Graduation

Our 2 oldest children graduated from High School this year. :(

It happened several weeks ago but I have been having a really hard time.

They both decided to move to San Luis Obispo.

We are a really really close family.

It will be a hard transition but I am really proud & excited for them.

I know that I have said this a million times but we really lucked out and were blessed with the most amazing teenagers on the planet!

They both are so wonderful, I went ALL OUT on their graduation party!

Months in advance I scoured the internet for graduation party ideas.
BLEH!!!! I did not like what I found.
Then a lightbulb went on!

I call our house "The Nest."
We are positioned so we are on a cliff almost, looking down at the tops of the trees.
Most days we sit and watch many many birds perch from the tops of all those trees.
Makes me feel like I am sitting in a "Nest."

So, I decided on a "Flying the Nest" theme!

Definitely different from your typical graduation party theme but it totally suited us & where we live.

We also had TONS of fun with this theme.

Our centerpieces were stacks of vintage books with recycled glass jars filled with flowers from my Mom's yard.

Super cheap! Most of the books I already had & then I borrowed a few from a friend. The glass jars were pasta sauce, salsa, syrup, etc. that I just washed and removed the labels from.

I stamped the little tags with a cute little bird stamp from Micheal's & my dear friend Joni did all the writing. Freehand. Isn't she amazing??!!

Each tag had a different bird related saying. Flying the nest, spread your wings, take flight, etc.

Back deck party area.

I purchased $5 twin sheets in my kids favorite colors to use as tablecloths. (Walmart)

For the table runner Micheal's has burlap in rolls for super cheap.

This was my favorite part.

The dessert table.

I would dream about this. Scary, I know.

I wish we had some close ups of the amazing desserts.

I made Oreo cream filled cupcakes & the cake. My girlfriend Julie made the most beautiful cookies on each of the 3 tiered stands. (Julie totally rocks at making super fancy pants cookies.) We had an assortment of my kids favorite candies in the little cups. Kettlecorn in bird stamped bags. Rice krispy treats went on the empty white plates.

It was awesome!

The cute Congrats banner was made by Oh Buckets. & The 2011 cupcake toppers were made by Little Pumpkin Papers. Gotta LOVE Etsy!

My entryway? Random but cute. :)

Front porch gift table.
They each had a manzanita tree, spray painted black, that we hung photos & little birds from.

Another one of the super cute banners from Oh Buckets & a little clothesline with the words "We're Flying the Nest" clothespinned to it.

Jacob next to his tree.

Baylee next to her tree.

Front porch.

1 of 2 refreshment tables & my Grandparents arriving in the background.
I had 2 separate party areas. The front porch area & our back deck area. I had a refreshment table in each area.

Front porch party!
You can finally see some of the many many feet of pennant banners that Julie & I made.
The rest of the banners stretched across the entire railing on our back deck.

Another cute tag handwritten by Joni.

The cutest graduation gift idea I have ever seen.
Have I ever mentioned that I have some of the most talented, creative & wonderful friends??
These were made by Luke & Leesa.
College Survival Hobo Packs.
Each item in the sack had a functional purpose & a meaningful heartfelt saying that went with it.
Of course I cried while reading but we had a lot of fun with them as well.
See pics below.

And their off..........
on a whole new adventure.


It's time for these birds to spread their wings & fly.

I would like to take just a quick moment to thank every single person who has been apart of our kids lives these past 17-18 years. It takes a village & boy did we have a VILLAGE!!! You are all amazing wonderful people and have blessed our family & our children in so many ways.

Joni, Shauna, Andria, Leesa, Julie, Kari, Mary Jane & Mom - You helped make this party rock! I love you all more than words can say. Thanks for everything!

I am sharing at Today's Creative Blog!