Graduation Weekend Videos

 Just so I don't post these in the book - I'm making these their own post:

Graduation Pool Party!

 It was now time to party! After an incredibly hot graduation ceremony, the kids were so excited to get out of their hot robes and get into pool, party clothes! We had a little bit of set up left, so Kallie got started on painting the signs Taryn had made for our carnival theme, Ben and Zack started pre-making cotton candy (which Zack and Landon put heavy candy bags on top of and ruined anyways - boys). Thankfully the house we were having the party at was just around the corner, so drop off - set up was pretty easy! Having Grandma and Papa here to help with the littles was heaven sent!

We were putting these seniors to work - at their own party! We had cotton candy, hot dogs, corn dogs, pretzels, popcorn, sno-cones, candy, pickles, nachos - you know, all the carnival food you can think of. I love these pictures of kids just celebrating, having fun with eachother, and celebrating a job well done. I can't believe Ben's High school career is over! I can't wait to see what he does next!  

 

After food, swimming, bouncing, lawn games, it was time for CAKE! Deenen had a cake made with the picture of all the seniors on it. It was so fun for them to try and get their face to eat!  Xander wasn't picky - he ate tons of cake and didn't care whose picture was on it!

Once everyone had their cake, we gathered around the tables to watch a video of pictures of all our seniors through the year. I think this was the highlight of the whole night. 

Chris, Ligaya, Josh, and Chase drove down to celebrate with us! I felt horrible because it was so crazy I didn't get to actually talk to them, but I loved knowing that they were there and cheering Ben on.

I love these pictures of Grandma and Kallie. I love watching their sweet relationship. It was heaven having grandparents in our home and here to support the big things - and little things. 

Career Day

Christopher signed up to speak at Zack's career day for 4th grade this year. We didn't realize it was during an insane time with Ben's graduation, Grandparents coming in, end of school year, Nick's birthday, Graduation parties, insane week at work for Christopher - etc.....but we made it work!

In true Erickson fashion there were a few little hiccups.  Christopher had planned his whole talk with fun science tricks with liquid nitrogen. He made sure he could buy it from a company - all was good. The morning of career day Ben and Christopher drove down to pick up the liquid nitrogen and found out they actually wouldn't sell it to him. It was a mess. So they hurried home and spent the little time they had trying to come up with other fun science experiments to get 4th graders excited about science. This is what your kitchen looks like after they play mad scientist for 40 minutes (and empty random shaped jars so there are multiple bowls filled with random items - cloves, hand soap, poppy seeds, salad dressing - etc).  After a bit of trial and error they had a "routine" down!

Once Nick heard we were going to school he grabbed the essentials - backpack full of who knows what treasures and his rain boots (yes it was 90+ degrees, but you can never be too prepared) and off we went with Grandma and Papa to show off to Zack's class too!

Talk around the hallway (or so we heard from another teacher) was this was the talk not to miss!  We visited for the last rotation and there were a handful of other teachers who came to watch too. As Papa observed it is easier getting into a prison then the school!  With locked doors, checking all ID's, getting a chaperone for us - we felt very sketchy.  Thankfully we made it safely to Zack's class where Miss. W made us all feel right at home - as she always does!  Oh, and look who is warming up enough to let Papa hold him!??!?!  PRGRESS!!! 

And can I just say living in VA, you get a very different group of "career day" volunteers. While we were waiting in the office to be "cleared", we talked with a few different people also waiting to be cleared or checked out.  A few examples of speakers were a CIA trauma nurse, doctor, sharp shooter, marine, CIA profiler from Quantico, Navy seaman, FBI crime scene photographer, Presidential Secret Service, fighter pilot, - and these are just the ones I talked with! 

 

Graduation Robe Try-on

Oh my gosh I just love these kids! I can't believe they are graduating tomorrow! It was so fun to have them try on their cap and gowns and all the sashes (or whatever they are called). I'm so proud of both these amazing kids! Both are graduating with high honors and Taryn is Vice President of Mountain View. What an amazing time in their lives!  Tomorrow is the big day!

 

Pre-Graduation Dinner at Hibachi

Sadly, we have never introduced Nick to Hibachi. Thankfully Ben decided he wanted to go to Kobe for his pre-graduation dinner! Nick was totally fascinated the whole entire time...and so was Xander. The volcano scared Nick a bit.....

I can't believe this kid graduates from High School tomorrow!

Xander loved all the action and movement! Dinner and a show!

Throwing food and catching it in your mouth AND having people cheer and clap! Nick's happy place!