An Awesome Weekend!

Wow, can't believe it's already Tuesday this week - it seems like it was just last Thursday and we were getting ready for an exciting weekend. Jessalyn's graduation was on Sunday evening and we had an open house for her on Saturday afternoon. Of course, there was the cleaning, getting food organized and prepared (we made it easy!), working in the yard and welcoming our family that was to arrive for the event!

An extra bonus of exciting news came on early Friday afternoon from Mandy who took her state licensing test for her CNA (certified nursing assistant) - she passed...with flying colors, of course! Mandy had been nervous, but we all knew she'd do just great and had no problems with the test...now to start looking for a new job that will hopefully lead to more opportunities to explore the nursing field and a future career as a nurse. We are very proud of her!!!

Friday afternoon Terri's mom, Sis, arrived...she had been in LaConner visiting a friend for a couple of days and drove down from there. It was great to see her...we hadn't seen her since her California and of course, since her accident...or should we say "accidents!" Unfortunately, on Monday of last week (about 6 weeks after the first accident), a furniture truck backed into her new car...the replacement from her first accident. Thankfully, she wasn't injured in this accident, but she felt like she wasn't safe on the road. So, it was another rental car and the new car into the shop...needless to say, she is a bit nervous about "the other driver!" She's doing well and we loved having her with us for the weekend! Both Josh (and Jayden) and Jessalyn stopped by to say hello that afternoon and that evening, we enjoyed a relaxing evening with her before the "work" began the next morning!

Saturday morning we started off with our usual - a trip to the Farmer's Market...a coffee, pastry, a bouquet of flowers and some wonderful smelling potpourri! From there, we had to get the cupcakes (OH...Indulge Cupcakes of Puyallup...amazing!!!!!!), balloons, ice and a few more groceries! Then, it was on to preparing and Sis was a huge help. Terri's brother, Scott, arrived in the early afternoon and he helped out a bit...or maybe he just harassed us?! Just kidding...nice to have him here as well. His wife and girls, Betsy, Sam and Syd, came later in the day. Rick's parents, Howard and Jeanette, arrived a bit later...they had another party for a great-great niece's high school graduation in the area that they attended before arriving here! The weather...earlier in the week the forecast had suggested a chance for rain and temperatures around the mid 60's...which was not our ideal choice for the afternoon, but in the end, we were blessed with partly sunny and about 75 degrees....absolutely perfect! With the great weather, we were able to be outside and enjoyed a great party with wonderful family and friends (who are just like family to us!!) who all helped us celebrate Jess' wonderful accomplishment! During the party there was a rousing game of horse shoes...with a $2 plastic set we bought for Jayden!! Amazing how entertaining some simple things can be! And a crowd also headed to the new basketball court in our neighborhood for the game "pig" which Sydney proceeded to win...way to go, Syd! Thank you to everyone who joined us...it was great so share our excitement with all of you!

Where's Waldo...I mean "where's Jessalyn" in this sea of red!??!



Sunday evening was the graduation, so everyone took it easy most of the day and we all planned to meet up for an early dinner before hand. Josh, Mandy and Jayden were meeting at our house so we could all ride up together...minimizing cars and parking! As Jayden was getting out of their car, her finger got smashed in the car door...poor little girl, she was crying and the finger quickly turned black and blue and swelled up quite a bit. We grabbed ice, a towel and some Tylenol for the ride to the restaurant, hoping to ease her pain and reduce the swelling a bit. Thankfully, she was okay by the time we had dinner and although the finger didn't look very good, she was doing great. Graduation was in Seattle at Benaroya Hall, a beautiful facility that seats 2500 people and it was full with the graduates and their family and friends who were there to witness the exciting event! We ended up in the top balcony (nose bleed section!) in the front row, middle (great location for pictures!) - which was REALLY high if you looked over the edge!!! The ceremony was about 2 1/2 hours and was very nice. The commencement speaker was Sid Morrison who was in the Washington Senate, was once a candidate for governor and is on the board of trustees for Central Washington University. His basic message a great one...growing up is mandatory, but growing old is optional...what a wonderful philosophy!! As Jess' name was announced we all cheered and hollered...but not so sure she heard us from the very back of the auditorium! Finding her afterwards was a bit of a challenge...and getting all of us together, but we managed and as you can imagine took some photos of her...with some of her classmates/friends and of course with family. Getting out of the parking garage was rather slow...we felt like we were trying to get out of a parking garage after a Mariner's game...sitting and waiting for a long time! The day was long...and we all were up much later than usual, but it was well worth missing a couple hours of sleep...and exciting time for Jess after working hard the past four years! Now, on to the next step...to find a job which could prove to be challenging with the cuts in education right now...but we know when she does finally get her own classroom, she'll be a wonderful and loving teacher!! Way to go, Jess!!!

It's back to routine now...Sis and Scott left yesterday and this morning Howard and Jeanette left (after Terri and Jayden joined them for breakfast at the Hedman House B&B...thanks NormaJean!!). The week will be short as on Friday we are heading over to Hayden Lake for the weekend...a friend of Terri's from North Carolina will be there with her family to watch their daughter compete in the Iron Man on Sunday...and we will spend some time with them, follow some of the competition and of course, enjoy the lake!

Jayden's finger is doing much better...it's still pretty black and blue and a bit swollen, but not nearly as bad as it could have been...thank goodness! A funny story...as I was sitting here typing this, Jayden looked at the flower bouquet on the table in the family room and said that I had to come look at it...I said just a minute...and when I went over...she said look at the whiskers...I couldn't see what she was talking about and then all of a sudden a large moth appeared...and I must confess, I screamed as I didn't have a clue anything was there...but we were able to capture it and set it free outside...what a great eye Jayden has to see that hidden in the flowers!

Have a great week...and here are some photos from our weekend. And enjoy the start of summer (which sure seems to have started a couple of weeks around here)!!

Jayden made it through Jess graduating and then crashed, but was then awake again after the ceremony.

Jess and her friend, Crissy, are shocked...no diplomas, where are they?!!


Jess with some of her fellow education classmates...they have all been together for the past two years.







Jayden is quite proud of her aunt Jessie!
WhooHoo....she did it...nice job, Jess!