A Chilly Graduation Trip

Back at the end of January and beginning of February Paige and I took a quick trip over to Edinburgh for a few days. Paige has always wanted to go, particularly because of all the Harry Potter related landmarks around the city, and since we were able to get on the flights and found a wonderful, historical Airbnb right in the Grassmarket by the castle…it seemed like a great, albeit really, really cold, time to go!

After arriving, we bundled up and hiked up to check out Edinburgh Castle. Then we wandered around Victoria Street (which was literally only about a 5 minute walk from our flat). Victoria Street was the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter books…and we look wandering around the cute shops.

We also found Elephant House, and Spoon, where J. K. Rowling wrote the first few Harry Potter books…

Right there by Elephant House, in the same neighborhood, is the George Herriot School and Greyfriars Kirkyard. J. K. Rowling could see the Herriot School from Elephant House as she was writing, and it was the inspiration for Hogwarts. She would frequently take breaks and walk through Greyfriars, which also provided inspiration in the form of some familiar names….

We took a day trip to Stirling one day, and wandered around the town and toured the castle…

We also did a history-comedy-walking tour of Edinburgh…which was fantastic!

And finally, we toured Holyrood Palace and Holyrood Abbey. We walked around the Scott Monument, we traversed the Royal Mile, and explored Mary Kings Close. We shivered a lot, it’s true (we’re Florida girls!) but we loved every minute of our chilly Scottish, Harry Potter adventure!

Posted on August 1, 2019August 1, 2019 by vkfamily 0

She Did It!

After three and half years of late nights, too many hours spent in the library (and Starbucks!), and lots and lots of papers (on terrorism, and Pol Pot, and lots written in French on eighteenth century literature…and, sadly, even on existentialism)…

Paige graduated (early!) from Florida State University! Hip Hip Hooray!

(Tim and I are now the proud parents of TWO COLLEGE GRADUATES!) 🎉🎊

CONGRATULATIONS PAIGE!

Posted on January 13, 2019 by vkfamily 3

Pomp and Circumstance

After much back and forth and (apparent) miscommunication about credits, at the very last minute we found out that Clay would indeed be graduating this spring.

Cue choir. Now all sing Hallelujah!

Seriously though, we’re very proud of him!

Posted on July 25, 2018 by vkfamily 1

She did it! (also, the countdown for the move is ON😳)

Friday was Paige’s baccalaureate service…

And then, Saturday was the big day. Graduation.

It’s hard for me to believe that 12 years have passed so quickly. I still think of her as that little first grader…

The graduation ceremony was lovely and Paige looked beautiful.

Afterwards, she attended “Project Graduation” (sponsored by the school) and won a microwave! Yay! Unfortunately, she only got about 3 hours of sleep that night and had to get up early the next morning to attend a self-defense course which mean old mom and dad were forcing her to take before leaving for college.

Apparently, in spite of the lack of sleep – or perhaps due to the copious amounts of caffeine she ingested – she rocked the class. In fact, she was even a little scary during the simulations…attacking with a smile on her face the whole time. Ha!

We officially move in 4 more days and have started taking some smaller, fragile items out to the new house. We are all quite anxious to get moved in. I can’t wait to leave Orange Park and become a beach bum!

Posted on June 1, 2015June 1, 2015 by vkfamily 2

A quick update (and a bad pun)

Life seems to have taken on a frenetic, frenzied pace around here. Just as soon as P finished with her exams at school, we headed off to Tallahassee for an exhausting few days of Orientation at FSU. It was informative, fun…and slightly grueling as well. They pack a LOT into just a few days. P is more excited than ever about college, although slightly frustrated with the registration process – every class she wants/needs is either already full or not offered. She did make a couple of new friends though and knows her way around the beautiful campus a bit better than when we arrived.

In between all that, I’ve been trying to pack. I know that I AM making progress…but it doesn’t seem like it! I’m getting a bit overwhelmed.

C comes home for a few days today before leaving to be a camp counselor at summer camp next week. Tomorrow is P’s baccalaureate and then Saturday is graduation. A week from tomorrow is moving day….