Orientation day at Caterpiller

 

Joel said there are approximately 600 interns across the world for Caterpillar.  Iowa State has the most engineering interns of any college.  (University of Illinois and some other Illinois schools have more interns, but not in engineering!  Go Cyclones!)

Church award day

 So proud of this girl.  This is the biggest award the church offers a student.  It is for service to the church and community.  (Also participates in religious education throughout school.)

I love the picture of baby Anna from when she was in preschool at the church at the bottom of her photo.

Graduation open house

Anna's fun party was made even for special with Aunt Mary in attendance.

Friends from CORE leadership team at church.

Makenzie made this beautiful frame for Anna.  So special.

Neighbors Tom and Vickie

Good band buddies all through high school.

Noelle and Scott

The Hendersons....our youth ministers and their older daughters who are in CORE with Anna at church.

Band/choir friends (Edie on the right also in CORE and Vortex)

Vortex friend

Best sister!

My friend Dawn

 Joel and one of his roommates.  (I didn't get a photo of Joel with Anna)

The Schmidt family...Ken knew Brian in kindergarten and they rekindled their friendship in college.

My friend Tammy, who gave Anna her piccolo.  To quote Anna, "the best gift I have ever received".  (context....Anna borrowed Tammy's flute one time when hers went in for repair and Tammy allowed her to try her piccolo too.  She then gifted it to Anna at her party!!  I can't even imagine....how sweet.) 

The Egglands.  (Evan is one of Joel's roommates, a friend since 1st grade, his older sister was a good friend of Carolyns)

Flute friends

My second cousin Amy and her hubby Ken.  

My buddy since 12th grade, Noelle!

My cousin Joe and his wife Carol

Aunt Mary helped the day go smoothly!  Yeah

My best-buddy/walking partner Joelle

No photos with Matthew but he took many of the pictures! (above and below)  This one of chatting in the beautiful new kitchen!

He esp. took the one below...of Joel eating - silly brothers!

Senior Spotlight

Anna's Girl Scout Troop at the award night (minus the one girl who goes to Ankeny South)  

 

Final Band concert

Once again, Anna was a 7th grade flute mentor.

 Anna was a 4 year letter winner.  I couldn't get any action shots as she was behind a music stand for the concert :0)  Hard to get an unwashed out shot from far away.  Of course, if I would just learn how to use my camera......guess that ship has sailed!

First party of the party season....Flutes Unite!

 

picture boards for grad parties!!

Family and Friends .... through the years

 Choir in the middle, band on the sides!

I also made 12 batches of desserts (quadruple batches X 3 recipes)....sugar cookies, oreo balls and peanut butter balls....needed for 4 different gatherings  (They all need to be decorated or dipped a day or two before.)  Anna is hosting the flute party (22 kiddos +/- next week), the week after that Aunt Debbie and Grandma will visit, then Anna turns 18 (no specific party day of), then her grad party (when she is 18 years and 2 days old), then 2 weeks later she graduates and we will have a family party......oh my!  busy busy)

It may sound crazy but these two projects (the desserts and the picture boards) were the biggest tasks I had on my mental list.  All the other food will need to me made close to the time of the parties and I have all the other decorations in the basement ready to be set up.