Celebrating Alexandra

Alexandra.....my sweet niece....graduated high school.

Not even believable that this milestone has come and gone.

I love this young lady so much.  She was my first niece.  The first child that wasn't mine that I never knew I could love so much.  There is something about your sisters kids that you just love.  It's hard to explain.  I just love her to pieces.  

I was 18 when she was born and now she is 18.  She was such a fun kid.  From the time she was born she was confident, wise beyond her years.....and, oh so chatty and OH SO FUNNY.  So funny!!  She was my little buddy when she was a toddler.  I have stories upon stories of things she said and did but....she would kill me if I put them on here.  Maybe another day.  When she gets married ;)

Okay....on to pictures of the celebrating

My sister hosted a graduation party at my mom's clubhouse the weekend before graduation.

I made these....not the cupcakes - bought those.  just made the toppers.  They were fun to make.

Alexandra and Kate

Q, A, and Kate

Kate made all the yummy food....Nell provide the drinks topped with graduation caps (hard to see in this pic)

Sadie and Elaina enjoying a pre-party dessert

Nell and Alexandra

I love this picture...

Granny, Alexandra, and Kate

Alexandra and Sadie

I REALLY love this picture!!!  Alexandra is such a great big cousin....always has been so sweet and good to Elaina, and Sadie, and Celia, and Sloane

Speaking of Sloane.....

Alexandra is headed to UNC Asheville...here is her first piece of college gear

And, a sweatshirt...

Pappaw and Alexandra...

My aunt Maria came.  She is always so good about showing up to these special events.  She lives in Asheville so she and Alexandra will hopefully be able to spend some time together.  Kate and I both went to school in Chattanooga when my aunt was living there so we have special memories of Aunt Maria cooking dinner for us once week.  I am sure Alexandra will do the same.

Elaina and my aunt Maria

The graduation...this was the best picture I got.  I don't have a super fancy ,"zoom way in" camera so most of my pics where I zoomed in were blurry.  Here is a non-blurry one.  

Love these two...they appear, for once, to love each other in this picture.  Sort of amazing  (ha ha ha!!)  Typical siblings

I love this family photo

Congratulations Alexandra!!! You are a wonderful young lady who WILL go far and do great things.  We love you Alexandra and remain so proud of you.

Soccer

Elaina played another season of soccer.  Let's just say that this year was like night and day compared to last year.  Last year she literally ran away form the ball.  No joke.  This year, she was not afraid to get in there and go after the ball.  Erik worked with her and she really blossomed this year - what a difference a year makes.  She scored almost every game.  She is pretty quick (she gets that from her daddy) so if the ball ever got loose, that was her sweet spot.  She loved to take it all the way down the field :)

Okay...sorry....enough of the proud mom moment.

She played with her friend Olivia so that made the season even more special and fun AND we got the extra added bonus of getting to see the Ford's at least once week.  We really liked her coach this year too.  He was just the right amount of encouraging and instructional without being too worried about winning.  So, overall it was a great season.  Best part is Elaina has shown an interest in soccer and says she wants to play again next year - something she did NOT say last year.  So, an improvement - always good.

#14

There is Olivia...

Olivia's masterful throw in

The whole team with coach Travis