Show and Tell Tuesday: High School

This is a fun post today for Show and Tell Tuesday that I am excited to link up on. It is always so much fun to learn a little behind the scenes information about bloggers, especially as this little space can quite often become where we paint our 'perfect picture' of life. I mean, really, I argue with my husband, get frustrated about my job, and have days where I can cry on command. Life is real. Here on the blog, though, I (and I venture to guess most of us) like to capture and share the best moments, and eliminate the bad. Who would rant to read my blog if I complained about my husband procrastinating on cleaning the basement like I have asked 87 times ;-)
I am excited to share a bit about how I was in high school, which I am sure in many ways shaped the person that I am today. It is so crazy to reflect on how life was in high school, and how far removed from that life we become as we grow into real life adults, which jobs, and kids, and responsibilities. Ahh, to be young again.

This picture is from homecoming my freshman year. Literally, the start of it all right here. Those ladies were two of my best friends, and I have lots of memories with both of them. We all took different paths in life and are only in touch a bit, but it is so fun to look back and see how things used to be. We were just starting out with everything; boys, our careers, everything was just beginning at this time.

This girl was a huge part of my high school life. We met in driver's training, and the rest was history. We were joined at the hip and pretty much inseparable. She went on to date this guy, who just so happened to be brothers with this guy...

So I suppose I have her to thank for, you know, my entire family. Post high school, she dragged me to a softball game, telling me to 'dress cute' because Jeff's brother was going to be there. And six years later, the man is still mine.
Back on track to high school, what consumed nearly all of my time and energy outside of the classroom, was dance team.

This sweet soul is still an important lady in my life, and I am blessed to still have her around. She is actually the maid of honor in my brother-in-laws wedding next summer to another fantastic lady we went to high school with. Small town, small world. It is so funny to see how things work out as we grow up.

Literally, dance was my life. And after I graduated, my sister joined the team, and it was still my life. I just love, love, love dance team. Don't necessarily miss the practices, though ;-)

One of the most exciting things I did in high school was go on a student trip to Italy. It was quite the experience, to say the least, but I would go back in a heartbeat, and to this day am so very glad I did it.

That last picture is with my friend Ally (yes, we are tiny and you can barely see us..) who was in my wedding and is still one of my closest friends. We love to look back on Italy and reminisce to this day.

And, to cap off this post, obviously I have to top it off with prom and graduation.

The cutie in the orange tux is my cousin. We grew up together and have so many memories. We are only three months apart in age, so we were the best of buddies when we were little :-)

These last two pictures sum up senior year. Great friends, and the love of my life puppy. I remember feeling so grown up, but life was literally just beginning. High school was trying, frustrating, and difficult at times, but looking back, there are so many happy memories that I am smiling as I reflect on :-) I really don't know if there was anything sweeter than being 16!