Senior Homecoming

Senior year means lots of lasts.

Bug had his last Granada homecoming. He's made some new friends since last year and went to the dance with them.

The whole group

Bug has had a lot of fun with all these kids the last few months.

And then he got a bonus homecoming this year--a friend from church asked him to go to the other high school dance.

Picture taking--

They had a fun group.

He really only knew one of the guys, none of the girls very well.

But they had a fun night.

(And took so many pictures. Guess it's a bigger thing when people are there with dates--or just that one of the moms was a little picture crazy.)

(She had all types of suggestions, haha.)

And the pose the kids came up with!

One more last is over. I really don't love the idea that this kid will be gone next year.

 

Smorgasbord of September

In an effort to get caught up, and still get a taste of what has been occupying our time. . . Here's a snapshot of the rest of September. 

Peanut had more swim practices. He hasn't complained too much yet.

Daddy-o made us a Chilean meal to celebrate their independence day. We had friends over for completos and empanadas--delicious!

We followed up the bedroom move with moving the actual beds a couple weeks later because it turns out, Peanut actually doesn't like having his own room and definitely doesn't like sleeping too close to the ground (and all those monsters lurking under the bed.) so we moved the bunk beds into his room and the big bed moved to Bug's room (and he's loving the extra length so he can stretch out.) Unfortunately, all that work hasn't led to a happy Peanut, but at least I now have the bottom bunk to sleep in when he needs someone in the middle of the night--and we got a new mattress for that bed, so it's actually very comfortable.

We got a crazy rainstorm--not only earlier than normal, but a LOT of water in a short time. Felt like we were back in North Carolina and we loved it.

Bean has been making friends at school--it's been a slower start than she hoped, but she likes these kids who she gets a ride to church with each week. Out of the 30,000 students at the school, these are the only four who live on campus and attend the same church as her. Not as big of a group as we were hoping for, but at least she's enjoying them.

Bug got talked into doing the class dance for their Homecoming rally and had fun as a 50's greaser.

He's been busy with water polo games and practices, including some early morning practices with the other Livermore high school. Our team doesn't do the early mornings, and his club coach is at the other school, so invited anyone who wanted to show up for those. Bug is the only one who has. He can't get enough of the pool.

Daddy-o got to see the Brubeck Brothers when they came to play at the Bankhead. No one else could get away that evening to go with him, but he said it was an incredible concert.

Peanut and I got to spend a beautiful morning exploring one of the parks on the bay with my nature group. The ranger who met with us was great and so excited about our goup.

She swore them all in as Jr. Rangers at the end--it was a fun class.

Bean, along with water polo, also found time to get belay certified and has plans for weekly rock climbing with a friend from the water polo team.

Daddy-o, Peanut, and I went to an A's game with friends. I think the kids were somewhat apathetic about the whole game experience.

It's actually a pretty far cry from the games I used to go to in the 80s/90s when the team was so good--they lost pretty badly, and the crowd was small and not very enthusiastic (I guess there's not much to be excited about when you're losing, but there was no attempt to do the wave or anything.) But the kids were happy with the ridiculous number of snacks they got to eat, so there is that.

Bug couldn't go with us because he had the homecoming game that night, and then the dance the next night. He went with a big group of friends and said it was a fun time.

Meanwhile, Bean was able to find a friend to go to a game at Petco Park. They rode the trolley downtown and watched the Dodger's beat the Padres which made her happy.

At church, during Stake Conference, I got put in as the secretary to the new Stake Young Woman's Presidency. I don't think I'm really great at the whole secretary thing, but I'm learning and these women I get to work with are amazing people, so that's going to be fun.

We spent a lot of time on California history--so many good books, and so much history that I didn't know anything about.

Peanut got a day at work with his dad, which he always loves, and he did some actual work. He also got a Taco Bell lunch out of the deal, which is reason enough to go.

Another nature group outing--this time at a local park where we learned all about leaves and finally got to do the leaf sketching activity that I've been wanting to try for years. The kids did amazing sketches that were mostly very easily identifiable which was the point of the game.

Also had a few days of checking in on this sweet pup and the other dog at the house (he hates me so seldom sticks around for pictures, haha.)

Those doggy days have given us a chance to mix things up and take school to a new location. Even just changing backyards can keep things interesting.

And that's pretty much a wrap on September. 

First and Last Homecoming

Bug got to go to his first high school dance. He went back and forth for awhile trying to decide if he even wanted to go, but he started hanging out with this group of mostly water polo players and they were all going, so he decided to do it and I think he had a good time.

He's grown up so much this past couple years. So handsome!

And his friends seem like a fun group.

I'm glad that after last year being mostly at home, he's been able to find some kids he likes and that he can do things with on the weekends.

And after I finished up at Bug's friend's house, I ran over to Bean's to catch the tail end of picture taking over there. These girls are great and I love that they have made high school so fun for her. 

This gorgous girl is starting all the lasts. . .last first day, last high school homecoming. It's going to be a year of counting down to that big last day of high school.

But for now, she's just soaking up every little bit of fun. They missed out on a lot the past 1.5 years but they're cramming it all in this year. These girls go out to lunch once or twice a week, have been going to all the football games, and getting together whenever they can on the weekends. I keep crossing my fingers that Bean might end up at the same college as one of them. There are a couple who are applying to some of the same UCs, so maybe they'll get lucky.

Homecoming, Take One

It's hard to believe this girl is old enough to be having all these high school experiences, but we're over a year into this whole thing! Bean missed the homecoming dance last year because of a water polo tournament, but this year, things lined up and she was so excited to go to her first high school dance. We went shopping a couple weeks ago to get her dress and shoes, which was remarkably easy. I had mentally prepared for it to be difficult, but she found this beautiful dress at the second store we went to.

She went with the group of girls (and one guy) that she eats lunch with each day. They met up ahead of time for pictures and dinner at one of the girl's houses.

Daddy-o may have gotten a little teary when he saw her all dressed up. (Hair credit goes to her friend, L. She and I haven't had much luck with getting curls to stay in, so she called in the reinforcements for the dance and it worked.)

 By her account, the dance exceeded her expectations--everyone danced, it wasn't too crazy, or too hot in the gym. She came home happy, and tired.