Graduation

Today, at Spell Girl's graduation, I cried through the Class President's speech about making today count.  And then I cried when I watched the video montage of all the 6th grade kids talking about the things they loved most about the year (that always happens to me, though...even when ESPN runs football clips that are set to music, I get a little teary.)  And then I cried when all the kids walked out of the gym to Pomp and Circumstance.  

After graduation, we took Spell Girl out to lunch...

Those are my extra crispy, well done fries...YUM!

And then she spent the rest of the day at a 6th grade pool party with her friends.  


All afternoon, I was amazed at how grown up she is.  And then it occurred to me that my little kids aren't so little anymore.  As of Friday afternoon, I will have a 3rd grader, a 6th grader, a 7th grader, and a 9th grader..unbelievable!  I remember when the girls looked and sounded like this...

How can that have been 11 years ago???

Watching that video makes me so grateful to have had those baby years with four incredible children and even more grateful that we're out of the baby years and moving into the teenage years.  As yet another school year comes to an end and I think about how quickly the last 11 years have flown by, I am completely overwhelmed at what the next 11 will bring...seminary, dating, driving, more graduations, college, weddings, grandchildren.  (yikes!)  I can't imagine how we will prepare for all of the changes that are coming up, but I am sure that these incredible children will continue to bring challenges, blessings and unlimited opportunities for all of us to learn and grow.  I can't wait!