My baby's growing up!

And no, I don't mean Grace (although she is definitely growing up also!) It's my first baby that this post is for...my Karlee. Karlee graduated from Elementary School this past week. Where in the world has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday that we brought her home from the adoption agency. (It also doesn't help that Middle School starts in 6th grade here as opposed to 7th grade in Utah). She is definitely growing into a beautiful young lady! We are so proud of her and her accomplishments. She left Elementary School with straight A's!!! She received the President's Education Award for her grades...out of seven 5th grade classes in her school, she was one of about 20 students who received this award. Way to go Karlee!!!

Check out the pictures of a very excited, very beautiful Karlee on her graduation day:

Receiving her diploma:

Receiving the President's Academic Award:

Karlee and her reading/social studies teacher, Mrs. Hall:

Karlee and her Math/Science teacher, Mr. D

The reception following the graduation program:

Her award:

Ok...and now it's time to reminisce...because I'm a mom and I CAN do that...lol!! I mentioned earlier that I can't imagine where the time as gone since that night we brought our baby girl home from the agency...well in addition to that, it seems like just yesterday that she graduated from pre-school. (Wasn't she a cutie??) I remember that she had to say a "part" in the program (pictured below). We worked so hard to help her memorize her part...so hard, in fact, that I STILL remember her part today. It was, "September started out the year, we learned of shapes and colors." Wow...September started out this year also...but she learned geometry and metric measurements, and all about astrology...and lots of other things that seemed to be way beyond what I remember learning in 5th grade!

Receiving her pre-school gradutation diploma:

And then, one year later, my baby graduated from Kindergarten. Mrs. Jensen's class at Stansbury Park Elementary School. She had grown so more, learned some more, made friends, learned songs...and even had a field trip to the Hogle Zoo!

Receiving her Kindergarten "diploma":

Karlee and Mrs. Jensen:

So, today you have a very nervous mom (Middle School.....really???) and a very excited, very smart young lady getting ready to enter Middle School. She is entering one of, if not THE BEST middle school in Leon County...The only "Blue Ribbon" Middle School in the county. I know that she is going to do wonderfully. That she'll continue to grow and learn. She is going to be able to do anything she sets her mind to! Right now, she says that she wants to be a Marine Biologist...and I don't doubt for a second that she will do just that! Karlee, we love you so much and are so proud of you!!!