Still friends after all these years!

Almost eighteen years after being out of high school, and we are still close as ever. We aren't able to get together as often as we would like to but we still manage to keep in touch. It takes a new baby, a wedding, a birthday or in this case, a Christmas Dinner. We still try to see each other as much as possible. Between the eight of us pictured, we will have a total of 30 children after Nicole and Angela have their babies in March. Wow, I can't believe it. Weren't we just in high school last year? We can't possibly be that old. We were missing a few friends that evening but they were there in spirit! Old friends are always the best friends! I love you guys, what would I ever do without you all?
Julie Haight, Debra Knowlton, Holli McDonald, Sarah Howe, Nicole Grada, Angela Kotter, Angela Fletcher, Natalie Gleave

Team McDonald

We have two amazing basketball players in the McDonald home. Kinnley and Kennedy have been playing on a couple of great teams this past season. They both have managed to get quite a few baskets and have had a great time playing and getting better with each game. We are proud of you both!!

Valentine's what? A date?

We did it...we broke down and let Kenz go to the Valentine's dance at school. We have told her that she could go to Junior Prom if she gets asked. She doesn't turn 16 until the end of June but we thought we would cut her some slack and let her go in May. Steven had to go and ruin that for us. He asked her to go to the dance with him a few weeks ago. We decided after having a discussion with him, that we would let her go. WOW, I can't believe that she is getting that close to dating! How scary! They went with a big group of good friend and they had a great time. They went to dinner, the dance, sleigh riding and to a friends cabin to watch movies. She rolled through the door five minuted before her curfew, and slept way into the next afternoon. Steven is a cute boy and we all really like him! He made a great "first" date for Kenz.

Present and future Highland High cheerleaders!!

Most friends and family know that Kenzie is a cheerleader at Highland high this year. She has had a great time and it has been an amazing year for her. Caroline's latest aspirations is to follow in her big sister's footsteps and be a cheerleader as well. The HH cheerleaders had a cheer camp for the little girls. They taught them dances and cheers and even how to clap like a true cheerleader. Did you know there is a right and wrong way to clap? Well, just ask Caroline and she will give you a lesson in clapping properly. They got to perform at halftime at the varsity basketball game a few weeks ago. This was a possibly the biggest highlight in Carolines 5 1/2 years. She was so excited she could hardly stand it. We are in for some major cheer leading drama at our house!!
This past Tuesday it was the final basketball game of the season. It was against East, the main rival school of Highland. Since long before Holli was even at Highland, this game has been called "Freak East." The intent is to dress as freaky as possibly. This year was no exception. The student body pushed the freaky envelope as far as they could. Kenz and her cheer friends dressed as freaky and out of control and definitely scared me! (Even scarier was Kenzie's bathroom when they were finished. Can you say black and white paint, spray on glitter and major hairspray? Oh, it was a mess...) They had a great time and as always the Highland Rams came out with a MAJOR victory! Go rams!

My how time flies...

I guess it is about time that I update the blog. My sisters are getting very impatient and are about to send nasty messages so I had better get with the program and get a new post. I can hardly believe that it has already been two months since Christmas. Therefore, it has been two months since my last blog. Life has been a little hectic at the McDonald household and sorry to say but, the blog has taken a back seat. The family dynamics have changed a bit... Holli started working and Mark has been playing the role much more, as Mr. Mom. I think he secretly is loving it! He has been doing carpools, homework, church, a little cleaning and has even been seen helping Caroline bush her hair and find a matching bow! Holli's job is with Delta Airline's and the family has more than benefited from it. Mark's other job lately, has been the McDonald family travel agent. He has been taking the kids all over the US, using the airline benefits as much as possible. In the last two months he has taken the kids to Hawaii twice and Palm Springs for the weekend. He has been to Vegas three times and the kids have all flown to Cleveland, to visit Aunt Haley for a weekend sleepover. They have yet to feel guilty about leaving their dear old mom home to work so they can all play. I find this to be extremely rude!!! Actually, I have enjoyed the peace and quiet and have been able to get a few things done around the house. Who knows where in the world this weekend will take them. Keep checking out the blog to see where they wake up. Maybe Costa Rica, Argentina, Mexico or maybe back to Hawaii. The possibilities are endless!