Homecoming 2014

This past Saturday was Emaleigh's homecoming.  I was delighted when she came to me and shared that she and a bunch of her friends were planning on going together this year.  I am delighted that she has settled into her new school and has made some great friends.  Changing schools last year was a bit harder than we had all anticipated.

A few weeks ago she and a couple of friends went to the mall to shop for dresses.  It was enjoyable to watch them together, and to see how much fun they were having.  I stayed back while the girls went into each store.  Ema chose a last season prom dress that we modified to be a homecoming dress. Very sparkly, very girly, very grown-up! I'm okay with this only because I have to be! The funniest part is that the dress was purchased from the same store and the same mall that I bought my prom dress from in 1989.  CRAZY!! (But secretly, kind of AWESOME!)

Way too formal for homecoming,

After sharing her vision for what the dress should look like with her nana and I, we got to work and I have to admit it turned out perfect. Not too short, which was her biggest concern, and not too long, which was mine.

So on Saturday, after hanging out at school all day prepping for the upcoming PCHS drama department's fall plays, she came home to get ready for the dance.  

I helped her with her nails.

Her dad helped get her dress ready.  

Seriously?  Shouldn't you wait until she's in the dress to dance with her?

She looked so grown up. Her dad and I couldn't be more proud of her. 

Proud Papa

A little joke that only she and I (and maybe her dad) will remember when we look back at these pictues! But the look on our faces was priceless and I'm so glad that Craig was able to capture it!

I love this picture of the two of them!

Love her so much!

We were anxious parents all night, but new that she was having a great time. She ended up spending the night with a couple of the girls and they had a blast.  They came home at 11:30 and made macaroni and cheese, and finally laid there heads on their pillows at 1:00 a.m. They made great memories!

This is the hardest part of parenting.  Wanting your child to experience the joys of growing up, but realizing in order to do so, we have to let go.  Uggh!!