Alicia and Dani's Graduation

So, a week after Ryan's graduation we had two graduations at home. Alicia graduated from Manhattan High and Dani from Wamego High. And they graduated on the same day!! Can you imagine what kind of day that was?? Alicia's graduation was at 2:00 in Manhattan and Dani's at 4:00 in Wamego. So we started the day with lunch and pictures because the girls were going to be all over the map afterwards. This pic is a gem with Dani totally oblivious to what was going on, Alicia ready to beat the crap out of Ryan, Bethany trying to get him over and Ryan just being a poop head. My kids are funny.

So we head off to Bramlage Coliseum for Alicia's graduation. She graduated with 401 students though not all went to graduation but it was still a pile of people. We sat kind of at the top so that we could leave soon after Alicia walked. When she came in we saw her looking around for us so Bethany texted her and Alicia spotted us waving like big fools. We got a big wave back. My baby is graduated. No more kids!!!

After Bethany and I went down and took pictures our whole row got up and left to drive 20 minutes back over to Wamego. Wamego had 100 kids graduate and they did it in their gym. Because we were so late in getting there we stood on an upper balcony and had to sneak up to see Dani. We heard the speakers but didn't get to see much. But we were there!!

Then it was home and food! What a hungry bunch we were. It's hard to believe that all my kids are graduated. Occasionally I will go down to the basement and look at pictures of when they were little and get a little teary eyed. But I am happy that my kids are grown. And they are good kids with no problems besides having our genes. I am proud of each one of them.

Ryans Graduation

So the first thing I have missed writing about this spring is Ryan's Graduation. Yes, finally after 7 long years he has graduated. Now to not make him look like a total dork and malingerer, he did go to University of Maryland at Manheim in Germany. And even though it added two years onto his schooling he got to go to some pretty cool places that he would not have been able to if he had been in the states. So it's a trade off.

Then after a couple of changes in his minor - he finally graduated with a Math degree with a Programming emphasis. Now if he could only get a job. So we all went down for graduation. I was not able to walk when I graduated in 1983 because of... HIM! I was very pregnant and it was very hot and K-State had one BIG graduation rather than the college specific ones they do now. So we made him walk. It was great!

The stadium was very full by the time we got there so we ended up standing along the back wall. My mom and mother-in-law got seats so that was good. The rest of us stood around.

Though my nephew was a little tired and decided to nap.

I didn't get Ryan receiving the diploma but I did capture him coming off the stage. The bigger picture looks like a Where's Waldo photo. He was in the second to the last row so we had to wait on everyone else. It was pretty cool.

It was at this point that JR decided he didn't want to repair appliances the rest of his life and wanted to go back to school. That was a long conversation on the way home! But off to school he goes at the end of July!!

So now its pictures with the family!!

Time flies

It has only been forever since I have written. Shame on me. So much has happened but the only time I am on the computer is at work and it has been a super busy spring. So first as I play catch up I have to announce the engagement of BETHANY!! While we were on vacation in Virginia the end of May we stopped in Richmond to see her boyfriend. We had dinner with his folks and later in the evening Jason pulled out a beautiful ring!!

Wish I had a picture of the two of them but I can't find one. So anyone, this young man is from Virginia and spent four years in the Army. He was stationed at Ft Riley and thats how the kids met. He got out of the Army the end of October and moved back to Virginia. Bethany went to visit him in February and in March they broke up :( However, Jason called her Mother's Day Weekend and said that he couldn't live without her and wanted to marry her.

He bought the ring right before we went on vacation so we knew he was going to officially pop the question. We are excited. Currently they are planning on a May 1 wedding. Right now they are trying to find jobs in the same place so they can be closer. Keep them in your prayers.