Class of 2015

Class of 2015!













I brag about my girls and Tyler a LOT. Don't get me wrong, Ricky is a COOL kid. He just gets bored in school and chooses not to complete or turn in assignments.


Ricky graduated from the 6th grade today. I was happy he made it! It has been a struggle for the past few years.


Today, Ricky was presented with TWO awards in addition to his "diploma!"


The first award?


A 'President's Education Award'. This is a HUGE honor I guess, and he had no idea he was getting it. I was so surprised. The award is really cool looking, and it is signed by Barack Obama.
















He got the award because he has greatly improved his grades. I was so moved, I almost cried. I didn't have my camera ready, so the pictures aren't great.




Ricky is next to the flag pole in the stripes. :)


























The second award was:

An Achievement Award for outstanding performance in Language Arts!






(Again, not ready. I need a new camera!)

Every student in the class received some sort of award during this part of the ceremony. "Peacebuilder," "Great Leadership Skills" I expected Ricky's to be something like, "Most enthusiastic," or "Student who turned in LEAST amount of assignments." You know, those types of awards. The teachers have to make something up.

Outstanding Achievement in Language Arts. That ROCKS. I am so dang proud of him! When we were driving home, I got all choked up. I knew the kid had it in him. I tried so hard to tell him that without crying.

Mr. Warren, Principal of Parkside Elementary

Ricky receiving his diploma.

If you see or talk to Ricky, PLEASE congratulate him. This is a HUGE deal.

Congratulations to ALL graduates: Class of 2009 (Taylor Yip!) and the future Class of 2015.

Ricky waiting patiently while all the names were called out.

HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP!

I'm too young for this.

My beautiful 11 year old twins came home the other day with a new necklace. Each of them had one. Of course, the new bling certainly caught my eye. They played it off, and I got distracted, so I never did really get where the new bling came from.

Fast forward to today. There is a Scentsy open house down the road. Sweet Tyler bought me a car candle and a Blueberry Cheesecake bar. (My favorite!) As I was putting the new bar away, I noticed another new bar in the drawer. Oxford smells good, but is not really a scent I would burn. When I asked where it came from, I was NOT ready for the answer.

I found out about the bar and the necklaces! The necklaces were gifts from their "boyfriends." I asked what they had given them in return and they both insisted "nothing." Well, turns out, the 5th grade boys who had girlfriends all went out and bought their ladies some "bling." Each of these girls that hangs out together got one, but each is different, so the boys know who's girlfriend is whose.

Um, WOW. I got a ring my Junior year of high school and my mom flipped. It was a pretty emerald. (NOT engagement by the way.)

The Scentsy bar? A gift from the neighbor boy, who knows they love the Scentsy warmer in their room. He is around enough to know that I refuse to give the girls my favorite scents to burn. (Moms, you know how they never come back.)

As far as the necklaces go, I guess it was just all the boys that hang together giving their little "girlfriends" that hang together a gift. I talked to the mom of another little girl that got a necklace. She thinks it's hilarious and sweet and told me not to worry.

Yeah, so, do I let them keep these gifts? Necklaces and Scentsy bars? Did anyone catch the Desperate Housewives Season Finale last week? Am I being paranoid? My girls will NOT be like that Ana chick. I will not raise flirty little hussies.

On, the other hand, they cannot control silly boys who want to spend their money.

HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLP! All advice is solicited and welcome.