It's Happening...Fast!

I dropped off Jovan in school this morning for his first weight training session for the Worcester Technical High School's football team - the high school he will be attending in the Fall.

I can't believe how fast things are happening for him! Just last Monday was his eighth grade graduation and family orientation night the next day. The sessions will keep him busy for most of the summer, which I am thankful for. The school that Jovan attended this past year was a year-round charter school, which kept him pretty busy. He was already asking what he was going to do with all the free time he had - until he found that he would be doing the weight summer session and attending the inter-school's football camp next month. He's just super excited and motivated about everything that is happening right now!

The process of choosing a high school for Jovan was physically exhausting and emotionally draining, but now I am certain that I made the right decision when choosing Worcester Technical High school, for Jovan. This school is set up for kids to succeed, academically and athletically, at the high school level and beyond. The school, which is a vocational high school and Blue Ribbon recipient, prepares their students for success with a "rigorous curriculum that combines academics with hands-on experience, in school and in the workplace, through internships and cooperative education jobs". 

Jovan has chosen to take the Electro-Mechanical and Mechanical Assembly trade. I have to admit that I wanted him to take a trade in the medical field, but I will back him up 100% in whatever he chooses to do. Because I know that whatever path he decides to take, whatever journey life takes him through, he will succeed.

Meanwhile, I will continue to keep my eyes open, to cherish all the new experiences, because at this rate, the next four years will go by...fast! 

Julissa's First Time in Camp

A couple of months ago, I was planning my boys' week long camping trip to Wisconsin, with the Pathfinder Club, when it occurred to me that I should also send Julissa to camp as well. 
Julissa is still too young to join the Pathfinders Club (a Seventh Day Adventist based club for kids and teenagers) and was feeling a little left out about the boys' trip, so to make up for it I signed her up for a week at Camp Winnekeag. 

Yesterday was the big day! 



On our drive to the camp she was super nervous and asking tons of questions;

J: What are you going to do while I'm at camp?
Me: Nothing, just the usual stuff - work, etc., why?
J: Because I don't want you to do anything fun without me. I mean, you can go for ice cream or the park, but nothing major.

Of course she doesn't want to miss out on anything, she's been like that since day one. She cracks me up!

 All her worries and nervousness started to fade away as we walked through the gates of the camp; there were counselors standing outside the cabins cheering and welcoming the kids as they walked through, which made her all happy and excited...

Waiting to get checked in...

Getting medically cleared..

Julissa's counselor was out sick for a couple of days, so she was placed with two other counselors for the first couple of days. Tess was her counselor Sunday. How lucky of her to have not one or tow, but three counselors!

After the registration and medical clearance, we walked over to her cabin 

- the Cherokee - which has an amazing view of the lake.

She was super excited to get the there early because she wanted the top bunk, which she got :).

We said our goodbye's and I walked out...fast. 

Walking through those gates and leaving my baby behind for a full week, without communication, was one of the hardest things ever! But I want my daughter (and my boys) to experience a world out there, to make their own traditions and memories, to have fun without being held back. I will miss her and it's not easy to let go, but it'll all be worth it.

So here's to the start of new traditions, experiences and memories...

Jovan's Eighth Grade Graduation

Jovan's Eighth Grade Graduation

This past Monday, Jovan graduated from eighth grade! 

Words cannot describe how proud I am of all he has accomplished in the last few years. He has grown into a handsome, responsible and caring young man. 

This week has been an emotional roller coaster for me; I don't know where time has gone! My "baby", my first born, is spreading his wings and growing into the young man I envisioned him to be, but it still feels like everything is happening too fast. 

Leaving Seven Hills Charter School is a big step for Jovan...and us! He has attended this school since Kindergarten. Leaving this place feels like he's leaving family behind. This school is all he's ever known, teachers that have seen him grow and friends that have grown alongside him from kindergarten through eighth grade — family. 

At the ceremony Mr. Fanfan, one of Jovan's previous teachers, gave a moving speech about changes; about being afraid of changes, but overcoming those fears, moving forward, having faith in themselves and succeeding in reaching their desired goals.

The entire time I was tearing up, it took all of me to keep from shedding any tears...until Jovan gave me this note, along with a carnation :').

After the ceremony, we went outside to take some pictures with the family. 

Jovan was eager to drop everything and leave and refused to go back to take pictures with friends and teachers (he's such a boy lol!), but I was able to sneak a picture with his previous math teacher, Ms. Stimpson. 

With his siblings, Abdiel, Adrián and Julissa.

My brother, Kevin joined us at Jovan's graduation, after working a 16-hour shift in the ER, along with his beautiful wife and daughter, Juliana and Amaya. 

Kevin is that sort of uncle, the one who is there for his niece and nephews and would sacrifice all the sleep in the world to be there rooting for them.

My mother, and sister, Chassandra were also there with my nephew, Julian. 

Our beautiful family...

...and us!

Son, we are so proud of you! We know that you will fly high and you will do great things. You will succeed. We are ready and buckled up tight, because the next four years are going to be quite a ride, but your Dad and I are already rooting for you, side by side. 

Whatever path you decide to take, we will back you up 100% . 

This is our promise.