Graduation Saturday- Before, during and after

I want it known right away that I am incredibly attached to my students.  I may complain, privately and not so privately, that they can be messy, selfish, inconsiderate, and at the end of the school year- LAZY!  Yes, lazy, you all know it- so no arguing!  Anyway, I also find them incredibly funny, smart, talented and so awesome.  I have know most of them since they were little bitty things- Kindergarteners!  That is the joy of living in a small town and working at a small school, you get to see the majority of your little kids through their school age lives!  So to say I am attached is a bit of an understatement.

Graduation is kind of hard for me, I appreciate the uniqueness of each student, know a lot of their personal story and what makes them happy and sad.  It shows in their art, it shows in their daily interactions.  And so to have these relationships come to an end, such as they are, is a heart wrenching affair.  I've had so many fantastic students through the years, and what is amazing is the phenomena known as facebook!!! I can keep up with them and their lives after hs on FB, which is something I really enjoy.  It is so cool to know what they are doing through their college/tech/jobs after school.  AND I have gotten 16 friend requests in the past 48 hours- all from former students, and in a few cases, kids I never even HAD as students in the art room.  Which is cool.

At any rate, there were a few tears shed by me this weekend, I have several special children graduating.  BUT WAIT, I guess the aren't children any more.

So while I don't have an extensive selection of photos from the parties, there are a few here, along with my carryings on the Thursday before graduation day- that is when the real goodbyes were said.

Billy H., Tim L., Mary P., me, Brooke, Lisa D.

I've know Lisa since she was a baby!  

Brandon,  Amanda, Belle, Emma, BrianS., Corey H., me, Ryan, Kaylee

Corey

Brandon

Belle, Brandon, Brian

Noelle, Ryan,Amanda, Kenray, Kayla, (Bo- the official mascot), Nicole, Tiffany, Harli, Mariah, Allie

Kenray

Sarah and I

Kenray and I on graduation day

My stars-  Sarah and Kenray

Part of the choir during the ceremony

FUNNY pic- Jon and John, Debi and Debbie Oswald

 Jon is my son, John is the MA's cousin's son- who is a teacher here, Me and Debbie Oswald who is John's wife.  AND she used to live in the house that I live in now!  At Brooke Sommerfeldt's party- yet another "Mad-realtive"!

Brenda Oswald- the carpenter's wife

My buddy Maia Oswald

I found Erica at Mark and Renee's house- at Lisa Donner's party.

It really was a lovely graduation day in spite of the spotty showers.

So it will all start over again next school year with the next batch of awesome students.  And we will find some joy. 

Thanksgiving and Hunting and Madrigals and .....

I am a week or so behind on my blogging here.  Had a wonderful Thanksgiving- all the kids were home, except for one of the Sarahs, who went to visit her Grandma.  But she was here for the beginning and the end of the week!!  And they were all together for Saturday night and Sunday.  For the record, Jon is married to SarahGrace and Greg is with SarahJane.  This may or may not clear up any confusion.

Mike, Greg, SarahJane, SarahGrace, Jon

Hunting was very successful this year, as far as I am concerned.  There were 5 deer harvested off of our property, and regardless of what the DNR says, there are PLENTY left.  Since I had a cheesecake bounty on them, I had to bake the weekend after Thanksgiving, but it was worth it.

Greg and SarahJane fueling up for opening morning

Jon having breakfast

Fred and Ruger

Toby never wants to be left behind

Cleaning the gun

One of Greg's deer with Greg, SarahJane and Fred

The boys with SarahJane and her deer

Always time to talk before hunting

I was trying to work on a Madrigal dress all week, but someone kept me a bit occupied!  So I had to finish up the dress after they went home.  I will post a pic of Jenna in her dress after tonight's dinner.  I can't wait to go and see it.

She was crawling on my head and licking my hair

Thanksgiving was so nice, we had really good food and the family had a rousing game of Monopoly after dinner, as is our habit!

Thanksgiving table

Family gathering

Me, too!

Who is going to land on all those hotels?

Not sure who won, Sarah Grace has a good track record, though!

SarahGrace, Brenda and I went over to Winter, WI on Saturday for the big craft show and the best part of it- the cookie walk across the street!  We traditionally go have breakfast/lunch at a local restaurant after the shopping.

Debi and Sarah

Brenda and Sarah- they had REALLY good coffee

These two kept things lively around the house!  The poor cats outside barely could show their faces in the yard without feeling like they were being stalked.  No cats were hurt- only their pride was a little injured

So innocent

Yet, such little demons

LOTS of relaxing occurred

And here is a sneak peak of the season to come--

New zipper inserted

New dress made

New tree in waiting

Alright, this was indeed a joyful week!  But this is what it looked like when it was almost done-  erg.  I was glad to have the week done......

Until next time- be a joy giver!

Birfday celebration- Birthday month ends with a bang

I had a wonderful birthday!  Thanks to any and all who participated in any way. And there were a lot of you!!  I got lots of love and hugs and wishes and it was great.  Birthday month is a great idea, you all ought to try it!

I began my day by going out for breakfast with the Mad-accountant.  I love going out for breakfast, and we haven't done it for a while.
 I have a picture of me in the morning, before breakfast- compare to the later in the evening photo!  hahaha  Great face- and that was the best one of me sitting by the campfire.  It was darker than it looks in the picture.  Really I was only on beer #2!

I spent a good deal of the day baking and shopping and cleaning and arranging and generally getting myself party worthy!  This is a pix of the somewhat homely chocolate cake from heartburn hell!

Here are some of my friends and relatives either feigning interest in my boisterous stories or the M-A, who is trying to pretend he doesn't know me!!  HAHAHAHAHA, that'll never work buddy!  

M-A, Rog and Lisa 

The elusive Mike plus Ed and Cathy

I let Jane sit on my butterfly throne!

I need to sit in my throne MORE often- now where did that tiara go??

The Builder and Brenda!

Cake cutting went terribly wrong

Now you know why

WA HOO

Can you imagine who was trying to take pix after 3.5 beers???  And 1.5 pieces of nasty chocolate cake???  5 points for the first correct answer!  Go and post those responses!!

Gorgeous smile

Notice the lack of blood shot eyes!

Wisely handed off the camera to other more sober guest

Cathy and birfday girl

Lots of Oswalds!!

Janey and me!!

The more you drink the more teeth that show!!!

I was pretty busy all day, what with making birthday cake, and then birthday dinner for myself, Fred and Mike, plus shopping and preparing for the party at the end of the day.  I was sort of exhausted by the time the guests arrived!  My guests included the Builder, Joe and his wife, Brenda, Jane and Rog and Ed and Cathy.  And of course Lisa, The Builder and Brenda's youngest, Joey- their oldest, and Mikey- my youngest.  I made that huge chocolate cake, brown-butter Rice Krispie treats (if you never had the brown butter kind, you havent tasted the best RK treats!) a few munchies and a selection of beverages.  Got a couple more outdoor chairs from town and a few other useful things from the rez!

Woo hoo!!!

Look closely for an unwanted guest!

Thanks again for all the birthday wishes~  Until next time hug your joy to pieces!