Amazing Annapolis

My parents have been here enough times that we've done pretty much everything there is to do within a 2-hour radius of here, so now when they come here, they enjoy repeating their favorites..... like downtown Annapolis!

Dad and Riley in front of the old treasury building, one of the oldest buildings in the State. 

And in front of the Capitol surrounded by cherry blossom trees in full bloom!

Perfect weather and a perfect way to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon!

 

We've got an Eagle in the House!

Tanner had his Board of Review last Friday evening..... and he passed, officially making him an Eagle Scout!

My parents were hoping to be able to be here for his Eagle Scout Court of Honor, but unfortuanntely the timing didn't work out.  So, I'm glad it worked out for them to at least be here when he walked in the door from his Eagle Board of Review and announced to all of us that he was an Eagle!

This has been a looooonng road with a ton of hard work!  We're all super proud of T for making it all the way to Eagle and can't wait to celebrate him at his official Court of Honor on May 22nd.

 

The Star Spangled Banner and Top Golf

Last Friday (March 20th) was a beautiful day!  We headed out to Fort McHenry, home of the Star-Spangled Banner National Anthem!

The kids had lots of fun exploring all the cannons and barracks. 

..... Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.....

Ella finding a door she could fit through fur advanced exploration 😏

Then we headed to Top Golf, a place my Dad had never been to.  Dave was able to come straight from work and meet us there and we had a great time eating yummy food and playing some fun golf games.  This is such a fun way to spend some quality family time!

Tee-Time for Tanner

Riley's Round

Ella's turn!

Nice shot, Dave!

Fun day!

Fun family day!

 

Rock and Roll XXXVII: Storm the Stage

 

Tanner had SO much fun doing Rock and Roll Revival last year and was super excited to do it again this year.  Try outs were held in December and he found out the day before Winter break that he "made it" and that he was cast in 8 songs doing back up vocals in several and a solo in Frank Sinatra's "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."

After three months of intense practicing for hours a day, opening night finally arrived. Dave and I along with Riley, Ella and Jacque were there to cheer him on!

It's Raining Men!

Doing his thing in "Steal My Sunshine."  

And surrounded by beautiful dancers in "I've Got My Love to Keep me Warm"

Crooner

Joining the chorus line on the last night.

Intermission

Here Comes the Sun

This was the Senior only number..... hard to hold back the tears seeing all these Seniors, who have become such great friends perform together one last time.

Tanner with one of "his dancers" and good friend.

Tanner with Kesly Wilkinson.

Tanner with Brooklyn Labrier

With Sam and James

With Natalie 

With Destiny... who was also one of his co-leads in Matilda in Middle School.

With good buddy Max.

Closing night!

There were a total of 7 shows over the past week and a half and my parents flew in to see him perform.

We had family at 5 of the 7 shows (I went to three of them) and everyone in the family who lives locally plus my parents (all four grandparents, me, Dave, Riley, Ella, Heidi, Jacque, Becky, Mike, Anne, Alexis, Jordan and Becky) went at least one to cheer him on 🎤

Tanner with his four grandparents.

Five of my 11 seminary students together on closing night.

Tanner's girlfriend Isabella.

On Closing Night, I hung back after everyone left the theatre and soaked it all in.  How much I've loved having a kid involved in this incredible production the last two years.

How that same stage looked just minutes before as this awesome group of kids took their final bow after their final show.

Tanner is going to......... Argentina!!

 

Tanner recently found out he was accepted to BYU (Provo) and officially accepted and made it IG official!

And then...... deferred his acceptance and filled out paperwork to become a full time missionary for the next two years and has been awaiting his assignment.

He got his mission assignement on Thursday and immediately emailed me at work.  He was SO excited. He could hardly contain himself. But I told him, he couldn't look at it or open it. He HAD to wait for Dad to get home (he was out of the country on a business trip) and until we could all be together as a family.

Since we have family (and close friends) near and far, we set up a zoom call for people who don't live close to join us virtually.  Tanner (and the rest of us!) were so touched that so many people signed in.  It made us so happy to see so many of our loved ones be a part of this special time.  That's my parents in the upper left corner. 

And more!

That's you, Maricarmen in the upper left of this pic 😊

Dave's parents came over as well as a few of Tanner's friends - Evan, Kai and Mic.

And Riley, Isabella and Ella too :) 

He opened the letter, read it aloud and found out he is going to........ Tucuman, Argentina!!

He starts his mission on July 29th.

So, we have 4 months to get this kid graduated from High School and ready to serve a two year mission!

I'm so happy for him. He's so excited.  But I'm also soaking him in as much as he can.  I can't even think about not seeing him for two years.  So in the mean time, I'll just think about seeing him every single day for the next four months!  And spending a ton of 1:1 mother/son bonding time on our upcoming trip to Iceland together!

Our one and only boy.  All grown up and going on a mission!

He loves his Nana and Grandpa, who have lived 10 minutes up the road for his whole life!

Lacey's sweet IG post right after he announced.

And Riley's post....

And Tanner's post.

So proud of you, buddy.  😘