Graduation Day

Friday, June 7th

Class of 2013

We took some pictures at our house before Jake had to leave.

brothers :)

Jake and his Grandparents

Jake and one his good friends

The two Notre Dame bound friends.

Graduation was held at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

Graduation class of 418 seniors!!!

Jake was honored with many achievements: Summa Cum Laude, National Honor Society, ACT score, AP Scholar with Honor, Mathematics Award, Social Studies Award and scholarships!!

"Jake- We are so proud of you and all that you have accomplished. Your determination, sense of humor and kind heart show in everything you do. We know your future is bright and there are great things ahead for you! We love you!"

senior shenanigans

The end of senior year has always marked a time of excitement, freedom and the anticipation of the future. It has also always been a time of shenanigans. All good, clean fun. Our high school does a fabulous job of monitoring the situations but also letting the kids have their fun, which the kids respect!

Each year, on one of the senior's last days of school they organize a bike event. :) They meet at a local park with their bikes and bike down one of the main roads to school, blocking all other traffic including busses. :) You can see what a hurry they are in. :)

They also TP'd the lunchroom on another day.

Another morning the seniors all met for a breakfast tailgating in the high school parking lot complete with grilled eggs and bacon. They took up most of the parking lot with their cars all in a big circle. :)

There was a senior brunch at Wilds Golf Course after graduation practice where a bunch of Jake's friends got together for pictures- and then again graduation day (in the same order). :)

Good friends, good times, good memories!

last day of high school

After snapping a quick photo of Jake wearing his senior t-shirt,  I posted this on Facebook this morning.

"Jake's first day of Kindergarten... he didn't want me to leave. His last day of Senior year.... I didn't want him to leave. :) "

memory lane :: old friends

With Prom this past weekend and Graduation approaching very quickly (maybe too quickly)  it got me thinking how thankful I am that we have lived in the same area for the past 20 years... which has enabled all three boys to form some lifelong friendships. This was something I have always felt very strongly about... I wanted my boys to stay in the same schools, to live in the same area and to live in a neighborhood full of kids. So seeing Jake at Prom with a bunch of his good friends made my heart happy.

Jake and a friend since pre-school days. They have grown up together since the "Clifford Clubhouse" preschool room, through the many years of hockey and now graduating high school.



Another good friend since preschool have gone to all the same schools since pre-school, celebrated many birthdays together, been in boy scouts, pushed each other academically... and now both heading off to Notre Dame in the fall!!!


These are memories that I know is part of who Jake is and means as much to him as it does to me!

senior prom

Saturday was Jake's Senior Prom.

Jake and his date Sara at the Grand March at the high school.

Pictures at the Japanese Garden in Bloomington.

Friends since pre-school and now they are both heading off to Notre Dame in the fall.

Another friend since pre-school.

senior awards

Monday evening was Senior Awards at the high school. Jake received an invitation to attend the ceremony and we were so happy to go and see him receive his awards.

Jake received 2 Departmental Senior Academic Awards; one for Mathematics and the other one for Social Studies. These awards mean he is top in the senior class in these departments. Jake also was awarded a school scholarship during the ceremony.

We are so proud of you Jake and love seeing you being rewarded for all of your hard work!

school spirit

Jake and his friends were showing a little school spirit at a recent boys basketball game and Pete and I were home watching the news when we saw our boy and his friends on the local news. :) Jake's group is only on this clip for a few seconds but it made us chuckle! {They start at about 23 seconds, Jake is in the third? row.}

weekend lens {homecoming}

This was Homecoming week at our high school. Friday was the pep-fest (and football game) and the students all wore their class t-shirts. A lot of the Senior guys bought Zubaz pants and have been wearing them to all of the football games. {Brings me back to college days.:) }

Saturday was the Homecoming dance.

Jake and some hockey buds.

Jake and his date.

After the photos we parted and we headed to Sea Salt Eatery. It was such a gorgeous night which made it the perfect night to stop at this seasonal restaurant at Minnehaha Falls.

Sunday, Pete had plans on working on the 'Z' and Jake was working, so Drew and I used some tickets that my sister had given us for the Renaissance Festival.

Drew and I had a great time and when we got home Pete had the Z running again! So all is good :)