Monday, May 18, 2009

Hallelujah! Ross is a High School Graduate!

I think that parental graduation etiquette states that you are supposed to be overcome with sadness and nostalgia when your child graduates. I'm not too great at etiquette since I still haven't got all of Ross' graduation announcements out even though he graduated yesterday. I know, I know. Let me tell you straight out that sending anything other than a giveaway out in the mail is not my thing. But I've also failed on the overcome with sadness too. I was positively thrilled.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not eager to send my second born child out into the world, but no worries there anyway. He's not going anywhere next year other than continuing to live in the basement while he goes to community college and works at the nearby convenience store. But let's just say that Ross' high school years have been a challenge. Detentions, in school suspensions and a Saturday school for tardies are now a thing of the past. Hallelujah! No more cringing when St. Mary's High School comes up on the caller ID. It's a good day in the Swank household!

Yesterday was the official day when Ross assembled with 39 other seniors and had a fairly short graduation ceremony but only after we sat through a very long mass. It was a Catholic high school. Isn't mass mandatory? When it was over, it was official. Ross was a high school graduate.

Ross with Julia and Trace. My SIL Janne', hereby known as St. Janne' the Wonderful, watched Jenna, Ryan, Emma and Gauge while we attended the graduation. Julia's excited because Ross is letting her touch him. Or maybe she's thrilled because the graduation ceremony and mass were over.

Notice the diploma cover he's clutching in his right hand? When all the other students went outside to throw their caps into the air he ran straight to the room where he received his official diploma.

My two men.
{Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! I made a funny!}

After the graduation we had a dinner at our house. A restaurant would be a nightmare with the little ones so I ordered pans of pasta and salad from Olive Garden. We have scads of food leftover so everyone's welcome to come eat leftovers tonight. Sixish is good.

Nothing's official until it's written in cake so now it's official. Ross is a graduate. Two down, only 4 more to go!



For those of you who are my friends on Facebook, there are more pictures on my page.

14 comments:

Jill said...

YEAH ROSS!!

The Olive Garden idea is EXCELLENT...good food and you don't have to chase the little ones all over and worry they are getting into everything...and the leftovers...NO COOKING FOR YOU! YIPPEE!

Unknown said...

Congrats to Ross

I teach in a JrHi/HS... when a call comes to a house via Caller ID...unavailable shows up so that a parent can't ditch the call!

I love Olive Garden! yummm

mommakin said...

Congrats to both of you.

This was exactly what I needed to read today. I have one in Jr. High who - uh - well - the phone rings a lot. Nice to see those kids having success, too.

Yay Ross!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to your graduate and you!

Heather said...

Congratulations to Ross :)

Janne said...

St. Janne' the Wonderful...now that title has a nice ring to it, I could get used to it! :) How much you do exaggerate---the kids are fun!
Happy Monday!
Janne'

Unknown said...

Great times, great memories! I saw the rest of the pictures, really good, except, ummm, weren't you missing?
Good Job mom!

~Katie said...

Wooo Hoooo!! Way to go Ross and Mom!! :)

Brandy said...

Congrats to Ross! And Mom! Does this mean you can sleep in on Saturdays now? Yeah probably not.

I wish the cake thing were true cause I haven't gotten one since my 29th bday...and without the cake that would mean I'm still 29 right? Yeah probably not.

Geez now we both feel bad.

momma said...

congrats!!!

Carey-Life in the Carpool Lane said...

Congrats to Ross! And congrats to you on surviving what sounded like a difficult couple of academic years!

Shoot...I'm just now reading this at 5. I don't think I can make by 6!

Christina - Rant Rave Roll said...

Congrats to you both!

Ashley said...

Congratulations, Ross!! Congratulations, Mom!!! Let the celebrations begin!

Shari U said...

Congratulations Ross and Denise. 2 down, 4 to go!