NCL Fall Tea

Following Kaitlynn's NCL award ceremony, we had to make a mad dash home to change so that we could attend the fall tea event for our NCL Azalea chapter. Usually the tea is held in the spring, but this year it was moved to the fall with a theme of "Cute in Boots" for the girls. Kaitlynn donned her white cowgirl boots and looked beautiful for the tea with her friends. Of course, she was still wearing that NCA ring - no chance she'd be taking off that winning hardware anytime soon!

The NCL sophomore class hosts the tea event for all classes, 6th grade through seniors. They did a great job and the venue was beautifully decorated for the theme. Kaitlynn was happy to see her fellow classmates and enjoy the afternoon together. 

Nighthawks NCA Award Ceremony

Not long after school started, Kaitlynn was THRILLED for a long overdue celebration with her Nighthawks cheer team. After their HUGE win at the NCA Nationals competition back in March, it was finally time to celebrate as a team and receive their custom championship rings in honor of their national title. Kaitlynn dressed the part and was so excited for the celebration and ring reveal.

With their coveted NCA jackets and huge smiles, the girls and coaches couldn't be happier to celebrate their big win. Receiving their custom ring was the icing on the cake - such a special time of celebration for an incredible season of hard work and success. So proud of this team and so happy for Kaitlynn to experience a winning season with a special team!

Many, and perhaps most, competitive cheerleaders will work their entire cheer careers and never experience the level of success that Nighthawks achieved this season. Earning a division win at NCA is a dream come true for all cheerleaders, and it was so special to see Kaitlynn bask in the celebration and fun at the award ceremony. We took countless photos to commemorate this special moment!

Probably my favorite part of the ceremony was when the girls decided to "mark" their Nighthawks Aladdin-themed routine one final time. They took their spots on the mat and the music filled the gym. As the girls walked and counted through their routine, they were a bit rusty at times but all had the biggest smiles on their faces as they rocked that winning performance. It was a magical season - one we'll never forget! We're so thankful for the amazing memories - Nighthawks for life! :-)

Kicking off the New School Year

As always, the beginning of the school year snuck up on us after a nice and relaxing summer. This year, it felt a bit surreal knowing that Connor was entering his last year of high school while Kaitlynn was entering her first. Probably the biggest perk of the upcoming school year would be that Jeff and I were relieved of school driving duties for the first time in years. With Connor and Kaitlynn back on the same campus again - the first time since we lived in Dubai! - Connor was promoted to official driver status and in charge of getting them both to and from school everyday. Woohoo! 

I think I was still in denial about how grown up these kids have become, but especially about Connor's final year in high school. We were excited for all his senior year festivities in the months to come, but I knew it was just a matter of time before the raw emotions would kick in as my firstborn was preparing to leave the nest. Happy first (last) day of school!

Senior Sunrise

And the official senior year activities continued with Senior Sunrise for the Class of 2024. Two days before school started, the seniors were invited to Tiger Stadium bright and early to watch the sunrise together in the bleachers, symbolizing the beginning of their senior year and final chapter at Katy High. They enjoyed coffee and donuts while gathering together at the end of their summer, and they were each asked to write themselves a letter with their senior year goals and dreams. 

I was able to volunteer at the event and managed to take a few photos to commemorate the special occasion. Connor and his close friends Sam, Morgan, and Ava had a fun time catching up with classmates and enjoying the start of a very special year together.

When they reach the end of their senior year in May, the Class of 2024 will once again come together - this time for Senior Sunset, where they will watch the sunset on their final year of high school and read their personal letters. What a special way to celebrate their milestone year! I'm sure that day will be here before we know it, sniff sniff.

And So It Begins

Toward the end of the summer, I began getting all kinds of emails regarding the upcoming school year as a parent of a Class of 2024 student. The countdown was on for Connor's senior year, and it just seemed so unreal! 

I can remember way back when Connor was in elementary school when I realized that he would graduate in 2024. I recall thinking it was a cool-sounding graduation year and exactly 30 years apart from my own in 1994. Of course, at the time it felt so far away and an impossibility to imagine. And yet, here we are.

As the emails and announcements for "Senior Parents" began rolling in, I had to accept that the final year of Connor's high school was upon us. I felt such mixed emotions about it, perhaps bittersweet? But the word "bittersweet" seems so inadequate to describe the incredulous-and-anxious-yet-proud-with-excitement type of emotions that were swirling through my mind. I honestly didn't know what to expect with the busy and full year ahead, but Connor's senior year was upon us and there was no stopping now!

First up for senior year activities was the official senior yearbook photo session up at his high school. Gosh, do they know how to punch us parents in the gut with this first big milestone with our seniors! We had no idea what we were doing, but we entered the gym and were whisked from station to station as Connor was dressed and groomed for his senior portraits in the 2023-24 yearbook. After years of looking through the kids' yearbooks and admiring the classic dress and pose of the seniors, I could hardly believe that MY kid was now one of those seniors. Seeing Connor neatly posed and smiling in front of that yearbook backdrop was definitely a shock to my system! 

I should probably pause here to take a moment and mention this kid's hair. Goodness! I hardly know what to say except that apparently this is the "in" style at the moment? Connor couldn't care less about his hair and NEVER styles it whatsoever, so I guess it's a good thing that the messy, flipped up hairstyle is what the guys are wearing these days. He showed up for these pictures in dire need of a haircut and with the Texas heat and humidity in full swing. Looking back at these photos, all I can do is shake my head! When I showed Connor the pictures, his comment was, "that's a lot of hair." Ha!

As we worked our way through the photo stations, Connor had less patience with each minute that passed. He was mostly a good sport about it, but some of the poses and settings were completely out of his comfort zone. I snapped some pics to capture the moment as I chuckled to myself at his misery. For once it wasn't ME making him pose for photos, ha!

As we wrapped up the quick session, I felt like I was in a fog of disbelief that this was actually happening. How could my BABY - this kid that made me a mother - be entering his final year of high school? As for Connor, he was taking it all in stride and seemed excited (and maybe a little nervous) about what was to come.

As for the senior photos? Well, they turned out fantastic! I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw this baby of mine looking so grown up and mature. Connor's senior year was officially underway! And so it begins...