The graduation ceremony itself got off to a little bit of a rocky start. His shoes were all wrong, he got held up somehow and had to sprint to catch up to the rest of his class that was steadily filing up onto the stage without him, and the opening guest singer's backup music was a hot mess (his singing was not praise God). But the rest was something I hope he'll never forget. They sang, and they quoted I Corinthians 13 from memory. We watched a slideshow of pictures taken throughout the year set to music and listened to words of wisdom given from administrative staff and teachers. They were all called one by one to come up and receive their "diplomas" (the real ones are in the mail). And to top it all off, they simultaneously threw their red caps and tassels in the air while the entire audience cheered and clapped.
I have a few pictures from the big night, but I mostly took video with my phone. I hate trying to do both, and when it comes to things that don't get do-overs, I rather have something I can go back and watch than get worked up over pictures that I can take another day. I know my limits when I'm already what I call an emotional basketcase. So sooner rather than later, I'll bribe him back into those godawful shoes that were "hurting me" and take some "real" pictures of him in his cap and gown. To die for...but then again, I'm his mom.
I did take some yesterday of him at his end-of-the-year party which was made complete with a twenty-foot waterslide. Awesome!
Just one little quote from Jake, and then I'm outta here. Yesterday at his party, I was the ball-thrower during a game of kickball, and I was telling Jim all about it on my way back to work. So last night, he mentioned it to Jake and asked him how the game of kickball went and Jake said, "It's kickpen in our world, Dad." Oh you've been told!
