{where in the world is chase going?}

Today the highly anticipated mission call came in the mail.  Our mail usually comes late so when we heard the mailman around lunchtime it was a surprise.  We were in the garage at the time so we saw our mail lady put the mail in the mailbox.  We knew we were looking for a large white envelope so when we only saw regular size mail we knew it wasn't there.  I asked kaidee to go and get the mail as she was looking through it she yelled "Mom it's here!"  We were all so excited.  Chase was supposed to be off of work but someone had called him to work for them so he was at work.  Darian immediately texted him a picture of the envelope and then we began calling everyone to meet at our house at 6pm.  Chase was supposed to get home sometime after 6pm.

Garrett just happened to be flying in at 7:45pm but Darian had to be at work at 8:30pm so we decided to open it as soon as Chase got home from work.  Darian checked work and they moved his train back to 10:30pm.  I called Chase to see if we could move it to 8:30pm so that Garrett could be there.  He wasn't very excited to move it back but he wanted Garrett to be there so we decided to wait.  I texted everyone and told them to come at 8:00pm instead.

The waiting was hard for Chase.  The little boys were so excited, Cole was especially excited.  As soon as someone came over he wanted to know there guesses on where Chase was going.  Chase helped the boys put peoples guesses on the globe.

Chase waiting for everyone to get their phones ready.

It's time.

Everyone's guesses.

Cole was so excited.

He is called to serve in the Salt Lake City Utah Central mission.  He reports on January 7th and will speak the English language.

I was a little surprised to hear he was going to Utah.

Chase was trying hard to be excited but I could tell he was disappointed.  He just kept saying Utah? Really?

That night after everyone left he went to his room and I went to talk to him.  We had a nice talk and he felt a lot better after that.  His mission is the highest baptizing mission.  He will be close to the prophet and church leaders.  On his mission he will need a bike too.  I am so proud of him, Chase will be the first grandchild to serve a mission, what a great example he is to all the other cousins.

{he did it}

Chase Graduated!  It's still hard to believe he's done with high school.  I couldn't be more proud of him and how much he's had to go through to get to this point especially his senior year.  I look forward to seeing what his future holds.

When I graduated my mom wrote me a letter in my cap.  She is now passing on that tradition to her grandchildren.

I just love everything about this picture!  Chase almost didn't go to his graduation.  He wanted to go to California with Cody and Celeste so bad but I am so glad it didn't work out.  I told him that I thought he should go, he would be able to tell his children about it one day too.  I really think he would have regretted it if he didn't.

His graduation was held at the UNT Coliseum in Denton, Texas.  It was so nice being in an air conditioned building with soft seats.  I am not a big fan of graduations but this one was very good, except for the name reading, lol.

Below is a picture of one of Chase's classmates cap and gown.  He was killed in a car accident a few weeks before school got out.

Here he is walking in.  I'm sure he is looking for us.

Yay he found us!  His smile says it all.

In the next few pictures the class president took them all on a roller coaster ride.  If you look close you can see them with their hands in the air and to the side.

The valedictorian and salutatorian took a selfie before the salutatorian gave her speech.  After they took the picture the principal took her phone because they were not allowed to have phones.  Her speech she gave was so good and not the speech you would expect.  She talked about her teachers, her parents, her friends, and her future.  She said in her speech that she couldn't wait to become a wife and a mother.  You don't hear many high school students say that.  I just liked that she was being herself and wasn't afraid to say that!

Chase after his name was called shaking his principals hand.

Time to change your tassels.

and throw your caps in the air because they are now officially graduates!

Congrats Chase!  Nan made him his lei.

Proud parents!

Proud family, The only one missing was Cole.  He went down to Bobby and Tiffany's for a few days.

Nan and Pops

Aunt Amelia, Carys, and Grayson

Congratulations Chase!  I love you!

{chase's seminary graduation}

Today Chase officially graduated from seminary.  He completed a total of 4 years.  These last four years weren't always easy and he didn't get 100% attendance but he graduated and I am so proud of him.  He had two great teachers, Sis. Land in California and Sis. Stamps here in Texas.

Chase and Sis Stamps

Chase and his best friend Jake

{ a tribute to Shyann}

Since School was cancelled yesterday so was the boys basketball game so they played it tonight instead.  Thanks to social media everyone knew to wear Orange because it was her favorite color.  Both were on the girls varsity basketball team so that night was all about the girls.  They had a moment of silence before the game.  The boys basketball team all were wearing orange socks and even the players on the other team were wearing orange too.  It gives me goosebumps just thing about it.  I also noticed that fans on the opposing team were wearing orange too.  I love that a school, city, and even rivals can come together during such a sad time.  One other thing happened too.  During halftime the girls team from the other school presented orange roses to our girls team in memory of Shyann.

At school today these flowers were left on Shyann's desk.

I know its blurry but you can see all the orange in the crowd.  Shyann's family went to the game and after the game was over each of our players came into the stands to give her Dad a hug.  I will never forget this night.

{a sad day}

Today was a very sad day, two students at Chase's High school were involved in a terrible crash.  Shyann Hooper was driving and she was killed.  Brianna Christensen was in critical condition and taken to a local hospital.  The two girls were traveling home from their first track practice when the weather turned bad.  There was freezing rain and when the girls went across a bridge there was a head on collision with a large truck.  The weather this winter has been crazy.  We've had so many days where its too dangerous to drive because of the icy road conditions.  They cancelled school tomorrow and they are asking everyone to stay home.

{back to school but this time in Texas}

The first day of school has finally arrived here in Texas.  Our summer has been especially long because we are so used to starting school at the beginning of August back in California.  The kids excitement levels were all over the place.

Cole was ready to ride the bus and make new friends but he really wished he was going to the same school as his cousins.  Grayson goes to school where Amelia teaches and Miles and Rowdy go to Justin Elementary.

Kaidee was the most excited!  She could not wait to go to middle school and make some friends.  She has 8 different classes and a locker she was beyond excited.  I on the other hand am nervous for her because she will be the youngest in 6th grade by 2 months.  The cut off in Texas is September 1st and in California its December 1st.  Her birthday is November 6th but because she already did 5th grade in California and her report card and star testing was so good they wouldn't keep her in 5th as I wanted.

Chloe's emotions were all over the place.  She wants to make friends but then feels like she won't.  As a mom that makes me sad.  I know she will be ok it might take a little bit but I know she will make friends.

Chase will be a senior this year at Northwest High School.  I am having a hard time knowing that I will have an 18 year old in just over 2 months.  He has grown up so fast and he really is a good boy.  So far being the mother of teenagers has been pretty easy and I love it.  I have been praying my guts out for this boy.  He has taken the move pretty hard, he misses his friends, his school, and the fact that he only would of had 4 classes at GTHS.  He has had a few melt downs but I have seen how much he has grown from them.  I look forward to seeing how everything turns out for him this year.

I am loving the start times of their schools too.  Cole's school is from 7:45 to 2:30.  Chloe and Kaidee go from 9:30 to 4:30.  Chase's school starts at 8:30 and ends at 3:30.  I love that I will have alone time with each group.  Cole and Chase will be in the afternoon and the girls will be in the morning.  Chase has seminary in the morning then he goes straight to soccer practice the right to school.

Cole was so excited to ride the bus.  He gets picked up and dropped off at our house.  In California my kids went to a magnet school so I had to drive them to and from school everyday I am not going to miss that!

Paisley couldn't wait for him to get home.