Graduation!

Ok.  So I admit it.  I had my doubts.

I even put off ordering his cap and gown until the very last minute, because that's how big my doubts were.

Some people are talented at pulling off miracles at the last second, and no matter how far behind they are, they seem to always be able to catch up.

Nick is not one of those kids.

Last minute miracles do not happen for him.

I could go on, and on, listing the struggles we've had getting him to this point, but it doesn't matter anymore!!

He did it!

He graduated from High School!

My parents and my best friend from High school came down for the occasion.

Oh, and I lied.  I wrote a whole post about Nick's high school lasts, and I said he had his last choir performance.

But that wasn't true.  He got to perform one last time with his Concert Choir group.  And he even had a solo.   His first. And last.  (he's in the front row- far right side)

Any rumors that I teared up during his last performance are inherently false.

And while we are on the subject of choir - you know that moment in life where your teacher ceases to be your teacher and becomes your friend?  (Yeah, me neither.   But I'm grateful that Nick has more than one in his life.)

 We're all so proud of this boy, but I'm gonna be honest here-

 I'm a little heartbroken.  Change is ahead. First a mission, then college, then the other kids will (hopefully) follow suit.  My little family will never be the same.

But change can be good.  And I am so excited to see what the future holds for this boy.

Graduation Luau

Shortly after moving to Arizona, I met some lovely ladies of which I am still proud to call my friends today. The picture below is us some 15 years later.  We've all since moved from the old neighborhood.  Some only a couple of miles away, one of us moved across town, and one of us moved to another state altogether, but I am still grateful to have them in my life, even if it seems it is mostly through facebook.  And fortunately we still get together from time to time (but definitely not often enough).

And naturally our kids (at least those whose genders and ages best coincide) are friends too.  And so it was with Nick and Kawelo.  Best friends since pre-school. They used to play together all the time, running around, making up adventures, playing imaginary games with Pikachu and feeding sugar nuts to Hedwig.  (don't ask- I have no idea why they were feeding sugar nuts to Hedwig.  They were 5.  But they had awesome imaginations.)  I wish I could say these boys stayed as good of friends as their mothers did, but alas, they grew apart as teenagers who never see each other are wont to do.

However, because I've been blessed to remain good friends with his mom, we managed to score an invite  to Kawelo's Graduation Luau.

The food was fantastic.  (Most of it.  I've learned to pass on anything made with Taro.)  And of course there was entertainment.

Cause What's a luau without entertainment?

They even got some of the guests to participate.  Kawelo's parents are on the end.  Fun fact- they used to be professional hula dancers at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

My favorite part was when they made Kawelo's friends get up and learn some tahitian dancing.

That's where they do that super fast hip shaking dancing.

Yes I have video.

No, Nick will probably never make a career of it.

I have other kids too.

Three others to be exact.  Although you probably wouldn't know it looking at my blog these days.   Granted it's an eventful and exciting time to be Nick, but I still have other kids who do deserve a little recognition as well.

Look mom!  We're painting the drama room! 

Speaking of Drama, Maddie was inducted into the National Thespian Society.

Zach enjoyed another year of playing in the band.

One of his end of year projects was to build a solar powered car.

Look! I'm wearing the same outfit I wore on the first day of school, on the last day of school!

(First day of school, August 2014)

This was Christopher's helper this year.  Mrs Love. Her name totally fits her. 

More end of year stuff

Orchestra and choir friends

Mr Stahl  aka Mr Gingerbeard

Another of Mr Stahl.  Because he's wearing a bow tie

Advanced Vocal 

Nick & Liam

Maddie gave a really touching tribute to her brother at the drama awards banquet night.  Sweetest thing ever.  Here they are with their drama teacher, Dr K

His viola stand partner, Jessica (once upon a time in jr high they weren't such good friends)

Pieter and Nick.  (Pieter kept the bullies away in PE .  Every Nick needs a Pieter) 

I think this is the catwalk.  Clear up at the top of the auditorium. 

Nick & Dani 

Nick and Mrs Dudley, the Orchestra teacher

Nick and Nick - One of Nick's very first elementary school freinds

Flo.  He told me once that there were going to be a few kids he would shed a tear over when they left school.  Nick was one of them.  

My "artistic" photo of Nick's flower from the last choir concert.  It was a really pretty rose.

The outgoing seniors who took four years of drama get to paint a brick in the shop behind the stage. Nick didn't quite take four years, but he was involved enough, and loved enough that they made an exception for him.  

Lasts

Last summer, I went to my 20 year high school reunion.  It was a typical reunion, full of old people I didn't recognize.  There was a slide show of people I sorta recognized,  doing activities where some things looked vaguely familiar, (like football games) and doing other things which did not at all.   I came to a startling conclusion that night.  I sorta wished I had been more involved in high school.

Last Awards Banquet

I had a job, and I had friends, and my junior and senior years I was involved in some business classes which took up a lot of my time, not to mention I had to leave campus to go to those classes...

Last Orchestra Concert

Anyhow, I left with the conflicting feeling that I wished I would have been more involved, and yet, not sure how or what I would have changed if given the opportunity.

Last Drama Performance - Performing 'Stars' from Les Miserables

However, my children seem to be learning from their mama and are not making that mistake.  I think that any regrets they have will be of the "I wish I got better grades" variety, as they seem to be involved in everything.

Last choir performance

Another moment in his last choir performance -Mr Flora "Flo" was passing out roses to the Seniors.

As such, as Nick's Senior Year was winding down, we found ourselves celebrating lots of lasts.

Last viola recital

Eight Years of viola lessons from this awesome lady

Last time up in the booth teching.  (Of course this photo is totally staged.  I made him do it after the fact.  None of the equipment is actually on...)