Homecoming Parade: Varsity Cross Country float. I whooped, I hollered, I cheered.
Mallerie went to the Homecoming dance with Riley, who used to live at the Park Avenue Condo's in Orem when we did! They are all grown up and ready to date.
(Graham is watching and learning)
They had a delicious dinner in Midway at the house of someone in the group. Mallerie has a lot of friends with big shmancy houses that's for sure.
...as well as her graduation dress.
It's a versatile pattern! 
I got so many comments afterwards from fellow parents. People that Mallerie hardly knows. They complimented her example of modesty. I've told her that people are watching her that she isn't even aware of, maybe now she'll believe me.I then used the pattern AGAIN for Mallerie's Preference dress in November! This time Mallerie let Ava do her hair, and me do her makeup. After doing her make-up and then going to touch up my own, there was a stark contrast between old and young...
She was Pretty in Pink!
Coming across this pattern a couple of years ago has been a lifesaver.
I tried something new this time and made a matching tie for Fischer, her date...
He liked it!
The group dinner was held at Heber Appliance. Yeah, you read that right. I went over with Mallerie that afternoon and we quickly decorated the table nice. The girl's in her group each brought a different part of the meal. Matt grilled his famous chicken thighs for our contribution. Mallerie said she needed people to serve it up that night. We went as a family and the kids played the part of waiter/waitress very well. They cleared the dishes as Matt and I plated new ones. We needed all hands on deck.
The dance group had met for pictures at Old Town pretty early in the day to catch the last rays of sunlight, which put dinner early. They still had two hours to kill after eating before the dance even started. They spent the time playing hide-and- seek in the appliance store. It took us pretty much the rest of the time to get the dishwasher loaded and the kitchen area cleaned up (turns out sometimes those are fully functioning kitchens, and not just for show.) As we were leaving I said to Mallerie, "See you at the dance!" She looked mortified for a second till she realized I was joking. I had to laugh because as a youth you don't realize the work that adults (parents!) put into making things special for you. You don't expect it in a bratty way, but you just know they will do it for you. Being on the other end I realize I wouldn't have to do any of it, but I love that it is just assumed that I will.
Binnie pouring the water. Like I said, we really needed all the kids help.
The next day when we were talking about the dinner with Mallerie she said, "Why did you have to bring the babies?" "Uh, because they would have been home alone otherwise, and I needed them!" She shut the fridge and there was Graham with THE most crestfallen expression. It had never occurred to him that she wasn't thrilled to have him there and it broke my heart. I texted her later that she needed to apologize, which she did....in her Malmal way. Kids!
