Farewell to Trinity...Sniff, Sniff!

Our youngest has kept us busy this week with the final parties and assemblies for his graduation from Trinity Junior High School.  He allowed me to participate in helping prepare for the end of the year pool party and prom...I think he realizes that this is the end of mom's volunteering for the past 16  years in Catholic Schools and I am grateful he did. 

 It has been a true joy to spend time with the kids, their teachers and the many parents who have stepped forward in a thousand ways to make sure that the kids had all of their needs taken care of...they have all made such a difference in our boys' lives.

On Friday, they had a great time at the pool party!

Sunday was busy...we started with the Academic Awards Banquet at 5 pm.  These table decorations may look familiar...I created them for the same function for the school's class of 2010 and they continue to be refreshed and serve. 

We were wonderfully surprised and proud when Michael's name was called out for 

the Trinity Advantage Award...especially his Dad!

After the banquet came the prom...

More on that affair on another post!

Graduation was a few days later...and this proud Mama only managed to take a few pictures of the ceremony because she wanted to be sure to have enough memory on her cell phone to record his graduation speech on "Challenges."  He did a great job and we are always proud of him and his brother.

After the ceremony is crazy town... trying to grab him long enough to get a picture of the family because his friends want him in theirs as well.  

His friends are fine young men and some are going to other schools.  That's the sad part about growing up and moving on.  They have been classmates since they were "wee high."

Friends celebrated afterwards at a spot downtown...

We are going to miss Trinity, Immaculate Conception School and our wonderful Catholic school system in Fort Smith.  It's been a real pleasure and blessing.

The Barn Prom!

The kids wanted something special for their graduation party after enduring several awkward junior high dances over the years...they were secretly hoping this wasn't going to be a lame gathering.  I think the parent hosted graduation dance was a beautiful evening and I think the kids would agree.  

 We rented The Barn by Two Brothers, and with the generosity of it's owner, Lisa Bobel Hearn and her kind husband, Tim, together with parents, a cute DJ and her dad, our ever dependable photograper,  Karen Schwartz, and a little bit of magic... we created a perfect night for the class of 2016!  Take a peek!

The excitement of the arrivals, the parents and photographers snapping pictures...

How did they turn into young adults so quickly?

    

except for these two...forever young!

Let the fun begin...we kept parents to a minimum and let them enjoy themselves...

Those shoes!  30 minutes later...my favorite picture of the evening!

And then we added a few more adults into the room and turned off the bright lights...they had a ball!

We set up the photo booth in the gazebo outside and it quickly became 

a popular spot for the kids and parents!

Pretty posin'...

 

 Decorations and dining details...

Because the venue was so beautiful, I didn't need to do a whole lot...

We used these beautiful stairs as the backdrop for the arrival pictures 

and just added a pennant banner.

Lanterns, more pennant banners and a chalkboard welcome sign make the entry festive.

Chunky moss wreaths were hung on the doors with mini pennant banners.

Festival lights and pennant banners were hung from the center of the room.

Bandana table cloths, log slices and small lanterns topped the tables and then moss balls, fresh flowers and votives completed the tablescape.   

We kept it easy...they kids enjoyed a candy bar with bottled and canned drinks.  

Pizza was brought in at 9:00pm

My thanks to all the parents who worked so hard to put on this lovely night for our kids, to Lisa and Tim for their lovely barn and supplies.  I think we can safely say that our sons and daughters had the time of their young lives!