Travis' Graduation

The camera got here JUST in time for me to take pics of Travis' graduation. Travis is Brian's baby brother, the last in the family. This is what he looked like when we first got married (his mom's holding him):

This is him now:

Oh my gosh! Since he was so little when I married Brian, I feel a little motherly toward him. Nathan and Blake too, actually. I cried when Blake and Leeanne moved to Japan. I cried when Nathan left for his mission. I didn't cry when Travis graduated (cuz that's just too fun and exciting) but one of these days he'll be leaving on his mission too and I'm sure I'll... well, you know.

Anyway, last night was a little crazy. As you may have noticed, it rained. A lot! Part of me loved the rain and the cooler weather (we have to enjoy it while we can, right?). But there was a part of me that thought it sucked. Mainly because graduation got rained out (which hasn't happened in decades!). What that meant was they moved it indoors, gave two tickets to each graduate (which went to his parents, naturally), and the rest of us got to wait it out at the house.

So we didn't get to see Travis graduate. But that ain't all. There's a tradition that if your child is the fifth (or more) to graduate from MHS and the last in the family, then the parents get to sit in a special section on the field during graduation. There's a part during the ceremony when the parents' names are called out and we all get to cheer and clap. Well, Travis is not only the last but the 8th child in the family to graduate, so we've all been waiting for Ken and Kathy's moment of glory for a LONG time. Thanks to the rain, it didn't happen. Oh we were so bummed. I can't even imagine how Ken and Kathy must feel. We decided we need to have a BBQ on the field anyway, LOL.

So, here's some pics from us waiting at the house.

Aunt Sherrill with Jenna

Kelli with Jenna

Katy with Jenna

Chris with Jenna

Jenna was a big hit.

So we waited...

and ate pizza...

and waited...

Kent with Chris

and played in the rain...

and waited...

and played with cars...

and waited...

and smelled Daddy's armpits (don't ask)....

and waited...

Until at last the waiting was over. Hail the conquering (and wet) graduate!

So then we watched him open presents...

And he played a voicemail he got earlier on speakerphone. It was little Logan giving him congrats on finishing school. It was so cute!

Katy gave him a porcelan turtle because HIS turtle died a few weeks ago too. I won't say how (it's pretty sad) but Travis had him since he was 3.

Then Travis cut the cake...


and shortly afterward he was out the door to his Senior Class Party (Golfland this year!). We waited over 2 hours so we could spend maybe 30 minutes with him.

It was totally worth it. :)

Congratulations Travis!!