A lot of lasts and looking forward to all that is to come. Music in the Air was as great as the last four years. Both girls got to sing on the mic with their friends and classmates. After that it felt like seniors were pretty much done with high school forever. Cienna did get to showcase her senior project. FLIP was her successful design to help athletes connect across the world to look forward and inspire each other. Next up was her senior trip with friends. They planned out their trip together to Palm Springs. Their rental was fully equipped with all they needed beside each other. Pool, hot tub, games, movie screen, and beautiful weather to be together enjoying every meal and being them. Mom even got to join for one of the evenings.
Back at home there was a mad rush to get ready for all the upcoming festivities. Dad put in every hour he had to get so close to being party ready. We had some painting and finish work which is always so satisfying, but still a lot of work. We did also enjoy some delicious BBQ with the Marshalls for Memorial Day.
The girls went line dancing and axe throwing with the Waters's. For one of Cienna's last finals she made an amazing pastel painting. Then headed to Six Flags for Grad Night til the wee hours of the morning. It was all decorated for the occasion and she took advantage of very short lines to go on all the best coasters for the first time this month.
Kaylee headed to another 16th birthday party at Rina's, and Cienna had a dinner with the senior FLA members getting another stole to wear for Graduation. Next morning the girls had a Chamber Choir brunch together.
Cienna stood out at her Quest senior awards night being highlighted by her teachers for all her accomplishments along with a stand out award for Science. She then went on to plan and execute the senior pranks for the year with her friends. They took over the teachers parking lot in the morning with tailgate breakfast and games (they did decide to get rid of senior parking this year). Then all seniors walked out of class in the middle of the day to join a Rave dance party in the ASB room. Both were complete successes.
Meanwhile we all continued to rush toward a finished back/party yard. The counter top happened to be a bit more of a problem child than necessary, but ended up working out alright.
There was also prep for Graduation day. Cienna deserved a student athlete stole even though her athletics was not through school, so she made one herself with the help of friends. After distribution day which she got her cap and gown and passed down the "torch" to kindergarteners from Emerson, she had friends over for craft decorating of their Grad caps.
Many Grad parties throughout the month. Started with Morgan, Hailey, and then Ulysses. We all had so much fun socializing and hanging out with such great friends. Before Senior Sunset Emma also had her Grad party. Another great turnout for senior sunset and as expected/hoped for the sun performed beautifully for them.
Kaylee meanwhile was still working hard to finish out her sophomore year with outstanding grades as always. She had many tough finals and did great on everyone despite all the parties.
Megan and June came to join us first the night before Graduation after gym, then Cienna headed to Emma's to sleepover with friends before the big day. We were joined by the rest of the Natal's, Grammy and Greg, and Evan before we all headed to watch Cienna sing with Vocal Ensemble for the ceremony then walk across the stage with her teachers and administrators receiving her diploma celebrating her and who she has become over the years. She followed up with doing the first back tuck ever after exiting the stage, flipping into her future.
Up next was preparing for the 2026 seniors to come back to their elementary school. Parents helped organize and teachers were ready to support all these students coming back to Carver and walking the halls in celebration of their academic careers so far.
Kaylee had her last day of school and got to get out a little early to join us at Carver. There were at least 50 that came back together. They walked the halls and were cheered along by all the elementary kids. They then passed the "torch" again the the Carver Kindergarteners before meeting back up with ALL their previous teachers. Most of them are retired or no longer work at Carver but came back for the occasion. There were plenty of speeches, and even more pictures taken, but it was great to be back together.
The bus showed up with Poppa and the Marty's, then the use of the hard work in the backyard began. With all the help from family we set up and decorated the day away in preparation for Cienna's big Graduation party. Everyone had such a great time and Cienna felt appreciated to be joined with all the friends and family that showed up to support as well as from those who could not make it. Her "Freshly Graduated" theme was fun to organize and definitely matched Cienna's tastes.
First thing the following morning the girl cousin's headed out to Torrance for an "Enchanted" Escape Room. Turns out they all worked very well together and not only escaped one, but three of the rooms. The rest of us enjoyed the morning with relaxing walks and talks. When the girls returned we all prepared to head to Naples canals for a Duffy Boat ride. The views, conversation, and relaxation flowed along with great weather. The girls even took a dip in the water with a jump off one of the bridge overpasses.
After saying goodbye to the Natal's, Poppa joined us for a delicious dinner at the Eldo followed by ice cream next door at the Scoop. Poppa and the Marty's headed off in the morning for their next adventure and we were beginning ours. We switched up the decorations from grad to Sweet 16, opened the hot tub and brought out the games in preparation for Kaylee to host her friends. They partied the night away and Kaylee was a good host. Chocolate fountain was flowing with plenty of cut up fruit, the fire pit was perfect for S'mores, and they were plenty loud into the night. Luckily we have great neighbors.
Kaylee had Nicki, Amiah, and Saorsie stay the night for a big day at Six Flags with the rest of us on her actual birthday. She woke up to decorations after a not restful but fun nights sleep. The seven of us started at Starbucks for her free birthday Trenta, and had a fun roadtrip to Valencia. It was a wee bit hot, but a great day for lines, or lack there of, at Magic Mountain. They got to about 10 or so roller coasters, way too expensive food, lot's of water and walking, and memories to last a lifetime. Came back late in the night to have ice cream in the hot tub and the birthday song.
After a good nights sleep and a semi relaxing day Kaylee was, as we all knew, prepared for her drivers test. She got the coolest guy for her test and they got along famously. Needless to say she came back a licensed driver. She took off on her own as soon as we got back to get the four of us Panera for lunch. She wasn't the one who paid, but "you fly I buy". Proceeded to drive her sister to gym, and although she said it felt lonely, she is getting the small taste of the freedom it has to offer.
Needless to say we got to create more memories and experiences to continue our epic adventures together. Or seriously, enter your own closing statement here : )
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