Brandt Graduates! THS Class of 2025

It's official! Brandt has graduated from high school. YAY!!!! 

Brandt needed to be at UVU at 5:00, and knowing that we would be late by the time everything was completed, we had dinner at Texas Roadhouse before graduation. We saw Chris and Corene Jensen and all their kids there, also getting dinner before Grant graduated. 

We were delighted to have Grandma Sue, Blake, Sharae, and Makenna join me and Kent. Izzy came for dinner but then went home. Graduation was much like every graduation we've ever attended--several talks by students, including our neighbor Will Weidner. There was singing, an orchestra number, and then the reading of the graduates. I was impressed that Timpview worked through this pretty quickly. They had the graduates file in from both sides of the stage so it went faster than normal. Sadly, the man who was reading names read Brandt's names as "Brandy Barnes." I was so mad! It's not like he couldn't read Brandt's handwriting, which is atrocious, because the name was printed. He just wasn't paying attention. So dumb! 

We are certainly pleased that Brandt is done with high school and hope he will go on to do good things.

"Brandy Barnes"

Graduation Party

We have arrived at that time in Brandt's life when he is graduating from high school. I'm so relieved! There have been moments when I wasn't sure it would actually happen, and this year has been a bit much at times. But he went to school enough and did enough work that even though he seemed to be NOT at school an awful lot, he finished and will actually attend graduation tomorrow. 

Luke it also graduating, so today we had a joint graduation party for both of them. Sharae has been traveling, so I have been putting things together alone. I created a balloon arch with both Timpview and Springville colors. In two years when Izzy and the Dudes graduate at the same time, I don't think we'll be able to do a combined arch, but for Brandt and Luke, I think it was fine. And I think it turned out cute. I put together a photo collage for each one of them, posted pictures, and then made food. Family came over to each, celebrate, and play some cornhole. We are certainly happy to celebrate both Brandt and Luke. 

We also did a bit of celebrating me, too, as today is also my birthday. I really felt like Brandt and Luke deserved our attention and focus, but I was grateful for family who made a point of wishing me happy birthday.

Yay! He made it!

Kimi stopped by to give Brandt a little treat.

She has worked with him on Tech Crew and told him how much she'll miss him.

So nice!

These are supposed to be blue, orange, and red cupcakes,

but the blue and red are all wrong. Really, the orange too.

But they tasted good!

Blythe's Elementary School Graduation

The last term of this school year has been weird. Online school, no activities, Zoom meetings with teachers and classmates. It hasn't been ideal. It's a bummer because the end of sixth grade is always lots of fun. Blythe didn't get to do field day, the Country Fair, fun art projects, a complete sixth grade picture, and graduation. The graduation is what I'm most sad about. They normally have a whole program, the children sing, there is a speaker, awards made, and a terrific slideshow. 

While we couldn't gather, no one sang, and no one spoke, they did have graduation--a drive through graduation we attended today. We drove around the back of Rock Canyon through a line of all the teachers. We played Pomp and Circumstance as we drove slowly, waving at everyone. I cried (someone had to) as I looked at all the people who have influenced the children for good throughout their time at Rock Canyon. Mrs. Christensen handed off all of Blythe's paperwork and desk contents, and waved goodbye. Around the front of the school was a full-size picture of Mrs. Christensen, so Blythe did have a picture with a picture of her. She still has another week of school, but she has officially finished. And with her official finish, as a family, we, too, are finished with Rock Canyon and elementary school. 

Blythe had a wonderful year. She did well in school, including being on grade in math at her last test. That's an accomplishment! She has thrived socially, physically, and mentally. She is a good student, enjoys being with her peers, and is happy to go to school practically every day. While she might have started out the school year with a bit of trepidation, she finished strong, actually missing being at school instead of at home.

When I asked Blythe what were her favorite things about sixth grade, she replied,

I liked flex time, chill-n-chat, and seeing Brick at school. Mrs. Christensen was nice, and science was also really fun. I liked having Mia and Addie in my class. 

Clearly, too much time has passed for Blythe to remember all the fun things they did. I have provided a record of all those things here on the blog, so I am certain, as she looks back, Blythe will remember with fondness her sixth grade year.

Kimberly and McKenna Roy made candy leis for all the sixth grade graduates.

So darling!