At go time, mom and dad and Jamie and Reese and Sammy arrive.
The house is prepped, the sheets are in the dryer.
We do last minute yard stuff, Jim still working on lights and putting sand in the turf.
I put everyone to work constructing the fire pit chairs. Jamie Sammy and Dad were a good team. They set up five chairs in the time I constructed the propane box.
Then it was complete. I love it so much.
The lights, the fire pit, the turf. It's all such a fun vibe.
Friday we went last minute grocery shopping and to TJ Maxx to get dad a jacket.
Avery stayed home to work on her cap and prep all the graduation things.
I was stressing about the weather, but it all turned out exactly right. It was perfect.
I don't always toss that word - PERFECT - around, but spoiler: the whole weekend and graduation was perfect.
Friday evening go time: Avery had to be there at 4:30, the rest of us got there at 5:00.
And then there she was walking out, the pomp and circumstance music playing.
They sat alphabetically, so she got to sit by her friend Chase Avery Larrson.
Yay! She did it!
It rained on them for about 3 minutes which means good luck.
It's so weird how not emotional it was. I was way more emotional last year watching Das (thinking about Avery graduating) and way more emotional at the beginning of the school year.
But here at the time we have all been waiting for, I was just happy for her. and zen. and calm.
It was just fun.
Which means I was ready. Avery was ready. She got so sick of high school by the end of the year.
Then she went off to play with her class until 5:00 in the morning, and we went to eat dinner.
I guess it is tradition to come to Gateway after graduation, because we came here last year after Das's graduation.
My plate of steaming hot food - mashed potatoes - was so so good. I was so hungry from being a little on edge all day.
The next big last thing to do was throw her a party.
This is what I was most nervous about.
But Jamie led the way and I felt so good about it all.
I was nervous no one would come (because Avery had SAID a lot of people weren't able to come) plus it was such a busy weekend for everyone.
Jamie reminded me: this is for AVERY not her friends. And she made a balloon arch and helped me decorate. Mom helped me cook and prep food and reassured me that everything was good and ready.
I just felt calm and ENJOYED it all. Which is a big deal for me. Throwing a party usually really kills me.
I couldn't have done it without Jamie and Mom. They made it so so fun.
Last minute Jim made a charcuterie candy board.
Which is soo Avery.
And then the people CAME!
So many friends! And they stayed. Avery's party was the party they ended the day.
It was the closer.
It was such a fun vibe.
We had the hockey game on, and music and food and a fire and golf and canjam.
It was SO FUN.
This circle of friends stayed until dark making s'mores.
