She's Legal!

Whew! Sierra FINALLY has her driver's license.

(For REAL cars... not just slick track cars!)

About time too! She's 17 years, 2 months and 4 days old.... yeah... SEVENteen.

A whole slew of events just coincided to keep her from being able to complete all the requirements before now. (Mainly changing schools and being on early morning Drill Team.)

BUT it's finally done. She has that little piece of paper in her wallet, with the real macoy promised to show up in the mail within two weeks.

Now, WHY, you ask, would we be so excited to add another teen-age driver to our insurance?

Just a couple of reasons: she goes to school in the next town over, she has to leave the house at 5:30am for drill practice, (even right now in the summer), AND she has about 20 minutes after drill to get to her swim teacher job back here in town. Mom is just a bit tired of that routine!

But now... she can DRIVE HERSELF!! Whoo-Hoo!

I'm gonna celebrate by SLEEPING IN!

It. Was. AWESOME!

Kaila's graduation ceremony was just plain awesome! SO MUCH FUN! (I know. Weird.) The weather was beautiful. The processional was just incredible to watch... all those kids in their blue gowns with such happy faces.

The flag was brought in by a SKYDIVER. The speakers were short and hilarious - bringing out laughter, a few tears and the great spirit of this class. SHHS - the letters of the school, also stand for their school motto: Spirit - Heart - Honor - Success. They really emphasized how this class epitomizes this motto. Think about it: You take two rival high schools, a rivalry that has existed for over a century, and bring the kids from each into a new school, hoping that they won't kill each other, and instead create a new bond. THEY REALLY DID. Everyone mentioned how this class forged a new path for many to come - and did it with real class and style!

The choir (Kaila included) sang an original song written by the choir teacher that was done especially for the school, accompanied by electric guitar and drums. NOT LAME - COOL!

And as they all had their names called and walked a l-o-n-g loop so that everyone in the stadium could see them... it was just perfect. And at the end, as they switched their tassels, there was a burst of unexpected FIREWORKS. Wow! And In case you're wondering... yes, I know I sound like a sappy mom, and I don't even care! That's MY Graduate!!

And in the midst of all this "Pomp & Circumstance" we watched our beautiful young lady and her fabulous group of friends with so much love and pride. What a perfect day!

Pomp and Circumstance! KAILA - Salem Hills High School Class of 2009

Aaaaahh! It's actually here... Graduation week. And Yes, ladies and gentlemen... she made it! This is one of those milestones that always seem so vague and fuzzy when you look into the future...then you blink and it's here!

Have you ever heard that saying that

"The days go slowly, but the years go by so fast"?

We are feeling that today, Miss Kaila-Roo.

From that first day of Kindergarten, where you proved even then that you could rock ANY style, even your self-inflicted haircut.

One memorable quote from her Elementary school years... her second grade teacher, Mrs. Melander, was trying to be positive during parent-teacher-conferences when she said "Kaila is very social... and she does love to accessorize!" The myriad toys, make-up, game pieces, etc. that constantly appeared in her school bag could surely be defined as "nuisance items"!

Jr. High brought the arrival of a new girl... Kaila's soul-mate: Heather. We can't imagine what her High School years would have been like without her siamese-twin!

And Heather is just the center of Kaila's fantastic group of friends.

Thank you girls for your positive influence!!

Sandi, Lexi, Sheii, Kaila, Kenna, Heather & Sarah

Two years at SFHS involved in the show choir, Premier.
Two trips to Branson for Nationals!

Summer Job: THE POOL!
As a life-guard and swim teacher... Kaila loves this job.
And mom and dad love the money she makes for HERSELF!

And finally... getting to be a part of the first graduating class at the brand new

Salem Hills High School.

Congrats Roo! And may the rest of your years be as full of joy and laughter as you have made the last 18 for us.