High School Graduation Party {Class of 2021}

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!

.: Graduation Cap Cupcakes :. 

I made a more girly version of the Graduation Cap Cupcakes we made for her brothers! 

.: Graduation Candy Buffet :. 

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! 

{pretty, happy, funny, real} :: Fifteen

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

Our beautiful girl turned 15 today!!

{happy}

 

 

Most of our focus lately has been on selling the house and getting ready to move, but we took the day off and I was so happy to get to spend some one-on-one time with just the birthday girl.  Dutch Bros for coffee and tea, shopping for new clothes including a pretty new cardigan from Grandma, then lunch at Mod Pizza... It was such a nice day! 

Grandpa also stopped by for a little visit and brought us all dinner!

(Mexican take-out including flan for the birthday girl) 

  

   

She loved all of her birthday gifts! We had hoped to buy her a set of golf clubs (she is still using borrowed clubs from the high school which will need to be returned when we move) but that will have to wait for now... Instead, in addition to some new clothing from our shopping trip, she received a leather tote, pink wristlet, a journal and a water bottle. She also received a box of Reece's Pieces from her 8 year old sister, a lovely hand-embroider handkerchief made by her 13 year old sister, a new golf shirt from her dad (we all miss him so much but he was able to FaceTime from fire camp!), and lots of cards and phone calls from friends! She also received a card from Fr. Gordon (Uncle Jim) who said he'd be offering his Mass for her today ♥ God bless all of our holy and faithful priests!

{funny}

Fourteen month old "Grace" was such a distraction during our family rosary... 😘🤗😘

(please excuse her pre-bath lack of pjs, this was just too cute not to share) 

{real}

Don't you think real flowers look so pretty on top of cakes?! 

I decorated a Chocolate Ganache Cake (Chocolate Cake, Dobash Fudge Filling, Espresso Butter Cream, and Chocolate Ganache) from the bakery with some pink roses for the birthday girl! 

 

 

Happy 15th Birthday!