Water balloons, softball

We found that a box of 420 water balloons lasts about an hour with the Gourde girls.  And with 2 or 3 screams per balloon, it was a noisy neighborhood for awhile,

but, boy, did they have fun. 

They saved their big "baby" balloons for tomorrow.

Ava and Harper had a game at 6:00 tonight.  Rielee came along to watch. 

Ava forgot her cleats and had to wear her sandals to the field, but Mom brought them before

the game started.

Harper hit this ball for a double.

 Luke volunteered to umpire, which turned out to be funny when Ava argued with him for calling strikes that she thought were high!

Last day of 3rd grade, Auna's LCC graduation

Friday was Ava and Harper's last day of 3rd grade.  They look a little disheveled because

the school had a bouncy house for the kids.  They were happy for summer break.

 

Auna graduated from L.C.C. Friday night.  That's her in the 9th row (she's behind the guy with the big beard that blocked me from getting a good close-up picture, grrr).  We thought the way the stacks of diplomas spell L.C.C. was cool.

Proud parents and graduate-she worked hard for that diploma!

Rielee was our babysitter for the twins while we were at graduation.  When we got home, she was being silly, wearing the "car" Ava made out of a box. 

This morning we went to a few garage sales.  Harper bought a sack of marbles,

Ava found a microscope, they both got watches.  We taught them how to play a marble game-as best we could remember.

 

Parker rented a bigger excavator this weekend and he and Dad removed the rest

of the stumps and dug a trench for the power. 

Sleepover, card games

Jillian slept over Saturday night, they spent a lot of time again creating homes for rock people.

They built a blanket fort to sleep in and played Barbies and games. 

Rielee had the idea to play a game of "extreme" Go Fish today, which turned into

a marathon and soon they were sprawled out relaxing.  Due to

Harper's concussion last week, she was banned from watching TV or playing on electronics, so they

played lots of games.  Rielee said she kind of liked it that way.

Parker's graduation

As Kelso's class of 2018 walked in, Parker's friend Anders seemed to have said

something to make Parker laugh. 

Getting his diploma, wow, a long process with over 325 graduates. 

Plus, it started raining about halfway through.

 

The kids didn't seem too bothered by it though, Parker looked very happy.

Some silly string action afterwards to celebrate.

The sun came back after the ceremony so we could take lots of pictures with our graduate.

 

Auna's graduation

Auna walked into graduation with her best friend Trinity.   It was a soggy evening but fortunately the heaviest rain held off until the ceremony was over. 

Watching Auna, our last "country cousin" graduate from Castle Rock High School was a happy/sad time. 

We have so many wonderful memories from all of the kid's sports and activities at this school.

Emmy was a weepy sister afterwards.

 

Parker Baccalaureate

Parker and Jordyn after Kelso's Baccalaureate Service tonight.  It was short and sweet with

wonderful music from the orchestra.

Auna & Parker grad party, Lexi's 20th birthday party

Parker and Auna celebrated their upcoming graduations together at Gabe and Des' house on Saturday.

It was a beautiful day with lots of family and friends from both Kelso and CR. 

 

It's hard to believe these two have grown up so fast.

They've both had busy, successful high school years, and have bright futures ahead of them.

Parker hopes to enter the electrical apprenticeship next fall.

Sunday we celebrated Lexi's 20th birthday.  Charb and Kelly barbecued and we

played corn hole and ate the most delicious cheesecake and tiramisu.

 It was windy so we just sang to Lexi and didn't even try to light candles.

Ava and Harper showed off their newly cleaned out playhouse.   Ava beat me at a game of

Trouble.  Harper is smiling extra big to show off a newly lost tooth, she pulled it out last night. 

They had a sleepover with Jillian and Bridget at Aunt Cathy's and came home with some fun boxes they made with rock "people".  Harper plans to enter hers in the fair.