Oh! The Places You'll Go!

Have I killed you with suspense? I know it has been a while since I posted last, and that last post said I was in the workings of a very special surprise for a very special someone. I have had no time to sit down and actually write down everything that went into making this idea a reality, so to help me I decided that this post will have two parts, hopefully I'll get to the second part in a timely fashion- we'll see.

This miraculous idea came about while I was on tour in Texas. I was feeling sad that I couldn't make it home for my little sister, McKenna's high school graduation, because of my school schedule I am in school year round until I graduate which puts a major kink in all summer travel plans. I called my Dad up and told him what I wanted to do and he said that he'd look into flights and see what kind of magic he could work to get me home. I gave him strict orders that this was to be a secret and to not tell McKenna. (our family struggles with keeping things secret and or allowing surprises to be an actual surprise so I was nervous to see how this would pan out) My next phone call was to my Mom to fill her in on my ingenious plan to surprise McKenna, obviously she was ecstatic; not only would it mean a lot to McKenna to have me there, but I knew my mom was excited to have me home :) 

A few weeks went by and I still didn't hear back from my Dad and I was getting worried. No one from our family was able to make it to kenna's graduation so I felt obligated to get my bum home and support her in this accomplishment. (Let me mention that McKenna was in the top 10% of her class, captain of the dance company, a member of National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, an avid volunteer at the Mayo Clinic, and all around amazing girl!) I'm sure I left a lot of other important accomplishments out, but you get it- she's an incredible student! 

 My Dad and I decided on tickets and when I'd be able to fly out, he even surprised me with a ticket for Joe to come too, I really do have an awesome Dad! Keeping this secret was the hardest part! I caught myself numerous times writing out a text message to McKenna saying how excited I was to see her... delete! delete! delete! 

I don't know how I managed to forget to tell Joe that this was a surprise, but I did. Just a few days before we left I mentioned how excited I was to surprise McKenna and how happy she'll be. He was completely caught off guard and said that it's a good thing that he didn't text McKenna about it and completely spill the beans...sheesh bad communication on my part!

I told my Dad to tell McKenna that our Grandma and Grandpa Hughes decided last minute to come and that she needed to come with him to pick them up at the airport. I knew this plan was fool proof, she was expecting our grandparents to round the corner at security not me and Joe! I made a poster to hold up at the airport as we walked out, Joe refused to hold it with me I think he was embarrassed :) We sent security into a tizzy because we acted really sketchy as we hid behind the corner of the exit peering out numerous times trying to get a good glimpse of where they were standing. As soon as she saw the poster she screamed and everyone in the airport had to stop and stare at our loud reunion. 

My silly sign

The next day was graduation AND McKenna's 18th Birthday! We went to our favorite breakfast place, Butterfields and McKenna opened oodles of presents along with graduation gifts. I forget how easy it is to rake in the dough at graduation! Sheesh!

Butterfields :)

One of the many envelopes of cash

Everyone loves a little box from Anthro

My Dad got her quite the gift card to Anthropology :) Lucky duck!

Happy Birthday McKenna!

I think McKenna should give me the Anthro gift card :)

This day was filled with food, family, and laughter. Everything a Birthday and Graduation day should be, right? After we opened presents at our Dad's we headed over to our Mom's house for more food and even more presents, this girl made bank in a matter of hours. I decided I need to graduate asap! :) My mom had planned a BBQ and relaxing afternoon with family and friends. Our Grammy Barb made it our for McKenna's graduation too! 

The yummy food at our Mom's

Mommy and McKenna

Our beautiful Mommy

Mommy, Me, McKenna, Grammy Barb

Candid

Totally awkward, but too funny not to post :)

Happy!

After a fun filled afternoon of eating and watching McKenna open even more presents we all headed back to get freshened up for the Graduation ceremony! I got emotional only a few times, once when I read her seminary graduation excerpt about her. Each parent of a graduating senior wrote a little something special for their graduate and then they were all spiral bound and handed to each senior during seminary graduation. The first night we were home I read it out loud to Joe and my Dad and sister. I honestly didn't expect to break down and cry like a little baby, but I did. Leave it to McKenna to make any situation humorous by saying, right as I start to cry, "NO! You are not honestly crying right now?!" 

Our awesome Dad!

Thuggin' haha

Hahaha perfect

Much better!

Joe!

"Do something funny!"

McKenna and Joe came up with a secret handshake and left me out of it, pretty typical ha! These are pictures capturing their handshake... 

Leaving me out...

Who knows with this one...

You did it!

Photogenic, I'd say!

All the graduates walking out

It was so weird to be sitting in the audience watching graduation, because it felt like yesterday that I graduated and sat exactly where McKenna was sitting! It's hard to believe that 3 years has gone by and how many things have changed so much in such a short period of time.

McKenna is second to last

As the students line up to receive their diploma most would wave or smile at their families...not McKenna. We couldn't even get her to turn around and try to find where we were sitting! It's funny comparing the two of us, because when I graduated I was posing and workin' it for the camera haha. So, all I have are pictures of McKenna's back...maybe when she graduates from BYU she'll turn and look ;)

She did it!

McKenna and her friend Taylor

Lexi and McKenna! Such cute girls!

I am so proud of you McKenna and all the hard work you put into every aspect of your life, you truly are an example of all things wonderful in this world. I am so excited for your new adventures and a brand new life at BYU! You're going to do so well and have so many wonderful experiences there, I am so proud of you and all the choices you've made in your life to get you this far! I love you so much baby keena you're the best little sister anyone could ask for! You're going to knock BYU off its feet! Go Cougars! :) 
As Dr. Suess would say:

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.