Graduation Celebration - Part 3

We were extremely blessed to have most our family and friends join us. We had family from:  New Mexico, California, Nevada...and a surprise visit from our friends in Los Angeles. Marla and her children drove in for the party. To drive 14 hours for one evening...is one special friend!

 She blessed and surprised us all! 

 The wind finally calmed down, and it turned out to be a beautiful evening! Again, this post is picture heavy, but you only graduate from high school once....

Here I am reading a letter I wrote to Landon. Yes, it was hard to get through it. He will always be my little boy. Both Max and I wrote him one. Max kept his somewhat humorous...(I know it was to avoid our guests see him cry!). Being center of attention is always the hardest part for Landon. He's always been incredibly humble.

Max thanking me for homeschooling our children...(he also had a dozen of roses for me). I tease him that I might have been the teacher, but he was an incredible principal. :)

 Homeschool friends

 Grandpa and his wife Vandy

Our  neighbors, Dr. Smith and Mr. Mcfarren (their wives were out of town, so they were bachelors for the evening).  :)

Left to right: my brothers from Albuquerque, Anthony & Mike, my sister-in-law Mary (although, I call her Maria), Tony Jones our friend from Nevada, & wonderful nephew Brett

 Landon's friends

More friends & sister

Buddies

Friends and family

Left to right: my sneaky friend, Marla &

friends from church, the Paulson's. 

My lovely homeschool friends

Dessert time

Max socializing, and my friend Susan to the right (who always hides from the camera!). She was a big part of my kids' life when we first lived here. She will always be Auntie Susan (Sue-Sue when they were younger!).  :)

My dad chilling.

I didn't want to forget my adorable nephew Sean and Marla's (very tall & special!) children: Corrine and Corbin

 Saying goodbye at midnight. It takes our clan about 30 minutes to say goodbye.  :)

Yes, my mom is always this happy. (Well almost, she is human.)  :)

Still saying goodbye.....

 My family bought Landon balloons to be released....

up, up & away

 We had some late nights, so here we have....
 Payton + late nights = slap happy!

We were blessed to have everyone share this special time with us. (And, for all their help, too!)
And, for those who couldn't be here....we are so grateful for blessing our son.

Graduation Celebration - Part 2

Unfortunately, the evening of the party was a bit windy! So most my decoration never made it outside. My dad, Payton & my nephew, Brett, filled up close to 75 balloons (not with their own air, they used a compressor!).  My plan was to have balloons floating in the pool...sounds lovely, right? Well, minutes after we put them in, a gust of wind blew them up in the air and straight into the saguaros! The rest scattered over the yard. I came to the conclusion, it only works in movies. :) 

A table of Landon's extra curricular during his high school years. 

Here's a closer look:  academic...  

music....

....& his sport

I made 12 center pieces for the tables....(Max bought me a Cricut for my birthday! Oh, how I love it!!....and of course, you can't make decorations without the wonderful Dollar Tree!). 

Sweets

Personalized sash 

His senior pictures, etc. 

Graduation cake

Landon's Graduation - Part 1

Well, it's over. My son is a high school graduate, and my job of (officially) educating him is finished. Homeschooling is, by far, the most rewarding and gratifying thing I have ever done. Words can't explain the joy (and  hard work!) of these past 12 years. The time I had with him will be treasured for the rest of my life! Both Payton and I will miss him as he attends UA this fall. (sniffle)

There will be several posts of his graduation, beginning with the ceremony....

Here is my handsome senior by our front door.

Here he is with his sister outside the church before the ceremony. 

And here we are with him...(Max was in a good mood, really he was!).  :)

Each graduate made a grand entrance. 

Sitting on stage

Here's the graduating class of 2013! (One of the moms made the 2013 out of silver styrofoam! I loved it!) 

Here they are moving their tassels to the left. It's official. They graduated!

 (They did through their hats up in the air, but our picture was blurry. Ugh!)  

The ceremony was really beautiful. Each graduate recorded a speech to their parents, which was played while the student walked on stage. They also showed a picture montage of each of them from birth...and ending with their senior picture.  

The parents also wrote a blessing to each child, which was read on stage after their certificate was given to them. The night was filled with joy, sorrow, laughter and tears.

May God bless, guide and protect our son as he moves on to another chapter of his life.

This is the verse Max and I chose for his graduation:

” Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." 

1 Timothy 4:12