My boy becomes a man

My boy is not a boy anymore.  He is 18 years old.  Very much a young man.  Mostly I am excited and proud of him, but as he skidded into adulthood finishing the Eagle moments before the big day, the smeared remains of his parents were left trying to reform themselves on the pavement.  We managed to get excited by dinner time but I really wanted to wake him up and kick him rather than sing happy birthday in the morning.  Is it wrong of me to admit that?

Before dinner we had some fun with pictures:

  

At dinner I asked him if we had raised him to be a manly man or a mamby pamby man.  They love it when bring great conversation starters like that to the table! :)  Actually the question was the result of a brief conversation I had with another mom that day, maybe I will post thoughts on it another day, but getting them to understand the question and the resulting conversation was part of the evenings entertainment.  The other part was telling him I like to reflect on my life and think about my goals for the future on milestone birthdays.  He and John both looked at me and said, "yes, you do."  Just another one of those conversation starters my boys love that I bring to the table.

Dinner at PF Chang.  A perfect meal.  Fun conversation.

There was another exciting event that took place on Jake's birthday: 

The Graduation Part 5, The end of the beginning

What a day!  My son graduated from High School.  I took a few pictures...

Forgot to turn off the flash in the sun and they got a little overexposed.  The ones with just Isabelle are the only ones I forgot to re-take when we moved.  A little cuter in black and white? 

Being the first, and for 4 years only, grandchild, my mom and I spent many years fighting over the best way to raise him.  But together I think we did a pretty good job. 

This is the moment where they are saying to themselves, "I can't believe we are about to do this."

And then they did it.

Graduation was at the Target Center in Minneapolis where the Timberwolves play.  Consessions were open.  We got Isabelle cotton candy while we waited for it to start.  Because her sugar buzz was fading.

Here he comes marching in!  Pomp and Circumstance.

Where's waldo?

The big moment!

The moment after the big moment caught on film for us to buy later.

Hurray!  They are graduates!

Who is that scrooge still wearing his cap?

Oh that is my scrooge.

(OK I have been informed that he did toss his cap and another fell right at his feet so he picked it up and put it on.)

There they go, graduates, leaving the arena.  Decided to take off the cap.  

Note all the gold cords, 50% of his class of 632 students, had a gold cord which means a 3.5 grade point average or higher.  This is why the school doesn't give out class ranks.  A kid like Jake with a 3.3 is in the bottom half of his class!  So proud to be part of such a great community and education system.

They literally dropped off the gowns and got on buses straight out of the ceremony and over to the high school for the big all night party.  No pictures from the party.  John and I went home for a 2 hour nap before stumbling over at midnight for our 12-5 shift.  It was fun to wander the party and see the kids having fun and then chat with other parents as we took down the party while the kids were in the auditorium watching a show.  I actually was feeling pretty good until my body realized I was very close to going home and getting in bed and started preparing for the event.  Waiting for Jake to get his stuff so we could leave was the hardest part of the night!

So here I am on the first day of the rest of Jake's life!  I remember so clearly the night I graduated from high school.  I remember that feeling elation and wonder.  After spending every year of my life in a routine of school and summer breaks driving toward this goal, it was over.  No more high school.  No more of the same students year after year.  I was finally free to move on with the rest of my life.  It felt surreal.

Although, I wasn't totally sure what the rest of my life would be at that time.  I thought it was college out in Virginia, and that is where I started, but instead John proposed a couple months after we graduated and I accepted and being in Virginia didn't seem quite right.  23 years after I wore the cap and gown and walked across that stage my life is nothing like I thought it would be on that day but, I have loved the adventure and the path God put me on.  I can't wait to watch my son navigate through the rest of his life and see where God leads him.

Congratulations Jake!

Jake Graduates part 4, The Party

Here is the thing...you either photograph a party or you attend a party.  You don't do both.  So I had my camera out for about 15 minutes at the beginning of the party and then forgot about it for the rest of the party.  Same with food.  But my mom and aunt were mostly on that detail which was wonderful.  And the rain held off until the party ended but a nice breeze kept the 90 degree day comfortable.

Here is what I managed to get:

John's parents came early and left as people were arriving.  Such a blessing as Don really doesn't leave the house much these days.

Family always arrives promptly. 

Friends 

The friends arrived in groups.  They were on a party tour.  One group said we were the 8th party of the day.  Tis the season.  Jake hit 4 parties before his started!

I set up pictures in the house in case it rained. 

Made cute table decorations that did not end up on tables because they blew right over in the wind and I could not problems solve a heavy weight at the last minute. 

I put up a sheet for verses, prayers or blessings for Jake.  It ended up being in a bad location but it was fun to see that several people found it and left him a scripture. 

AFTER:

Only a couple sad balloons survived the night.  Several popped in the wind as soon as John hung them.  (and note riding mower stashed in the corner for garage cleaning)

Not too much cleaning left.  The beauty of paper plates.  Just throw it in the trash.  Of course my refrigerator is full of fruit and cheese, I think I can take care of the fruit pretty quick but will be looking for someone to take a giant bag of shredded cheese off my hands.  Luckily cheese freezes.

No after pictures of the garage as my van is currently parked in there.  Someone commented about cleaning the garage being a waste since it didn't end up raining but I say cleaning my garage is never a waste!  My van  hasn't been in the garage in months!

John and I fell into bed slightly delirious last night but with joy in our hearts.  The party went well, people ate and we were blessed by friends and family.  I commented as we were getting in bed that you plan and plan and then it comes and it is over and you can never do it again.  That is it.  Same with tonight, graduation night, when he will don that cap and gown and walk across the stage and receive his diploma.  All the years of educating, dealing with teachers and hovering over homework.  Done.  We can never raise Jake again.  But, as we are sad about the end of this stage of our parenting we look forward to the next stage as Jake begins to become independent from us, make his own choices, and experience his own life adventures.