Kick-Off for Graduation Week

In years past, graduates and their parents have had a dinner together to celebrate. I remember hearing about them going to a restaurant on the night before graduation after setting up and thought what a wonderful idea. This year's graduating class had 14 students so finding a restaurant to hold all of them in addition to their parents could be a little more difficult in our small town. We didn't really pursue looking into it either as Bob wanted to do the dinner at our house. We have the room, he loves to cook, and he wanted to do this for his graduate!

So, after a wonderful camping and playing weekend, we came home early evening on Saturday and began to finalize preparations. Bob had all ready cooked and frozen about 10 enchiladas casseroles, but most of the stuff needed to be freshly made for our Mexican Fiesta. We had all ready cleaned and began the set up of borrowed chairs and tables. I did some further sweeping and cleaning of the two main living areas while The Graduate and Bob did the yard work. After our busy weekend, we were exhausted by evenings end.

Sunday brought more busy-ness after church with only about 5 hours to make guacemole, salsa, pico de gallo, grill fajitas meat and street taco beef as well as make Spanish Rice and beans. We also set up tables with brightly colored paper plates, more appropriate to a luau, but really cute and kind of matching our "bright" color theme. Everyone began arriving around 5 for eating about 6. Here are some shots of our lovely evening together.

We had 40 some people coming. There was an additional table
 immediately to the left that you can't see.

The dads relaxing on the lawn. The weather was perfect!

Assembly line of preparing the "street" tacos. Grill the corn tortillas with cheese placed between two of them.
 Then add marinated and grilled beef. Sprinkle with pico de gallo and fold. YUM!

Farmer Girl was a great help!

We had appetizers of  Pioneer Woman's Jalapeno Poppers as well as chips and salsa.

Waiting their turn at the counter for food. We did buffet style.

After dinner, the graduates-to-be practiced their song, "Everything to Me"
upstairs in preparation for graduation in 6 days.

Enjoying the evening while listening to the beautiful voices of the grads.
I think I sat down for about 5 minutes. I tend to "flit" about quite a bit....

"And, it was THIS big!" Not sure what they were discussing.

I LOVE this family shot with the backdrop of the Rhody's!

Sharing a moment on the porch swing.

All of the grads gathered for another shot on the porch as they visited.

A few families meandered down the driveway for family shots offered by me.

 So pretty against the flowers.

Another family shot.

...and another.

Enjoying strawberries and ice cream on the porch swing as the evening winds down.

Someone even took our picture!

The girls ambling back to the house.

It was a great way to kick off graduation week. The weather was perfect, the food tasty, and the company enjoyable. Stay tuned for more graduation week highlights.

Ellie~