Graduation

May 25, 2019
Graduation.  The final post.  It does kind of just keep going.  Grad announcements, parties, practices, celebrations, pictures and finally the actual day.

Our wall of fame.  I love seeing all of these cousins and friends everyday.

Brinley didn't care much about the formal event.  I guess we raised her that way.😂   Brian and I talked it over and decided to let the kids choose if they wanted to go.  They didn't.  At one point Parker mentioned we could call them when they were near the G's and they could drive up.  We thought that sounded like a great idea.  We scrapped that plan when there was no parking left in the stadium parking lot.  (And Brinley didn't get called until 10:30 pm!!!)

I tried to talk my parents out of attending the actual graduation.  (That's why we invited them to go out to eat to celebrate earlier in the day.)  That night was too windy for my mom so she stayed home but I couldn't convince my dad to skip out.  Thanks to a tip from my cousin, we came prepared with our phones fully charged, headphones and audio books downloaded.

Brian actually sweetly "uninvited" his parents.  (Long story, but the short version is: 1. Brian was worried about the long trip here and the tole it would take on their health. Grandpa G was in the hospital earlier this month.  2. They had four grandchildren graduating from High School all within a 7 day period.  Impossible to be able to attend all four graduations.  3. When they come out this far we really want them to be able to stay a few days and visit.  We would all feel bummed if they only flew in, saw Bryn from afar, and flew back home.)

The craziest thing happened.  Brian tweaked his back a few of hours before the big event.  He could barely walk.  I felt really badly for him because he definitely wanted to be there but his back was not cooperating.  I sent him texts and picture updates throughout the  3.5 hours long night.  (There were 770 graduates.)  We also face timed when Brinley received her diploma.

Because Bri wasn't able to go, I was really glad my dad had insisted on going.  It was nice to have a buddy to hang out with.  We had to park all the way down the road by St. Elizabeth's Catholic church and hike to the stadium.  We had a nice, windy evening visiting, cheering, observing, and celebrating Brinley and the Permian High School class of 2019.  Go MOJO!

A quick sibling picture before Brinley headed to Ratliff for graduation.

Throwback picture: The kiddos on the day of Brinley's 6th grade and Aubrey's kindergarten graduation.

Grandpa and Gram Vore

Brinley was in the third to last row, the third seat from the track.  We wanted to sit on the other side but by the time we got there, they had blocked off parking.  We decided to just sit on the opposite side.  She was toward the very end to be called because they did a weird thing were they started with A's and H's and then went to B's and and I's....so Gs ended up being towards the end.

Fun hanging with my dad for three hours.  So glad I brought a jacket and blanket for the windy night too.

KyLeigh J, Caitlyn M, and Brinley

Our beautiful girl.