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Saturday, October 28, 2017

Time to Catch Up - SEPTEMBER 2017

 Abby jumped right into volleyball at her school, playing on a varsity team although she is only in 6th grade.  She is competitive and athletic, perfect for volleyball and her winter sport of basketball.

















By early September, Gabby was seeing a boy from Wyandotte Roosevelt, who played football (#58).  It was inevitable that his and Gabby's Dad's team would be playing against each other.  Unfortunately, Gabby had a volleyball game that afternoon and sister Abby was the photographer at Wyandotte.  Also, unfortunately, Carlson lost that game and a subsequent rematch a month later. 

Later in September Gabby's school's homecoming and dance were the same night as her date's.  They chose to go to the Wyandotte dance.  Both families got together at Bishop Park along with a ton of other families to take photos of the kids and, for most, their first dressy dance.  Later that night Gabby said it was The Best night of her life.
















The parents posed with both kids and even the 3 grandmothers got into the photos.



Time to Catch Up - AUGUST 2017

As my dear neighbor prepared to leave on a 6-month jaunt to visit good friends (and some business) her son and some friends took over her house next door.  To the delight of my granddaughters, one couple moved in with a couple of puppies.  Adorable and energetic!
Things at The Lakehouse heated up and Gabby had to choose between home with Dad and Grandma or at the lakehouse with Mom and sister.  She managed to balance it pretty well.

Gabby had to be around for volleyball practices as she worked to make the Freshman team for fall.  Here are the freshman girls (green) with their varsity big sisters (yellow).
She made the team!  The only lefty.  Sometimes it pays off.

Using Grandma's big Canon camera Gabby signed on as team photographer for the Carlson freshmen team her dad is coaching this year.

Carrie's Carlson class had a reunion at the winery near Carrie and Mike's lake house.  Abby went with her mother and played photographer and DJ for the day and evening.

Some of the old gang went back to the Lakehouse for an afterglow.


Friday, October 27, 2017

Time to Catch Up - JULY 2017

The first week of July the family goes to Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.  The Suchy family in several cars travel on one day and stay overnight at a motel on the mainland.
In no time at all the girls' friends from former Independence Weeks found each other and made plans for hanging out the rest of the week.  They look so sweet all dressed for dinner.
 Carrie and Gabby both celebrated their birthdays Grand Hotel Style.
Here is "The Gang" of teens.  With a parent or two nearby, they often danced until the band left, then gathered in the foyer until wee hours of the morning.

This year's Grand Hotel Family Portrait
The first Grand Hotel Family Portrait
...
Back home, I was having the old, leaky living room windows replaced with Majic Windows.

Gabby decided she wanted to buy a game system.  Her girlfriend came over to help break it in but it took one of her male classmates to come over and set it up.  Then it was play time and connect with friends with the same system.


The playstation has to stay at Grandma's house until she goes to Florida, said Dad.   I don't mind the kids coming over to play at all.



Swimming during the hot days was an option for Gabby while her sister spent much of the summer at the Lake House with their mommy.

During their few days home, Grandma (me) took advantage to spend some time with Abby and Carrie.  Here we are having dinner with their other grandmother.

Here we are at Savannah's celebrating Butch's and Markie's shared birthday.

There was plenty of time to spend at the lake, since it is only an hour away.
With boating comes tubing!

Back home, Gabby was staying at Grandma's house going to orientations and sports tryouts at her new school, Gabriel Richard High School. 





Time to Catch Up - JUNE 2017

June seemed to be all about Gabby.

As a graduation privilege, Gabby was allowed to have her first pet, a hamster.  She used some of her graduation money to buy "Churro" but her parents bought the cages and extras.
 ...
"Island Fest" on Grosse Ile was the first of several big community festivals held each summer.  This year the girls were dropped off to spend the day with friends and enjoy the festivities.  Gabby spent time with several buddies, including her neighbor/friend, Alison.
Abby found some friends form Gibraltar  that she "hangs out" with and had fun at the fair with them.
 
 ...
Although she is officially "out" of St. Pius school, Gabby was accepted as a counselor for the younger kids' summer camp.  Her mother and I were so happy that she didn't shy away from holding a snake...something both of us have done from time to time.

...
Of course, much of the summer was spent at The Lake House.
 Love eating out with the girls at the restaurant on the lake.
 At 14, Gabby is learning to drive a little on the back road by the Lakehouse.
...
The end of June was Gabby's birthday with a BUNCH of her close friends from school and hometown.  They swam, ate, watched fireworks, ate again .  Several girls (and 2 boys) came after this "official photo" was taken.
 
and all ended up hanging out in the house.
 
Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Time to Catch Up - MAY 2017

Carrie took a day off from school to celebrate Abby's birthday.  Abby was especially surprised when they were joined by her best friend for lunch and birthday shopping.
 As soon as the girls returned from Florida their school started the mad round of events ending the year and ending the Eighth Grader's time at this school.
 The first event was confirmation of the eighth graders by the bishop.
Then there was a "sports mass" celebrating the spring sports.  Gabby and two friends gave the "gifts" during Mass.
This page explains the All-Night Party
 There was a chance to take a lot of fun pictures with their classmates, for some, of the last 10 years.

 Next was the Sports Banquet.  Since Dad was her coach, Gabby received her volleyball certificate from her dad

She and Abby also won awards for playing softball.  Abby ALSO received an award for playing basketball.  However, the most important was the Scholar-Athlete award given to those students who maintained a high grade point average while playing sports.  Both girls won this award.  Not all of the athletes did.
Abby went to camp for 3 days and participated in everything offered.  

The sports season wound down with both girls playing softball.  For the very last game Abby's coach had her pitch.  She did so well he wants her to plan on pitching next year.




Next event was the Torch and Ribbon ceremony during the school day.  Abby carried the processional  and recessional cross and served at the altar for her sister's ceremony.

 First the students were given awards they had won over their time at St. Pius...academic, service, and athletic.  Pins were added to their ribbons for each.
 The "torch" of the ceremony referred to the passing of a candle flame from each 8th grader to a 7th grader signaling the passing of the leadership of the school.  Then Gabby was the chosen ribbon-staff carrier and held the MayPole-like staff while her classmates took the ribbons making a very pretty sight. 
 Recitations by some of the students brought a tear to many parents' and grandparents' eyes.

 Students filed past the 8th graders from kindergarteners on up to the parents greeting each student and saying goodbye.  Parents, students and graduating 8th graders were often in tears.  This was the most moving of the days.
Here they are...the 2017 graduating class of St Pius X School.
The last day the 8th graders all wore their class t-shirt, ran down the halls between other students lined up outside their classrooms, and replaced the photo of last year's class with their own where it will hang until next graduation.
 Finally, Graduation Day.  There had to be fancy hair, of course.
 Each student received his or her diploma and posed for family to take photos.
 Following the church ceremony there was a round of photos with family and the students went off with their various family members for dinner and little parties.  It was over.

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Gabby Faye
Michigan, United States
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