it's been a big couple of weeks and i mean huge

whoa, whoa, whoa, too much. too much going on, it's all good, some really, really good, but whoa!    

this is a nearly to the end of school year everything post. we've been here, there, everywhere, ending with a............bang! so, hold on to your seats, this is going to be good!

the photos above are a collection from each exciting event in turn with spring in the garden, calming, nature break photos for me to catch my breath before gearing up for the next affair.

firstly, sebastian and his girlfriend madison have just graduated from b.y.u. - hooray and congratulations once again to you both! paul and i headed to provo, utah for the spring commencement exercises and celebrations. both sebastian and madison graduated from the college of fine arts and communications so they were able to walk together, even take an official graduation photo together with the dean. sebastian graduated with a bachelor of arts in communications/journalism and madison in communications/public relations. i am so proud of them both. sab and maddie met the beginning summer term of their freshman year so they have shared this college experience together since the very beginning. nice. after the convocations, we spent an impromptu but lovely afternoon on mervyl and gerry's porch together with madison and her mom and grandparents. it was a treat to have both sebastian's and madison's parents and grandparents together getting to know each other better. paul and i flew back early the next morning for......

gabi's senior prom. her good friend ethan took her and, "he was so much fun and such a gentleman, my friends were jealous." beforehand, the girls got together at hannah's house to get dressed and do hair and makeup. then emily invited everyone to her house for photos. the enormous party bus picked the gorgeous couples up from there to denver for dinner. fairview's 2018 senior prom was held at sports authority field at mile high, the broncos stadium in downtown denver! "it was awesome!" exclaimed gabi. after prom everyone went to afterprom at east boulder rec center into the wee hours of the morning then on to bryn's house where the senior girlfriends slept the morning and afternoon away. we finally saw gabi about 3:00pm. paul snuck a father daughter photo op with gabi, it's our last senior prom, the last hurrah! next.....

that school week was POPS performance week, fairview high school's talent show extraordinaire. the talent at this school is amazing so auditions are held and unfortunately many acts are turned away. finally all is settled, costumed, rehearsed and crunched into a three hour show. the full cast opener and closer acts are incredible and it only gets better from there. gabi danced, sang, played the piano accompanying her wonderful friend julia's solo and acted the role of an out of control groupie rushing on stage to kiss a member of a boy band act having to be dragged off stage by security (stage crew) in the show........hmmmmm, anyway........gabi loved, loved, loved the opportunity to share this final show experience with all of her dear four year fairview fine arts friends. the second day of POPS was.......

gabi's 18th birthday. that morning i went to the airport to pick up sebastian and madison as they flew in from salt lake city and were leaving with paul on a flight from denver to europe that evening, a congraduations gift to them. i had organized with gabi to meet paul and i, during her 50 minute school lunch break, for a quick happy birthday lunch at southern sun brewery just down the road from fairview. she was SO happy to see sab and maddie there to join in the celebrations as well! then.....

afterschool, we said bon voyage with hugs and kisses to paul, sebastian and madison with promises of instagram updates then started a girls only birthday dinner party with gabi's two dear friends, julia and emma. they partied eating shrimp and brown rice edamame power bowls, fudgy chocolate chip encrusted chocolate frosted chocolate cake, singing happy birthday, candle blowing, selfie taking, opening of family presents then doing their stage hair and makeup, finally running off to their POPS performance. the sunday after gabi's birthday party brunch but i will save that for the next blogpost and the demanding saturday matinee and final evening show was.......

gabi's dance studio's showcase event. it's been a fun year of endless dance classes, performances, competitions and improvement and this was the opportunity for all the dancers to show their best. gabi was featured in a solo ballet piece. (apologies for the bad quality of the video) i love watching her dance en pointe but have also enjoyed seeing her expand her talent this year in hip hop, contemporary and modern dance as well. she has loved this new experience so very much. thank you tara cluck dance center for the amazing instruction and friendships that have come from the studio. all the best to all of you.

good to their word, the travelers have been sending us beautiful photos through their days together. first stop was brussels then on to prague to meet up with ben and kensey and enjoy all the magnificent beauty and exclamations from gabi and i, for themselves. ben and kensey will then join them as they head to paris, then amsterdam. 

but before we leave the romantic city of prague and to end this post on the highest of highs, join me in congratulating sebastian and madison...................on their engagement!!! happy, happy times.