Grad Gifts

We have been having fun celebrating Brinley's graduation.  As I've planned gifts and talked things over with Brian, I think it's more the rite of passage we are celebrating.  She is moving on and moving out.  I am super excited for her BYU experience but also selfishly sad.  Our family dynamics will never be the same again.  That is pretty overwhelming to think about...so I'm going to try not to for now.  Here are a few of the ways we tried to make High School graduation special for her. 

We invited Gram and Grandpa and ate at Salt Grass for lunch on the day of graduation.  Kerry and Quetta happened to be eating there also and joined our table.  Brian pulled out his oh-so-lovely selfy stick to celebrate the big day.  He kept taking random pictures with and of Brinley.  

The selfie stick came out again....the boys were dying.  It was pretty hilarious.  Parker also set his iPhone on the table and secretly time lapsed Brinley eating.  The big day was all about her.

About a year ago I mentioned the idea of a t-shirt quilt to Brian.  He was all for it.  However, as the time graduation got closer, I started wavering.  I wasn't sure if she'd really like it.  I was worried it might be a waste of money.  I am so glad he kept saying "I think we should do it.  It's worth it" or I never would have followed through.  It turned out really cute, and I think it will be something she will treasure.

I love that it included shirts from girl's camp, youth conference, EFY, Vore vacations, family trips, Choir, Black Magic, gymnastics, and HEFY.  This totally represents her teen years.  This quilt definitely reminds me of her.  I had to buy a few extra shirts (choir, HEFY) and remake a couple more (Mojo paw, Students in Philanthropy, Black Magic Band) with my Silhouette.  She had lost a few and I didn't want to cut up every shirt she owns and might want to wear in the future.  It was fun for me to have a little more to contribute to the quilt too.

We gave her a jewelry organizer, desk drawer containers and dresser drawer dividers.  We had family sign her "Oh the Places You Will Go" book.  (Planning on taking it up to the Gwilliam reunion in August so they can sign it too.) A couple of cute ones that stood out: Parker and Tanner both teased her about "only" being #12 in the class and staying local instead of heading off to BYU.  Braddock 11 years old, "See ya Brinley"; Hudson 9 years, "You are my favorite babysitter."; Emily Martin, "Have fun at BYU and don't get engaged too soon."  And little Ella who is almost 4 years old LOVED having permission to write in a book!  She wrote her name on several pages.  She also drew tiny humans.  It was pretty adorable.

Aren't the Es with a million lines so cute?

And of course little Lincoln's hand is the sweetest.

The funnest gift we gave Brinley was a Girl's Trip with her good friend Taryn.  They were hoping to do some sort of trip this summer and I guess had decided it needed to be indefinitely postponed due to them both "being poor."  They were thrilled when they opened their gifts to find an envelope with "Girl's Trip 2019" inside along with a ticket to Hamilton, and fun shirts.  (Parker used his computer skills to make a fake ticket for them to open.  Thanks Park.  I used my new Silhouette to make their shirts and I think they turned out great.)

Here is the video of them opening their surprise. (click here)  The Brown's invited us out to their house for dinner and the missionaries were there too.  It was pretty cute because the sister missionaries both LOVE theater.  Before we gave the girls their gifts there was a 15 minute detailed conversations, mostly between Taryn and the sisters, about musicals.  Both sister missionaries dramatically and passionately declared their need to see Hamilton. (I was possibly throwing up in my mouth just a little bit.)  Brinley and Taryn both agreed that Hamilton was on the top of their bucket list.  It was pretty epic when we then gave them their presents and it was tickets to see Hamilton!

Tornado Warning

Living in West Texas you know springtime brings strong winds, crazy thunderstorms, hail and occasional Tornado activity.  Last week around 10:30 pm a tornado warning was issued because one was spotted about 20 miles away.  Everyone in the area was directed to take cover.  

My group wasn't too concerned, but I cajoled everyone into meeting in the hallway.  Bri and the boys were watching the Warriors in the playoffs. (Never mind that it was very late for a school night AND they had finals the next day!)  Brian quietly grumbled "Dear, the game is in overtime."  He then, however, helped urge everyone to hang out in the hall.  The three boys had to watch the next 10 minutes on Bri's cell phone.  Bryn brought her laptop and continued doing whatever she was doing.  I moved Aubrey, who was out cold, into the hall.  We didn't even move her back afterwards.  She woke up at some point to go the the restroom and headed to her bed.

Luckily the tornado did not cause harm in the area.  The basketball goal died though.  It has been knocked over one to many times do to high winds.  It was fun to watch/listen to the boys and Brian over the next couple of days as they put together the new goal.  

The goal has been up for two days now and Tanner has probably spent at least 7-10 hours out there.

First Day of Summer

May 24, 2019

It seems to always take a week or two to figure out the summer routine.  On Friday the older two had things going on.  I can't even remember exactly  Brinley was busy with dorm room shopping and grad parties.  Parker went to the movies with a friend and then to a grad party in the evening.  

The younger two were a little more restless.  Yea for cousins.  Lauron and Holden came over for the afternoon and it was fun to watch Aubrey, Tanner, La and Holden have fun together.  They all swam and Gram's.  The boys played a lot of Xbox and eventually ended up at Holden's for the evening.  La and Aubrey made matching shirts, did face masks, and had a sleepover.   

I just looked at their summer workout schedules and I am worried my mornings may be taking three different groups to and from PHS. (7:30, 9:30 and 11:00 Darn, darn, darn.)   I really hope I will be able to slip in my morning classes at the gym.  Here's to hoping for a quick adjustment to a nice summer routine.

Cuteness.

Terrifying, right?

Last Day of School

May 23, 2019

School's out for Summer!

Aubrey still wears glasses but just not as faithfully as when she first got them last summer.  She grew almost 2" this year.  She is about 5'4.

The first day pictures with the boys took some cajoling to get cooperation, and it just wasn't happening with the last day photos.  Tanner grew 2 1/4" this year.  He is about 5'6" I think.  I am pretty sure he will outgrow me this summer. 

Parker is right at 6 feet tall and weighs 175.  He only grew 1/2" this year but gained 35 pounds.   He worked out hard with football and off season and  faithfully drank protein shakes throughout the school year.

This was Bryn's last day photo.  She had a mandatory grad practice on the last day of school.  Two more days and she graduates!

Young Women's Senior Night

May 22, 2019

The sweet and amazing Young Women leaders in Odessa 1st and 4th wards put on Senior Celebration night.  Basically they planned and threw an awesome grad party for Brinley, CJ (King) and Taryn (Brown).  They decorated the room, had a Panini bar and personalized cake, gave each girl gift baskets AND had a quilt for the three graduates.  Brinley felt very loved. (And so did I!  The example of love and kindess these YW leaders showed tonight and over the years makes me want to do better and be better.)  

Yum!

Trin and Bryn have been in it together in 4th ward.  They are four years apart but have been the stalwart two when the split happened and our YW program was so tiny.  Trinity's mom, Melanie, was very teary tonight when she expressed thanks for Brinley being an friend and example to Trinity.  She choked up while telling the 1st ward leaders and girls "Y'all had Brinley for a long time but we NEEDED her in 4th ward."  

Martha McKown...our very faithful YW president.  It has mostly been just her and Brinley in the Laurel class.  Martha has been a great friend and leader to Brinley.

Aunt Angelique and Gram came to celebrate Bryn's special night.  Gram is always willing to take time out of her day to support grandkid's accomplishments.  Ang was the YW president to all three girls before the ward split.  It was nice that she joined in the for the evening to add her comments of love and support for Bryn, Taryn and CJ.  She also helped tie the quilts.

I love how Gram decided to join Brinley on the floor while they ate dinner.

Some of the group.  

Taryn, Brinley, Shauna Saxton and CJ.  Sister Saxton was Brinley's YW president when she was a Beehive.  I remember her bringing over flowers when Brinley had pneumonia.  They've had some fun girl's camp adventures over the years too.  When we had the hard ward divides...were Brinley was the only active YW switched from 1st to 4th ward...it was rough.  So many sweet women reached out to Brinley to help her feel included and loved.  Shauna is once again the YW president in 1st ward....which is not our ward.  In December she asked me if I would mind if she made a quilt for Brinley.  She usually makes them for her graduating YW.  How sweet and thoughtful is that?  It made me cry.  Her inclusion of Brinley and her generosity in giving of her talents to show love towards the girls is a great example to me.

So fun that everyone joined in on tying the quilts.  It will make it even more of a keepsake for years to come.  Lft-rt: Karen Rawlings, Ellie R, Londyn B, Madison W, Amberly Brown, Susan Hill and Angelique Vore.  

The other two YW leaders in 4th ward: Melanie Ormsby and Lauren Ross.  Love these two even more for loving and serving both of my girls.

These two had 5 months together in Young Women's.  

The Grads.

The plan was to have two quilts going at once and to have everyone tie them but we only had one quilt frame.  Hopefully we can have a girls' night to tie the last one.  Most of the YW had finals the next day but Brinley was already done with her finals.  I secured a ride home for Aubrey, and Brinley and I stayed late with Sister Saxton and helped tie CJ's quilt.  It was fun just hanging out and working together.  Again, so grateful to all of the amazing YW leaders who put on a wonderful night to celebrate my girl!

Reagan Reunion

May 22, 2019

Reagan Elementary is a school strong in character, expectations and traditions.  One fun tradition is to invite the graduating Seniors back to campus for a reunion.  They get to play with the parachutes, have Star Wars competitions (hula hoop), greet former teachers, play on the playground, look through old yearbooks and mingle with friends from Elementary school.  Brinley had a blast.

I love this picture...pure joy! 

Brinley said she had forgotten how fun swinging actually was.

Watch Bryn battle it out with hula hoops. (click here) She was always good when she was at Reagan but she was a little inhibited when it came down to the actual battle.  She always placed but never took home the huge trophy.  Maybe the stakes were too high?  However, when she has come back over the years for the alumni battle she takes over!  We tease her.  Where was that spunk back in the day?!  Here she is battling one of the best, Christian Tschauner.  (He's off to play football for UT in the fall.)

She jokingly proclaimed herself the Star Wars champion of the class reunion...see, spunk!  Crazy girl.  She said it was actually really hard to battle each other because their angles were all the same.  (Star Wars is a pretty big deal in the family.  The Vore cousins are all really good and have made a showing at Reagan for years.  This year the Disney Cruise interfered with Star Wars tryouts for the Bird cousins.  It was a sad day for Braddock, Hudson and Charlotte and all of the cousins could feel their pain.  The Bird cousins actually discussed how it wouldn't be too bad if the family cruise didn't happen because then they would be able to participate in Star Wars.😂 )  

This is Bryn and friends at Reagan 6th grade graduation many years back. Maryam, Breana S, Courtney M, Daisy S., and Brinley

Good, better, best
Never let it rest
Until your good is better
And your better is best.
I am a Reagan Allstar
I wear my blue with pride.