Kelsey's High School Graduation Day

The day has arrived:  Kelsey's graduation from Oak Park - River Forest High School!  The weather held and the ceremony was held outdoors at the football stadium.  It was actually a perfect day for graduation:  high 70s and cloudy with a slight breeze.  It was so much fun to watch this group of kids close this chapter in their lives and celebrate with them as they "begin life as adults," as one of the speakers put it.

Kelsey and her friend Jake got to sit next to each other, which Kelsey said afterwards "made the whole thing bearable," as Jake was singing parodies to Pomp and Circumstance during the graduates' march to their seats.

She got her diploma and even managed a few smiles along the way!

When we caught up with Kelsey after the ceremony, she said she's glad the whole thing is over and done with.  She showed her silly side when we asked her to pose for pictures.

 

If you ever wondered why I call this blog The Five Ring Circus...

After the goofiness, we walked down to Klay Oven, Kelsey's favorite Indian restaurant, for a fabulous celebratory dinner.

C O N " G R A D"  U L A T I O N S   K E L S E Y ! ! !

Kelsey's Senior Prom

It's Senior Prom Night, and Kelsey's friends gathered at our house in the early afternoon to get dressed and work on their hair and makeup.  We invited a friend-of-a-friend, Caitlin, to do the girls' hair and wow!  Our house turned into a mini hair salon/beauty parlor as up-dos were created, nails were painted, and makeup was applied.

The result was three gorgeous senior friends on their way to an unforgettable evening at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Birthday Bash

Kelsey celebrated her 18th birthday a day early and went to Sen Sushi with a bunch of her friends, a good group of kids who has grown and matured a lot since they were freshmen:

In just a few hours (3:42am, to be exact), she'll officially be an adult.

Today Kelsey participated in her fourth consecutive Japan Fest at the high school.  Her role has grown increasingly larger.  She broke out the kimono she purchased on her summer trip.  She worked hard but still had a lot of fun.

How is it possible that she's almost 18?!

On Her Way

Baird drove Kelsey to the airport bright and early this morning.  She is officially on her way to Japan!  She'll be spending a few days on the Berkley campus learning how not to offend her host family.  She leaves San Francisco early Monday morning, and will arrive in Japan on Tuesday (she crosses the international date line).

Kelsey's been planning for this trip for two years now.  She's so excited to be on her way, and I couldn't be happier for her.

Industrially Pierced

Late last summer, Kelsey asked if she could have an industrial piercing thru the cartilage in her ear.  Knowing that was a pretty big step, I told her she needed to wait until her 17th birthday, and if she still wanted it then, that would be fine.

About a week before her birthday, Kelsey came running up to me and said, "OH!  Now I remember what I want for my birthday - I want my industrial piercing!"

Up to this point, Kelsey's gone to Claire's for her ear piercings, but they don't handle industrials.  This meant that Kelsey had to order her bar thru a tattoo parlor.  She waited over a month for it to arrive.  They called this morning, and Kelsey was so excited.  Baird accompanied her, and had the "privilege" of watching them stick a hypodermic needle thru her ear in two places and then insert the bar.  "Yes," said Kelsey, "It hurt.  ALOT."  But she says it's totally worth it.  She loves her new look.

And she left the tattoo parlor with just the bar - no ink.

A Sweet Response

 For the past couple of years, Kelsey has been working hard to raise awareness about the terrible working conditions in cocoa fields.  She recently wrote to her favorite fair trade chocolate company, and told them how happy she was that they are fair trade, and that they offer milk chocolate.  Wow, was she ever excited today when she got this in the mail:

New 'Do

Kelsey donated her hair to Locks of Love today, and I'm thrilled for two reasons.  First, I think that Locks of Love is a worthy organization, and I'm always happy when any member of the 5 Ring Circus gives back.

I'm thrilled for another reason.  Kelsey's hair was long.  Really long.  As in, it's-everywhere-and-it's-driving-me-crazy long.  She was in the habit of flinging her hair as she walked thru the kitchen, and as a result I would find hair long enough to pass for fishing line all over the place.  In the fridge.  In the ice cube tray.  In the sink.

Kelsey walked over to Snip City with hair downthe middle of her back and returned home with a new look.  She walked home in the cold and drizzle, so her hair "fell" a bit on the way home, but I still think she looks adorable:

#5

Kelsey added her fifth cartiledge piercing today

It seems like just a few weeks ago that the one on the right was the age of the one on the left.

I hadn't seen Kelsey play with Play-Dough for a really long time.  This scene took me back to memories of when the girls were small, and it made me smile.

It's Starting Already

It's exactly one day after she turned 16, and Kelsey received this in the mail today:

her very first piece of mail from a college!  Drexel University has the distinction of being the first place of higher learning to send her mail.  Kelsey has no idea what she wants to be when she grows up.  She has no clue where she wants to go to school.  She's not worried, and neither am I.  But I think I was more excited about her mail than she was.

16 Candles

I usually post baby pics alongside current shots of the kids on their birthdays; however, I've been informed that when one is 16, one does not want a public display of one's baby photographs.  So, part of my gift to Kelsey is honoring her wish.

My Sweet 16 daughter has grown so much in the past year.  She's in a positive, happy place.  Her grades are good.  She's kind to those around her.  She practices her saxophone without being told.  She has a heart for social justice causes.

Kelsey really doesn't like the spotlight, and she begged us not to throw her a big, giant party.  Again, we listened and allowed her to have a low-key day.  Actually, her birthday celebration is being strung out over several days.  I made her two favorite desserts:  chocolate cream cheese pie, and poppyseed cake.  She's not a big fan of birthday cake, so we put her 16 candles in the poppyseed cake when we sang Happy Birthday.

Kelsey added another ear cartilage piercing (she's up to four now) as part of her birthday activities.  Tomorrow is her birthday dinner - we'll be enjoying chicken pockets.  Saturday Baird's taking her to get a mouthpiece for her newly-acquired tenor saxophone.  Next week, Baird, Kelsey and Erin will be going out for sushi.  On February 16th, Kelsey, Charlie and Baird will be heading down to Jazz Showcase to hear live jazz featuring the saxophone.  See?  I wasn't kidding when I said this celebration is being strung out over several days!

Happy birthday, Kelsey!  You're 16 and you're beautiful!

Rookie Behind the Wheel

Even tho Kelsey was booted out of Driver's Ed earlier this semester due to overcrowding, she was in long enough to get her learner's permit.  While she's driven Grandpa's pick-up around his place in Iowa, today was her first adventure behind the wheel in Oak Park.  Baird gave her some words of wisdom before she and I tooled around the neighborhood.

Kelsey was very careful, but I still found the experience of teaching her a bit nerve wracking.  After about 20 minutes, she said she'd had enough.  She steered pretty well and obeyed all the traffic signs.  She didn't hit anything.  And yet, I'm pretty sure my hair is waaaaay grayer than it was this morning.  After just one lesson.  Once again, I'm wishing she came with a pause button.

Surprise Breakfast

I recently mentioned that I am not a morning person.  My kids rarely get the big, hot breakfast before heading off to school.  Usually breakfast fare is cold cereal or toast.  This morning, however, was different.

Kelsey (who, incidentally, has been blesssed with my I-hate-mornings-gene), found it in her to get up early this morning and make a double batch of pancakes.  She took a batch to school for Charlie and left a batch for the family.  Not only did she get up early and make pancakes, she totally cleaned up afterwards!  This moment of teenage maturity was truly savored!

First Day of School - Part 2

Kelsey felt a little vindicated yesterday, when she got to sleep until until noon while her brother and sister schlepped off to school.  You may recall that she was studying hard back in June even after school had let out for her siblings.

Today Kelsey started her sophomore year at Oak Park River Forest High School.  She easily slipped back into her school routine, grabbing her iPod and heading for the bus...then dashing back into the house to grab her school bag...and then running for the bus!

Kelsey's happy to be starting her sophomore year for two reasons:  first, she's no longer a freshman; and second, she gets to take Driver's Ed.  I just know this year's going to be a great one!

Japanese Dining

For the past few years, over the summer, Kelsey and Erin have been responsible for making dinner one night of the week.  On Sunday evening, they have to tell me which night they are cooking, and what they are going to make.  They have to check the fridge and the pantry to be sure we have all the ingredients they need.  Tonight was Kelsey's night to make dinner, and she made tamago yaki, a Japanese egg dish.  She served it with rice and it was quite tasty.

A New Look

Kelsey was ready for a new look.  She wanted to shorten her hair and get another piercing.  This morning she looked like this:

and this afternoon, with her hair about six inches shorter and another piercing, she looked like this:

Kelsey has a long-term vision for multiple piercings in both ears. She's planning on seven total. Today was #2.

My Other Daughter

When Kelsey was in first grade, Erin was about the most adorable little blonde preschooler anyone had ever seen.  When we would be out shopping, Erin would look the clerk straight in the eye, smile her best smile and say hello, then tuck her lower lip in her mouth just a tad.  It melted everyone's heart, and she was constantly being given things just because she was cute and polite.  She raked in countless quarters, paint sticks and brushes, gum balls, you name it.

One day when we went to pick Kelsey up from school, Erin showed Kelsey the day's loot.  Kelsey looked at Erin, absolutely stunned.  With slumped shoulders, Kelsey came over to me and asked in a trembling voice, "Mom, did you tell them about your other daughter?"  It just about broke my heart.

Erin and Drew have been so busy with high-profile, end-of-school activities, you may think Kelsey's been left in the dust.  I want to take a moment today and recognize her hard work.  While her siblings skated thru the last two weeks of school without homework, Kelsey's been wrapping up projects and reports.  While Erin and Drew celebrate the first days of their summer break, Kelsey's been studying diligently for finals.  This is the part of high school that's not much fun - still being in school and working hard well into June.

I know that in just a few days, my beautiful, happy Kelsey-Girl will also be done with school, and she'll be thrilled.  Hang in there, Honey, it's almost over!

Rediscovering the Classics

Because of a crazy family schedule this evening, I knew we wouldn't all be sitting down together for a family supper.  I've discovered on nights like that this that it's great to have breakfast for supper.  The kids jusst love this theme, but Baird's not a big fan so it works best on nights when he's eating out.  Tonight was one such night.

When Kelsey checked in after school, I asked her which she preferred, pancakes or waffles.  I got an enthusiastic "PANCAKES!"  from her and she said goodbye.  She called back about 30 seconds later saying, "Mom, when my friends heard me say 'pancakes,' they got really excited.  Can they come for supper too?"

Sure.  After all, making a triple batch of pancakes is as easy as making a single batch. 

After filling up on pancakes, bacon and hot chocolate, the group wondered downstairs to see what they could find to watch on TV.  Nothing was grabbing them...until they saw the DVD set that holds the entire collection of Looney Tunes.  They sat down and started watching.  An hour or so later, they came upstairs for air and remarked, "I don't think I ever realized how great the Looney Tunes really are.  They're so funny!"

Has it really been 15 years?

15 years ago today, at 3:42 in the morning, my life changed forever when Kelsey was born and I became a mom.  Tonight at supper we celebrated Kelsey's life and everything we love about her.  We talked about bringing her home from the hospital on a cold winter afternoon.  We mentioned how she used to sleep on Baird's chest when she was a newborn.  And as we watched the snow falling outside, there was mention of Botchy Noma (Frosty the Snowman), the snowman we built with Kelsey when she was 2, and she cried when it melted.  There was laughter over Kelsey's sense of humor and love of all things make believe.

Kelsey decided she wanted a homemade apple pie instead of birthday cake.  This was my first attempt at apple pie - I usually make apple crisp instead of apple pie.  Not bad for a first attempt, except that birthday candles don't stand up very well in a pie.

The past 15 years have brought angst and excitement, laughter and tears as Kelsey has grown and changed before our very eyes.  I'm so glad she's a part of our family.  Happy birthday, sweet Kelsey.  I love you no matter what.