We have had a super fun couple months around here! Keeping busy as empty nesters 🙂 I had a work conference in San Francisco in Sept so Jim and I decided to go a little early and do some sightseeing! We had SO much fun! The girls have been busy with all the football games and I hope lots of school… Averi even got to go to Oxford with Lucas to watch the Hogs play Ole Miss!! Sydni decided to run for uark senate and was elected to a position! SO COOL! Averi was officially initiated into Chi Omega and the fam was able to come up for brunch to celebrate. It was a beautiful fun day <3 Then ChiO dad’s weekend and of course Halloween!!!
We just had the BEST TRIP EVER! Jim and I fell in love with Hawaii! Specifically Maui <3 What a spectacular place! Originally we were going the week of Jim’s 50th birthday. BUT we found out that Chi Omega dad day fell on that weekend! So we pushed it back a week so it fell on my 49th 😉 We did Honolulu for 3 days at a hotel in downtown Waikiki then we flew to Maui to stay in a vrbo condo for 4 days. The islands, the food, the views, the weather, I could go on and on… we hope to go back to see the whales and volcanos soon!!
Summer has wrapped up with lots of beach trips for Averi and her national champ ceremony!!! Then we moved her up to Fayetteville! We miss her so much! We got her settled into her dorm and she got started with RUSH! Sydni went up early for work week and had lots of fun setting up. It was a long week but Averi ultimately decided to be a Chi Omega with her sister! It was another super fun and exciting bid day! I love seeing my girls so happy <3 Now the real work begins with school and game days and Jim and I figuring out this whole empty nest thing. We have a couple trips planned in the next couple months so stay tuned…
Well school wrapped up for my girls! Averi had her last day at FSPS and graduated from Southside. Crazy to think these days are over! I have enjoyed them so much <3 We got her all enrolled at UofA at orientation too! I am so excited for her and the 4 years ahead!! Sydni finished her 2nd semester of sophomore year with a 4.0!! We are SO VERY proud of her! College is hard work and she has been working hard this year! Next time I post both my girls will be underway as Razorbacks!!!
We had the best cruise this year!!! This year we were able to cruise out of Miami and visited the ABC islands – Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao! It is an area I have always wanted to go to! We flew into Ft Lauderdale and ubered to Miami Beach where our hotel was. It was right on the water and SO pretty!!! We had the best views! That night we went shopping in Miami and had dinner. The next day we cruised out of Miami on the Carnival Celebration for 8 days! It was just like the Jubilee we sailed on last year that was absolutely loved! We had 3 stops with 4 at sea days!!! It was such a fun vacay and I cherish these times with my little fam <3
I met Kim and Constance in Oxford, MS for the weekend! Its just a 5-6 hr drive for each of us so the perfect distance to meet up for drinks and chill. The VRBO we stayed at was awesome! SO nice complete with a pool and hot tub! The town was so beautiful with super cute shops and awesome restaurants! I would love to go back! It was nice to relax and catch up with my bestie <3
Averi and I went on her senior trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica!!! It was a WONDERFUL time! All of her friends were kind and lovely all week long and we had the most perfect weather!!! The resort was beautiful! Such a memorable trip<3 August is fast approaching and this momma is not ready…
Averi had so much end of the year/graduation stuff I started to refer to May as Averi-palooza! It was such a fun time and I wish we could do it again!! 🙂 Shes an AMAZING kid and so easy to celebrate <3
The baccalaureate service is always so special to kick off all the activities. Seeing Averi and her friends in the cap and gown for the first time makes things so real!! Then we went straight into 2 proms! Averi attended the Northside prom with Lucas then Lucas went to Southside prom with Averi the next weekend. They looked absolutely amazing!!! Along with their friends <3 We had a ball getting her all dolled up and all the pics. SO FUN! Then was Averi’s last day of school!! Unreal that I will no longer have a kiddos at FSPS any longer. That weekend our church had a beautiful service and brunch for their seniors. This was the first time I got emotional since all of this started. The next weekend Averi hosted a grad party with some of her friends at Hardscrabble. We lucked out with a perfect day! It was so fun getting to see all her friends celebrate together! The week of graduation Southside has the seniors parade thru their old elementary schools for the kids. I loved going back and seeing some of her old teachers! We walked to Cook for manyyyy years. It was fun doing it one last time.
Finally it was actually GRADUATION DAY! We had storms threatening all day and even had a few raindrops early on but the skies held off and it was a gorgeous night. It all felt so fast I wish we could do it again! We held a graduation party that Sunday for friends and family at the Marshal’s museum. I am so incredibly thankful to everyone who came to celebrate!!! I know its a busy time and some people came from far off and I couldn’t feel more blessed. Averi is special in every way and I love that others see that in her as well. I dont know what in the world I am going to do without her at home when August gets here. I told Jim it might be time for a 2nd home in NWA now that both are girls are there!!
Averi took pics with Anne Marie all year long to remember her senior year! Annie does an amazing job and I love each and every photo! These are precious to me and I highly recommend the investment!! She did some senior shoots but she also did 4 individual shoots for each season like Sydni did. I love them!!
In the middle of the graduation chaos Averi turned 18! I have always loved her birthday in the spring! Its always a fun time and beautiful weather and everyone is in a great mood for the upcoming summer. All was true this year as well but it was all so hectic I feel like I missed it!! Luckily Averi has the sweetest friends who took time out of their crazy schedules to celebrate her and I love them dearly for it <3
