Final Days of School

Anna Kate went straight from the wedding to Ava's for a sleepover. She had a great time, except she was hit once again with excruciating stomach pain... we discovered a week later it was appendicitis. The pain came and went for a few weeks before it came and never left. She was in so much pain at church Sunday morning that she was crying. It didn't help that she had to say goodbye to Ava and Macy. 

We met up with Jonathan and the kids at a Zaxby's in Chattanooga on our drive back to Florida Sunday afternoon. We hadn't seen them in almost a year! Anna Kate still wasn't feeling well, and Carigan held down the fort with Tate, Noah, Elise & Adeline at the kiddie table. She's gonna be such a great little mama someday.

Every time I get a new update from my Ancestry DNA results, I can’t help but laugh. Not only did I suffer the disappointment years ago of finding out I have the whitest most boring ancestry imaginable, now I’m supposed to be able to contrast my ethnicity by parental side… only to find out there’s no actual difference. Maybe we were just loopy from being stuck in the car all day, but we couldn't stop laughing at the mirror images of my pie chart. I’d chalk it up to inbreeding, but we’ve done the genealogy and my parents have no known same ancestors. They are both just equally white and boring. Here’s to hoping my kids don’t have mirror images of ethnicity inheritance on their pie charts! This is getting pathetic

Carigan's friends documented their last few days of school with Lizzy before she moves to Celebration. We will really miss her! I'm glad she'll still be in Lakeland most weekends with her dad so we can have her over for sleepovers. Clockwise: Lizzy, Carigan, Selah, Alondra, Kerrigan & Kennedy.

My final second grade end of the year party at Gandy Pool! Tate discovered the joys of a diving board... they are becoming obsolete. I fear my kids will never know the joy of a high dive! Tate's best friends this year have been Reed Williams (below) and Norah Johnson.

 

AK finished her final exam Monday morning, so we picked her up and celebrated the end of academics for the year at Chili’s:

 

Best I could do for First day (above) vs. Last day (below) of school comparison. Anna Kate was done with all her tests and didn’t want to go to the fun half day this morning for middle school, but I dragged her out of bed for a photo. But she wouldn’t come out from under the blanket. I want to say this school year went by fast, but it felt like the longest year ever and we have never needed summer more. Carigan sent me this photo of Tate fast asleep at breakfast less than 15 minutes before it was time to leave for the last day of school.  

 

Wesley finished his final exams on the last day of school (Tuesday), and then I took him to meet Mike to get his second Pfizer dose. It took us longer to graduate Covid vaccination than sophomore year, but we made it! Allllll the praise hands!!!!  My boy. MVP. Bravest of them all. Bring on Alaska!!!

 

Carigan celebrated the end of the school year with a sleepover with Lizzy & Kerrigan at Kerrigan's house. This afternoon I took Tate to meet Bradford at Defy to kick off the summer. Bring it!

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Caleb Sowards

I purposely didn't take any photos of Lauren coming down the aisle, because many brides regret that their professional photos are full of people leaning out of the aisle with their phones. I tried to exercise good wedding etiquette and never had my phone out unless the photographer's camera was in front of mine. But I do wish I could have snapped a photo of Caleb giving Erin such a long lingering hug and saying, "I love you, Mom" before taking his place up next to Andrew. So many tears.

 

 

Such a sweet & perfect ceremony!

Surrounded by such beauty! Carigan, Anna Kate, Abby & Lydia. Lyddi's wedding is next! 

Anna Kate took me by the hand and dragged me to Dad, saying, "Take my picture with Granddaddy." 

My very favorite men in my life! Michael, Wesley, Corey and Dad. 

And then there were four... plus two more. 

 

Oh the magical chocolate fountain... So many trips we took across the magic bridge to the magical chocolate fountain. 

 

 

Aunt Cynto was able to make it only because they changed the wedding date - She has to report to work in Ft. Myers tomorrow. Lydia's wedding is in less than five months! I can't believe these babies are old enough to be married!!

 

 

The ceremony and dinner were beyond perfection. The weather they were so desperately trying to get ahead of finally rolled in during the dessert reception at the church pavilion, but there was a doughnut wall and an unreasonable amount of sweets, so we didn't care! 

Carigan had a glorious reunion with Ellia, Everly & Gracie! My sweet rule-follower Tate... He was excited when he saw a playground, and he asked me if he could go play. I said yes, because there were plenty of kids there already playing. A minute later he shuffled up to me with a sad face and said, "The sign says adult supervision required." I assured him again it was okay to go play, and he looked at me like I'd just given him a puppy and ran off to make some friends. 

Anna Kate & Ava immediately found a secluded spot to spill all the tea.  

 

 

"Oops, I forgot something!"  Lauren had to go back to get her husband.

 

Instead of a cake, Caleb & Lauren opted for a little bit of every dessert on the planet. 

 

Dad & Corey had to leave early to drive back to Lexington so Corey can report to work tomorrow. He had to do some quick schedule rearranging to make it to the rehearsal dinner last night. We ended up leaving fairly early as well, because Michael had to go to the car to get Anna Kate & Carigan's bags to put into the Oliva's car so they can spend the night at Ava & Everly's. And in the process, he got completely soaked. He was shivering like a wet kitten, so we had to head back to the hotel to warm up. But Caleb & Lauren stayed late with their friends and danced in the rain. If the marriage is half as perfect as the wedding, this love story is going to be epic! Welcome to our big fat crazy family, Lauren!!