Friday Favorites (March 13, 2026)

 

Hi Friends and Happy Friday!  Friday the 13th? Well let's just not mention it shall we?  We are treading lightly...it is March and all...anyway, here are a few faves from our week....short and sweet...

 

 

MEMEs/Images That Brought Me A Smile

 

Grammy's Anniversary

 

This week marked 8 years since my mother in law passed- we visit her often, at the cemetery down the street, but we miss her all the time.  We feel her presence, always, especially as we celebrate special moments with the girls.

 

  

Diana's College Cheer Signing at WHS

 

Last night, we attended Diana's very last Sports Awards Night at WHS.  At these awards, they also hold ceremonies for athletes who are signing to play a sport at the college level.  Diana got to sign last night.  It was very special.  The grandparents were all in tow and we enjoyed the ceremony and then the Sports Awards right after.  We all agreed that we know so many of the kids after attending so many games and you find yourself celebrating all of their victories!

 

 

Can I be raw and candid here for a moment friends?  Yesterday ended up being a really hard day for us.  Thank God we had this special ceremony at night to cheer us all up.  I kept thinking back to Tuesday and how it was one of my favorite days personally and professionally and then yesterday everything seemed to fall apart- work wise- kid wise- drama and heartbreak and such- I felt the hits just keep on coming- checked if there was a full moon- there wasn't- then I really started questioning my faith- I have been lately and it got real yesterday- I have never had doubts like I have recently and that makes me sad- anyway- onward and upward- no other choice

 

Have a wonderful weekend XOXO 

Diana's Last Cheer Senior Night- Basketball Season

  

 

It truly feels like we were just celebrating her Senior Day for Cheer- Football Season.  It has already been almost four months- just crazy to me!  People aren't joking when they say don't blink because Senior Year is over in a flash.  I am truly feeling that!

 

Tuesday Night was so very special.  I was looking forward to it but also dreading it at the same time.  Does that make sense?

 

Excited to celebrate our girl and be honored as a family but so sad that we are getting closer to the end.  We  are excited that Diana will be cheering in college and can't wait to watch her perform but there is so much sadness knowing that high school cheer is winding down.  We may have even experienced our last high school game watching her.  The Jags will most likely make the playoffs but if they get a home game, is still TBD.  If they do then they will cheer.  If the game/games are away, they will not so we shall see!

 

Anyway...I digress...on Tuesday Night, before the basketball game started, we were honored in a special little ceremony.  They announced Diana and our family and her coach said some special words about her.  I was so nervous but did catch that "no one loves the sport of cheer more than Diana- her enthusiasm is contagious and we can't wait to see her cheer in college!"

 

 

The Jags lost unfortunately but we had a blast with our parents and torturing Diana with her Fat Head- ha!

 

 

 

 Oh My Monkey...how did we get here?  XO

 

 

Teacher Apprecation Night- Basketball Season- Diana's Senior Year!

 Last night, we enjoyed one of the lasts!  It was Diana's last Teacher Appreciation Night for Basketball Season.

 

The Senior Basketball Players and Senior Cheerleaders got to choose a teacher to honor and thank during this special night.

 

The Jags played Concord and experienced another amazing victory- 65 to 47!

 

We set up and decorated a designated area for the teachers to all sit and enjoy the game together.

 

 

 

During halftime, they were honored in a special ceremony.  We had given them special shirts to wear ahead of time and during the halftime announcements they met their students on the court and received special certificates.  Then the pictures ensued

 

 

It is one of my favorite events and reminds us that it takes a village- truly.

 

Diana chose Mr. Jacob Bass- he believed in her from Day 1 when she was a tiny freshman.  He helped build her confidence and always saw the potential in her.  We loved witnessing this special time.  He is a newer teacher and so young in his career and he said to us after, "this has been the highlight of my teaching career so far."  He felt so honored and we did too being able to witness their journey!

 

Another special night and tradition- really holding onto these times and recognizing how truly special they are!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diana has Committed! (Sharing This Great News And All About Our College Search Process)

 and the winner is.....

 

 Yeah!  Go Warriors!

 

She will be majoring in Elementary Education and...she committed for cheerleading!  
She will be cheering for the Warriors!  D1 y'all!  She was offered a spot on the team just by her recruitment video and she was offered the spot before she was even accepted to the college- ha!  She is thrilled, as are we.  

 We honestly loved all of our college tours down south and for awhile she really thought she wanted to be down there but just as I surmised, from early on, the need and want to be closer to home won out AND she just loved this campus and school in general.

 

We are very excited for her AND very excited for college football games...woohoo!

 

The best part of her going to college in Mass for teaching is that she will get certified in Mass which is a top-paying state for teachers in the U.S.  Her dream is to become a first grade teacher and give back to the kids that will need her and support them the way some of her very special teachers supported her.  Her college essay was about just that!

 

We utilized a college counselor who was referred to us by our best friends.  Craig made the entire process so much less stressful.  He helped her get organized and come up with her list.  He helped her tweak and edit her essay.  He walked us through FASFA and all of our financial questions.  He suggested schools we hadn't even thought about.  He also steered us away from a few that Diana would not get into.

 

In the end, she applied to 19 schools.  Decisions are still rolling in but she is committed.  So far, she was accepted to 11 schools- rejected by 1 - and deferred by 2.  We still need to hear from 5 but it doesn't really matter at this point!  She is all in at Merrimack.  Side Note: They also gave her the largest, and very substantial, financial package so it was a no brainer!

 

Amber DiPrima is our go-to video pro and she created Diana's Recruitment Video for us.  It ended up being very successful because from her video alone, Diana received 5 cheer offers! (She actually made about 11 videos and the same one was sent to a few schools.  The others are personalized like this one for MC)

 

 

Post by WHS on their IG Account- so proud!

 

Our "toast"- Janie and I before everyone else joined our team call yesterday :)

 

 So proud of you, all of your hard work over the years, your determination and grit and most of all for following your passions Diana Mary.  I love you Monkey- My Baby Bird! XO