I'd like to take a moment to recognize......

In 2006 we had a gathering of family in support of 8th Grade Recognition for Thomas! I would love to show you pictures...but couldn't find a single one :( I am hoping they are in a different "file" and I am just not seeing them but that they will show themselves eventually. One can only hope! Thomas played the saxophone through Junior High and played all 3 years on the basketball team. He is a little more serious but definitely a great kid!

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  The VERY next year we had 2007-8th Grade Recognition for Michael!

We can usually count on Grandma Mary, Aunt Vicky, Grandpa Frank, and Jenny to be there as well as siblings and cousins.

Look there is Uncle Jeff! Hi Jeff! Glad you were able to come up and celebrate!
And there he is the boy being recognized in his lovely red gown, it wasn't much of a fashion statement, come to find out the whole 8th grade picked that outfit to wear. Ha! Just a little joke! Michael played the trumpet during Junior High as well as played some basketball and he was a friend to MANY! He is so incredibly likable he has no shortage of friends or teachers willing to help him out!

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In 2010 we did it again, this time 8th Grade Recognition was for Patrick!
The gathering was a little smaller but we still had Grandma Mary, Aunt Vicky, and siblings! Oh and Dad and I (behind the camera)!Oh there I am! This year we also have new "sisters" added to the family, Julie (we were days away from Steven and Julie's wedding) and Addisyn (who was still called Claudia at the time).

Oh look! Same red gown! Patrick doesn't appear to be AS thrilled about wearing it as the others. "Patrick!!! Don't worry, you look FAB in red!" Patrick played the mandolin, soccer, a little bit of track, and basketball throughout Junior High. His fingers could fly over those strings as well as the guitars, the banjos, the bass, and the violin (well he didn't use his fingers then).

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Look at this fabulous GROUP! (I am behind the camera again, it's my favorite spot to stand in pictures). I can't believe how everyone has changed over the years. 
Tonight we were recognizing yet another outstanding boy!
In 2011 it was 8th Grade Recognition for Daniel!

There they all are, the ones we can count on!

(Bad camera, :( it was new and just a disappointment for picture quality, it has since been replaced!)

Thanks to one of Daniel's friend's awesome cameras we actually got a good picture under the arch while dressed in his recognition best. (Thanks awesome friend for giving us a copy).

But wait! There is a little something else that happened on this particular night, Daniel was deemed
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"OUTSTANDING STUDENT OF THE YEAR!"
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YAY!! Daniel played the saxophone all 3 years of Junior High, read over 2 million words in the Million Word Challenge AND went out for Track. This is the first athletic competition Daniel did, he isn't usually the one to take on sports but he did and he gave it his best and we couldn't be more proud of this guy!

We couldn't be more proud of all our sons, they are all excellent humans with kind hearts! All unique in their individuality and they all bring something amazing into our lives.