The girls' elementary school celebrated its 10-year anniversary this year. To honor the anniversary, they held a huge celebration complete with food trucks, activities, dancing, and photo booths. Taryn got her face painted and I grabbed a picture of Taryn and Aubrey in front of the photo backdrop.
They had blow-up bounce houses and this huge rock wall to climb. We waited in a long line to have a turn, but they loved it and made it to the very top. Tessa enjoyed climbing the rock wall and it really brightened her night because she had spent the afternoon trying out for cheerleader at her school and had found out right before this party started that she didn't make the team. She was very distraught. Besides getting to climb the rock wall, a conversation with one of her old teachers helped her feel better. Mrs. Currey gave her a hug and said the important thing is that she tried. It was exactly what I was telling her, but it always comes across better from someone besides mom. I kept trying to keep Tessa happy and she was able to enjoy the rest of her evening.
Tessa's beginning band had a competition at UTEP. They played in the same recital hall where my band concerts are held. They played their two contest numbers and earned a trophy. Tessa played her parts on bells and timpani and did an awesome job. Tyler was able to be there for this concert, so he got to hear Tessa's band for the first time on their contest numbers.
Here's a picture of their entire band as the director of the contest talked about how they did a great job and presented them their trophy. And another picture of the whole group after they performed and before they headed home. We were so proud of Tessa and her hard work.
The entire band plus the other middle school in the area played with the high school for a huge end of year concert. They each performed a number and then they played a song all together. It's fun to hear the entire group play and it's fun for the middle school kids to play sitting next to high school students.
It's hard to get close up pictures of the girls since the group is so big, but at least Tessa is easier to see since she gets to stand up. She played the timpani for the song that the beginning band performed. Abby was harder to spot, but in this second picture you can just see the top of her head behind the guy in the bright blue shirt.
I took a picture after the concert with Abby and a couple of friends. So here's Abby with a fellow horn player, Hanna, and a friend from church Carrie, a trumpet player. Tessa got in the picture too and I thought it was cute with each of them holding their instruments.
The GT Fair was held in May and Taryn had her habitat on display that she had researched and created with her group. They had Oceans and she loved showing us which parts she drew (the manta ray) and the information that she had researched herself. Aubrey's grade had to do a report on an enigma and create a board game. Here she is with her GT teacher, Mr. Martinez.
Aubrey's board game was made out of a house floor plan and you had to get through the haunted house by answering questions about the enigma that she researched. Different activities and challenges were a part of the board pieces and she did everything herself to have it ready to play. Kids who visited her station got to play the game and receive candy if they made it safely through the haunted house.
Tessa's beginning band was able to perform at Western Playland and before and after the actual performance, they got to ride the rides and hang out at the park. Audrey Kasallis and I were able to chaperone so we watched the kids and made sure they were all behaving and we got to be the audience for their performance. Here's Tessa with her closest friends in band, French horn players Anna and Camryn.
Since Audrey and I chaperoned together, we got to take this picture of Logan and Tessa together with their instruments. I helped Tessa set up her bells for their first number, so I took this picture of the percussion section as they warmed up for their performance.
They earned a trophy from their performance so we took a picture of the entire band before releasing them back into the park. Mrs. Allen quickly jumped in the picture with the trophy for a second shot. I loved that Tessa was front and center too, right behind Mrs. Allen.
I walked around with Audrey as our kids rode the rides and played the games. While Tessa waited in line with her friends for a ride, I grabbed this picture. Here she is with Mr. Padella (a student teacher), Alexandria, Aria, Anna, Tessa, Camryn, and Albert.
The last day of school came quickly. Abby dressed up because she spent her last day doing an 8th grade graduation. Tessa was very excited to have a free-dress day since they usually have to wear uniforms every day.
Aubrey chose her Hawaii outfit for the last day and Taryn went for comfort. I love these girls and seeing how much they've grown in one school year.
I helped run Taryn's last day party. They had Bahama Bucks snow cones and created marshmallow launchers. I was so busy with those activities that I didn't get any pictures. I grabbed this one as we walked out to our car with one of Taryn's closest friends from class, Elene, who is moving this summer, so it was their final day together. They loved playing together and had many playdates outside of school because they got along so well.
The morning of the last day of school was spent at Abby's school for her 8th grade graduation ceremony. They sat alphabetically by their first period teacher, so since she was in Mrs. Allen's class, she was in the front row of the ceremony.
They make the ceremony a pretty big deal, almost like a high school graduation. They had people stand up for different clubs, sports, and activities that they participated in, so Abby got to stand up for All-Region Band, Compassion club, NJHS, Volleyball, and A-honor Roll. The principal, Ms. Varela, spoke and I took a picture of her entire 8th grade class.
They even got called individually by name and walked across the front of the room to receive their "diploma" and shake hands with administration. As soon as the ceremony was over, I quickly ran down to take a close up picture of Abby before they all dispersed.
After meeting parents in the cafeteria, we ran back into the gym to take pictures with the stage in the background. I loved these pictures so we can always remember her 8th grade graduation in 2019.
We took a lot of pictures with Abby and her friends. Here's one of the group pictures with some of her closest school friends, Emily, Braelinn, Kalie, Abby, and Alexis.
We wanted a picture with all the 8th graders from church, but we were only able to find a couple, so we grabbed this picture of Abby with Braelinn and Wesley. Abby also wanted a picture with her closest volleyball teammates from her school year, Andrea and Paulina.
Then we had to take a picture with her Club teammates. These were the only girls from their club team that went to Hornedo, Andrea, Diya, and Abby.
Abby wanted pictures with some of her classmates. Here she is with Sophia and a fellow horn player, Layla.
Here's Abby with two more band friends, Vianee and Bella.
Abby with a couple of her favorite teachers, Ms Little (Social Studies teacher), and her volleyball coach, Ms. Mendoza.
Some of Abby's close guy friends, Charlie and Aiden.
Abby took a few pictures in her classes during the last couple days of school so she'd have pictures with her friends from class. Here she is with Andrea and Ryan.
The 8th grade celebration was the last week of school. They bused all of the 8th grade students downtown to a Double Tree hotel where the kids had snacks and a dance. Abby had a picture taken with a group of friends during the dance, so I could include it in our blog. Here she is with Amelia, Ava, Braelinn, and Sophia.
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