Summer Celebration:Graduations and Weddings!

I know, I know- I'm really behind with blogging- but you see- Retirement is tough!  Why with at least 45 minutes for coffee with Don before I even get out of bed- And then with a leisurely breakfast and reading the NYT cover to cover- and of course a walk with the Brute- and dinner for the Don- followed by baseball on the TV!  There just isn't so much time left over...  And of course sometimes a nap is just too good to pass up!  So I've been cycling in between "really, really, really busy" when the kiddos come to town and "really, really, really 'I can't believe I'm doing so little".  But I'm resolved today!  I'm going to show more discipline! 

This was the year for weddings and graduations!  We've already talked about Amber's graduation from Loyola.  But there were more!  Our niece, Kelly, graduated with her masters in education from Bluffton University- followed just two weeks later by our grandniece's graduation from Bluffton High School!  Then a childhood friend of Amber's was married (on the same weekend that we made the trip to Bluffton for Shelby's graduation from high school- I think you're beginning to see how I might needed to have rested for a while!) And Marianne and our "Grands" were here for a good friend, Erin's wedding.  Now we're going to save Erin's wedding for a blog about the visit with Marianne et al- After all our beautiful girls were in the wedding!  But we're going to pile it on in this post and cover both graduations And the wedding.  You'll need to rest when we're finished- I know I will!

So let's start at the beginning- a trip to Bluffton for our niece Kelly's graduation with her masters degree in education.  Now we have ENORMOUS respect for all who slug their way through graduate education- but we would be remise if we failed to mention that our amazing Kelly actually completed this Herculean task while teaching full time- and mothering our 3 grandnieces and grandnephew (of course with much help from her husband Pat!).  For those of you who don't know Kelly, that's her in the middle below looking at the camera.

And this is Kelly being Hooded by the Dean of the Graduate School.

An below she is receiving her Diploma.

And Kelly's Biggest Supporter!

And finally at home in her back yard-Diploma in hand.

And what celebration would be complete without FOOD!  Well none of ours I can assure you!  It was a bit more complicated than just getting food.  Kelly decided she wanted to go south a short drive to the thriving metropolis of Lima, Ohio where the choice of eating establishments might improve over what was available in Bluffton (Luke's Diner).  Unfortunately, it also happened to be Mother's Day and the first place we went to had a 2 hour wait.  Luckily we did have our intelligent telephones and was able to look up telephone numbers of other local establishments and finally ended up here at ?????

We were hardly recovered (I know, I know, I know- maybe we're taking "recovery" to a whole new level!) when it was a BIG WEEKEND of both a graduation AND a wedding!  You got it right!  A graduation and a wedding!

Amber and Evan came from Chicago for the wedding of her childhood friend, Lauren Postolski.  Don and I were so lucky to nab an invitation as well.

But first things first.  We started with a hardy breakfast that sent us off to Bluffton for Shelby's Graduation- more about that later in this blog.  As you well know- I just don't miss many meals!  In fact I can't remember any day in my recent history where I "forgot" to eat. No siree- My memory is not fading on that front!
We love to "breakfast" on our "porch"- year round!

But first let's talk about the wedding!  We got all dressed up and headed to the party!

Lauren and Amber were childhood friends.  In fact for a number of years she was a part of our family.  But children have a way of growing up- and moving on- leaving all of us behind with some pictures- and a lot of wonderful memories of sleepovers and holidays-

 

and trips away and of course "dress up" at those very first formals (the one below is 8th grade I believe). 

Now I hadn't see Lauren since she (and Amber) graduated from Wyoming High School. And then I watched her walk down the aisle- so very beautiful- so very grown up- truly a "time stopping" moment. The rushing realization- for her- and me- that she's all grown up- to be married- with a handsome new husband (and I might add after completing her graduate education this year in speech therapy!).  Where did all those years go? We did the only thing we could do- Yep you got it!  Ruined our eye makeup! What an absolutely wonderful young woman this little girl I knew so well has grown to be! 

It was a GREAT PARTY- as all GREAT WEDDINGS are!

But sandwiched in between that breakfast on the porch- and the wedding the next night- it was off to Bluffton for the high school graduation of our Grandniece Shelby.  (Are you getting tired from all the "partying" yet?).  I do want to mention that we were delighted that Shelby chose University of Cincinnati for her higher education- and we're hopeful we'll see even more of her.  Maybe just to do her laundry!

Kelly and Pat managed to host an absolutely "over the top" graduation party!  In fact all graduation parties I've attended (and I might add that with 7 kiddos we've been to a LOT of graduation parties) pale in comparison.  And this party was wonderful!  And of course the best part for us is that it afforded us an opportunity for FAMILY TIME!  Life just doesn't get much better than FAMILY TIME!  Here are Kelly, daughter Bailey, and Elaine, Kelly's mother.

Here we add in Lucas, Kelly's youngest.

And Sarah, Deseree, and Anthony joined us on this trip.  I really was trying to smile, but Max was awfully quick with the shutter.

Shelby getting her Diploma and then bowing to all.

Here are Shelby and her siblings...

Shelby and her  proud Mom...

And finally Shelby with her Diploma and Aaron, her main "squeeze".

So as you can see- we have been busy- And having a great time with all the celebrations!