Graduation and Party

The last two weeks at our house was so busy that we need t-shirts to say that we survived May 2014.  My beautiful daughter graduated on Sunday, May 25.

The Friday before was her senior farewell assembly where the seniors choir members sang a song.

While our Minnesota family was down we had her graduation party on Monday, May 26.

We rented Turk Brothers Pavilion and invited a lot of friends and family.

Even the dogs made a cameo appearance.

Sunday, May 25th we walked into Hillsdale High School the last time as parents of a student.  She was surrounded by three sets of grand parents

Her parents and brother.

And the friends that stuck with. Her through all the years.

Kayla we are proud of you and know you are going to do great things in your adulthood.  Seems too fast to have the school part of parenting completed.  I know there is a lot of parenting left to complete, but this chapter is new and has many pages yet to be discovered, none of which I have choices to make for.  I hope we have given her the tools she needs to make good choices and depend on Heavenly Father to guide her footsteps.  I am pretty sure she will do great at this.

Jammed packed weekend, grad beginnings

Our first graduation for miss Kayla was seminary.  This little girlie got up every morning at the crack of dawn to drive into ashland for bible study classes.  She has done this for the last four years of school and really enjoyed her study of the Book of Mormon this past year.  Emily also graduated this year too.

Saturday we spent the evening at my adopted sister Danielle's wedding.

It was outside between the frigid rain showers.  It was really cold out there.  I felt sorry for the bride and her maid in sleeveless dresses.  Brrrr!

Danielle's life has been complicated with a father who didn't want much to do with her.  Her brother gave her away.

My brother and sister came to watch too.

And sister-in-law Hannah with malea.

And step mom, Danielle's mother were all there for the festivities.

Oops can't for get Kayla.

Overall a beautiful wedding and then we went to Mansfield to get all the party supplies for Kayla's grad party.

It is busy here with me finishing my grad class Thursday, having another principal interview today, Minnesota people coming in for another wedding this weekend, Kayla's school graduation and grad party.  Not sure we could pack in much more.  I'm really going to enjoy my first week off this summer!

Mothers Day

Mother's Day was a multiple day festival for us here.  Saturday I went with Kyle to pick my annual flowers for my out building.

I tried different colors this year and am pleased with the outcome.

Plus, I picked out a beautiful rose bush to take place of the holly bush that died out front.

Then Sunday I was surprised by my kids who got me cute things this year.  Kayla got me fun summer scents for my wax burner and some chocolate.  Kota got me a necklace that says Mama on it, because that is what he calls me and some chocolate.  Plus, both kids sat with me at church.  I think that was my favorite thing of the weekend.  Kota and I had a drive up to the stake presidents and things are moving along well with that.  My joy was full Sunday and it felt nice.

Prom 4/26/14

Kayla uses her tried and true hair stylist, Brooke.  Her seminary teacher does special hair and is great at it.  We usually trade service, this year we got her a gift card.

It takes a long time to do this much hair into curls and beautifulness.  Two hours this time.  Phew!

When you get that done, then you get to look like a princess.

 Kayla was most nervous about putting on the flower on her date Ian.  I made her do it this time, I have done it every other time and I think that is more awkward for her date.

 Grandma and Grandpa Steigerwalt approved too. 

Kayla had a great time with her friend Ian.  They enjoyed a relaxing dinner at Memories in Wooster, Ohio.  Then danced.  They only attended post prom for an hour or so until Kayla's knee started to get swollen.  Overall, she had fun.

Easter

This Easter we had a treat, we went to the stake center and got to listen to a general authority.  Elder Teh spoke to us and it was amazing.  We had two tag-a-longs with us.  The missionaries hitched a ride. We really enjoyed our visit with them.

We went to a park with a picnic lunch right after.

Sure we had ham...sandwiches.  But the beautiful weather and nice company made it a fun Easter.

Then the kids...young adults enjoyed a spin on the merry-go-round.

Who knew late teens and early twenties still like to play in the park!

It was a great day.  One we ended with walking puppies around at Beyers Woods Park.  It was gorgeous and we sure spent our fair share of it outside.

Goals

It seems for the past ten years I have been dabbling in college of some sort or another.  Working from preschool teacher to administrator.  I have three degrees and six licenses now, guess you could say I am well rounded (I have the figure to prove it, ha!).

I have just a handful of assignments to finish my final license to be a principal.  I am excited, I feel on the cusp of change.  It seems like the next chapter in life is beginning to unfold its delicate blossoms.  I get to make decisions with Kyle to better our lives and fulfill some of the dreams we've concocted along the way.

Tonight I go to a job interview at a school district I have never taught in.  One where they only know me by paper.  I get to put on my best clothes and wow them with the knowledge I have gained in the trenches of the school district I grew up in.  I get to tell of my best ideas and how they have changed learning.  I get to tell of how I learned from mistakes made.  I get to sell what I know.

I hope it is good enough for I sure have done my part.  I have sacrificed time with family as I went to school.  I have worked tireless hours and learned many things about raising children.  But, most importantly I have learned to rely on my Heavenly Father to help with all of these things.  And the second most important thing I have learned is that my wonderful husband made a lot of sacrifices with and for me to be able to do this.

Wish me luck.  If not this one, then maybe another will come to pass.  But this is the year, I know it!

Pretty as a Princess

Modest prom is an event that our church puts on for our youth.  Kayla got a trial run with her dress.  I think it turned out great.