Maysen Graduates from Utah State University

Today was such a fun day! It was also kind of crazy. We got up early and dropped off Bear at my dad's house. We were going to be gone all day and thought that was too long for him to be home alone. My dad said he could come over for a play date with Phineas and Miles. That was super nice of him. We drove up to Logan in the rain. We got there in plenty of time if things were normal. We did not account for the parade blocking Main Street which sent us on a long windy trafficy way. (Jorja was supposed to be in the parade but got locked out of her room the night before and couldn't make it in time.) We made it to Angie's later then we wanted. It still would have been okay, but there were SO MANY PEOPLE! We waited for Stockton and Jorja to arrive and were trying to figure out where we should go instead when Mike heard my name called. Lots of people on the list before us had left and we got in earlier than expected. Hooray! The server was so nice. I guessed what Stockton and Jorja would want. She let us changed Jorja's order because I guessed wrong. We also brought Jorja's birthday presents to Angie's. Maysen's present is an open when you want to type present. Her other present was an air fryer. I knew she really wanted one before she left. She used the one at home all the time. Hope she likes this one! Anyway, it worked out just great timing wise. We left Angie's and hurried over to Locked In. We love escape rooms, but I don't think we have been to one since Stockton left on his mission. So it has been a looooong time. This one was so much fun. Everything just clicked. The puzzles weren't super easy, we just figured them out fast. For example, Mike or Stockton found a puzzle and thought they needed to look in a mirror. They did and saw that there were markings on the mirror that they needed to match to unlock something. It wasn't easy to see and they just figured it out so fast. There were many things that happened that way. In this escape room they have a worker in with you. She mostly sat in the corner, but she is there if we need any hints. When we finished and she could break character she said, "I can't believe it! I have never seen anything like it. You guys work so well together!" Or things along those lines. It was true. Someone would find a puzzle and recognize it would be part of a clue someone else was working on. The girl said that usually there is a clear leader that tries to run the show, or the other people just don't know what to do. She said with us there was no clear leader, everyone was just solving puzzles and working together. We finished in a crazy fast time. It was awesome.

Preston, Stockton, Jorja ~ before... watching the explanation video

After... Mike, Stephanie, Maysen, Jorja, Preston, Stockton

We said goodbye to Jorja. Who had sorority stuff the rest of the day. We went over to the Maverick Center for Maysen's graduation. I think it is really cool that Utah State wanted to let the 2020 graduates have this experience. The even flew in the valedictorian who now lives in Tennessee. She gave a great speech too. Scoop and Cori also came. It ended up being so great.

Maysen

Stockton (he had to take three quizzes before midnight) & Preston

President Crockett, Maysen, and I can't remember the other guy's name

Maysen: Major in Psychology and English (although it sounds like England)

Maysen

Mike & Maysen

Preston, Stockton, Mike, Maysen, Stephanie

Scoop, Maysen, Cori

We went to a pizza place Maysen had picked out before we had ever heard of covid. It was pretty good.

While we were doing graduation and dinner, Jorja was finding out who her 'big' in their sorority would be. Her 'big' ended up being her roommate Jayme. That should be fun for the two of them.

Jayme & Jorja

Bear was happy to see Mike. I'm glad he behaved himself for my dad.

Bear & Mike

With Miles and Phineas

Bear, Mike & Phineas

Mike took the tv out of the downstairs room in the cabin since we now can use the projector. He hung it up in Preston's room. Preston likes to sleep in Jorja's room so he can fall asleep to the tv. Mike thought Preston would want to sleep back in his room. When it came time for bed Preston told Mike that he likes to sleep on the Beddy's that is on Maysen's bed. Haha. Best laid plans.

Mike, Bear, Preston

Jorja came home late tonight for some farewells tomorrow. I love having her here! She's quite exhausted though.

Jorja's High School Graduation

Jorja has now graduated high school. I'm going to miss this time of her life. I do wish she had wanted to spend more time with us though. Jorja did so well in high school. I'm so proud of her. She took chances, made mistakes and got messy. Hahaha. But really, I can not believe how far she stretched herself. She spent years and years quiet and shy, then she turned it around in a blink of an eye. It was hard and painful, but she clawed her way out of her shell and I don't think she is ever going back. Four years in student government. That was brave. Highschool was scary and one of her very best friends would tell her not to run, she would only embarrass herself and he would be the only one to vote for her. Glad she didn't listen. She tried out and was in different theater plays her freshman year. She was so sick most of her sophomore year, but still made life long friends and nailed her main responsibility as president, the morp dance. Jorja went to Taiwan and lived as a foreign exchange student for three weeks. She absolutely loved that experience. She was surprised how she was able to read everything and understand everything, but said she had a white girl accent. Haha. Covid shut down her junior year and wreaked havoc on her senior year. That was hard and sad, but she still reached her goal of being a student body officer and did a fantastic job on the fundraiser. At inauguration when Mr. Packer was talking about Jorja he said he didn't think anyone else would have been able to pull the fundraiser off. I agree with him. Watching her work behind the scenes.... she worked so hard and gave everything she had. She sure is leaving high school with no regrets. Maysen and Stockton were dressing Jorja as she got out of the car. She had a hawk medallion, a step2theU medallion, a NHS yellow thing, and five cords. Blue& white ~ blip-literacy, green ~ world language, purple ~ English, red~ high honor, yellow and white ~ I think for a high gpa? Not sure. Anyway, Jorja is amazing.

Jorja 

Stockton & Jorja

Maysen & Jorja

Jorja & Stockton

Each graduate was given four tickets. That meant Preston had to stay home and no grandparents. We arrived early so Jorja could get some pictures with her friends. We took some family pictures outside the institute building before we went in.

Maysen, Mike, Jorja, Stockton

Maysen, Mike, Jorja, Stockton, Stephanie ~ all Alta Hawk graduates now

Maysen, Jorja, Stockton

Jorja & Stephanie

Mike, Jorja, Stephanie

Jorja & Stephanie

Jorja & Mike

Jorja, Stockton, Mike ~ the first of many photobombs featuring Stockton

Jorja (Stockton)

Jorja

Jorja

Jorja & Stephanie

Maysen, Mike, Jorja, Stockton, Stephanie

Ella & Jorja

Jorja calling to Giselle

Ella, Jorja, Giselle

Marshall, Layla, Jorja, Riley, Jake

Jorja standing for Chinese immersion

Jorja's name is announced

The grandparents were able to watch graduation on a zoom link. I'm glad they had that. Cori took some screenshots from the program. I don't know who is giving Jorja her diploma though. Also, one side note, they announced the student body officers and the lacrosse team first. Bode is on the lacrosse team. As soon as their names were read they had to leave to go to their playoff lacrosse game. They ended up winning that game and eventually won the state championship.

Jorja getting her diploma

Alta High School ~ Class of 2021

Ella & Jorja

Jorja & Lily

Sami & Jorja

Riley & Jorja

Jorja

(Stockton)

We swung by our house. Jorja changed real quick and we picked up Preston. We met Scoop, Cori and my dad at Leatherbys. I'm glad we were still able to do that tradition even if they couldn't come to the graduation. I didn't get a picture of Jorja with Scoop and Cori, but they were there.

Jorja & Grandpa Millburn

When we got home I called Utah State to find out what needed to be done for Jorja to be able to take the Chinese class she needs. They had me fill out a form online asking for permission to take the class. Hopefully it won't be filled up by the time this gets done. Jorja slept for awhile and then went to hang out with her friends at Luke's house. She took her graduation announcements to hand out there, then promptly lost them. Oh Porge.

Tonight was the Pepperwood party. Mike and I chaperoned from 12-2. This year wasn't too bad, we just walked around the wooded area. No one even came near us. Jorja and a few girls slept over in the motorhome so they wouldn't have to drive home too late. It was a long day.