Me and L

Hard to believe L is in her first week of high school. She took this selfie with me before her eighth-grade graduation.

Mini celebration

We're not having a family party for L's graduation, but we did buy an ice cream cake and hosted a mini celebration with Aunt A and Cousin C. We had ordered the cake online Sunday and received a phone call Monday morning asking what flavor of cake we wanted. Um, chocolate, like the form says. Then, we go to pick it up at the designated time today, 2 p.m., and it wasn't ready. They had to get the cake from another BR store in the area so the kids had to wait 20 minutes for it. Then, we noticed it said congratulation rather than congratulations. At least my new high school freshman noticed the mistake. We were a bit surprised at how small the cake is for a half sheet. Anyway, it tasted good, L was happy and B got to see Aunt A and Cousin C before he leaves for Japan on Friday.

Cousin C, L and Aunt A. I think C and L could easily pass for sisters.

Our graduate

L's graduation from middle school was tonight. Here she is ready to leave for the ceremony held at the high school.

Shaking the principal's hand.

Showing off the diploma.

L and the parents ...

... and the siblings.

L's school graduated at 5 p.m. so the other middle school could have its graduation at 7:30 p.m. Both E and B had the later ceremonies when they graduated. It was a bit of a rush to get to the high school so early in the day, but the benefit was that we could go out to eat afterward. Here's L at Lou Malnati's enjoying a deep-dish sausage pizza. Good job, L! Now, onto high school!

Pilgrim gift

The church honored all the graduates today and had gifts for them to pick up during the fellowship hour. L got a nice metal bookmark and a $10 Amazon gift card.

Great America

L went with her eighth-grade class to Great America today and brought home a Batgirl cape (because everyone needs one of those, right?) and a stuffed dragon she won. They had a great day for the trip.

She's unique

L came home with her graduation tassel today. Instead of carrying it home in her backpack like most kids would do, she wrapped it up in her hair.

Party planner

L has to complete a community service project to graduate eighth grade and L and a friend decided to host a party for seniors at the building Grandma Barbara lives in. They raised close to $250 on GoFundMe, and after the site kept about 10 percent for the service charge, they have about $225 to purchase decorations, food and games. Today they hosted their Hawaiian luau-themed party which attracted about 15 residents. The seniors played some bingo and ate all the sandwiches. I'd call that a success.

Here's L calling bingo numbers.

And E said she's explaining her calculus class to grandma in this photo. I'm not sure what she's doing with her hands.

Eighth-grade dance

L before last night's eighth-grade dance. Temperatures were in the mid 40s so I was able to convince her to wear a sweater. She met up with friends once she got to the school.

Rewarded

At lunch yesterday, L found an iPhone 6 in the restroom. She turned it into the school office. Later that afternoon, she was called down to the office and the principal told her the phone belonged to a parent who was at the school helping serve the weekly pizza lunch. He gave her a Julian T-shirt and headphones as a finder's reward. Good job, L!

Navy Pier and snow

L couldn't resist making herself a Build-a-Bear today while her class was visiting Navy Pier for a Shakespeare play. The kids had a couple hours to be "on their own" so she and a friend headed straight to the store.

And, yes, that's snow (really big flakes) on April 8.

Our graduate

L's graduation photos have arrived.

Roarin' '20s

L dressed as Virginia Hill, a female gangster, for her class' field trip today to Tommy Guns. Hill was the girlfriend of Brooklyn mobster Bugsy Siegel. One site L found said, "She came from a poor background, telling people she didn't own a pair of shoes until age seventeen. Born in Alabama and raised in Georgia, she moved to Chicago to seek fame and fortune. She found a bit of both working as an accountant for Al Capone." I remember when E went on this field trip. B's class never did, and I doubt he would have enjoyed dressing up.

Prepped for Pi Day

L was ready to celebrate Pi Day with her class today. She made a felt Pi to pin onto her shirt, painted Pi letters on her fingernails and brought a cookie "pie" to share with her classmates.

Lovin' for L

Muffles gave a L a big, loving head butt before she left for school.

My communicator

We recently got a postcard in the mail because L was recognized by her math teacher for "demonstrating the IB Learner Profile attribute of being a communicator." The postcard was signed "Dr. F, proud principal." Aww.

My soon-to-be graduate

L brought home the proofs for her eighth-grade graduation pictures yesterday. I like the second pose. Just look at how long her hair is!

L's project

L had to show off a talent for a school display and she decided to do a wood-burning. She just started playing around with the burner this summer, but this turned out pretty well.

Rushing the season

It wasn't quite December, but L had to put on the Christmas cat sweater and her antler clips (she bought those on Black Friday shopping with Cousin C) and wear them to school yesterday.

Fundraiser organization

L stayed after school today to help with the distribution of the band and choir members' fundraising items. She even got pizza for her efforts. Then she came home and had to start sorting her items - all 38 of them - with a little help from a curious cat.

Post-concert churro

L had a big band concert at the high school tonight and afterward Andy and I took her to a local Mexican restaurant where she had a chocolate churro and ice cream for dessert ... and Andy and I had a margarita and quesadillas. Can you tell she did not want me to take her picture? Thirteen is such a fun age.