Triplets Graduation Week May 2025

Graduation Week May 2025

Daylin, Braden, and Skyler Alvarez Celebrate Their High School Graduation.
May 26-29 2025

Activities in the Alvarez and Braden households made for a pretty busy

time from May 27 to May30, 2025.

Daylin, Braden, and Skyler Alvarez had completed their senior year at Bloomingdale Senior High School, and this was certainly a time for praise and celebration.

Saturday, May 24th This was to be the first event, a party at Karen and Cathy's home for Daylin, Braden, and Skyler's friends to come together for some fun and games. This party had to be canceled, however, when Skyler and her BSHS varsity softball team qualified for the state championships in Orlando, and one of the game dates was the 24th. (The party was rescheduled.)

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Tuesday, May 27th Jay's sister Ellen and her husband Tom flew in

from Indianapolis. That was really nice of them to join our graduation events. In order to keep airfare down they had an early flight into the St Pete Clearwater Airport, where Jay met them and which was just about the same driving time as to the Tampa Airport.

This meant Jay had time to take them over to Clearwater Beach for some brief fun in the sun time. We found a spot in one of the beach parking lots, changed, clothes, grabbed up chairs and a beach umbrella, and headed for the water!

Since we were on a tight schedule, it was carry to stuff down to the beach and set it up, take pictures, get wet, bundle up the stuff,

and take it back to the car so we would have time for lunch at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill on the beach. (Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill is one of four Frenchy's on Clearwater Beach and there is one in Dunedin on the Causeway Boulevard.)

The food was tasty, the service was good, and the restaurant-on-the-beach venue was especially nice.

Then it was over to the Clearwater dock where they caught a tour boat and had a pleasant ride around the area, looking at the resorts along the beach and watching for dolphins.

Lastly, was a quick stop at their Residence Inn to drop off their luggage and get prepared for the night's dinner at the Shrimp Boat, a nice restaurant in the Brandon area. Jay, Tom, and Ellen were joined by Karen and Cathy and their kids, and Jay's wife Joyce, who had been at home dealing with some medical issues with two of her very long time and close friends. Karen and Cathy had spent a large part of this night decorating the building where the graduation dinner would be held.

Wednesday, May 28 Graduation Day for Bloomingdale High School. The ceremony was scheduled to begin at 3:15 PM at the Florida State Fairgrounds, which, fortunately, are located only about 20 minutes from Valrico.

To begin the day’s activities, Jay, Joyce, Tom, and Ellen were joined by Robert's family who drove in for the graduation and also had been doing some celebrating in the area for Benjamin's 16th birthday that occurred on May 27. We met at a local First Watch, a restaurant chain known for its excellent breakfast and brunch food. (Karen and Cathy were busy getting the triplets ready for the ceremony.)

Again, the food and fellowship were great, and a very nice way to start the day. We departed from the restaurant, drove to the fairgrounds, and linked up with Karen and Cathy many of Cathy‘s family who had driven up for the graduation. Thanks to Karen and Cathy, we had great seats. I believe the fairgrounds had four graduation ceremonies that day and the staff there deserves a commendation for being able to manage each of these major events very smoothly. We have been told that the ceremony would take one and 1/2 hours, and it was completed in 90 minutes, just as promised.

Then it was on then it was back to the Brandon Junior Wives Club building for the graduation dinner. Karen and Cathy had done a magnificent job in setting up the tables and chairs, adding decorations to the walls and tables, setting out graduation mementos for the kids, creating a slideshow, setting up a catered buffet, and doing pretty much everything that could possibly be done to have a great time, which we all had. The food was great, and plentiful; and catching up with various family members was sweet.

Thursday, May 29 Jay picked up Tom and Ellen and they drove to Dave & Buster's, a very popular place with tons and tons of arcade games. They all had some fun trying their skills at a few of the games.

Then it was to the Hard Rock Casino. No, not for gambling. Among other things, the table stakes were too high. We got a bite to eat, then took a very interesting tour of the building and watching some of the games; notably Roulette, Craps, and Blackjack.

We ended the day by going to Mandela's , a great Italian restaurant. Super food and - of course - Gelato, an Italian frozen dessert, often described as a richer, denser, and creamier version of ice cream.

Friday, May 30 This was "return home" day for Ellen and Tom, so we began by heading to Ybor City for a tour of the J.C. Newman Cigar Factory.

Founded in 1895 by Julius Caeser Newman, J.C. Newman Cigar Company is the oldest family-owned premium cigar maker in America. For four generations and 129 years, J.C. Newman has been handcrafting many of the world's finest cigars. J.C. Newman is headquartered in an iconic 114-year-old cigar factory in the Ybor City National Historic Landmark District in Tampa, Florida. At this factory, known as "El Reloj," J.C. Newman rolls premium cigars both by hand and by hand-operated, antique cigar machines.

We had signed up for a factory tour.

The J.C. Newman Cigar Factory tour in Tampa, Florida, offers a fascinating glimpse into the rich history of cigar making. As America's oldest family-owned premium cigar manufacturer, the "El Reloj" factory provides an immersive experience. Visitors can explore a three-level museum, witness cigars being hand-rolled by skilled artisans, and see antique machinery still in operation. The tour delves into the Newman family's legacy and the broader history of Tampa's "Cigar City."