Graduation Week

I am a few days late with this week's post - did anyone notice?

Thought I'd give you an update on all the graduation happenings around here the last week. I think at last count there were about 25 various graduation related activities on our calendar in about a 10 day period. It's just one big party after another!!

The week started out with the day off school for Memorial Day - we told the girls they had to spend two hours with us! They somewhat gladly joined us for a hike at the Audubon Society and then a milkshake at Skyline Drive In.

There were lots of trips to the high school this week for Leigh Anne working on Grad Night Party decorations. The committee was transforming the high school into a castle. We built a huge facade on the front of the school that looked like a castle - they entered through a tunnel and then walked through the gates of the castle where 3 princes stood guard. There were hundreds of twinkle lights hung from the cafeteria ceiling and hundreds of stars - the school looked great!

Wednesday night we arrived at the school at 5:30 to watch Cali's ballroom group perform. They did the quick step.

After that we headed down the hall to the auditorium for the end of the year choir concert. Both girls sang in it. It was a bittersweet night as it was Cali's last high school concert.

After the concert they had "A Little Night Music" - kids are able to perform solo or groups numbers. Cali sang a solo called "Shy" from Princess and the Pea. Five hours later we left the school! It was a long night but a good one for a couple of proud parents!

She and Jameson also performed a duet - they sang 'My New Philosophy" from Charlie Brown. They were darling!

Thursday evening was the Senior Reception hosted by the teachers for the students and their parents.

Friday was Senior Assembly where they practice walking in for graduation and where they will sit. Cali was 27th from the end! Her class has over 600 in it - the largest ever in the state.

She received her silver shawl or whatever they call it for her Honor's Diploma, a silver tassle for completing her CIM , a silver cord for National Honor Society and a gold cord for being an Honor Thespian. Cantores also sang at the Assembly. She was well decorated.

Saturday - we prayed for good weather and had a beautiful day for Cali and Hannah's graduation party. We had a double celebration for their friends and neighbors. A friend of mine put together a darling DVD of all the pictures we have of Cali and Hannah together since they were 3 - it was a real tear jerker. We used the music from Toy Story - "You've got a friend in me" and the song "For Good" from Wicked.

Saturday night was the Academy Awards for the theater department. We all attended - even Logan who flew home Friday night. It was so good to have him home!.

Tessa had her first date to the awards ceremony - her brother! And of course Cali's date was Jameson.

I was in charge of organizing the food for the after party -but kept it super easy and just did Costco food - sushi, buffalo wings, croissant sandwiches, turkey wraps, fruit, and I did dip strawberries in chocolate. Had other parents bring desserts.

Cali's one act won for 'Best One Act" which was fun - especially since Tessa had been in it. Cali also sang a solo number as part of the program. Cali had worked super hard the past month on two slide presentations for the awards night - one was the year in review for 2007-2008 and then she did a special DVD for all the seniors. She had gathered pictures of all of them for their 4 years in school and put it together to music and gave them each a copy.

Another highlight of the evening was when CJ (the theater director) was proposed to right on stage. Her boyfriend surprised everyone and walked right on stage , knelt down and asked her to marry him. He had been in contact with the set designer and as he walked on stage a sign came down that said 'Will You Marry me" Very romantic and very sweet and of course the kids all went crazy!

Sunday was our "day of rest" - taught my 3rd lesson in a row on Temple Marriage... not an easy task and then went to Seminary Graduation.

So are you tired yet? I am! It was an exhausting but wonderful week. I'll tell you about Graduation and the Grad Night All-Night party next week!!!

Countdown to Graduation

Only one week of high school left for Cali! We are knee deep in graduation celebration/preparation at our house.

The kitchen table is covered in party invites (100 people next Saturday), graduation announcements, special scrapbooking projects, grad night decorations to finish up (I'm in charge of the photo booth).

We spent Saturday shopping for the perfect graduation dress - Jim can't figure out why she can't just wear something that is in her closet. I told him, that if after being married to me for 27 years he hasn't figured that one out yet - he never will!!

We found a darling dress - at least I think it's darling, Cali isn't convinced yet so another shopping trip might be on the horizon....and then there are the perfect shoes to find.

It will be a busy final week of school for Cali -on top of finals there will be a choir concert on Wednesday with "A Little Night Music" afterwards. Cali is doing a solo and a duet with Jameson., there is a senior reception on Thursday, Senior Assembly/Breakfast on Friday along with two invites to grad parties that night. Saturday is Cali's grad party from 1-4 and then invites to 3 more after hers and then the Theater Department Academy Awards - which surprise - I'm in charge of the food for. This will be a few hours after I fed 100 people at our house!!! Someone slap me please!!!

This past week was busy with One Acts. Cali and her friend Bianca directed one (the seniors all direct them) and Tessa made her debut on the Westview Stage as Bonnie, the alcoholic, trophy wife. She did a great job and had a good time. Cali has a new appreciation for what her theater director goes through with each production - she has decided it is a very stressful job.

In between the One Act activities we managed to squeeze in Young Women's Senior Quilt Night - the moms put the quilts together and then the Young Women, their mother's and sisters from Relief Society join in tying them for the girls. Each girl had a table display and they did a slide show with pictures of each of the girl's growing up put to music. Dinner and dessert were served and guess who was in charge of that!!! Yes, yours truly. We serve penne rustica pasta, roasted garlic bread, strawberry spinach salad and Lemonade Pie (recipes are on my other blog).

My mom was a huge help and made all the pies plus helped me serve and clean up that night.

Cali's quilt turned out great - we used green minky fabric so it is really warm and cozy.

Jim's vertigo episodes (due to Meiner's Disease) have dramatically escalated in the last few months - several a month instead of several a year. He had one on Mother's Day and is having another mild one today. We finally (after a little threatening) got him to go see a Meiner's specialist here in Portland. He had a two hour appointment with the doctor and his nurse and goes back for another 3 hour appointment in a few weeks and then another 2 hour appointment. We are hoping they can do something to help him!

Boy Update:

World traveler Logan couldn't handle staying in one place for more than a week so decided to make a trip to LA for the weekend. He, Becca, Becca's brother and sister and her sister's friend headed to LA on Friday. They went to Knott's Berry Farm on Saturday and then went to see Wicked which Logan absolutely loved of course! They are staying at the home of one of the other Young Ambassadors. They went to church with them today and are having a bonfire on the beach tonight. They head home on Monday with a stop in Las Vegas for an In n Out Burger and a walk down the strip. Logan is living at Wynn and Emily's this summer - thank you Wynn and Emily!!! He is liking having "little brother's and sisters" around again! He won't be in Provo long though because he is coming home next Friday for graduation - we can't wait to see him!!!

Clark had a date Friday night - went out to dinner and to see the new Indiana Jones' movie which he said was "stupid". He played racquetball with another girl Saturday and then just "hung out" Saturday night.

Oops - Haven't done that in a while!

The girl's had an annual cleaning with the dentist this week and Tessa was due for x-rays. That afternoon the dentist's office called to say the doctor had seen something on the x-ray that she wanted a better look at and could we come back in for a full panel x-ray.

Back we went the next day - after the x-ray the doctor called us in and put the x-ray up - and there it was - a tooth. Now not a strange thing to find in a mouth but it is strange when 3 months ago, in February Tessa had her wisdom removed - at least we thought she did! Yes, still there - in full view in the x-ray was 2/3's of a wisdom tooth!!


The dentist's assistant got on the phone to the oral surgeon, had them pull the records and they assured her that they had removed FOUR wisdom teeth. The next day Jim, Tessa and the x-rays headed downtown to the oral surgeons office where after waiting for AN HOUR in the waiting room the oral surgeon announced "Oops, haven't done that in a while!" Yes, he had only removed 3 1/3 wisdom teeth.


The teeth had all been impacted so he had to remove them in pieces - guess he got distracted or something! So in July, once again Tessa will have her wisdom teeth removed or rather wisdom tooth. I thought since I had four children I would only have to go through this wisdom tooth removal thing 4 times - I was wrong!



The girl's kept busy this week with school (only 2 weeks left for Cali), dance and play practice. Cali is directing a one act and Tessa is in it.

We had a fun family night when we attended our little 5 year old neighbor, Jim's buddy, Declan's t-ball game. It was fun to cheer him on but Jim was a bit dismayed to discover not only did they NOT count runs they didn't count outs either! Don't want to hurt anyones feelings I guess.


Friday I took the day off and headed out the Gorge with a group of ladies from church where we climbed Coyote Ridge. It is on the Washington side and has a gorgeous view of the gorge. It is a beautiful and very uphill walk through meadows of wildflowers.





That's my friend Marsha and I hanging over Coyote Ridge. It was a beautiful day - despite the 96 degree weather there was a slight overcast and a gentle breeze blowing. I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to keep up with some of the woman who are very experienced hikers but I did pretty good. I didn't have a problem until I woke up Saturday morning and couldn't move!! Thanks to a handful of Advil I was able to get up and moving because I had to cook lunch for 80 people!

I did the luncheon for the American Mother's State Convention. I got lunch fixed, served and then headed home for some more Advil!

Boy Update:
Logan is USA bound and should arrive in Salt Lake Monday evening. We have spoken to him several times and they have had an amazing experience. After a week in Tasmania they flew back to Australia for a visit to Melbourne. We can't wait to hear all the details and see the pictures. He will be home for a short visit the first of June for Cali's graduation.

Clark is enjoying his Spring term and has been busy working on his tan and his golf game. He has joined a bowling league and an intramural golf team. Yesterday he was excited when he shot a 42 and hit a 322 yard drive. His golfing buddy had a GPS unit that measured the length of it! Clark was excited and called his Grandpa Best to let him know!



Jim made a quick overnight trip to Salt Lake and will probably head to Seattle this week. This trip was so quick he didn't get a chance to see Clark or take him out to eat!