One Day, Two Milestones

June 9 was a big day around here! Both of our girls reached an educational milestone. Emma finished up 8th grade and that wrapped up all of middle school for the Preslar family. (Hoorah!) Romney graduated from high school, leaving us with just one more kid to get through the public school system. What a day!

First, the obligatory front-steps photos:

 

 

The day started with me taking Emma over to Clayton Middle School and dropping her off for her own promotion assembly. Did you catch that? Dropping her off. I am so happy that the school district changed its mind about how to handle middle school promotions. For my older kids a big graduation-type assembly was held, and each child could invite only two people to attend. This caused huge problems for kids whose whole families wanted to come cheer for them, and also problems for those of us who found a 2-hour ceremony to be unbelievably long. Since then those types of assemblies have been outlawed and now there is an assembly for just the 8th grade students alone. Parents, friends and families are invited to come form a reception line outside of the school, leading to the fields in back, cheering for the kids as they leave the auditorium and head outside for a party. There was food, icy drinks, a DJ, and lots of photos. I was fully in support. 

 

 

Once Emma and I got home - she requested to be escorted home on the scooter, which was a fun departure - she requested a chance to chill out and flop instead of coming with us to Romney's graduation. We did not blame her for making this request and heartily consented. 

First, photos in the Grad Outfit in front of the house:

 

Then photos in the Grad Outfit in front of THE East High:

 

Finally we made it to the Huntsman Center where Romney participated in the program both by playing cello with the orchestra and singing with the madrigals. It was fun to see her.

 

Romney was smarter than we were and brought her brother's Nintendo Switch on which she and her buddies played Super Smash Bros during the reading of the 400+ names.

After the graduation we tracked her down, hugging many people along the way, and went home to fetch, Emma. We took the girls to the restaurant Troy and I went to many a times while dating other people in the 90's. And haven't been to since. The Spaghetti Factory, of course! Hasn't changed a bit. Except the prices. Had to go with my fave - Mushroom and Mizithra, baby! The girls enjoyed it a lot and I got such a kick out of time traveling back to the land of Spumoni ice cream and garlic herb butter. 

I was kind of sad that Romney wasn't planning on going to the PTA-sponsored senior class party or anything like that, but she ended up making the best plan of all. After our feast of pasta, she and her friends gathered for their favorite thing. A late-night Dungeons and Dragons extravaganza. Perfect.