May

 May is much more hectic & busy than December.

This May was no different.

It began with a sweet start-Kieran's 21st birthday on the 1st, & he arrived home on the 2nd.

He wanted a German Chocolate Cake & I spent the day (before a track meet) on this wee beauty:

Delicious.

We left Keenan's track meet as soon as he finished his events & got home the same time as Kieran.

The pups were thrilled to welcome him home.

On the 3rd, we celebrated Kevin's birthday.  He's not huge on coconut so I made him an ice cream cake.

The following week we had a 2 day Conference Championship meet.

Triple was one afternoon, 

and Long the next.

He was reasonably happy with both events and given the challenges & nagging injury this season.....every jump is a victory.

He snagged points for the Team in Triple & he was thrilled with that.

The following week Kieran did some dog/house sitting, vet shadowing, and Keenan played a few pieces for his piano class.

Yes, he took piano as an elective this past year.  

He was thrilled & enjoyed combining his practice with his regular lessons & class.

Win win.

These two best friends spent lots of time snuggling together.

Every day we saw Hobbes fade from us a little more.

Brutus spent all of his time snuggling Hobbes.

The following week Kieran did another round of Vet shadowing, and Keenan had final practices for the State meet at the end of the week.

The team headed down to Wingate University the evening before the meet, and I followed as well.

The next morning, Kevin drove down to join us.

We were all thrilled he qualified in both Long & Triple.

Triple was one of the early events, but it was already warm when the event began.

He landed some solid jumps, but no PR.

Still, he was pleased to compete.

Long began at noon & the track was heating fast.

No PR in Long, but again-he was just excited he qualified.

Between the struggles with jump pit access, and his injury-the season was frustrating for him.

Proud he kept working & learned how to deal with some lemons.

Kevin headed home after Keenan's events wrapped up, but I hung around watching the other events and cheering Keenan's teammates.

And ten hours after the meet began, in the scorching heat, the boys team were announced as State Champions:

Our Ladies team finished third overall.

And considering there are only 4 of them on the team & three are still in middle school, it was a fantastic showing by them.

Amazing job by all & Keenan was thrilled to be a part of it:

The Junior guys.

So proud of all of them.

Kieran couldn't come to the State meet because he & two of his friends from High School were driving to the mountains.  They had to get packets picked up & be ready for an early morning the following day.

They were running a Half Marathon.

Pre-race:

and Post race:

Kieran said it was a pretty course, mostly flat along a river valley outside of Boone.

Then the following day, he packed up again & headed off with another friend for a week long road trip.

Poor Brutus couldn't keep up with all the comings & goings.

So he hung out in his safe space (next to Hobbes).

We found out that not only did Kieran get named to the Dean's Honor role list this past semester, he's been on it or the Dean's List every single semester at Cedarville.

Well done buddy.

While Kieran was rode tripping, Keenan studied & took final exams, then practiced & performed with Choir for Graduation.

They sounded great, the ceremony was excellent, and the reception following was loud and crowded.

Kevin & I chatted with families of graduating Seniors, then we ducked out early.

Hard to believe it will be us again next year.

Keenan & the other (now) Rising Seniors all left reception soon after us but they headed to school to paint The Rock.

These two were just happy Kevin & I got home to give them their evening treats.

The next morning was the final day of school for the year.

Our Rising Senior got up early, and joined the rest of his class in greeting the entire school wearing their cabana shirts.

Not sure when it began, but the rising Seniors always wear cabana shirts on the last day of school.  It's a fun tradition that they all look forward to every year.  Keenan has had his shirt picked out & ready for years (thanks to Rebecca & Ted).

As always, the school has a Closing Ceremony at 10:30 on the final day.  Provided we haven't snuck out of town early for a vacation, I have always gone to it.  It's a fun way to wrap up the year, a few awards are given & a big slide show puts a bow on the entire thing.

I was already planning on being there & then we found out the boys track team would be recognized during the ceremony.  They all decided to wear their medals that day too.

Then Kevin & I received an email letting us know that Keenan would be receiving an award at the ceremony.  Kevin juggled some things on his schedule & we both made it to school that morning.

We planned on telling Keenan we were both coming to support the track team (not about the award).

Watching the team get introduced & cheered was fantastic.

They work so hard with very little acknowledgment or appreciation.

The Head of School gave them all gift cards for lunch, and the grammar students gave them all countless high fives.

Then the awards for top athletes of the year were given, and they moved on to the DAR citizen award.

It's given to a 5th, 8th, and 11th grade student and voted on by faculty.

And Keenan was the 11th grade recipient:

So proud of him.  So proud.

And so blessed that his teachers know, see, and understand his character.

To celebrate the end of the school year, I went home & made dough for these lovelies:

Then when Kieran rolled in the next day, we all collapsed in the den, ordered some take out, and played a round of one of our favorite games.

(Our house is not the same without sweet Hobbes)