MOMMY HIGH...

I am beyond proud of daughter J. NOT blogging about her right now would be just plain wrong.
She graduated 8th grade last night-it was a bittersweet night and hard on mom. I still can't believe my baby girl is basically a HSer now. Blows me away. Her grandma made her a photo album of her life from day one...I couldn't hardly look at it after graduation. That will have to be for a rainy day and a cup of coffee when I am all alone. ;(
J took home several awards last night:
Sports: Track, Cross Country, Volleyball, and Cheerleading
Academic: Top Science, Top Female Student, Top English, Mark Twain Nominee (reading all Mark Twain books)
Special Awards: Perfect Attendance, Citizenship, and last but not least....
EIGHT GRADE VALEDICTORIAN!!!
All her hard work and dedication has paid off...I didn't know before the ceremony that she would be getting all these awards. After 8th graders received their diplomas and were dismissed, J made her way straight to me and gave me the biggest hug. I never wanted to let go (stay tuned for another blog about that). It was a special mom-daughter moment I will never forget. She looked absolutely stunning in her navy blue formal, hair and nails professionally done and make-up done by mom. ;) I will do my best to post those pics soon.
I had the joy of presenting the MS cheerleading squad their awards along with my 6th grade academic awards. Since I knew I had to publicly present these awards at the podium (yes-they actually gave me a microphone)-crying was not an option that night. I HAD to hold it together -but afterwards, no holding back.
Her boyfriend also received Citizenship and Perfect Attendance. I knew he was a great kid too.
Some of the 8th grade parents decorated the gym all week long in a *Red Carpet Romance* theme. We put in a lot of time and work and we had the old MS gym looking amazing. After the dance a few of us parents took our kids and anyone else's kids that would fit in our cars to IHOP for breakfast. We got home around 3:00 ish in the morning. Today we get to go clean up from the dance, just not quite as much fun as putting it up.
I have been exceptionally busy and have not had much time to blog. May is a month in a teacher's life that is filled with bittersweet thoughts, no sleep, constant preparation, and much anticipation of summer. This May was extra busy for me with her 8th grade graduation!
My summer is officially planned out! Summer school, cheerleading practices and camps, teacher conferences and two vacations. All good things!
Let's hear it for daughter J. I will step down off podium now...