8th Grade Day

As the last day of school quickly approached, Kaitlynn was beyond excited for a school event that had been in the works for months: 8th grade day! Teachers, coaches, and parents worked for weeks on end to plan and organize a super special day of activities to celebrate the 8th graders at WoodCreek, and it all culminated in a special Friday toward the end of the school year when the 8th grade class had an entire day of fun hosted in their honor. As a cheerleader, Kaitlynn had to dress in her cheer uniform with a very special addition - a Katy Tigers shirt repping her soon-to-be new campus, Katy High School.

I haven't spent much time volunteering at the kids' schools the past few years, but I definitely wanted to be a part of this special 8th grade day and spend the additional time with Kaitlynn. I volunteered to be a homeroom parent so that I could partner with the teacher, offer snacks and drinks to the class throughout the day, and attend all of the 8th grade day events with Kaitlynn's class. To kick off the special day, the 8th graders participated in a kick-off pep rally, and then the band and cheerleaders led the entire 8th grade class on a parade throughout and around the school perimeter, where friends and family were able to cheer them on and celebrate their last days in junior high. So much fun and HIGH energy from these excited 8th graders!

The premise of 8th Grade Day was kind of like a Field Day for middle schoolers. Each homeroom class had a unique T-shirt and class name, and the classes competed against each other the entire day in numerous activities and game stations both inside and outside of the school. Such a cool concept! The events included Tug of War, Balloon Pop Races, Bingo, Cone Flipping Races, Jeopardy-style Trivia, Tic Tac Toe, and so much more. The kids went from station to station all throughout the day and were able to enjoy some pizza and Chick-fil-A for lunch in between. These kids were WOUND UP and excited all day long, and it was so cool to be there and witness the fun with Kaitlynn and her friends. So thankful for this amazing school!

After all the activities, the day still wasn't over. To close out 8th Grade Day, the school hosted a pep rally to cheer these 8th graders on to success in their next chapter. As a cheerleader, Kaitlynn was able to participate with her cheer squad in a special dance performance that was highly choreographed with some of the 8th grade guys as well. In the weeks leading up to this performance, there was a significant amount of drama and frustration on the part of the cheerleaders and especially Kaitlynn for their roles in the dance. The girls were expected to invite a fellow 8th grade boy to join them in the routine, and Kaitlynn eventually asked her friend Cole to partner with her. Cole was a great sport because they all had to attend weeks of practices to get the performance just right. In the end, the practice and preparation was worth it, because the squad looked great and performed an entertaining and funny routine to close out the long day of fun. What an AMAZING 8th Grade Day for Kaitlynn and her classmates - one she will never forget!

May Happenings

We had a LOT going on in May this year, so I figured it was time for a catch-up post with a random collection of photos. 

First up, Jeff and Connor weren't able to join us in Florida for Kaitlynn's Summit competition, but they made sure to take advantage of the guy time by enjoying a steak at Texas Roadhouse while we were away. Love that place!

Kaitlynn is blessed with such a great friend group, and she loves being included for a birthday celebration. These days, teen girl birthday outings typically revolve around - what else? - eating and shopping!

On Mother's Day, we went to church followed by my favorite spot to grab lunch - Pappadeaux. Unfortunately, my ALL TIME favorite crab cake dish has been permanently scrubbed from their menu, so I enjoyed my lunch but it might've been the very last one there! Boooo!

After a LONG and much-anticipated wait, Kaitlynn was thrilled to be awarded with her custom champion ring from the Nighthawks' big win at the Jamfest Super Nationals competition in Indianapolis earlier this year. It's a coveted honor for a team to earn a custom ring, and Kaitlynn was beyond excited to receive her first one, presented by Coach Devin one day at practice. She didn't take it off for over a week!

Later in the month, Kaitlynn was so happy to attend another birthday party, this time for her precious friend Kynade. She and Kynade became friends in their Partners in PE class at junior high, and their friendship continues to blossom as time goes on. What a great group of girls to celebrate Kynade's special day!

Awards Season

As mid-May approached, it was Awards Season at the kids' schools. First up, the Katy High School Underclassmen Awards were held to honor students in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades who had received special recognition from their teachers and administration in various categories. The 11th graders were seated with the KHS administration on the stage, which was a noticeable leap toward their final chapter as high school students (sniff sniff). The awards are kept secret from the students, so they arrive and take their seats without knowing what their recognition will be. 

This year, Connor was extremely honored to have been selected for an Academic Award (1 of 2 top students) in AP English Language & Composition. It was a surprising and super fulfilling recognition for him, especially given that AP Lang was his nemesis throughout the entirety of his junior year. He had never worked harder for a class in his entire academic career, but his efforts were rewarded with a top score on his AP exam as well as a great relationship with his beloved English teacher, Ms. Stayton. The personal growth and life lessons Connor experienced in this class are likely something he'll never forget, and for that, he was incredibly thankful and appreciative of this coveted award. 

In addition to his Academic Award, Connor was also celebrated with an Honors Award in Achievement - the highest recognition given to students as role models in their class. It was an amazing honor for him to receive this award for the 2nd year in a row. Talk about a proud parent moment; this kid continues to amaze us with his accomplishments!!

Kaitlynn was also the recipient of multiple awards for her success and activities during her final year at WoodCreek Junior High. Kaitlynn was awarded the Timberwolf Award for making the All A Honor Roll throughout her entire 8th grade year. What an accomplishment - especially considering that she was enrolled in all advanced classes. So proud of her hard work!

On another night, Kaitlynn was again recognized during the WoodCreek Athletic Awards. This ceremony celebrates all the student athletes in junior high, and Kaitlynn was one of the few who were recognized as a 3-sport athlete during her time in 8th grade -- volleyball, basketball, and track. And that didn't even include her 4th and busiest sport - cheer! Kaitlynn had an amazing 8th grade year, and we felt so proud of her academic and athletic success!

Connor's 17th Birthday

Connor turned 17 on May 3, which still seems unreal to the rest of us! For his birthday, he talked to us for months about wanting to go to a Houston Astros baseball game downtown with a few of his friends. The kicker was that he wanted to drive everyone all by himself, which might be usual for many families but was a big step for us. He picked a game on a school night, and all the guys showed up after school ready for their fun night ahead. I gathered some of Connor's favorite snacks for a birthday table so they could grab something to eat on their way out. They seemed excited and we were happy that Connor's birthday wish was granted!

Connor and the guys enjoyed their nice seats and all had a great time at the game. The next morning. our 17 year old was greeted with his favorite birthday breakfast - bacon, eggs, and awesome rolls. Still so hard to believe he is almost an adult!

Besides the Astros game, Connor's biggest birthday wish is always a homemade chocolate cake - recipe courtesy of sweet Cyndi from Dubai. It is handmade with love, and he devours every bite of his all-time favorite birthday treat. Love this (BIG) kid!