Graduation

Ben graduated on Sunday ending 13 years of public school. Would I do public school again? Well, that's a discussion for another post!

But, back to Sunday. It all happened so fast. Not just the growing up years but the actual day! Pictures at the house at 11:30, down to the Century Center by 12:15, the ceremony started at 1:00 and was all over by 2:15. Wow, that was fast. Having a last name that starts with an E, Ben was towards the front of the class and got in line for the stage right away. I waited in anticipation to see if they would pronounce his name right, they did and he walked across so fast I couldn't get a good picture! It all happened so fast.

And the tears had already started for me. In front of Ben was Hannah and then Katie, then came Ben, Tommy, Cody, Matt and Tyler. Plus a bunch of classmates that Ben had graduated from kindergarten with. I cried a bit at each of their names and looked in wonder at the young men they had become. It was a bittersweet day for me.

Here are some photos taken before and after the ceremony. I got some good pictures during the service but NONE of Ben! I just couldn't get a good shot of him. Thank goodness for the professional photographer there!

With the family. Yes, my eyes are closed, arghhhh...

With the grandparents.

Ben and Matt before the ceremony.

The graduates! (Ben, Cody, Tyler and Matt)

Celebrating at Red Robin with Tyler's family. (Ben, Kelli, Kayley and Tyler)

It was a beautiful graduation and a gorgeous day. I'm so proud of him. Did I mention he graduated Cum Laude?........

Classic Champs!

What a weekend for the seniors on the Clay baseball team.

They graduated yesterday and won the Reinebold Classic today!

Way to go boys!

Graduation pictures tomorrow.........

Home Run!

During the first game of the Reinebold Classic this morning Ben hit a beautiful 350 foot home run just left of center field! Of course, I didn't have my camera out and ready but I did get a few shots once he rounded the bases.

I managed to get a picture of him crossing home plate as the team ran out to congratulate him. Ben is #2.

And this one of the celebration continuing on his way back to the dugout. He is 5th from the left in this picture.

It was the second trip out to the field the team made this morning. Earlier Connor hit a home run. That was a back to back for Connor. He hit one last night down in Kokomo also.

And the inning before Tyler hit a beautiful triple that would have gone over the fence had it just had one more puff of air to carry it!

Game 2 is tonight at 7:00 pm. GO COLONIALS!

Senior Night

Ever since Ben started playing High School baseball I sorta dreaded this night. Every year when the seniors and their parents were introduced I sat in the stands and cried. I was really worried I wouldn't be able to hold it together for Ben's senior night.

Well, tonight was the night. And I did fine! Of course, it all happened so fast it was a blur to me!

Here are some photos from tonight:

We had six seniors this year. We actually had seven but one didn't finish the season.

Here's a shot of the three of us on the field. Can you believe that Ben has been playing baseball for about 13 years and I have never been on a baseball field before?!?!?

Here's the group. Ben, Tyler, Cody, Matt and Lewis. Mark is missing from the photo.

Typical clowning around photo of Jackie, Barb and I. Jackie and I are looking at four more years together since Ben and Cody will be roommates at Manchester next year.

We still have a game in Kokomo on Friday, the Reinebold Classic this weekend and Sectionals starting next week. Ben hasn't played his final high school baseball game yet.

Let's see if I can hold it together that night.......

Obama is in town

In case anyone has been living under a rock, Obama was chosen to deliver the commencement speech at Notre Dame today.

The controversy has been immense. Protestors have made going to work everyday a bit unpleasant. But it will all be over with today. Life on campus should get back to normal.

At the last minute today mom and I decided to take a ride out to the airport and try to see Air Force One land. They didn't publish his schedule but using what I knew about the schedule for graduation today, we took an educated guess. And planned it PERFECT.

We had just parked the car, got out and headed for a good viewing spot when Air Force One came into view. So quick that we didn't get a shot of the actual landing.

Here are some of the best shots from today.

After

Ben lives in the basement.

Well, technically it's a lower level walkout but Ben chose the one room without a window as his bedroom. This is because he wants complete darkness when he sleeps.

Mark and I agreed to this arrangement because, frankly, we had spent the last 15 years living on the same level with him and nagging, constantly, for him to clean up his room.

So, Ben lives in the basement. And Mark and I stay away as much as possible. He was allowed to paint it any color he wants (hence the lovely shade of green you see) and, for the most part, he can live in complete filth all he wants.

But all parents have their limits and once in awhile, when Mark or I must wander into his room, we reach ours. And then we insist he clean it up. NOW.

Today was one of those days. And, thanks to Kelli (have I mentioned how much I love this girl?) it got cleaned. And I have the photos to prove it.

These are the After shots. Wait a couple of days and I'll show you the Before.

They will make your skin crawl.........

Back to Back

Tonight's baseball game was at St. Joe. I love playing at the St. Joe field because the Varsity and JV fields are back to back. This means I can sit at the top of the Varsity bleachers and watch both games at the same time. That means I can get a picture of Andy playing second on the JV field:

Then turn around in time to catch Ben at the plate on the Varsity Field:

Although neither JV or Varsity brought home a win tonight, the home crowd enjoyed a beautiful night for a baseball game: