Arielle's Graduation

Homeschoolers  are naturally a bit independent, opinionated, sure of  convictions and tend to think outside the box. It's only natural this tendency would spill over to graduation plans.

The 6th Graduate from Meadow Creek Academy of Excellence

We've enjoyed the gamut of Graduation Celebrations over the years. Bre (1st) had a full up "normal" graduation with a co-op in Eagle River, AK. Remembering her singing "Everything to Me" by Avalon at that graduation can still move this mommy heart to tears.  This graduation had very little "unique" points or parent involvement; but it was big and well-run.  Krista (2nd) opted not to join with the co-op for graduation. Instead we had a celebration in a community center. Friends and family gathered, we had dinner, a diploma, cap and gown, speeches, worship and it was great fun. Krista encouraged us when she shared her learning disability and how the family had helped her conquer. Josiah (3rd) graduated with a the local co-op in San Angelo, TX. It was also a "normal" graduation - with slide shows, displays, parents giving diplomas and speeches - etc. The highlight of THIS graduation occurred the night before - the girls showed up at the rehearsal and all of us were able to be together to celebrate. Jamin (4th) also graduated in San Angelo, with the local co-op. Another wonderful experience. We left San Angelo days after graduation and headed for Japan.  Jared (5th) didn't want a party or a ceremony. He joined with the kids from Edgren High School in Misawa for the baccalaureate hosted annually at the chapel. I remember Michael encouraging the kids at that event that everyone will talk about success during this season - but the key to success is how you handle failure - and we'll all have a bit in our life.  His "ceremony" was at Hirosaki castle. He walked across a favorite bridge in cap and gown and flipped the tassel as he stepped off the bridge....and had his photo taken with lots of Japanese students and tourists.  While this wasn't the "typical" graduation - it fit Jared. We've told the kids they can have what they want. And now we're ready to graduate our 6th - Arielle. Yes, that is ODD. We are beginning to face the fact that we will not always have little kids in our nest.

Our local co-op has a rule  you must be a member for two years to graduate with them. We've only lived in CA about 1.5 years. We were told there are no military exceptions....I am quite sure I could have pushed but really Arielle decided she didn't want to force her way in. We planed a simple ceremony, dinner, slide show etc at the chapel with friends and chapel family. About two weeks ago she asked if she could change her mind. It is HER graduation. She wanted to have a simple dinner with family in TX.  Today was THE DAY. Upon further investigation we discovered she wanted to go to Dairy Queen and have a Reese's Blizzard - that's IT. Um.....we all went to dinner anyway. The photo is truly terrible; so I won't share it.

After dinner we met up with the Armstrong family (who are family friends - Deja is a sister friend so they made Arielle's cut). We took over Dairy Queen.  It was unique - fun - casual and perfectly fits Arielle. I worried she would be sad Emma is in Moscow - and she was - but it was really fun to have the time to celebrate together. Deja will text Emma photos.

To make the day PERFECT - Arielle received a phone call alerting her to the fact that she has been accepted to New Hope Christian College.

Note- photo and posts from each of the other graduations can be found by searching (top left box) for "child's name graduation."

She fell asleep waiting for everyone - we couldn't resist
There had been that bad storm the night before - little sleep

De'Etta & Deja - Sister Friends

Feeding Frenzy at the DQ pick up window

Michael and Doug  catching up

Zander's choice - my splurge

The kids played games while we talked

Zander & Eric

Ellie  & Arielle

Elisha - the first baby Stacia ever held!

Ellie & Stacia have been friends for years 

I didn't seem to catch a photo of Egan. How could THAT happen.....and because we miss Emma and it wouldn't be the same without a photo of her.....here's Emma....she had the audacity to go to Moscow instead of attending the DQ Graduation. ::snort::  We're proud of you Emma.

Chasing her dream at the Bolshoi Academy of Ballet

Fun, Family and Errands

Our day was fun and filled with errands. Yes, you read that right. Jared had a board of regent meeting in Lubbock.

Josiah and Jamin joined us later in the a.m. and we went to an RV store. We needed some parts.....and we also looked at a few true RV's - the motorized kinds. 

Jamin had some graduation errands to run in the a.m.

We picked up "the cake" for Jamin.

We came home, did some repairs, had lunch, played and visited and then celebrated Arielle's graduation - but that deserves it's own blog post.

Fixing a door latch

Reliving San Angelo Memories

Michael "went crazy" and bombarded him and he wasn't sure what to do

Graduating with his Master's tomorrow

Jamin's cute house

Storms and Friendships

Whew. We love storms. Storms in the Caboose adds a new dimension to storm watching.  We were up quite a bit last night with a fantastic thunder-lightening-rain-gusts to 45 mph wind-storm.

We discovered a wind storm in a trailer feels a bit like an Earthquake in Misawa - and this was traumatic for some.

I had an early morning planned. Determined to get "one on one" time, Deja came out to the lake early so we could "walk." Just as we made it to the lake it began raining - again. We decided to sit in her car and catch up. Friends of the heart can be rare and when you make one like this - it's worth driving 8 days to sit in a car at 0630 and catch up.  Our early morning "work out" is going to be one of the many highpoints of this trip. Thanks, Deja.

Note - my fit bit time zone has not been updated as I don't have reliable wifi here - therefore, I was a tad bit late - though I thought I'd woke early. LOL

Day 4 - From Aliens to Gherkins

We made it - 0615 start.

Travel Tip of the Day: Early trips and long miles are worth it when Gherkins wait on the other end.

AT the risk of being accused of having a "Texan Attitude," I must say, "Y'all within a mile of crossing into TX it got pretty. Green fields, wild flowers, blooming cacti and oil wells."

Flat - but colorful!

 

Yes, Michael did pull the Beast and the Caboose off the road to take cactus pictures. COLOR, y'all!

We arrived in time for lunch with Jamin and Jared.  Josiah had some coaching sessions set up with employees from Chick Fil A (CFA). CFA has a goal of high performance teams vs. the  typical managerial chain. Josiah has written a curriculum which he uses to equip employees as they develop a vision for leadership, for the company, and for their lives. It's good stuff. If I were still training women's ministry leadership teams I'd steal it. ::snort::  I'm proud of the team he has built. He's worked himself out of a job and will be looking to do the same in other spots, "soon."  He joined us after his meetings.

We headed over to Josiah's apartment. Basketball was the agenda for the day.   Everyone headed to our "campsite" at Lake Nasworthy. The Fam camp is full of full-time RVers...but they now have electric/water sites for $15 a night - basically a parking lot - and we parked there. Beats $300 a night of past visits. LOL  Unfortunately, with a site in Siberia, we don't receive wifi in the Caboose. It's the small things....happy to be up early and sitting in the laundry room to post a couple of blog posts. Seems to take an hour to publish one post - I may get behind. LOL

We walked along the lake. We'd hoped our grand dog Cody, would take to Yuuki. Unfortunately, both dogs seem to have a "thing" about the other receiving affection. sigh.



 

A big fish jumped, we were distracted and Cody jumped in. He loves the water. Yuuki loves the water from the front of a kayak.

 

More basketball

 I found Arielle sitting at the top of this play structure. She remembers it being a "rocket ship" or a "Disney castle."  I suspected she was thinking of her upcoming graduation, move and friends of the past that aren't here this visit. We miss Emma.  I ventured over for a photo and asked her - sure enough - remembering. So am I.

Day 3 - The Quirkiest Town in America

Travel Tip of the Day - To prepare for grooming at campgrounds: take a cookie sheet, nail it to the wall, now apply your makeup.

We are getting travel days down to a fine art.  I wake up early. I take Yuuki for a 40 - 60 min walk. I wake everyone else up and we head for the shower house. We grab a "road breakfast,"  button up The Caboose and take off.

Arielle specifically told Yuuki she could not have the seat by the window - 100 miles later Yuuki had the seat AND the blanket.

 

Eventually, they shared.

We stop for lunch at a Pilot or Flying J. Michael fills up while I run the kids through the restroom and get seated at Denny's. We order. I get Yuuki and walk around with her - good for both of us - until the food arrives. I've been getting 10 - 13K steps a day - even with sitting for 10 - 12 hours in the van. Denny's makes a special veggie skillet for Arielle and me - we just had to figure out what to ask for.  Today, we extended beyond both sides of the RV parking space. LOL

 

We saw a lot of this.....

 

Until we saw this - proof that Walmart is an alien tool

 

At the campground, Yuuki vows to protect us from all aliens until Michael returns.

 Yes, we are spending the night in America's Quirkiest Town - Roswell, New Mexico. We arrived, set up in TEN MINUTES, and then walked around town and enjoyed the sights.

 

INTERNATIONAL UFO Museum and Research Center - unfortunately, it was closed. I really wanted to check this out.

 

This business sign cracked me up.

Zander, Nolan, Arielle, "Bob", Me and Stacia and "Larry"

 

 Another Christian Store

Weather Balloon Pilots...

 Funny to see the town war between Southwest and Alien themed decor - they go so well together

 

Primitive Baptists meet at the UFO center

 

 

We finished the night with evening snacks, tea and UNO.....and a bit of "minor surgery" for Nolan.

 

Stacia hid in her bunk and yelled out helpful statements such as, "Is it bleeding yet?" and "Are you done stabbing Nolan yet?"

 

 

tomorrow we'll get an 0600 start and arrive in San Angelo.