Graduation?!

Hey kids,
Daddy here. The time has come for a day I've been dreading for 9 years. Alex's graduation from St Joseph School. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago when Mom and I sat in the cafeteria at the ice cream social for new parents with students entering kindergarten. Yet here we are. Nine years later and Al is getting ready to graduate. It was an entire week of celebrations starting on Tuesday. We had graduation Mass at church and all the 8th graders were there in their cap and gown.

 Almost all the kids in the graduating class have been together since kindergarten. Will came in 5th grade, Grace came in 4th grade and I can't remember when Daisy arrived. But Alex, Adam, Ana, Ashley, Mary Smith, Mary Claire, Nancy, Skylar, Gabe, and Joe have been together the whole time. Lately, we've had excellent opportunities to hang out with a good portion of the class including our awesome trip to Great America. This group of kids and their parents are far and away my favorite class. Some of them still have younger siblings at St. Joe's so we'll get to see them for the next few years. But some we will only see at church from now on. As happy as I am and proud of Alex and all the graduates, I wish we would have had more time together with these kids and their families.  After Mass, it was time for the actual graduation ceremony and Alex got an award from the altar servers society. I love so much, Al, that you love serving so much. You make mom and I so proud and do such a great job up there. Academically speaking, I told Alex starting in the 6th grade that if he ever got a report card with straight A's he would get $100. I'm proud to say he's finished St Joe's with straight A's. Great job son. You earned it. With the ceremony complete and mom in tears, we headed over to the gym at the school for the 8th grade slideshow. Each one of the 8th graders had a placard with their name on it where people could write things about them. We were one of the first people there so none of them had any writing yet, but I noticed that Alex's had. It said, "Alex, you're the best brother anyone could wish for. I love you, Jacob" You guys just seem to fight so much and disagree and bicker so much, but when it really comes down to it Jacob loves you so much, Al. I'm proud of Jake for having the courage to be the first one to write and to write that on Alex's name sign. I sat down, and we began the slide show. For Alex's music, he picked Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" (the best music of the entire slideshow). Alex and I picked out a bunch of photos for him to have in the slideshow and it was great. During the slideshow, Papa tried to tickle Jake and he lurched forward and face planted on the table, cutting his eye and giving him a black eye. There always has to be something, doesn't there? It was about time to go until Alex and Jake wanted to ride with me and it Iz rode with mom. As we were walking to the car, we saw Mrs. Figueroa and she asked if we wanted to go to Red Lobster. Before I could even answer Alex, Jake, Ana and Abeni all started screaming "YES YES YES!" So I caved and said okay. We texted mom and Iz and they met the us and the Figs at Red Lobster. We had a giant dinner and I showed Alyssa Ellington how to crack crab. With our bellies full we headed home with our new graduate. People say all the time how fast the time seems to go watching your kids grow up and I'm here to tell you that it's totally true. The time itself didn't seem to go by very fast at the time, but the years just flew by. Whatever happened to my little guy who fell asleep with Spider-man? This wonderful, thoughtful, intelligent, caring, funny, young man has taken his place. I hope Alex that you and I will stay as close as we are today, forever. I love you son. so much. I'm proud of you and I can't wait to embark on the next stage of your journey with you. I love you guys,
 Daddy