Total Pageviews

June 2014

Jake and I started off the month at our Managers Meeting down at Wintergreen Ski Resort, we had a great time with our co-workers for 2 days while the family pitched in to take care of the kids.  I had to break out my referee shirt for a very competitive corn hole tournament.  All of our managers went head to head to crown the best two teams.  It was a lot of fun...unfortunately, me and my partner lasted until the semi-finals and then we got destroyed!!  So close...next year!!!

Renee's Graduation Party

I had to rush home quickly on Saturday from the Managers Meeting for Renee's Graduation Party!  Jeanine and Matt, Memere, Pepere, Don, Grandma, Renee and Jasmine were so awesome to have almost everything ready...I don't know what I would have done without them!  Thank you!!!

Renee and Kayla...they have been best friends since middle school!


Renee, Tanya, Jasmine and I


Uncle Pat, Pepere and Memere


I have taken pictures of Renee, on the first day of school, since Kindergarten!  I had to put this collage together for her party...she might have been slightly embarrassed!  I can remember taking each and every picture...


Renee and all her parents with her graduation cake...which came out perfect!  Little fun fact - the same lady made MY graduation cake, 20 years ago!  Another fun fact...what do you do when you need the cake at an angle and its HUGE.....


.....you have Jasmine hide underneath and hold it up! Good Job Jasmine!!


Jeanine and Renee

Who needs friends anyway???  Alicia smashed a piece of Renee's graduation cake in her face!


Jen, Don, Jeanine and Grandma


Pepere, Renee and Memere


Coley, Brian, Renee and Little B


Dinner on the deck after the party - thank you to everyone who came down to celebrate Renee!

Renee's Graduation Day


June 9th 2014 - Jiffy Lube Live Pavilion


The day has finally came - Renee's graduation...the crew waiting for the ceremony to start!


Leah practicing with her graduation fan


...Matthew has a long way to go.....


The stage!!


I have to document this story!!  A little history... Jackson, the boy in the brown went to day care with Leah and HE LOVED HER!!!  They are destined to be together when they are grown up...haha!  His mom, Mrs. Stalter, was Renee's 11th grade English teacher...by far, Renee's FAVORITE teacher EVER!  At the end of the school year, last year, her husband landed an awesome job in California and they had to move.  So, Mrs. Stalter, was bound and determined to come to graduation to see her last graduating class walk across the stage - she flew back from California with two small children to be at the graduation ceremony!!  She has family in PA and drove down to VA that morning.  I knew they were going to be coming, I have been in contact with Mrs. Stalter...but Renee and Leah did not!  Well, I take that back, someone blew it and the news got out to the high school students, but Leah did not have a clue that she was going to be seeing Jackson!  I asked Leah while we were sitting there, if you could see anyone that you haven't seen in a while, who would it be and she said "Jackson"!  Little Jackson stole the show that day.  He showed up at the end of the isle of graduation with flowers in his hand for Leah...he walked through all the people in the row and handed them to Leah.  It was the cutest thing you have ever seen and the look on her face was priceless!!!  They were so happy to see each other!!  I walked the kids and myself out of the row to meet Mrs. Stalter and give her a big hug!!  She said they were on the way down from PA and Jackson said "I cant show up at graduation without flowers for Leah...I haven't seen her in a year!"  She said she had to pull over and buy them!!  Those two are the cutest!!


...well back to Renee - here she is receiving her diploma from her principal...


...and a big hug from her Athletic Director, Mr. Sterns!


The happiest kid on the planet...


...a quick "high five" from her Honor Society leader, Mrs Regan!


...and up go the hats!!  They did it!!  Class of 2014!


Renee with her sweet diploma...


Big hug from mama...I could not be more proud!!


...and a proud grandma!!


Our amazing girls...

Through all the craziness...we did it!!!  ...and just to clarify, we are standing on a slope, Jake and I are not midgets!!! and Tavon is not that tall!!! haha!


Proud Memere and Pepere

Jeanine and Renee

AND...Mrs. Stalter and Renee!!  She came over to the house afterwards...Renee was beside herself!!


Matt Wilson

August 19th, 2981 - June 12th, 2014

As many of you reading this are aware, the Finch Family has had a rough summer!  Matt, Jeanine's boyfriend, passed away in June, three days after Renee's graduation. Matt was 32 years old and came down with a severe tooth infection that quickly took his life while being treated at the hospital.  It is something that no family should ever have to go through He was truly a wonderful man and put a huge smile on Jeanine's face...probably because he was a good cook too - YUM!  He will be greatly missed.  Please continue to pray for us, Jeanine and Matt's family!

 Matt was a great artist, here is a sketch he did of himself
 
 Jeanine and Matt in Florida


 Matt and his parents - Sheila and Rick


 Kayaking in Georgetown

 Shortly after Matt's funeral, his friends and coworkers put together an amazing gathering to celebrate Matt's life!  Wonderful food, lots of bourbon and cigars!  Cheers to you Matt.  Jeanine and I with Matt's older brother, Christian and sister-in-law, Jenn (with two "n" 's).


Playing corn hole at Renee's Graduation Party.  He was our "go get it" man...balloons, cake, hammer, nails and anything else we might have forgotten at the house...and was happy to do it! 
**********  
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields, 
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the 
hollow of His hand.

Father's Day


Jake woke up on Father's Day and ran 6.2 in honor of John Sinko, who passed away from cancer in May of this year.  Each year, Mr. Sinko would run the Father's Day race in Fairhaven, MA, Jake's  hometown.  This year, Mr. Sinko's children and all of his dear friends ran with "Team Sinko" t-shirts on.  Jake could not make it up to MA, but ran for him in VA.  He will be greatly missed!

Yummy breakfast for daddy....

...and lots of gifts!

last year we went to the golfing range and went for a round of putt-putt, so we decided to do it again...I think the children need some more lessons!
Jasmine getting her lesson!

Matthew hugging Leah after a good drive

All the kids swinging!

Jake challenged Renee and Jasmine - if they beat him, he would give them $20.00...they went home with empty pockets!  But they gave him a run...

Cupcakes for dessert!

Pepere's Basketball Tournament  in Maryland



It was so awesome to see this side of Pepere - the kids enjoyed watching him coach 

Jake and Memere focusing on the game

Outside of the school they had a place to feed the turtles in the pond, I brought a loaf of bread and the kids enjoyed feeding them...

apparently, Leah was hungry for bread too!

No comments:

Post a Comment