let’s be friends and go out to dinner and do a photo shoot!”

Abby and Ava are people pleasers so they smiled through all of this even though they had been yelled at minutes earlier.

I cannot wait until Abby learns to stick up for herself! Someday…someday.

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The fam!

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Graduation night. We thought it would be filled with tears but sometimes kids (and their parents) are just ready to move on.

This was dress number 16 that was ordered. Six. Teen. I think we got it right because it 1) wasn’t from Alter’d State like every other girl in the class and 2) was not in a cheap fabric that doesn’t age well. Abby swears that fabric thing isn’t important but I disagree given that I still have my 8th grade silk dress from Laura Ashley in pristine condition!

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This group is (I think) fractured beyond repair. They might look happy in this picture but I can assure you, it was not so.

That happens. Life happens. And that’s most definitely for the best sometimes.

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While most people were taking really lovely, meaningful pictures, they went with this.

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The final drop off. The morning of the 8th grade graduation breakfast.

Drove away with big tears in my eyes but a really happy heart knowing she has squeezed most everything out of her 4 short years there.

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All the cousins, including a very burnt Kacks.