Graduation Sunday

In which we celebrate the two high school graduates at church with gifts, scholarships and a potluck! Congrats to Emma and Ashlyn (not pictured)! We wish you both all of the best! Go be great and do something to make the world more beautiful!  xo 

 

With Thanks

In which Grace is working to get her thank-you notes written and sent. xo 

One Final Graduation Picture

 

We wanted to do this grad picture trend with the girls' My Little Ponies but we couldn't find where I put them (or sadly I gave them away😭). If truth be known the Froggies were just as meaningful, if not more so, given that they have been with her her entire life.

Now, I have one year to find those ponies so we can use them for Emma's picture... xo

Recital Day {Grace's Final One}

 

And just like that, Grace's time as a Center Stage student have come to an end. This recital was easily one of the best that the teachers at CSDS have put on this stage and I think that speaks volumns to their talent as well as the talent of the students (especially the high school students). It was an emotional day from start to finish, but especially when Grace took the stage for her self-choreographed solo and when all the members of the class of 2025 were together one final time. It has been an absolute joy to watch them grow up together as humans and as dancers. Best wishes to all the seniors as they move into whatever the next chapter holds for them! Go be great! xo 

One Week From Today

 

It's hard to believe that one week from today we will gather for Grace's graduation. Therea are so many thoughts swirling around in my head as I rpepare to preside over my first ever graduation ceremony (of my first ever graduate)! As an educator (at the elementary level) I often had the pleasure of wathcing as my students moved from elementary to middle school (and the one year that I taught at the mddle school from middle to high school) but never before have I taken a student all the way from kindergarten to senior year and ultimately to graduation day. 

It has been the honor of a lifetime to be mother/teacher/principal/gudiance counselor and superintendent for my girls. As a way to "cap off: this experence of serving in all these capactities for Grace (and next year for Emma) I present to you one of her grad cap pictures from her senior session last August. 

I can't believe this time has come.....xo 

Grand Marshall Grandma

Wednesday night we journied down to New Jersey so that we could attend the Bergen Community College graduation ceremony on Thursday where Dave's mom was serving as Grand Marshall.

After all, an honor like that doesn't come around every day, and we didn't want to miss the chance to be there to celebrate an incredible woman and an incredible career.

It was really fabulous to have VIP access to the "behind the scenes" parts of commencement. It was so neat to get to go on stage and see where she would be sitting, as well as the incredible view that all on the platform would have during the ceremony. 

The girls were super impressed to see all the boxes of rolled up degrees. 

And, of course, they were fascinated by all the robes and hoods and hats of the faculty. 

Dave's mom (Dr. Joan Tscherne to those who know her from school) gave the welcome. We all got a kick out of seeing her on the Jumbotron at Giant's Stadium! 

University of Hartford representin'! 

This was the girls first time attending a graduation ceremony. They had lots of questions in the days leading up to it ("Mama, how many have you been in? And how many have you gone to? And what do all the colors mean?") and we spent lots of time talking about our graduations. We also shared with them that the day would be very long as well as very hot. 

And while it was indeed hot, the discovery of frozen custard topped water ice was a welcome (and delicious!) treat! 

What a truly incredible day! It was so wonderful to be there to witness such a special day for Dave's mom. And while it was fabulous to see her at that podium and on the Jumbotron, the best part, in my opinion, was seeing her with her colleagues before the ceremony and after. The respect they all have for her is very apparent, as is how very missed she will be next year when she's retired. It was absolutely lovely to get to meet so many people that we have heard so much about, and it was just as neat to see them be so excited to meet us, too. This was especially true when they met Grace and Emma, who they have clearly heard so very much about over the years! 

 Some post-commencement cooling off in the hotel pool. Very necessary on such a hot day. 

Congratulations Joan! We are so thrilled to have been able to be there with you on Thursday, and we have no doubt that your retirement will be just fabulous! xo