Michael's 8th Grade Graduation

Well, I just can't believe it, but I am officially the mother of a High Schooler! WHERE on earth has the time gone? I was always told HOW fast time flies (And I BELIEVED them!) but nobody prepared me just HOW fast!

Michael just graduated from a fabulous school and is heading to another fabulous school. We are so blessed to have such amazing teachers, principals and parents surrounding us. 

Billinghurst is "Home to Academic Teaming" where the kids are randomly grouped with kids for the two years they are there. Their science, social studies and English teachers head each of the four teams. They do everything with these 90-100 kids. Baseball games together, other field trips, weekly team building exercises as well as sitting together at pep ralleys etc. Kids you wouldn't necessarily have hung out with before become some of your best friends in the process. 

We started out the night with cake, conversation and an amazing video with pictures from the last two years with Michael's team, "EPIC", then off to awards and graduation. 

Great friends!

 These two have known each other since babies! (In Susanville!)

 

Handsome young man and proud mom!

 Great friends!

 

Getting his "diploma" 

 Getting ready for their final performance as students at Billinghurst. (Videos at the bottom)

 

Great job Michael!!!!!

 

 

 

Last two songs as Billinghurst students. (Youtube did something weird to the videos, so bear with me.)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbObKBO-c60

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GNfH0_TPPs

Glasses!

Well within a week's time 3 kids (Michael and Jared one day and Cai Lynn a week later) we had three annual "well-child" visits to the Pediatrician. On Wednesday, failed his eye exam so off to the eye doctor we went before heading back to school. Yep! Glasses #1... (Jared scored better than perfect so back to school he went.) I thought for sure we were in the clear when I took Cai Lynn in for her exam the next week. She almost never complains about headaches, (I think I can count on one hand for total in her lifetime.) and she has never said anything about not being able to see anything. Apparently that doesn't matter! As the eye doctor said, "They both have little 'tricks' they use, I'm sure they don't even realize it."

Here is Michael sporting his new glasses. 

 I didn't even think of getting pictures of Michael in the optometrist's office, but I did with Cai Lynn... (I was a pro a week later! :-)  )

 

 3 days later... Here she is!

It was quite a nudge to my pocket-book, 2 sets of exams and 2 sets of glasses within 7 days, but of course, they're worth it!!!!!

It was so funny on the way home after each of them returning home with their new glasses, all of the things they were noticing that they had no idea they were missing. Each pebble, street signs were no longer fuzzy, the leaves on the trees each had their own shape, the list goes on. 

SO glad it only took 2 days to get Michael's in and 3 for Cai Lynn. (She has different vision in each eye so hers took longer.)

*Side note... thanks to a brother that has a powerful kick with a soccer ball on Memorial Day, Cai Lynn's glasses had to be replaced after two days! Yep! Two days! (Thank goodness they have a one-time replacement warranty attached!) Jared swears she was supposed to catch it! LOL

Alice in Wonderland

Since January Cai Lynn and Jared have been practicing for their "Alice in Wonderland" play. It was SOO cute! At their school 3rd-6th graders have the opportunity to try out and be in the school play. This year the play was "Alice in Wonderland". Cai Lynn's first year and Jared's 3rd year.

 

 

A few friends before it gets started.

 The opening scenes

 Hiding from the Queen of Hearts

 The crochet game

 

Afterwards with friends

 Great job kids!!!!!

Last Billinghurst Choir Concert....

The last Choir concert of the year.... Of Michael's time at Billinghurst. He's off to McQueen next year. HIGH SCHOOL! How did that happen? Where did the time go? 

 

I snuck into the choir room to take a couple of pictures...

This year the final program was based on Broadway plays. Annie, Les Miserables, Wicked and a Jazz program they performed at UNR at the regionals.

 

 Sorry about the lighting... these were taken with my phone. (Of COURSE my battery died and of COURSE I didn't bring my bag, just the camera itself.)

 

The 8th graders' "Swan Song"... *Tear*

Awards.... And a presentation to the choir director. She has been with them from the beginning. (The teacher at Elementary school they are/were in and her are great friends, so she has known Michael since he was in the 3rd grade.)

 

Great Friends are hard to come by! Michael has some GREAT ones!!!!

 Onto McQueen's Choir!