Our High Schooler!!!

Last week we found ourselves sitting on the front row to watch our eldest graduate from 8th grade.  The timing of this event was incredible!  My emotions were still on a high from getting back from Ethiopia and my dad was there which was very special.  Needless to say, I found that I was just trying to hold it together that evening as I watched my big boy graduate from elementary school and think of him starting into high school next year!!  For those of you who do not know, our kids go to a very, very small school, which is very special because of the individual attention that our kids get there and the wonderful education.  Since our kids have one teacher from K-3rd and another from 4th-8th grade, they get really close to their teachers.  Might I add that Cyrus' teachers are the same teachers that Cade had when he went to the same school!!  The younger grade teacher is retiring after this year, so that is hard to think of her not teaching Eden, Bella, & Bereket, but she is still principal so she will still influence the school in a lot of ways, which is a really good thing!!
Here are pictures from our evening:

Presenting to you, the graduating 8th grade class and the Kindergarten class!!

 Katreese & Jordan playing a duet on their recorders.

 Cyrus giving his speech to his parents!!  I had a few tears coming out by then!!

 Gpa Mark handed out the diplomas, he is still on the school board after all these years!

 This was not a good picture, but had to include it of Cyrus and his teacher!

 Cyrus has really enjoyed playing guitar this year!

And that is pretty much the whole school body!!

 Gpa Mark & Cyrus after the ceremony.  I was completely kicking myself for not getting Gpa Jeff in a picture with Cyrus, but my dad will do his best to stay away from the camera!

 Wow, where did time go?!

 The cake for Cyrus at the school reception.

 Cyrus and Mrs. Lawrence (lower grade teacher and who has taken my kids to school in the mornings ever since Cyrus started Kindergaren!)

 Mrs. Marilyn, the kids call her (she is the lower grades aid).  I was remembering the picture I had of Cyrus and her after Cyrus graduated from Kind.

 Cyrus and Mrs. D (upper grade teacher, on right, and Pat, the upper grade aid, whom is also retiring.)

 Cyrus with the cake Aunt Judy made for him.  We celebrated again after the reception at the school!

 This is the amazing speech Cyrus put together for us - had to share it!!

 Cade got footage of Bella on the playground.  A little light heartedness after the speech.

(Can't seem to download Bella's video now - maybe later!)