Hello Summer!

The excitement of graduation and the end of school has passed away into lazy days. Today is the first official day of summer. The last week has been busy with graduation, celebrations and turning in all of our school books.

My daughter's graduation was beautiful. It was one of those moments when we could not have been more proud of the person she has become. I managed not to cry which for me is a huge accomplishment. It seemed like she had just graduated kindergarten and here we were embarking on high school in a couple of months.

Father's Day brought a day of relaxation and a special preview of Disney's Cars 2. It was a very cute movie. I am not sure if I preferred the first one or this one. They were so different that each is very enjoyable in their own right.

Today is Tuesday and in our family it means only one thing. Well, maybe two things. Our local "cheap" theater is even cheaper at $1.00 a movie and that Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors has $1 scoop night.

Today my daughter and I went to the movie theater and saw Rio. We both really enjoyed it. It is from the creators of  Ice Age and a fun family movie. Movies have become so expensive that I just can't bring myself to go to the regular theater most of the time. You should check to see if you have a discount theater in your area. It's a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours without breaking the bank. Now, the refreshments are full price but it doesn't hurt quite as much when it only cost $2.00 to get us in to see the movie.

Tonight was our weekly trip to 31 Flavors for our $1.00 scoop night. Again, 31 Flavors is one of those places that I love. Let's be honest, if its ice cream - I love it. But at the regular cost, it just doesn't make sense to me. $1 scoop night is a perfect way to have a little treat without breaking the bank as well.

A little late but today was free admission to National Parks. There are remaining days this year. September 24 which is Public Lands Day and November 11-13 in honor of Veterans Day. Our parks are beautiful and you should visit one if you can.

Enjoy your first day of summer!

An 8th Grade Graduation Trip

This week has gone by so quickly. Tonight is my daughter's 8th grade graduation. I know that  a lot of people do not see it as a big deal but I do. Any celebration of a milestone has always been a big deal to me.

I only have one child and so anything that she goes through, I don't get another opportunity.

To celebrate this week, we chose to take her and her best friend to the Disneyland Resort for a couple of days with a stay at the Paradise Pier. My daughter could live at the Resort if we let her. They wore silly hats and graduation buttons and had a pillow fight in the hotel. Watching them you could not help but think about when we were that age.

We left the hotel in time to arrive at pratice for tonight's graduation. It seems like I just sat in the audience for her kindergarten graduation. I realized in watching her pratice that I only have 4 more years of having her "ours". Not that she will be done with school in 4 years or that she won't be ours - just that she will be an adult and we will be watching her graduate high school and be on her way. The phrase "it goes by fast" is an understatement. I know that I want to make the most of her high school years. To help her achieve her goals and to love every moment that she can.

Her Dad and I are so proud of her and I know that she will continue to make us proud!

There is a blog that I love to read. It always makes me laugh. They have some special cakes today in honor of graduation. Check them out!

Cake Wrecks

Today is National Marriage Day! Do something special for your spouse to let them know you appreciate them and are thinking of them.