The Ballad of Jessie Winona

The day arrived: our baby, our last kid graduated high school. That's her, hamming it up in the center of the gaggle of classmates. It's amazing to think we've gotten this far. Last year one kid graduates college and another high school, year before that another college grad...and so it goes. Now Kristin wants to get her masters!

Sand volleyball game at Jess' birthday barbecue. Really, no one was much good. But it was fun!

Graduation day fell on Jessie's 18th birthday, oddly enough. She was not happy to have to combine two such important days so we tried to make each one separate and distinct. We had a birthday/graduation barbecue at a local park, where Jess' "Uncle" Jason serenaded her on his mandolin.
She was presented with her graduation quilt, the last in a line of five handmade by Leslie. Her Grandma-Nana also made her a custom quilt, including a booklet explaining the meaning behind all the quilt's symbols.

Nothing like an evening word game after a long day to befuddle everyone.