Whirlwind Summer 2022 Part 1

 After our CRAZY May I thought we'd have some reprieve the summer months. NOPE. June started out with Amelia heading to Disneyland with the orchestra, while Cooper began driver's ed. And that's just the first week! I packed up my classroom to move--yet again--and start prepping for summer school. I hadn't planned on teaching summer school this year, but with Amelia's Senior Trip coming up and gas prices rocketing, I decided it would be a good idea.  

Amelia had SO MUCH FUN in Disneyland and I'm glad she had the experience. She hung out with two of her good guy friends, so there was no drama. They had also been to the park before, so they knew the best order to ride rides and the shortcuts to take. She also went on a whale watching cruise and saw lots of dolphins. She was able to attend a dinner show and spend time on the beach. The only downside she mentioned was the 14+ hour bus ride there and back. Here's a few pictures she sent us:

Happiest girl in the happiest place on earth.

This was from the Medieval Knights dinner show. Amelia received a red carnation from the "super hot" Black Knight.

While Amelia was kickin' in CA, Cooper and I were staying busy at home. I registered Amelia for her fall semester at BYU-I, Cooper continued driver's education, and I started fearing for my life. No, he's doing okay.....it's getting better. We also hung out with Katie and her two cute boys. David was recently called as bishop of their ward, so we don't see him much. Neither does Katie. 😂

For the rest of June we stayed busy with work, online classes, finishing driver's ed and  getting a permit, and summer school ending. July started off with the 4th of July parade (Amelia was walking in it) and Cooper's ballroom camp. He's trying out for the lift team this year, and so he took the extra early workshop. He really likes it, and hopefully he'll make the team. He's a solid young man, and he's been working on his upper body strength so it'll be easier on him.

The end of July was packed. Amelia decided for her senior trip she wanted to go the Olympic Peninsula in Washington and see all the sights from the Twilight movie. So we planned and planned and planned am 8-day, 2,177 mile trip through Seattle, Sequim, Forks, Long Beach and Astoria. The weather was AMAZING. So much cooler than the heat we've had the last month. I'll post her senior trip on a separate post. 

After we came back from our trip, we headed down to Utah to celebrate Linus' 6th birthday. It was fun to see him and cute little Ladd, but we were happy to come back home and NOT be in a car for a bit. 

Finally, last weekend we had our Call Reunion. It was a lot of fun, but now we are in full back-to-school mode. I can't believe the summer went by so quickly, but looking back, we really were able to do so many fun things!

Amelia's High School Graduation 2022!

 An absolutely crazy month was finished with an absolutely crazy week, which ended in an absolutely INSANELY crazy day! Amelia's graduation will definitely be one she (and everyone else) will remember forever! It started out as a beautiful, sunny, warm day. Cooper and I went to school, and Amelia went to graduation practice. My family started arriving about 4pm, and we left for the stadium about 4:30pm. It was a good thing we did, because it was PACKED. Amelia told me it was the largest graduating class Madison had ever had, with around 400 students graduating! We found good seats and sat down to wait. As the class of 2022 started walking in, we noticed some clouds moving in from the south. Not many people seemed concerned, so the ceremony went on. As it progressed and the wind picked up, many of the speakers cut their talks short to try and save time. The clouds rolled in as they began to call the names of the graduates. By the time Amelia stepped up (she was only number 18 or so) the winds had reached gusts of 40 miles and hour and it had started sprinkling. They called her name (pronouncing it wrong completely) and she was literally blown across the stage to accept her diploma. Her hat had already blown off and she was clutching it under her arm, as were most of her classmates. 

After a few more names, the rain began coming down and people started bailing out of the stands. The principal interrupted the ceremony and told all seniors to grab their things and head to the gym. Everybody ran for cover. The rain was coming down sideways by this point, and the overall weather resembled a Stage 4 hurricane. We sprinted in to the gym and took the first seats available, which were filling up fast. The graduates were standing on the gym floor as the administration began setting up the microphones and diplomas to try and get graduation back on track. 

Half an hour later, graduations started over. The seniors that had already been given their diplomas walked again, so Amelia was fortunate enough to graduation twice. 😂 It was a crazy situation, but I never heard any graduate complain. In fact, they made the best of it laughing and dancing. After the ceremony, (which the pronounced Amelia's name correctly) Cooper and I struggled to find her in the sea of red. We finally got home, then she left for the all night party shortly after that. I'm so, so, so so, proud of Amelia and all she's accomplished in her 18 years. She is such a kind, loving, fun, happy young women and I'm so excited to see what she will do with her life after high school. Her immediate plans are to work all summer then attend BYU-Idaho in the fall. She'll be studying Environmental Geoscience and be living on campus due to her many scholarships and grants. Here's some pictures and videos:

These are the pictures from the first graduation, or as we like to call it "The Calm Before the Storm".

Here's the video of Amelia's first graduation:

While they were still setting things up, the whole class did one last "Numa" dance together. This is a dance they would do at every assembly or at random times throughout the year. This was such a fun class and I'm so grateful Amelia was part of it. They, for the most part, were upbeat, happy, fun-loving kids. I'll try to post this video, but it's pretty large. 

The graduating class of 2022.....sitting on the floor. 😂

Her second graduation:

Here are the pictures afterward, with everyone a little water-logged but happy!

Congratulations, Amelia Jane Bargabos!! You did it, and you did it with grace, style, and a smile!

2022 Photo Dump

 I think on my last post I made it through the end of 2021. Now I'm going to try to make it current. We'll see. I used to think my life was busy when my children were young, but that was nothing compared to the craziness of teenagers. I have to admit I love it, and I'm well aware I have only a few years left until they're onto their own lives. Amelia's graduation is it's own post, so I'll try to update to that point. Here's some more photos of our life:

In between the slew of Amelia's activities, Cooper had a few ballroom competitions and concerts:

Amelia has almost hit her goal of attending all the high school dances her senior year by with going to Sweethearts with Josh.

Why yes, he is also over 6 feet tall! She had a few classes with him, and she knew he was someone she wanted to go with. Turns out I knew his mom a long time ago, so that was a fun coincidence.

I'm sure I'm posting these events out of order, but what's most important is that I'm POSTING them, right? We took a quick trip to Utah to grab Amelia some new pointe shoes for her final recital and visit our cute nephews/cousins. Katie introduced us to a diner that had AMAZING ice cream sundaes. Cooper was in heaven!

Amelia's dance streak continues with the Spring Fling. She went with her "husband" from the Nutcracker, Andrew. He is NOT 6 feet, however, he is 6 feet 5 inches.......she had a fantastic time and said she'd never laughed so much.

Both Amelia and Cooper had birthdays, which makes me the proud mom of a 18 year old and a 15 year old. They are such good kids, I'm so lucky to be their mom!

Amelia had a THOUSAND end of year senior things. Here's just a few:

Round 2 of Senior Pictures

Final orchestra concert:

Seminary graduation:

Her final ballet recital:

I do need to say a little more about this event. This was her final hurrah and her teacher, Diane, had given her a fabulous, LONG, pas de deux and solo. Amelia worked so hard on all her dances and they were looking amazing---until she started feel pain in her right calf and ankle. She put if off thinking it was just overworked, but it didn't go away. We went to the doctor who referred us to a physical therapist. The final diagnosis was severely strained calf muscled and Achilles tendon. She asked if she could still dance, and the answer was no, or she risked the tendon snapping. She asked how long it would take to rehabilitate, and her therapist said 2-3 months. Her recital was in 5 weeks. She began intense physical therapy three times a week, and was diligent with her at-home exercises. She was not allowed to dance at all for 3 weeks, which was really hard on her emotionally and physically. Each day we hoped and prayed she would be able to dance, even if it wasn't on pointe. Two weeks before the recital, her therapist said she could cautiously begin dancing on her leg. Honestly, what happened next was nothing short of a miracle. Amelia was able to dance her final recital--not on pointe--but she was able to dance and show off her talent, hard work, and diligence. She was BEAUTIFUL. Her dances made me cry. I'm so proud of her for having faith and doing her part to help her leg heal. Her therapist said he'd never seen someone improve and heal so quickly. I only have a few pictures of her recital until they release more. And yes, she was crying with happiness and a little sadness of her experience being over.

Finally, the LAST dance of the year--Prom--came around and Amelia asked if she could go with Justin, a young man she's decided she's fond of. I had a rule of not going to more than one dance with the same person, but she gave me that sweet smile she's had since birth and I caved. I also gave Justin a stern talking-to, and feel confident he's scared to death of me. 😂

I have such mixed feelings of Amelia graduating. She's ready, she's a mature, kind, confident young women, but it's hard to think of her not being around all the time. Here are her prom pictures:

Lastly, before I end this post and start on the graduation one, Amelia was awarded a half-tuition scholarship to BYU-Idaho for the fall and winter semester. It not only was a wonderful blessing financially, but a wonderful reward for all her hard work. 

Whew! If you're still with me after that crazy long post, stay tuned for more!