The Kassel Family Project Life 365

Tonight was Laura’s last Wind Ensemble concert.

It is hard to believe that this is another last for her.

This is a special performance for only the Wind Ensemble that includes honoring each of the Seniors and the Senior Solo Series.

It has been a great year, and Laura has grown a lot as a musician.

There are only four days of school left for Laura. It is a week full of lasts.

We did some deck and patio upgrades this weekend. First, we purchased flowers and other annuals for the outdoor planters.

While Andy worked on those, I cleaned all the outdoor tables and chairs. Then, I replaced the chair cushions on our deck chairs with these new blue ones.

This morning, Andy put together our new firepit table for the back patio.

All that is left is to install the new cantilevered umbrella on the deck and buy a propane tank specifically for the firepit.

We are looking forward to spending some time outside this coming summer!

Laura’s Senior Prom is here. I asked her if she wanted to have her hair professionally done, but she did not want anything elaborate. I am certainly not a stylist, but I was still able to find a low bun made from braids. Laura said that she loved the way it looked.

As with her hair, Laura did not want an elaborate, sequined dress. She spent hours looking through dresses on Amazon for something “fairy-like.” Her ultimate choice is beautiful, and the color really shows off her red hair.

I especially love the back of the dress.

After she was ready, we met Laura’s best friends at Grindstone Nature Area for pictures. It was fun taking pictures of this excited group of Seniors.

It was bittersweet for me as we took pictures of Laura and Annabelle. They met on the playground the very first day of kindergarten and have been best friends ever since.

They are two peas in a pod.

When pictures were taken, Laura headed off with her friends for the evening. After some hang out time and a trip to Sonic for dinner, they went to the Columbia Country Club for Prom. Laura said that they all had a great time, and it was a lot more fun than she thought it would be. She loved spending her Senior Prom with her best friends.

I am so glad that the night was more than she expected. There are only five days left of school for our girl. Where has the time gone?

Laura shocked me when she told me a couple of weeks ago that she made the Hickman Review. I thought, “What the hell? She submitted a literary piece?!?”

While Laura has been writing for years, she has always refused to share anything that she has written. For her to submit a piece for a literary magazine was stunning.

I am so proud of this kid. She stepped outside her comfort zone, and, now, I get to see a small piece of her work in print. I find it amazing. Way to put yourself out there, Red.

Laura received a departmental award tonight.

She received the award for a course she took last semester, “Law and Order”.

Congratulations Laura!