Graduation Weekend

Stephen's photo card announcement I designed.

Baccalaureate at my cousins' church the evening before graduation.

Graduation day dawned clear, sunny and warm, much to everyone's relief! Surprisingly to me, it was a lovely and interesting graduation - none of the speeches were too long and they were filled with amusing and touching memories, much credit was given to God and faith for a relatively large public high school (a perk for living in a small, God-fearing, farming town), the weather was pleasant, and we were excited for Stephen's big achievement!

Walking in.

Waiting for his name to be called for his diploma.

The official graduate. :)



Stephen and his girlfriend Patti.

The scrumptious spread.

The party was in honor of my nephew Stephen's and my cousin Jesse's graduations.

One of Benny's shoes got lost that afternoon and so the poor boy had to walk around in his socks for awhile. But he didn't seem to mind a bit and ran all over the gravel without even a flinch.

First big wheel ride.

A future graduate. :)

Highlights of the weekend:

• Ben got to ride forward-facing for the first time, which he was very excited about and couldn't stop smiling at me from the back seat most of the way down to Oregon.
  
• Stephen was mentioned by name by one of the graduation speakers as part of the Dallas High School Robotics Team that made it to state. The robotics teacher was quoted as saying that the team members were some of the brightest students he's ever had come through his class and predicted that they will go on to become super-nerds. :)
• Running around the stadium getting pictures during the graduation with Stephen's girlfriend (my "assistant") doing the videotaping.
• My uncle volunteered to watch Ben during the graduation and Ben had much more fun on the farm, getting his first 4-wheeler ride and getting to sit on the tractors.
• Visiting with family and friends at the party.
• Ben's excited expression a few minutes after we slipped into the pew at church on Sunday when he finally recognized that Uncle Paul and Aunt Sandi were sitting behind us.
• Ben saying several new words: "yes," and "hat" (when pointing to a graduation hat decoration), and "ight" many, many times (as opposed to the previous "Ttt" for light).
  
• I got to roam about the farm for two hours Sunday afternoon, enjoying the solitude and snapping pictures while my kiddos napped most of that time (I'll post some of those pictures soon).
  
• By the grace of God and despite many trials throughout his childhood, my "little" nephew Stephen has grown up into a fine young man!