Spring School Updates

In February, Kaitlynn began a persuasive writing unit in school. It didn't take her any time at all to decide what she should write about. She was so proud of her well-written letter, and we were definitely impressed and persuaded to consider her position. In the end, even her mastery of persuasion was no match for her Sweet Daddy's strong will! Ha!

As her letter states, Kaitlynn was really stepping up her game grade-wise this spring. She had set her sights on improving her grades, began recognizing what it took to get there, and was really putting in the effort to study more and make good grades. It was so rewarding to see her find herself after a rough first few months of 5th grade.

Despite what was going on at school, Kaitlynn's favorite activity was enjoying lunch with her Sweet Daddy, usually with her favorite McDonald's chicken nuggets!

Also in February, I found myself attending a "preview to high school" night at Katy High School. Despite my efforts to deny this was happening, indeed it is true that Connor will be entering high school this fall. I attended a parent orientation night which preceded a couple weeks of stressful planning for the next 4 years of Connor's academic education. I had not realized that high school course preparations are now akin to the complexities of college planning. After studying the high school course catalog (thicker than my Texas A & M course catalog back in the day!) for over a week and reading/discussing through the options with Connor, we finally came up with a plan for his 9th grade course selections along with an overview of his course preferences for the next 4 years. I have a feeling that the upcoming high school years will pass by quicker than the last 10. Connor Courtright, Class of 2024. My heart!!!





Speaking of our future high schooler, Connor has really been going through a tremendous growth spurt in his 13th year of life. We purchased a lot of new school clothes last fall only for him to outgrow them in short order. In particular, his baseball pants are the ones where we really notice his growth. He put on a relatively new pair for a spring practice and we were a bit taken aback by how short they were on him. I had to embark on a shopping trip to find another pair that would fit for an upcoming baseball tournament. The only length that would fit him were the Adult size medium, but those just swallowed him. It made me remember this type of issue back when Collin and Kevin were teenagers. All of their clothes were either too short or too big around.

Despite his adult-sized frame, however, Connor still shows me his softer side from time to time. This age can be so tough, both for parents and teenagers. I admit that it breaks my heart sometimes to feel him pulling away, but I know it's natural and the normal way of things.

Away for Work

During the first week of March, I traveled to Dallas for several meetings with clients. Since I work from home most of the time, I conduct my client meetings virtually via WebEx conferences. I can usually be found at home with fixed hair and makeup along with a nice top/cardigan, but I might have on sweatpants or pajama bottoms on the lower half, ha! I made sure to capture my full head-to-toe look while I was in the Dallas offices for the week.

While I was away, our backyard project moved to the next step. The gunite crew arrived bright and early on a weekday morning. This was my favorite part of the construction from our last pool, so I was disappointed to miss the work. It didn't take long before we truly could envision what our pool would look like. So exciting!

Beginnings of our Backyard Hangout

The biggest excitement from my birthday this year was a backyard project that began sooner than expected. One of the reasons I had been working so hard was to make sure the project could begin in time for summer enjoyment. I made sure to take some "Before" photos in anticipation of the work ahead.

On the morning of my birthday, I woke up to heavy machinery and lots of workers in our backyard. I was so excited to see the project underway: a new backyard pool and outdoor patio/kitchen. We enjoyed watching the big Bobcat tear up the yard, and it was fascinating to see how quickly the pool began to take shape.

By the end of the day, the form of the pool was ready. The next morning, another crew of workers arrived to form the steel structure. In less than 24 hours, our backyard had been completely transformed and was ready for the next step - the gunite.

Birthday Lunch

My birthday came and went this year without much fanfare. But per tradition, Michelle and Julie treated me to a yummy birthday lunch at one of my favorite spots, Pappadeaux. We hung out in a corner booth and caught up for several hours. As busy as my work schedule had been, it was a nice and much deserved break from the chaos.

Bryant Ball - Father Daughter Dance

The Mother Daughter Thursdays I last wrote about were all in preparation for Kaitlynn's most anticipated evening of her 5th grade school year: the Bryant Ball, also to be known to her as her last elementary school Father Daughter Dance.

The Bryant Ball is hosted each year at Kaitlynn's new school, Bryant Elementary. And while it isn't intended to be a Father Daughter Dance, Kait and two of her classmates decided to take the opportunity to go with their Dads to the Bryant Ball for a special father-daughter date. The theme was Masquerade Ball, and thanks to our Thursday night shopping dates, Kaitlynn had everything she needed for the big night.

After a full day of school followed by her shift on Safety Patrol, we rushed home to quickly get Kait ready with her hair, makeup, new dress and shoes, and her masquerade mask. In no time, she was beaming from ear to ear, ready to be picked up by her special date.

I have to admit, I was a bit taken aback at the sight of my baby girl. She looked so stunning and radiant, almost like she had grown into a teenager overnight. Jeff rang the doorbell and their special night was soon underway. But first, I had to take countless photos of them around the house. After all, it was one of the most special nights of the year!

One of the first things Jeff noticed about Kaitlynn's party dress was the split of the skirt which revealed her dressy *short* shorts. Yes, they were even a bit short for my liking, but the style was really cute on her and she absolutely loved it. I chuckled to myself and had them stage a photo where Kait was revealing her shorts and how her father truly felt about it. It almost seemed like a glimpse into our future with a rebellious teenage daughter?! Ha!

As soon as I finished snapping photos at home, we drove to a nearby outdoor cafe where we had arranged to meet one of Kait's classmates. Londyn was attending the Bryant Ball with her stepfather and they were going to "double date" with Jeff and Kaitlynn. Londyn's family lives in Cane Island, and the Oaks Cafe was a beautiful spot near their home to take a few more photos before they left for the Ball.

I could hardly believe my eyes that these young ladies were off to their final elementary school "date night." They looked so grown up and they were just full of giggles and anticipation for their special evening with their Dads. I made sure to get a couple of pics with my girl, and then they were off to the Bryant Ball.

As the night progressed, I received a few text photos of Kait and her friends. It looked to be a hugely successful and fun evening for the girls. They enjoyed photo booths, food trucks, a candy buffet, and of course, lots of singing and dancing. Jeff was a great sport as always and never tired of the hugs and kisses along the way. He even joined with Londyn's stepdad to extend the evening a bit with some frozen yogurt when the Ball ended.

When the night came to a close, Kaitlynn and Jeff were all smiles and reported that the event was a complete success. I was elated for them that they could continue this special tradition one last time for Kaitlynn's final year of elementary. So many amazing memories and photos that we'll cherish for a lifetime. Looking back on that night - Feb. 28 - I don't think any of us could have realized what a blessing it truly was for them to have their special date night together.