May 2016~by Beth

May, May, what can I say about May except it was jam packed with loads of events.  It began with Christiana's graduation party on the first.  We needed to schedule it ahead of the actual graduation because that was the only time we could fit it in.

some of our guests playing a game

Her grad board, table and decorations

Next came Charity's 16th birthday on May 4th.

Following that was the soccer tournament.  We had games several days during the week, but it culminated on Saturday May 7th.

Emma and teammate Ben in a game

Abigail running in play

Johanna watching

Emma

2016 LCHS team took 3rd place

Coach David talks to the team after the last game

 Christiana slipped in a dance just before her graduation.  We found this lovely dress the day before at a thrift store for $1.  Score!!

Best date ever (actually he just dropped her off)

Graduation morning, May 14, 2016, we took pictures before heading over to the church.

Dad giving Christiana her card from us

Smile

Happy grad, proud parents

Sibs and the grad

Ready to leave for graduation

 CHESF class of 2016

Christiana walks down the aisle

Christiana plays at grad

Stephen and his buddy Emily

Stephen, Emily, and Benji, former kindergarten grads

Kelsey, Joel and Christiana after grad

Charity, Amanda, Paige, and Emma

Cynthia, Donna and Beth, home school mamas together for 2 decades

Mother's day gifts for Beth, Yea!!

Mother's day was the next day so it was a treat to get taken out to my favorite spot to eat, especially since graduation was a long day, and also included going to a grad party that evening.
The very next day we left for a week at our ATI home school conference.  We were able to get David to his program on time Tuesday because we left Monday and stayed with Caleb in Gainesville for the night.  We certainly enjoyed the pool at his apartment that evening.

Johanna and Abigail

All the girls swam, along with Stephen

Caleb joined the fun

One, two, ready, JUMP!

Caleb was a nice host and had ample room as he has no room mates at the moment.

I taped the presentations of all the programs our children were involved in.  But one of the pictures that I snapped turned out okay.  Wish my camera took better photos.

Emma is in the center with the chevron scarf, and Christiana is behind her with her eyes closed

We drove through the night to arrive home on Saturday, exhausted, but none the worse for wear.  The jv girls had a party that afternoon and Christiana was in a play and had practice that day.  More on that at the end of this long post.  Tired of reading?  Well we were tired doing all these things!  But we enjoyed every minute.
Christiana had her birthday on the 24th so here is her 18th birthday photo.  She made her own cake and it was very good.  The last day of May she also got her driver's license.  What a year of milestones for her!

Christiana's 18th birthday

At the end of the month, yes we are getting there, was the production of Neverland by One Room School, which is a private umbrella school for home schooled students.  Though Christiana was not in the school she was allowed to participate as a pirate.  She had the time of her life and I am so glad she had the opportunity to do it.  The play was loads of fun and the student actors were so very talented.  We were impressed.

Christiana is the pirate in the striped skirt

The cast of Neverland, written and produced by Sarah Ascol

One other thing happened this month:  Stephen learned to tie his shoes.  NOT.  Can someone please teach that boy?  He is almost 8 and he still has not gotten the hang of it.  But he can tie them this way!

Next month is the children's recital.  I have been attempting to upload the videos of them here, and haven't been successful doing that yet.  Hopefully I can add them.  They are so precious.