2011 Countdown: #1 . . . REALLY!

And FINALLY, my patient blog readers, we reach the end of this interminably long countdown.  I promise you there will be a contemplation of possible rules for THIS year's countdown when the time comes.  It's rather exhausting.  And the digital age presents far too many pictorial options for a gal given to sentiment, affections and beauty in all things.  At this point, I am yet a wanna-be-regular-writer with a crunched-for-time-already-full life.  That'll change at some juncture in a future yet to be determined.  This I do know, down, down, DOWN deep in the recesses of my little ol' heart.  There are yet pages and pages yet to be covered with my scribblings and typings.

So, from divas to dogs, Cross Point to company, and tornadoes after snow fall, 2011 bore plentiful fruit in the life of this liver and lover of life.  But what could POSSIBLY top all of that in significance?  Well, let us speak to the fruits of the vine, or make that the fruit of my womb, rather.  My second child hit that momentous milestone whereby childhood breaks away and adulthood rears its responsible head.  Yes, my Sarah, OUR Sarah, graduated high school.  Phew!  It was made all the more enjoyable an occasion by the out-of-staters who swooped over from the West.

And it went down a little something like this:

Once there was this wide-eyed cherub of a child.

Who allowed us to come along for the ride through the years of her childhood.




(A series of years which passed in a seeming blur!
And most assuredly faster than this blog entry!)

She made me want to be more like her.

 And then there arrived that morning when I realized  it was time . . . time for her to graduate high school!

And coinciding with this monumental event, the emergence of the 13-year cicada . . . 

 . . . and its many friends!

But I knew we could get through this: 
after all, we managed to get the first one graduated and SHE turned out fine.  As you can see, I have trained her well.



So, where should we start first?

The light fixtures seemed a logical start.
(This here is my wonderful mother-in-law.)



And that rather unsightly pile of laundry that wasn't getting any cleaner sitting in the basket!

Then I thought to feed my help!

Maybe allow her to rest a bit?

I checked the bylaws, and there was nothing stating the graduates themselves can't lend a hand.  Or two. 

Bro-in-laws and cousins are always eager to offer their expertise in all things requiring instructions!

I asked the neighbors to trim their unsightly trees.

We rounded up a pile or two of  our own yard debris.

"Hey, easy boys! Put me down.  I'm NOT being thrown out with the trash!"

(They were jealous of my shorts.)

We borrowed a few chairs from our church.  

(Guaranteed delivery by our esteemed pastor.)

I hired a dedicated crew to try and 'smoke out' the cicadas as the OFF wasn't getting the job done!

These beautiful gals, Cousin Laur and Sis-in-Law Shelley, made up 2/3 of my "Charlie's Angels" trio.
Without them, I'd still be filling balloons and unraveling streamers!

Cousin Darrell volunteered for beer quality control:

the refreshing beverage of choice for beating the Cicada Summer heat amongst the adult prep crew.

Darrell's board of directors.

These two (Geiser sibs) traveled from Wyoming just to decorate the party tent for Sarah.  What love!

Laur, in turn, used her own people to handle the spillover party area in the garage.

It turned out pretty well, I'd say!

 5 out of 5 party attendees agree!

I lent my best side to the cause of the Duct Tape Avenger -- unbeknownst to me.

Aunt Marie's expert hands took charge of the green chilies.  One more worry that was NO MORE!

Cousin Dave kept the graduate relaxed with methods I found it best not to question.

I found a crowd to test out the patio.

And thus Graduation Eve drew to a close.

Only to allow dawn to break on GRADUATION DAY!

My kitchen staff was already hard at work, following taped instructions everywhere they turned!

I think they're discussing my OCD issues.

With everything under control at party central, the rest of us headed off to the ceremony.  

(I've got a hitch in my dress!)

Jeremy assures me he carries no contraband on him, save for his chest hair.  

The sizable and sweltering venue as the graduates file into the stadium.

I'm a sucker for our country's Star Spangled Banner.

There's our girl, second from the left in back!

Her boyfriend and all-around good guy, Derek, received his diploma near the beginning, when we were all still conscious!

One by one, my fellow attendees began to drop off.

Seeking distraction via technology as we awaited the advent of the V's . . . 

At some point, maybe around the H's, my attention strayed to the people around me . . . 

. . . and their hair . . . 

. . . 

My infamous pea-sized bladder (no pun intended) put in a request around the S's.

And then she was up and walking . . . 

Because V is for VICTORY!

The first of many victories!

My son melted.

"A work call, Jimmy? Really?  Have they NO boundaries?"

I think we done good.

And with that: let the party commence!

But first, a little swig of Darrell's relaxation formula.

Eat, eat, EAT, everyone!

My neighbor's son demonstrates the important 3 food groups: fruit, chips and CANDY!

Fellow graduates and good friends stopping by.

Revelers busy reveling!

Our stunning blue-eyed blondes!

A proud Grandma Sharon . . . 

And a proud Grandma Olivia with ALL of her granddaughters!

Little Jack brought his family to say 'congrats' to his favorite babysitter.

The cards all grads love to open!

Friends and neighbors who have watched our gal grow up in the Jamison 'hood.

Now, this picture of Cousin Annette (Netsy) with Sarah in her arms is a full circle moment . . . 

Because Netsy got us through the terrible twos!

(They even look alike.)

Us proud parents are still reeling from it all.

But Sarah seems pretty darned satisfied.

As the company dwindled, those of us left behind let our hair down and had some fun.

Me, chief among them!

Ollie is a tremendously good sport!

The gang's all here.  Just barely, folks, as the big day shuts down in our neck of the woods.

The party bubble finally burst . . .

 As the time for goodbyes rolled around.

 Fare thee wells to family . . . 

 . . . and fun times . . . 

 . . . and fresh faces . . . 

. . . and feisty fritters . . . 

But most of all . . . 

. . . we bid the most bittersweet of fare thee wells . . .

. . . to little girls . . . 

. . . who . . .

. . . are . . .

. . . little . . .

 . . . girls . . .

 . . . no . . . 

 . . . more . . . 

. . . except in mom's heart!