Skylar's Cheer Camp

 

Last Day of 8th & 10th Grade

 As another school year comes to a close, we're celebrating some big milestones in our family!

Middle school has officially come to an end as Madden graduated from 8th grade. To say we're sad would be far from the truth—after three years, Madden was definitely ready to move on. Honestly, I think he was ready to leave back in November!

Like most boys his age, middle school had its fair share of ups and downs, but it was also a time of tremendous growth. He made a great group of new friends, matured so much over the past three years, and, for the most part, was an average student. Most of his teachers absolutely loved him (minus his two history teachers! 😂). The staff all seemed to know Madden—whether for good or not-so-good reasons—but I think they'd all agree his charm usually won them over.

Madden is incredibly excited to start high school this fall, and we truly believe it's where he'll thrive—socially for sure, and hopefully academically too! We can't wait to watch this next chapter unfold.

Skylar also had an incredible year at Carlsbad High School. She absolutely crushed 10th grade, earning straight A's both semesters and finishing the year with an impressive 4.33 GPA thanks to her AP coursework. We couldn't be prouder of how hard she worked.

Outside the classroom, she was living her best life with her amazing group of friends. She also made the difficult decision to step away from dance after 13 years and take a chance by trying out for the Carlsbad Cheer team. She made the team, and we haven't seen her this happy in a long time. Jake and I are so excited to spend our Friday nights cheering her on from the stands at every football game.

We truly can't wait to have both kids back on the same campus again. Here's to new beginnings, exciting adventures, and an unforgettable year ahead!

Buds since first grade.  Can't believe how much they have grown.

Madden and Noah.

Madden and his dear friend Addie.

Cooper, Kason, Ian, Madden, William and Hudson.

Madden and his buddy Sharbel.

All the boys with their favorite teacher Mr. Rai.

Noah, Madden, Nico and Joey.

Grad night Madden and his buddies went to a big bash that a handful of girls were throwing.  They didn't want to go but ending up having a blast.

Skylar's 16th Birthday

This year, Skylar's birthday happened to fall on Mother's Day, so she got to share her special day with both Mom and Nana. We celebrated with a lovely brunch, followed by one of her favorite traditions—opening birthday presents surrounded by family. That evening, Skylar chose her birthday dinner favorite, rigatoni with meat sauce, and topped off the celebration with a delicious five-layer ice cream cake for dessert.

Two days after her birthday she was able to take her drivers license test which she passed with flying colors. 

To celebrate with all her friends Skylar did a dinner at 2051 Cucina Italiana.

Happy 16th Birthday to our amazing daughter! It feels like just yesterday you were taking your first steps, and now you're stepping into this exciting new chapter of life. We are so proud of the kind, strong, smart, and beautiful young woman you have become. Watching you grow has been one of our greatest joys, and we can't wait to see all the incredible things your future holds.  May this year be filled with unforgettable memories, laughter, adventure, and dreams coming true. We love you more than words can say. ❤️🎉🎂✨

End of an Era

It’s a bittersweet ending for Skylar and her dance career. After 13 years of dancing—both for fun and competitively—she’s decided to close this chapter. From her very first classes to countless rehearsals, competitions, and performances, dance has been such a big part of who she is. She never once complained about going to class and was always fully committed to growing, improving, and giving it her all.

High school dance team took a little bit of the fun out of it for her, and after two years, she realized it just wasn’t the right fit anymore. That wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the right one for her. Along the way, she experienced plenty of highs and lows, but the greatest gift dance gave her was resilience, discipline, and confidence in herself—learning how to work hard, push through challenges, accept feedback, and trust her own path even when it’s hard.

Dance also gave her so much more than just technique—it shaped some of her most meaningful friendships. She met her very best friends through dance, and watching those bonds grow over the years has been such a gift. That part of her journey is something I will always be so grateful for.

We are definitely going to miss watching our girl shine on stage—the costumes, the performances, the excitement of competition season, all of it. But more than anything, we are just so proud of the young woman she has become through this journey.

And lucky for us…this isn’t the end of her performing days! She made the high school cheer team—woohoo! We’re so excited to watch her take on this new chapter, cheer on her school, and continue to grow and shine in a whole new way.

Skylar with her team at her last dance performance ever.

Surrounded by all her best friends.

At her end of the year Dance banquet.

Cheerleader in the house!

CHS Winter Formal 2026

Winter Formal this year was one for the books! It was held at SeaWorld, which made the night feel extra special right from the start. All the girls got ready and pre-gamed together at Grace’s house, while the boys were right across the street at Miles’ house. The excitement was definitely building on both sides of the road!

Two party buses picked them up and first took them to In-N-Out for a fun dinner stop before heading off to SeaWorld. The school had the entire park to themselves for the dance, which made it such a unique experience. They danced, explored the park, checked out the sea life, and even had one amusement ride open just for them.

Skylar said the location was so much better than her freshman year — such an upgrade! But even with the amazing venue, when 9:00 PM rolled around, they were ready to keep the fun going and all headed to Keegan’s house for the big after-party.

Definitely a night they’ll always remember!

Skylar & Grace

Skylar & Anna

Skylar & Seeley

Skylar & Abby

Henley & Skylar

Emma & Skylar

The whole crew.  Feel so blessed that Skylar has found such an amazing friend group in High School.