At the end of August, just before our three oldest headed off to college, we hosted a graduation and 18th birthday party for our daughter. She's our third to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Kolbe Academy. Three down... "Only" six more to go! We ended up having right around 150 family and friends show up to join us to celebrate with a back yard barbecue and games. Even my parents, sister and newest little niece were able to make the drive up from Oregon! It was such a fun evening!
I also reused the signs Graduation Candy Buffet Signs from the boys' party, but included more pink here too to coordinate with the party colors. I shared them as a free printable a couple years ago if anyone would like to use them as well.
.: Graduation & Birthday Cakes :.
.: More Decorations :.
For decorations I printed out her annual End of Year Interviews from over the years and pinned them to some string lights. It was so cute to see all the little girls giggling over them!
.: More Pictures from the Party :.
We pulled out some of the same games from our previous party including Kan Jam, Spikeball, Cornhole and Ping Pong. I meant to bring out BattleChip but completely forgot!
May God bless and protect our newest college student!
This past Saturday we hosted a graduation party for our two high school graduates! They actually graduated Kolbe Academy at the beginning of May, but we just didn't have an opportunity to celebrate until now...
One morning in June, when I was looking at the calendar for July, trying to figure out a date, our eldest son said "Why don't you just have it on the 20th?" as he was heading out the door to work. With my sister's wedding in Oregon on July 6th, I didn't think I'd be able to pull it together for either the previous or following weekend, and I didn't want to push it out any further than the weekend of the 20th due to my approaching due date... I went with the 20th and mailed out all the invitations. He got home from work, saw the invitations, and said "MOM!!! I was kidding!" Apparently a huge graduation party isn't our (introverted/melancholic) son's idea of the best way to spend his 19th birthday... Whoops!
I planned the party as an afternoon BBQ Open House in our backyard from 1:00-4:00. Some guests came for the whole party and others popped in for a little while depending on their schedules. We grilled hot dogs and sausages, plus we had lots of drinks (including IPAs and Peach Sangria for the adults), snacks and desserts. To make it a little easier I asked everyone to "please bring a side dish to share if you are able" and we ended up with more than enough food.
Knowing that I would be nearing full term (almost 36 weeks pregnant, I delivered our last baby at 37 weeks) I did my best to keep the party "small" but we still ended up with around 80 guests! I spent the previous weekend creating decorations and shopping lists, and it all came together somehow. It was such a lovely day with a wonderful group of friends and family!
The boys Diplomas and Tassels from Kolbe Academy had arrived awhile back, but I saved them to give them at the party. I love that Kolbe's Tassels have a St. Maximilian Kolbe medal attached to them. (He is our oldest son's confirmation saint!)
One of the girls updated the letter board with a quote we used on their Graduation Announcements.
(Costco did a great job on the announcements!)
I also printed out all of their End-of-School Interviews from over the years to use as decorations!
We only had a couple benches and folding tables, but a nearby friend kindly loaned us a bunch more. I also picked up table cloths at Party City during a one-day sale when they were priced just 4 for $1!
The boys were introduced to Kan Jam during Experience Christendom Summer Camp last year and we picked up a couple sets during a Buy-1-Get-1 sale to pull out for the party, along with Spikeball.
My parents also gifted the graduates with a Cornhole set for the Graduation party!
"Most loving Lord, Grant me a steadfast heart which no unworthy desire may drag downwards; an unconquered heart which no hardship may wear out; an upright heart which no worthless purpose my ensnare.
Impart to me also, O God, the understanding to know you, the diligence to seek you, a way of life to please you, and a faithfulness that may embrace you, through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen."
