Baccalaureate 2014

All the soccer boys

Thursday Nite was the baccalaureate ceremony for the Seniors.  It is a like a chapel service to bless the seniors before they head out to the next chapter of their lives.

There were a couple of great speakers and some really good music done by the students. It was a thoughtful way to spend the evening.

Amanda and Jenna

The whole gang

Congrats ya' Chaches

Only super classy folks would have a graduation cake that says:

"Congrats ya Chaches"

And then have a cupcake fight with the cake!

Fearless Foursome

This is a pic from the video that I LOVE!  From top left:  Ry and Grace and From bottom left:  K and Bug.  These pics totally capture each of their personalities perfectly!

Memories

Our friend Renee put together this awesome video of Grace and her 3 friends who have grown up together:

Fearless Foursome

Such wonderful memories!

Re-creation

We recreated a pic on Bug's 14th birthday that we took on her 10th birthday.   I hope we can do it on her 18th birthday too!

The perfect gift?

What does every 14 year old girl need for graduation? 

Her own tool belt! 

At least that is what Grandpa Roy thinks she needs.  He is really hoping she is going to work for him this summer helping fix up one of his rental properties.

Ceremony

Just received these pics from the ceremony that are better shots then mine.

Friends are Family You Find Along the Way

These are people in the kids lives who are like family.

Tina and Marty are their other parents.

Mad Dog and KK are like cousins.

It is so great that they are always there for each other.

I just love these pictures of all of them together.  I wish I could have captured the giggling that was occurring.

From daycare to college....

Graduation Pics

We were very fortunate to have my Aunt and Uncle come in from Kentucky for Grace and Drew's graduations.  I loved the pictures that we got with them and with my folks.

A moment I want to remember

Grace and Drew both had the same counselor in Junior High School and she was so wonderful for both of them.  Her name is Ms Lake and she is the sweetest, kindest, most encouraging woman.  She was always so positive and supportive and truly made a difference in the kids lives during their Junior High years.

After many, many years being at VC, she has decided to retire. Because she has been so important to our family, I wanted to do something nice for her.  So Grace and I ordered her a necklace with her favorite bible verse:

Colossians 3:12-16

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.   Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

After graduation yesterday I asked Grace if she had given Ms Lake her necklace.  And I was beyond pleased when Grace said , "Yes and she was wearing it for graduation".

G - 8th Grade graduation

Here are the first of the pics from Gracie's 8th grade graduation.  It was a wonderful celebration.  

The ceremony was thoughtful and just the right length.  We got together with a bunch of friends after and took some pics.  And then we all pigged out on Chinese food back at our house.

The highlights of the nite were:

• Grace's tool belt from Grandpa Roy
• Marty ripping his linen pants - pics to come
• Me and Tina tag teaming baby William to get him to eat while Mari was out 
• And of course, the presence of my Hillbilly Aunt and Uncle from Kentucky!

Hanging right next to Drew and Grace's graduation gowns is this sign (that we have had since Drew was a baby) and this picture.  How does it go so fast?

It is a big week with a Jr High graduation and a High School graduation.  We are definitely in a period of transition in our family.  It is "all good" but it is different.  It is certainly a time to reflect.

I could not be more pleased at the young people that these little ones in the picture have grown into. 

A wise woman once told me, in regards to raising children, "start where you want to finish".  She meant, if you want to have responsible, confident, respectful, empathetic, happy adults, start with that as the goal at the beginning.  So when Drew and Grace were babies, that was our stated goal and we stayed focused on that over the past 18 and a half years.  That is a LONG time to stay focused on a goal but the effort was worth it. 

I feel very confident that we are sending Drew off to college and adulthood with those traits firmly a part of his personality and I feel strongly that they will serve him well in adulthood.  And, although Grace is 4 years from college, I see examples everyday that she has internalized these traits and in fact, they have made her wise beyond her years.

So as we celebrate these important milestones for Drew and Grace, I am going to celebrate parenthood too -- because it all goes together.  I am really proud and lucky to be the mom of these two unique, amazing people.  They have taught me as much, or more, as I have taught them.

Congratulations to Drew and Grace.  May life continue to be good to you!  And may you always remember how much "yo mama" loves you.

Don Pedro - Memorial Day Weekend 2014

Took a trip to Don Pedro for some fishing and tubing.

We started the day watching a sail boat get towed off a sand bar in the area where the river meets the lake.  It was such a comical event that none of us could take our eyes off of it to get a picture.  But picture this:   The man in the sail boat was a tiny little man in a button up shirt left open and a pair of short shorts.  One of the women in the "rescue boat" was  a 50 year old woman in the smallest g-string ever made.  Plus she had a giant tramp stamp and silicone boobies to go with the g string!

After the entertainment was over, we beat it and went tubing.  Then we tied up and floated around for awhile.  All in all, a great day on the lake.

Mur pouting after his swim

New beds for the cabin

We got new beds for the basement at the cabin and moved stuff all around.  I am super happy with how it turned out and how functional it is.  The new comforters look great with the area rug that is in front of the couch.

Baby Adventures

When we got to the cabin late at nite, here is how we found him!

Will loved his first trip to the cabin.  I am so excited to share all our future adventures with him.  For this weekend, we mainly hung out on the boat at PML.  We did teach him the fine art of cheese fries!

Loves the boat - hates the life vest

Warm weather called for a naked boy!

Everyone likes a nap on the boat