Senior Moments :: Party Postmortem

Now that Carter turned in his graduation gown today and officially received his diploma, I can tell you about his party. He's got the evidence to show he deserved it.

The venue at Nepco Lake and my Carter Shrine (aka picture boards and scrapbooks, which I must say were a hit with his classmates!)...

The way it was pouring rain Sunday morning while we were hauling stuff into the shelter, we figured on a wet and messy day. How muddy was the floor going to get? But the weather gods smiled on us and it turned out to be a glorious day!

Thank goodness I had my sister Rayna on photo patrol. She got pictures of most of the guests! I pretty much only managed to take a picture of Carter with the cake and one of our first guests, my friend Sally and husband Bill from Menominee, Mich.

I worked with Sally my first newspaper gig and we've kept in touch ever since, including camping trips when Carter and her 3 boys were young. So cool to see them!

As it turned out, there were quite a few travelers, besides family from Minnesota and the northwoods of Wisconsin. Saw friends from all corners of the state – Madison and Milwaukee and Green Bay – and they've all known Carter in at least one stage of his life. More than 200 guests in all! Just a neat, heart-warming show of support for the graduate (and his parents).

Don't feel neglected if your picture isn't featured here. Just want you to see a cross-section of the lives he's touched and those who have influenced him.

He had his babysitter Audrey (and Jon), who welcomed him to their family in first grade.

He had our dear friend Toni, who used to watch him crawl into her fridge for root beer and Popsicles and now sees him as grown-up "brown-eyed bandit."

His cousins on my side of the family.

His one and only cousin on Jim's side of the family.

His godparents, Aunt Raylene and Uncle Steve.

His godmother, Aunt Renell.

He had his best buddies and tons of friends show up.

His girlfriend Courtney stopped by for awhile, too.

His cousin and fellow 2016 graduate Anthony, whose party we'll attend in Minnesota in a few weeks.

Yup, a whole lotta great people in attendance and sending their best wishes in the mail, too.

I have to give a special shout-out to my family – out-laws and in-laws – who helped so much with setup and cleanup and food duties, and my friends who assisted with Nescos and coolers and food. It does take a village to host a graduation party, that's for sure.

Thank goodness my sisters saved me a corner piece from each side: the chocolate and the almond. (Hats off to Party Time Cakes. Yum, yum, yummy!)

Exhausted and blessed. Thanks for being a part of our lives!

Season Ender, Season Opener

Memorial Day marks the last time ever Carter will perform with the Assumption High School Band. His for real, official swan song. So glad he finishes on such an important occasion, using his musical talent to pay tribute to fallen heroes.

Gorgeous day. Thankful for the breeze as it was 75 degrees at 11 a.m.

 Great crowd at Forest Hill Cemetery in Wisconsin Rapids!

Playing of Taps by Miss Thomas, Seamus, Nick and Tony. Very, very cool trumpet version!

 Final huddle!

The last time I'll have to force Carter and his buddy Olivia to pose for a band picture. They have been real troopers for the past 6 years!

After the program, most of the leftover family in town hit the road and hubby and I had a very short time to eat, sleep or watch TV. He did laundry and took a nap. I put on my Colin Reffner Racing Jamberry nails for the Memorial Day Race this afternoon. (Why yes, we do have a full schedule!)

Did I mention I am having an online Jamberry party right now? Let me know if you are interested. There is a Jam for every occasion!

My sister Rayna and brother-in-law Paul are in town for one more day so they joined us a the races to watch Colin. So hot, like 85 degrees, but had to wear my new Colin Reffner Motorsports t-shirt!

My scrap sistah Jenny was there, too. Figured we better get a selfie in before we melted.

Had a fun time. Was a bit warm and the results were not what CRM wanted – Colin finished 11th – but it's a starting point. Lots more racing to do.

We might just squeeze it into our schedule now. But tonight, I am just going to try to squeeze in that thing called sleep!

Going back to work tomorrow may seem relaxing. I should be able to do the party postmortem after that.

Free Party Pass

It's after midnight and we still have some "party-ers" in the basement and backyard so I am much too exhausted to write. In fact, my brain is not functioning enough to even upload one photo from the graduation party today.

Believe me, I tried!

So tomorrow, after some rest (fingers crossed), I'll catch you all up on a wonderful day, wonderful party and wonderful show of love and support for the graduate (and his parents).

For now, I am creating – and cashing in – a free "no blog" party pass.

Senior Moments :: The Big One

As far as Senior Moments go, today was the big one. The only one that really mattered. Walking into the gymnasium to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance and walking out of the gymnasium 2 hours later with a diploma in hand.

Carter had a league of family supporters there – 2 grandmas, 1 grandpa, 4 aunts, 4 uncles, 2 cousins – not to mention some special friends. I had asked my sister Rayna to capture some images, but since I got there early to reserve an aisle seat, I got a few of my own, too. Here are some highlights:

As is tradition, the Knights of Columbus lined the aisles as the soon-to-be graduates marched in. The seniors came in alphabetically so Carter was second.

The ceremony featured some excellent speeches by the valedictorian, salutatorian, Bishop's medalist, in addition to an alumnus keynote speaker. I actually teared up during one of the student speeches. That sort of turned on the faucet in a way it wasn't going to completely shut off.

When the senior choir members sang You'll Be In My Heart from the Tarzan movie, I think both hubby and I lost it. Carter loved that movie around ages 2-4. So much so that we bought the soundtrack on a cassette. He loved the song and would listen with his blanket in hand and sucking his thumb. But he's take out his thumb to sing along to Phil Collins' last word: Always...

So we were feeling a bit nostalgic today and let some tears roll.

I didn't actually sob until the tradition of the seniors presenting a flower to their parents. Rayna managed to capture that for us.

Uff da. Right? Then came the fun part, for real. Getting the diploma!

 Here's a great photo courtesy the local newpaper.

 They added some tape on the floor to indicate "stop and smile" points. Very smart.

When the last tassle was switched over the opposite side, it was time to let the mortar boards fly!

Only one got caught up in the basketball hoop. (Not Carter's.)

 Thankfully, the rain took a break so we could get family pictures outside.

 Carter with Grandma and Grandpa Austin.

Carter with his favorite parents.

 With Grandma Hedberg.

 With Auntie Romey.

 With cousin Colin.

With Uncle Ron!

With Uncle Baird, Aunt Sherry and Cousin Colin.

With girlfriend Courtney.

 With all the senior boys. Remember, it's 2-1 girls per boys in that class.

 Being cool.

 Being with my baby.

After the ceremony and photos and stuff, we had two parties to attend, then it was home to do more stuff... well, besides eat, like today. Should log off soon. Final preparations don't handle themselves. So grateful for help from my family tonight. 

Let's do this!