Bon Voyage!

Laurel is finished with Elementary School!  Next year she will be in Middle School!  Wow, the years are going really, really fast!  We attended a Fifth Grade Bon Voyage the last day of school, where each Fifth grader walked across the stage and received a certificate from the Principal and Assistant Principal.  Then they spent the rest of the afternoon partying!

Friends, Lexi and Taylor

Cousin Jeana!  

So crazy that mine and my cousin Melanie's daughters go to school together!

Laurel's fifth grade class having ice cream at their Bon Voyage party.

I can't believe she only has six more years in school!  She is half way there!  Middle School was not my favorite!  It can be such a hard period of life.  All of these girls and boys have hormones raging through their bodies.  They are trying to figure themselves out.  Some girls can just be flat out mean!  I wouldn't want to go back if you paid me a million dollars.  A good friend of mine sent me this article the other day.  At the end of the article, the author included these tips for her daughter.  I thought they were great and I've already found myself saying some of the same things to my girls.

1)      Don’t let anyone tell you they are better than you.  In my experience, the people who talk about how great they are tend to be the most insecure.

2)     Be yourself. Don’t ever change just to be liked by someone else. A true friend will accept you for being your unique self.

3)     Being “popular” when you are young doesn’t translate into success later in life. In fact, the kids who experience adult things too early tend to burn out. I love that many of the “nerds” in middle school and high school have turned out to be some of the most successful people I know.

4)     Don’t grow up too fast. There is no rush to wear make-up, shave your legs, try alcohol, or to have your first kiss. These are things to look forward to in life and I will be here for you when you are ready.

5)     Hold your head high and say hello. Acknowledge your friends and peers alike when you see them.  It’s amazing what a smile can do to break the ice.

6)     Embrace your individuality. Don’t try to fit in. You were put on this earth for a purpose and the world is a better place with you in it.

I love #6!  Laurel, I hope that you will always know that you do have purpose!  You were put on this earth for a reason.  Our family is better because of you.  I know it is so hard being the oldest of this crew and having to experience these things first.  I will always be here for you and love you no matter what!