Homecoming 2016

 Both my high-school guys wanted to go to Homecoming dances this year. They attend separate schools but they had the big dance on the same night. First up was pictures with Parker;

He went with his friend, Riddhi. She actually organized the whole dance and was the DJ for most of the night. This group has been friends for the past few years but this was the first Homecoming dance hosted by their small high school. Fun to see them all come together for a special night. Parker was crowned Homecoming prince!

 And then Kaleb;

 Kaleb went with his friend, Alyssa. Even as a freshman, Kaleb has met a ton of new people along with a few lacrosse buddies at his new school. He is already making so many great memories. And! He shocked a few new friends with his crazy good dance moves on the night of Homecoming.

Onto High School

Kaleb's eighth grade graduation was a delightful ceremony recognizing the growth in these young people over the course of middle school. 

It has been a blessing to have Kaleb, Aden, and Collin at the same school. Kaleb is particularly protective of his brothers. He can mess with them, but no one else can!

Kaleb and his best friend Indy. They have a band together with their classmate Lindsay. They even have an Instagram, so cool!

He read a poem at the ceremony. Kaleb is truly a strong, confident, charismatic leader and that has been recognized and celebrated at his school.

He will be a freshman at Renaissance High School next year. He is excited to be a apart of some of their unique courses but mostly their killer weight room to work out in. The two gals, pictured with him below, will also attend RHS. Pretty great that from his small charter school he can transition with friends.

This is Kaleb's good friend River at an outdoor camp. She is an artist and she would encourage Kaleb in art and when he was trying to throw away his art projects, she would save them from the trash for me. She also makes great fudge. I really like River :)

This is just a weird picture of my ginger guy with blue eyebrows at the school carnival. No matter how proud I am of him, he always brings back the reality of parenting teens. Embrace the weird.

U15 Meridian North

 (Photo above: Captures by KM Photography)

Kaleb had quite the year in lacrosse. His team finished last but he had a lot of goals this year. Go #12! He was well liked by his teammates, he worked on his left handed shot and he learned how to better read the field. Matt helped to coach his team and Kaleb thoroughly enjoyed that as well.

This last shot is my favorite, he has the ball in his stick and he scored. You can also see the beautiful Boise backdrop behind the Ann Morrison fields where the boys play.

Life is beautiful

 Matt's insanely talented cousin took photos of Kaleb all around downtown Boise. I joined in for some fun, too. Kandi was so great about making Kaleb feel comfortable and captured some of his hilarious personality quirks. This ginger guy of mine is growing up. He and I have had a lot of frustration with each other lately but he keeps us all laughing as well.

 (this photo captures exactly how I feel about raising teens everyday)

Kandi posted some of these on her blog as well.  http://kandilamont.com/uncategorized/being-yourself-never-goes-out-of-style-boise-teen-photographer/ If you have a moment to show her some love, please comment or share and let's get her name out there! Thanks again, Kandi, I adore these moments you seized.

Kaleb

Two weeks after the start of the school year I got a phone call saying the Village Charter School had a spot in their 7th grade class open up. I had applied for the lottery a bit late and he had been put on a wait list. Anyhow, we are all thrilled for him. It is everything mom and son were wanting in a school.

Kal

Kaleb's turn to be the subject of Mom's terrible lacrosse photos. 

  He is number 12 on the purple and black team. Both he and Parker were given their Supersonics gear from their Seattle lacrosse team, that green helmet is usually what I look for. Their team has not won a game yet but Kaleb has played well. He played defense in Seattle but his coach wants him in as mid-fielder so he is learning a lot.  I miss the days where he and Parker played on the same team but he is enjoying doing his own thing.

*I am trying to sell him on the nickname "Kal," but he ain't havin' it.
**Their team name is "Thunder," which is written across the back bottom of their jerseys. hmm... a lot of boy jokes going around our place about that.