Well this week there is no question as to the subject matter of my (fairly) regular blog post. 
My baby is all grown up having completed 13 years of schooling, she graduated from high school on Thursday 25th June - wow, what a milestone!!
Prior to the Graduation ceremony was the Grade 12 Prom Dance on Monday evening.
Sadly for Jemma it was a bitter sweet event. Her relationship with her boyfriend Takuto, came to an end just the week before, but as they had already arranged to go as a couple they decided to go as friends, taking the gossip and rumours on the chin. Tak looked very smart in his Tuxedo and Jemma so elegant in her floor sweeping dress. The Prom theme was the James Bond movie 'Casino Royale' and they both looked the part.
Jemma designed and made her own dress, enduring a fair few frustrating hours at the sewing machine before getting it just right in the short space of time after finishing her final exams.
The graduation ceremony held at a local Arena was long and very very hot, as the weather has been particularly humid over the past few days. With so many people packed into the building for over four hours it was a little stifling. All the certificates were presented along with various scholarships and bursaries. Speeches were made and my hands were smarting with all the clapping for each student! Amber was armed with her camera and quite excited for her big sister and the thought of her own graduation in 3 years time. An evening for parents to be proud and students to congratulate themselves on completing many years of schooling before moving on to bigger things.
Jemma can now take a few weeks off, before planning her move to St Mary's University in September, where she will be studying Science and Japanese for the next four years.
Well done Jemma - we love you
Mummy, Daddy & Amber xxxx
