Saturday, May 30, 2015

Celebration Saturday - Graduation, Showers, and End of School, Oh My!

 
I love linking up to a wonderful celebratory community, inspired by Ruth Ayres, every Saturday!
 
I'm sure there will be lots of celebration blog posts about the end of the year today!  Here is mine.
 
 

 
This was an especially difficult ending this year because I've taught my sixth graders for three years.   What a wonderful three years we had.  They grew and learned so much!  I loved my white board on the last day of school:
 
 
Some highlights:




 






 
Sigh.  I'm so lucky I do what I do!!!  I'm also celebrating the fact that I get to keep my fifth graders another year!!
 
I love our school tradition of making a "tunnel" on the last day of school, high-fiving every exiting student and cheering them on.  We have a loudspeaker and music, and all the teachers come out.  The buses make several rounds as the kids wave and cry out the bus windows, and we wave back.  Oftentimes I get teary-eyed on the last day of school, but this year, as the last bus pulled away, I sobbed!  I had to go back inside the building really quickly and hide in my classroom!
 

 
This was a week of high emotion and other things to celebrate.  My best friends gave Libby (they call themselves the "honorary aunts") a bridal shower at my house over Memorial Day weekend, and one of my best friend's daughter, Shannon, graduated from high school and had her party.  Here are our honored young women:
 
 
Shannon and Libby

 
Me with the Honorary AUnts
 
Other pictures of the festivities:
 
 
Shannon designed the cover!

 
She was also recognized as a National Merit Scholar!

 
The three stooges - Ellie, Shannon, Katie

 
The Honorary Aunts with Shannon, the Graduate

 
Shannon opening our gift with a hug from Annie
 
 
Annie and me at graduation dinner

 
Katie and me at graduation dinner

 
Shower goodies


 
Proud and excited mother-of-the-bride and the "Queen" bride-to-be

 
Libby with some of her bridesmaids

 
Three generations

 
Libby with Grandma Mueller

 
Maid of honor and bride
 
 
Now there are only 6 days until THE WEDDING!!!!! 
 
 Front of the ceremony program
 
SO much to celebrate!
 
 

11 comments:

  1. And every single photo is in focus--a shared focus of JOY!

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  2. So many things worth celebrating this week! Congrats on your daughter's wedding next week!

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  3. WOW! What a post full of celebrations. I got teary reading those notes from your students so I had to go back and scroll through the photos of your family and friends to look again carefully. Amazing smiles and happiness everywhere!

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  4. Those words from your students are priceless!! I love each and every message!! It's so exciting to see how close the wedding is...I remember when you blogged about her engagement. Cherish these moments!!! I can't wait to read all about it!

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  5. I love the messages from your students. I can't imagine how I would be if I had students for three years. I get so attached after one! And to think you have a wedding in 6 days! Enjoy this time.

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  6. Love that white board, your video AND that send-off-what a great idea, Holly. And I adore seeing all these festivities. You must be so, so excited. Have an absolutely marvelous week! I'm glad you are finished so you can enjoy every bit of wedding week!

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  7. Joy abounds. Sad endings. Wonderful messages of love.

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  8. So much joy in this post! We wave our students goodbye on the final day, but without the tunnel. such a fun tradition! Have a fabulous week and treasure every moment of the wedding fun! We'll be waiting for more pics and stories.

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  9. Holly, your celebrations speak of happiness and a spirit of joy. The last farewell send-off at your school is such a wonderful celebration that I can see why you were misty-eyed. I can't believe that the wedding is approaching. What an exciting time of the year for you. Enjoy each and every moment.

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  10. So much joy and love in these pictures Holly. Thank you for sharing them.

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  11. Thank you for sharing photos as you celebrated! I enJOYed reading the notes and seeing all the smiles! God is good.

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