In the past month, we have had two graduations. Emma from college, and Aiden from high school!!!
Emma is officially a real adult now. Once you graduate college, you are no longer "adult in training" you are "go make somethin go of your life" adult. This girl is feeling a bit of that pressure.
Brent and I drove up and spent a few nights in Flagstaff. Grandma and Gramps met us there too. It was fun to all be together to celebrate her hard work. (not pictured, Cody who helped us celebrate her too).
Emma has always been smart and done well in school. She graduated with a high GPA and was even able to save money the past four years. She is creative and a great artist. She is compassionate and loves people easily. She feels deeply and wants to make others happy. It's fun to look back and see these personality traits in her, even as a toddler. Parenting Emma came with a steep learning curve. I am proud of the way I have learned to be her mom and am so very grateful we have a good relationship. She came to us as the Emma I know now and it has been so amazing to see her bloom and become more of herself the past four years. She makes this world a better place and I am so grateful we get to be her parents! So very proud of her and love her beyond words!
A few weeks later, Aiden had his graduation. Something about Aiden graduating has felt particularly sad. I love this boy who is turning into a grown man. My feelings for him are tender and, the past few months, have been very near the surface. I've learned that events like this bring on a lot of tears and to just let the feelings come. We are so very proud of him and excited to see where life takes him over the next few years.
A few months ago, Aiden just texted Brent and I and said, "I'll go to BYU" to which I said, "okay"
He had really been struggling to decide between Utah State and BYU (mostly because he didn't really feel passionate either way). So, I was glad he finally just made a commitment and didn't want to question his choice. We were already behind on so many things. We jumped on the housing portal the next day and Aiden got the last bed at Helaman Halls. So, he is planning on doing a year of school and then a mission. His senior year has been pretty easy academically and pretty busy in all other ways. He did cross country, club soccer (with Vail club which he loved), school soccer, track, work at Firehouse Subs, had a girlfriend, camped and went fishing as much as possible and slept in between (man this kid can sleep deeply anywhere in an instant).
These boys are amazing! Don't they just look like the kind of kids you'd like to hang out with?
