Graduation Video

Not sure how to clip this video - but Ben getting his diploma is at 1:05:39

Making Trek Clothes

 

This year the kids get to go on trek for the first time! Personally I've never gone to trek, so I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Once I saw the packing list for clothes I was totally out of my element. Thank heavens Grandma was in town for Ben's graduation! We put her to work helping Kallie design and sew all her own trek clothes (minus the long sleeve, button up shirts - we aren't nuts!). With Grandma's help Kallie was able to whip out her red skirt and yellow apron - then she did the purple skirt and white apron 100% on her own and killed it!  They looked so cute she even wore one to church that week!

And as always - her faithful sidekick Nick.

 

For Andrew's trek clothes we headed to goodwill, bought some great shirts that we then cut the collar off of and found some pants.  Why are boys always easier to dress?

DC Temple Open House

Benjamin's graduation lined up perfectly with the Washington DC Temple open house. I really thought that would be enough to get my parents to come see us - but it wasn't to be I guess. We were so excited to have Grandma and Papa here to celebrate with us. Grandma woke up not feeling great so she stayed home, but we had a great time with Papa and Taryn joining us. 

Zack thought the white booties they put on your feet were awesome. In fact he didn't go through the line to have them removed! He thought they were really stylish....

Grandpa had a fun experience while in the Temple. As we were following the tour room by room, we came into a room where a small group of people had stopped to chat for a minute. Grandpa thought he recognized one of the men as a person from their CT days. It was bothering him that he couldn't place him. The DC temple was their home temple until a closer temple was built, so it wasn't abnormal that there might be someone he knew at the open house.  Come to find out this man was in the temple presidency at the Las Vegas temple, Grandma and Papa's current temple. He had just seen him the Wednesday before! We had so much fun teasing him about this.

It was a hot day, and thankfully the temple had a pool for Nick to play in. He loved the reflection pool and promptly showed Xander the way! By the end, both boys were soaked and left the temple wearing just their diapers - and I was just fine with that.  Who can say no to those cute faces?!

Graduation Day

I can't believe graduation day is already here! Ben and Kal were up and out the door by 6:30am. I had to get a quick shot - of course! 

It was insanely hot and very crowded. It was so hot (and the principals' last year at this school) that he told the kid they could wear whatever they wanted - no dress code. Lots of kids were in shorts and t-shirts and sandals. I kinda made Ben dress up.  Poor kid.

The walk onto the field!  

During the principals speech, he told all the kids to pull out their phone and take a selfie. I love that man!

As class VP, Taryn gave the Pledge of Allegiance! 

Kallie was asked to play with the band for the ceremony. She has loved band and marching band. They killed it! And poor Kal, they were sat facing the sun with not sun shade, for 2 1/2 hours. It was HOT!

Why can't we take a normal picture!?

A member of our ward was watching the graduation online and got these amazing screenshots of Ben getting his diploma!  How great are they!