McShane Memorable Moments: 6/14/09

Elizabeth's High School Graduation

I never knew how emotional it would be to have a child graduate from High School! The day that Elizabeth graduated from Seven Lakes High School was such a wonderful day! The entire day was spent honoring our beautiful graduate. Grandpa Bruce and Grandma Sharon came over to share this special day with us.

The principal, Mrs. Whitbeck, is big on the number 7 considering it is SEVEN Lakes HS. So, graduation was on June 7th at 7 pm.

We spent the afternoon having fun honoring Elizabeth. Darin and I had put together a DVD of pictures of Elizabeth's life set to music. It was emotional for everyone watching her grow up in pictures. She said it was her favorite gift, but I know know she loved getting her new Laptop computer! We had planned on giving her one for graduation but she didn't think we were going to give it to her until right before she leaves for BYU-ID. But, we surprised her with it now. We then ate Chicken and Steak cooked on the grill with baked potatoes and the fixings and salad. I told her she could have whatever she wanted for her graduation dinner and that's what she chose. We then quickly went outside for picture taking. It was a whirlwind day!!

The Honor Graduate

Elizabeth with Grandpa and Grandma McShane

Elizabeth, Trent, Eyn and Amberly

Our Family

The whole group! Grandma Sharon was hiding!

The Merrill Center - Elizabeth had to be there by 5:30 so I took her so I could save seats for our family. I was lucky to get seats on the second row behind a row of seats reserved for the teachers who entered with the students. They just happened to decide to sit behind the students instead so we didn't have anyone in front of us!! Great seats!!

Elizabeth entering the center and walked right in front of us! We had perfect seats!!

After she walked in she joined other Chorale Seniors on the stage where they got to sing the National Anthem. It was beautiful!!

Elizabeth right after she came down from the stage with her diploma. Doesn't she look happy!!

Hats off to the Seven Lakes High School graduates of 2008!!

There was 577 graduates! This is the first class of graduates from SLHS to attend there for the full 4 years. The principal got up towards the end and congratulated them for not just graduated but for being exemplary students. They recently had their project prom at Dave and Busters and the Houston Police Dept. sought out the school administration to let them know that they had never had such a good group of students on Prom night before! The week before school was out they had their senior trip to Galveston where they spent the day at Schilterbahn and again the management there could not believe how well behaved and good they were. They truly are that! Congratulations Graduates!

Elizabeth and a happy Amberly!

Elizabeth with her proud Daddy!

Elizabeth and her "puppy" Trent.

Elizabeth with her taller but younger brother Eyn.

Elizabeth with her extremely proud Mom!

Our official High School Graduate Elizabeth

What a wonderful accomplishment you have achieved! We are incredibly proud of you and look forward to watching you continue on in your education at BYU-ID. You will do awesome and will achieve great things in your life! We love you!!

Graduation Party!!

The night before graduation we held a graduation party honoring all the high school graduates from our ward. All the moms had gotten together to help decorate and to bring yummy food for a fun evening to honor our children. It was great having them all together. We have known several of the graduates for quite a few years!

The graduates of the Katy 3rd ward are:

Elizabeth McShane (will be attending BYU-ID), Kendra Davis (BYU), Aubrey Steenhoek, (BYU-ID), Blake Redfern (BYU-ID), Carter Peterson (BYU), John Oettli (planning on mission in August), Taylor Schroedter (BYU), Connor Allred (Texas school), Zach Wheeler (HCC), Emily Felt (BYU), Rachel Olsen (BYU), Stephanie Vance (Houston), Anna Moore (BYU).

They are an amazing group of graduates!!

Partial group picture

Congratulations graduates and good luck as you take your next step!

Trent's 5th Grade Graduation

On June 3rd Trent officially graduated from the 5th grade and elementary school. It was actually a very emotional day for both me as his mom and for him. He had an absolutely incredible 5th grade year and having it come to an end was really hard for him. Trent began school at Kilpatrick Elementary for kindergarten and was there for K, 1st, and 2nd and absolutely loved it there! I feel very strongly that a good principal makes a great school. Mrs. Fleming was his principal there and she is awesome! Well, 3rd and 4th grade a new school opened and we were moved to it. 3rd grade teacher abandoned the class before Christmas and left us all in limbo and the way the principal handled it wasn't the greatest. 4th grade the teacher was great, but Trent wasn't happy at the school. It was a hard few years. And then 5th grade started. Another new school built just a few blocks from our home. Bonnie Holland was opened and we got Mrs. Fleming back! All I can say is what an awesome year it has been! Trent has been able to ride his bike to school. He loves his teachers and the principal makes school a fun place to be!! At graduation Trent got a little emotional as he realized it was all ending. How grateful we are for a great year!!

Graduation was great!! Elizabeth was done with school so she was able to join Darin and I as we watched our handsome boy walk across the stage and receive his certificate of completion. Emotionally I was doing good until the principal informed us that we only have 7 years left with them before they are off to college. Open the flood gates!! It hit me quite hard. My little buddy is growing up on me! He has had a huge growth spurt this past year and I know that all too soon he will be towering over me as well! How proud I am of my little Trent and all his accomplishments this year! Way to go Trent!

This picture is a little blurry - Trent receiving congratulations from Mrs. Fleming as he walked across the stage.

Trent and his homeroom teacher Mrs. Gutierez.

Trent and Mrs. Fleming

Our happy 5th grade graduate

Trent with Mom and Dad

After graduation we wandered over and found Mrs. Getz room. Mrs. Getz was Trent's 1st and 2nd grade teacher. She took her entire 1st grade class and moved up to 2nd grade with them. What an awesome experience that was!! We all love her so much!! She is Trent's all time favorite teacher and we were thrilled when she moved over to our new school this year so we could see her again! Trent loves to see her in the hallways at school!