Now and Then...

So back in high school, there were 5 us of girls.... the best of friends, The Fab Five we called ourselves. 

Some of us cheered, some were state qualifying athletes, some were top of our class, some of us were managers for the baseball team (because, duh, baseball pants), we also dabbled in basketball managing, some of us attempted tennis and were really terrible at it, most of us were far more interested in boys and socializing than school, one of us was the class clown, most all of us were very gifted in art class, a few of us had the time of our life in chess class (never really learning anything about chess except the name of the really cute boy we obsessed over).... all of us were so different, but I can tell you right now, there was never a group of girls that had as much fun as we did! 

I think this was our junior year maybe, but it was definitely high school... anyways, we decided when they called for picture retakes, we were gonna do a group picture! We reenacted this at our 10 year reunion and then at Joslynn's shower, three of us were there, so we did the best we could without Lindsay and Brandi. 

When I think back on these days, it's filled with football games, endless sleepovers, chasing boys, wrapping houses, Hello Kitty, sharing clothes, Matchbox 20, going to the movies, and the best fun the 90's had to offer!

All I can say, is thank goodness for lashes and letting those eyebrows grow out!

A Little Trip West...

When I found out one of my most closest high school friends was having her bridal shower on the same weekend as my high school homecoming, I knew it would be hard to keep me away. With Remi having his license, I knew it would be much easier for me to sneak out of town for a few nights!

Icing on the cake, and if I'm being honest, the main reason I went, was to watch Mallorie cheer in her very first Wall Homecoming pep rally, her Thursday home game and watch Kase bring home two wins in flag football. I love seeing the cousins together, but RARELY do I get the treat of just being on Aunt duties! It was so much fun! Not to mention, Mom and I spent every night on the couch watching a full season of Doc on Netflix... another treat, because I don't ever watch tv at home!

I also had my little cookie lady make cookies for Mallorie, Kase and their friends... every cookie survived the flight with not a single break!

Licensed to Drive....

Well, I really thought this day was gonna be a quick, little, in and out, ace the driving test, and boom, all done, license in hand.

First off, it starting raining as soon as we pulled up to the DPS.

They started off with the very dreaded parallel parking. They had it set up in the parking lot, with a spot curbed in on three sides. Roen and I were watching intently through the window, holding our breath, but having zero doubt, Remi had it in the bag. He started backing in, cut it too sharp, so was pulling up to to start again, and just barely clipped the curb with his front right tire. And just like that, they failed him, didn't even make it out of the parking lot. 

Somehow, it went from bad to worse when everyone started blaming mom. Questioning why I didn't book him a driving test at the mom and pop place.... as if I suddenly was the only one with a phone and booking capabilities. Of course, Remi was beyond disappointed and so were the rest of us. But I did tell him, bottom line, he didn't practice enough and it was what it was!

Well, we just so happened to have that day off of school and Micah didn't want to have to waste a school day coming back to retake. So, dad to the rescue, he found another place that would test him that afternoon, at 2:00. They went out to the driveway and practiced until we had to drive back to Sherman. He passed with flying colors the second time, we popped into DPS, got his paperwork and just like that, he was a licensed 16 year old! We stopped for Mexican before leaving and then let Remi drive us home! And really, I haven't seen him much since!

Roen stayed home with a buddy the second time around (probably traumatized, haha), but you better believe, that next morning he popped out of bed with an enthusiasm for going to school that have not seen in all his years! It was pretty cute!

The picture of them sleeping is on the way back home after he failed the first text.... it was an emotionally exhausting day for us all! 

On the Day He Turned 16....

Remi turned 16 the very next day, on a Sunday.

As I mentioned previously, we visited church in town and it really was good getting sit with family and see old friends! After church, I came home and made TWO batches of dirt cake (birthday boy's request) while Micah started work on a late lunch, early dinner. Once the dirt cakes were all finished up, we sang happy birthday, had a bowl or two of dirt cake and opened presents! It was a low-key day, wonderful in every way! It ended with yummy steak, storm watching, porch sitting,  and the anticipation of Remi taking his drivers test the next morning!

I caught the boys out on my swing, visiting and no doubt planning their next day for after Remi got his license!

Remi's 16th Birthday...

Remi's 16th birthday was such a fun day!

His wish was to spend it with Elle, so after picking her up, we headed to Top Golf for some just-for-fun golf and a little bite before lunch. It always gets a little competitive with Micah and the boys, but lets just say, I for sure didn't win, haha! On the way to the one surprise of the day, we popped into In-N-Out Burger for lunch. 

Micah and I decided to throw in a little surprise iFly fun to the birthday mix! I wasn't sure Remi would agree to doing it, but knew everyone would think it was fun- you know Remi, he really likes things to be his idea. It was of course, lots of fun, and we all had a good laugh over the jumpsuits, goggles and helmets! And I don't want to burst any bubbles, but between you and I, our trainer would tell you I was the best flyer! 

Next up, we paid Scheels a visit until our Escape Room reservation. Micah, Roen, and I shopped (you know Roen, he always finds something he needs), while Remi and Elle took a ride on the giant ferris wheel. I would have loved to ride the ferris wheel, but I didn't really think they would love mom joining and well, shopping.... Roen gets it from somewhere, haha!

Remi LOVES escape rooms and we tried to keep everything in the same area so we weren't driving all day long. We ended up booking the Gold Rush room at The Escape Game in the Colony. This was for sure, the nicest and best escape room I have ever done! Of course, us escaping in time made it all the more fun! 

We made it home early enough that Elle got to hang out with Remi for the rest of the evening. They never really want to separate and are cute as pie together, but I did give them until 10:30 before we took her home!

It was such a fun day, watching Remi and Elle's sweet little friendship, Roen just tagging along, happy as can be! I can't think of a single thing I'd change, except maybe it could have lasted just a wee bit longer!

And the next morning, his wish was to go to her church (the church Micah grew up going to). Since it was his actual birthday and I can't think of anything cuter than them going to church together, we said yes and enjoyed every minute of getting to sit with family while at it! He has since, talked us into letting him drive him and Roen to Wednesday night church to be be with Elle and always ends the night with a dinner date and driving her home! I really do love that they get to do church together!

Their First Tournament Together...

I have been looking forward to the day the boys played on the high school team together for years! I can't say it turned out exactly how we had hoped for, but it was still such a fun day for this mama! 

This was a bigger tournament for our 3A school, as the majority of the teams were 5A and 6A schools. That on top of playing the tips, it was a hard go for most of our golfers. Coach had Remi at the first slot and unfortunately, he struggled all day long. He ended with a 94, a far cry from where he ended his season last year. 

Roen was in our 2nd slot and though he had several birdie misses and even an eagle miss, he did end the day with a 78, tying for 6th place out of 81 golfers. Honestly, for a freshman, that was pretty awesome! In fact, an upperclassmen from the winning school was trying to recruit him!

A string of afternoon storms cut our round one hole short, so everyone ended with a par and we took cover right as the rain started. I am hopeful that our next tournament, will have much lower scores!