Graduation... It really happened?!

Well… I can't believe I’m doing this! I doubt anyone will really think anything I have to say is very interesting or entertaining, but after graduating, moving, and about to start my first ‘real’ job all I have heard is the same thing- please keep me updated on your life! So- here’s my attempt! Old friends, extended family members, new friends, etc. I hope this helps a little J

I can't believe it’s already August!!! I feel like my last day of student teaching (which was at the beginning of April!) was just maybe a week ago. Time has flown and SO many life-changing things have happened that have carved my way into this new chapter of life. I graduated from Texas A&M University (which I recently found was a wish of my parents that my Mom actually wrote in her “dreams for Presley” section of my baby book! HA! ) with a degree in Education. I honest to God NEEEVERRR thought that day would come. There were times that I would have given ANYTHING to be done with college- like the countless 10 straight hours of study sessions at WCL, any night before a STAT test, the first round of tests every semester, or nights when there wasn’t much going on. But as my “college life” was wrapping up, I would have given anything just to rewind time!! Like to any tailgate, SB trip, Friday nights (well Thursday or Saturday nights most of the time, too…), random roomie nights, tbell/gumbys/Whataburger/fuego late night runs, and SO many other times. I couldn’t believe that this chapter of my life was almost over.... The “good ole days” or “best time of my life” as so many parents and older friends had called it… Mine, too, was about to be only a pastime.

Once I got over my pity party I really got excited about graduation. Graduation day was such a surreal day and my family and friends did an amazing job of making me feel accomplished, special, and loved on that monumental day. My mom made sure I had the cutest dress and shoes we could find, Dad and Lisa took me to one of my favorite restaurants the night before graduation- which was a really special time with them that also helped calm my nerves and get some quality time in with them. The morning of graduation was CRAZY! I had to be packed and ready to move home- not to mention I had gotten in a bad, bad wreck like 5 days before graduation in the poor short bus (me&bai’s yellow h2) so I was in a rent car… an impala… and needless to say if you’ve seen how many clothes/shoes/purses/etc. I have up in CS, because lets face it, you never know what you’ll need!!, the trunk of that car didn’t do a fraction of the trick for me compared to my roomy hummer. I had to get my nails and toes done, clean my house for the whole family to see, and shower and be ready all before noon! I was rushed, anxious, nervous, and excited all at the same time.

When my family got there all I could do was smile! They were ALL there and all dressed in… you guessed it... PINK! Not to mention had rhinestone ‘P’ letters on their faces with ‘P’ charms on long chain necklaces! (Bailey later informed me that her and my mom spent hours at the mall at those little booths in the middle of the stores with the grills and fake blinggy stuff… trying to find enough P’s that were actually decent enough to wear!) I'll try and add some pics at the end! Anyways we ate lunch at our precious and perfect house- that I already miss so much! Then bai drove me and dropped me off to graduate!! The ceremony took like four hours.. it was ridic! But I’m glad I walked for sure. It was such a feeling of accomplishment and really helped those lonnnggg nights studying, countless 5 hour long tests, library trips, etc really feel worth it. I was really proud I didn’t trip, too J

After graduation we headed over to our lake house on Lake Conroe where Grammy and Grandpops met us for dinner at the Yacht Club. It was so yummy and mom had flowers and pictures everywhere! There were some that were from kindergarten graduation, which I thought was hilarious, and then lots of others that were just big “moments” as well. When we left I had the biggest surprise ever! My ultimate dream car was parked right outside the restaurant! With what else than a pink bow right on top J I honestly had no idea that I was getting it!! I had gotten in a wreck and knew I got a new car when I graduated, but had no idea that it would be on that day because my mom had played it off SO well the couple weeks before that. I was freaking out!!!!!! I just kept screaming and laughing and of course clapping my hands over and over- JUST like Mom does…!! J

After dinner we went and ate Sprinkles cupcakes- my fav! Opened presents and hung out with Grammy and Grandpops for a while. Then me and Bennett (my new brother in law! Kam’s husband) sat in my new car and played with all the buttons and things for hours!!!

It truly was a magical day. My family never ceases to amaze me and proves their love to me at any time more than I could ever imagine. We have been through some crazy times in the past few years- but I wouldn’t change it for the world! We are closer than we have EVER been and love each other stronger than ever. Our family keeps growing and I couldn’t be happier! I’m ecstatic to see what God has in store for us this year and for the manyyy years to come.

Well.. my RedBox DVD is calling my name! I’ll have to update everyone on our summer vacay and my new life in Houston later… (I’m absolutely LOOOOVING it so far!!!)

Hope you’re not bored to tears ;) Goodnight!