8th Grade Graduation?

Yes, that was 8th Grade Graduation?

I suppose it could be a . because I saw it happen.

Or a ! because I saw it happen with a lot of emotion.

And yet, I'm left with a ?.  A lot of ?'s.

WHY???  Doesn't she WANT to be my baby anymore?

HOW???  She was just born yesterday.  Ok, that's an exaggeration.  She was just born last year.  Literally.  It's bizarre.

WHEN???  When did she get so old?  For that matter, when did I get so old?  I have enjoyed watching my husband get older as he is one of those lucky guys who definitely gets finer with age, but I didn't think I was getting THAT MUCH older.

Sigh.  I suppose it's happening.  She's getting older.  (I'm still not though.  That stuff's for the birds!)  She is growing into this wonderful young lady with whom I am honored and pleased to spend my days.  For a teenager, she is remarkably easy.  She does what she is supposed to without being told.  She does what she is told the first time.  And she doesn't sass.  EVER.  (I don't expect anyone who doesn't know her to actually believe me, but feel free to ask those who do know her and don't parent her.  I speak the truth.)  She is setting the bar so high for her siblings.  I'm afraid at least one of the younger two is going to not even try to be good, she has set the bar so high.  Not that I have a certain sibling in mind or anything.  ;)  We'll let that play out and see how it goes.

We had her party at an old log cabin in the township where my Grandmother lives.  It was the only really big place I could think of where everyone could get together and not impose on anyone.

She wanted to be surprised by the menu, so I tried to come up with things that I thought everyone would like and would make her smile.

We also had meat and no meat meatballs and meat and no meat baked beans.  ;)

She is such a little hippy at heart.

Her style is definitely all peace signs, flowing skirts and VW bugs.
We're grateful that she skips the little homemade cigarettes and protests.

And who doesn't love the double decker frosted cookie from Sam's Club?

Now there's a bulk buying idea I can fully support.

This was my take on banana roti, a yummy treat we had in Thailand.  Roti was everyone's favorite desert... well, it was a 2-way tie between that and mangoes and sticky rice.

I have a Filipino friend who showed me how to make these banana rolls.

I added sprinkled sugar and sweetened condensed milk to make it like the way roti is served.

If only I had a coffee in a bag...

Abby is a reader.  A "forget the rest of the world exists and lose myself in a book" reader.

Noah told her that there was to be no reading on her last day in PA... and someone gave her a book as a gift.  When she unwrapped it, he was very quick to remind her of the rule he had made.  And was apparently willing to enforce.

Uncle Joel, Zachary and Lauren

The kids would come in for food and drinks, but spent the bulk of their day outside exploring the woods around the cabin.

When I took Abby shopping for her party, she found these super cute poncho style shirts and said that she would really like to match all of her girl cousins, so part of her gift from us was outfitting all the girls to look like her.

I think they're all beautiful, inside and out.

I love my gaggle of girls.

Happy Graduation Day, Abby!

We look forward to seeing what you do next!