Graduation! - Part 3

 Uncle M and Aunt N drove all the way up from New Mexico! We were so happy to see them and I was amazed at how tall S and B have gotten!

 

 

Family picture! 

 

 

And one of the couple. :)

 

 

Uncle W, Aunt D, Cousin K, Uncle B, Aunt M, and Grandma and Grandpa were all able to come!  

 

 

Bug's bestie. It seems like a blink of the eye and not a year ago that A was the graduate and Bug was the one watching.  

 

 

Bug and L, these two have been friends since they met in dance class at the age of 4! 

 

 

I had to grab a picture of Boo and Z. :) 

 

 

 Noni, Aunt K, and Aunt M headed back to the house to get ready for the party...I learned my lesson that for the next graduation I need to have a later start time on the party. I didn't know when I made the invitations that the parents were responsible for cleaning up afterwards so the party started at 3 and Bug and I didn't make it home until 4. Thank goodness for those three who put out all the food and got the last minute things ready! 

 

The only bummer was that after all our hard work to get the outside ready, the wind kicked up and most people stayed inside. It doesn't look bad in the picture...there were a few that braved the wind.  

 

 

But most people visited inside. 

 

  

 

So many sweet friends came and it was fun to visit with them! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kids all ran upstairs. Noni went up there later and found this sign on the door. 

 

 

They were having a ball with friends, cousins, and kittens. 

 

 

 

The teens had a good time playing volleyball for a good part of the afternoon. 

 

 

 

Bug opened a few presents at the end of the party. 

 

 

Grandma R made this pillowcase. 

 

 

The next day after church she finished opening all her cards and presents.  

 

 

Thank you to everyone who came and sent cards to support our girl! She is so thankful for each note of encouragement and for all the love of family and friends!

Graduation! - Part 2

 I can't believe we have a graduate! It was such a whirlwind weekend that everything felt like it was happening really fast. Before we knew it our baby was walking down the aisle!

 

 

This is such a great group of kids. They are loud and crazy but so much fun!  

 

 

Bug's part in the ceremony was to lead the pledge.  

 

 

After all the Senior stuff all year it was surreal to see them up on the stage! 

 

 

Bug got a local scholarship for $500! She was so surprised!   

 

 

Mrs. B presented the awards. 

 

 

Our friend Grandma R took this picture during the ceremony. 

 

 

Bug got the character award of ambition.  

 

 

Mrs. S presented those awards and it was extra emotional because this is her last year after 30 years of teaching here! The girls were saying that she never cries but she got teary after Bug's hug. 

 

 

Diploma time!  

 

 

We are so thankful for Mrs. A! She is an amazing principal!  

 

 

Ta da! 

 

 

The graduates!  

 

 

Moving their tassels. 

 

 

They had confetti cannons but no one could get them to work.  

 

 

It was so funny to see their personalities...L, the valedictorian started reading the instructions. A, the wild one started beating it on her knee, lol. Bug gave up almost immediately and just laughed. Z, the only boy twisted his so hard he broke it in half! SO funny! 

 

 

They eventually all gave up after lots of laughs. 

 

 

And tossed their caps instead. 

 

 

Bug got to wear a gold cord for her 3.98 grade point average. She was third in her class so she was happy she didn't have to give a speech. Haha.  

 

 

Love these kids! 

 

 

The music started playing and they danced down the stage. 

 

 

We had two full rows of family members there to celebrate Bug!  

 

 

Whew! What an amazing day watching our firstborn graduate High School! We are so proud of her and excited for her future!  

Graduation! - Part 1

 The Seniors took this picture a few days before graduation to go on their programs. I love it! 

 

 

Last day of High School! 

 

 

But not really...haha. She had one day off and then the next day we were there from 8:30-12:30 setting up for graduation. Bug is really good at arranging flowers so she made two vases for the stage. 

 

 

I mostly worked on the balloon arch. It was also Field Day so Boo was running around getting ready for that. She was excited that they got to wear shorts! She was in charge of the 6th graders and their team color was pink.  

 

 

Here's Boo with her two good friends...and consequently the only other girls in her grade. :) 

 

 

Bug had to clean out her locker. It doesn't seem like all that long ago that she was standing in front of it for her first year there. :'( 

 

 

We got home and Uncle B and Auntie M were not far behind. They were able to stay the weekend with us! We really enjoyed having them! And they were so helpful. Auntie M helped me make tons of sandwiches and prepare food for the party, and Uncle B helped Daddy hang the patio lights! I have wanted these for SO long and they are just as beautiful as I hoped they would be!! 

 

 

I love them!  

 

 

Noni kept the little ones for me from Thursday to Saturday so I could clean and prepare for the party. Uncle M, Aunt N, and cousins S and B arrived Friday as well as Aunt K so they were in heaven playing their hearts out! Here they are after getting their hair fixed for graduation. 

 

 

Bug knew that everyone but Aunt K was coming and she was so surprised when she saw her! 

 

 

 

So sweet! 

 

 

 

The graduate! 

 

 

 

Last year I realized that Lou would be graduating Kindergarten at the same time that Bug was graduating High School so I bought Lou a little cap and gown off Amazon for under ten dollars just so I could get this picture, haha. 

 

 

It did make it a little easier to have my first baby graduating knowing that I still have 12 more years with the last one. :)

 

 

Sweet sisters! 

 

 

I went into the library where the Seniors were congregating and found them dancing. :) 

 

 

All the girls minus L. 

 

 

Mrs. A, the Principal, got this picture right before they walked down the aisle. She is the best! 

 

 

More pictures tomorrow!