Awards Birthday and Recital...that all?

So it's happened I have an 18 year old. I can't believe it. It's sort of relief to get to this point. But also that's it for me. Done my job and all that. Isaac has had a whirl wind to the end of the school year, as well as Louie. So here are some pictures and of course we had Louie's dance recital as well. These last two weeks have felt like a marathon.

This was a special moment for Louie. He was invited to the sports banquet for his school, little did he know that they were going to award him for his dance outside of school. I was so pleased for him!

But no worries he can still be lovely with his dad!

Now this is what you do awaiting surgery to remove wisdom teeth, or what I did anyway to deal with the stress. I did eventually run out of things to spray!

First attempt at going into the pool! It was cold Memorial Weekend

Now this is a box that Bella (Isabella Fozard) thought that with enough trying she would fit into. 

Nope...you still don't fit, even if you do that maneuver 

The other event this month was the begining of the house painting....at long last and the boys had this great vehicle to get access.....they are still painting and we are loving the resutls so far. More to follow on that

We had awards at school and this is Louie winning a hard earned social studies prize! These are very rarely given out, so he was pleased and shocked to receive this.

Another award and his adviser and English teacher (our favorite) giving Louie a hug. She will miss him, he has helped her with her computer for the last three years and she wonders what she will do now he has graduated Middle School and entering into High School. It's all good, it's only upstairs in the building.

Now this is the Birthday Boy and he is carefully using his pen knife 'John Brunt' style to open everything....it took some time!

I just had to include this pic....this is an insert for his winter horseman's wax coat. So he will be well sorted come winter!

Opening the pocket watch from Caroline and Paul. He loved this.

Louie's present gives a laugh

And Julie's is a brain teaser

I had hung bunting to mark the occasion

I thought it looked splendid!

I made this cake! I was pretty pleased with myself and it tasted quite good.

Fab moment of candles blown out!

Yes, now who's idea was it to give Isaac a long sharp knife! We all thought that was funny!

That same day a storm came through and this is when the rain came down with mist

It was really quite weird

And it poured!

Later when we went to get our take away the sky was fantastic

I love this shot. The reflection in the windows is brilliant

Isaac back from internship (two weeks away from home) and ready to go to school to give his presentation. If you think he looks good here, wait till you see the graduation pic!

The boys are painting the dormers and you can just see the colour change and yes the green is mushy peas, or army green and then black windows. I like it...but it's a big change

I included this as testament to someone putting in best effort. Back from a 3 day field trip, exhausted and tired. He joins in with his tap class. With recital a in a few days time, every class counted. I so admired him doing this. 

Isaac and Derek  going to receive their join leadership prize at school for all the hard work on the under water robot. So proud.

Smiley boys

And with their teacher Sam. He has been a huge influence on so many children. Hard to thank him for all that he does. For Isaac he is the one that kept him going in the hard times. I know he looks like he's going to hit Derek but believe you me, that Derek can test the best of us (just kidding Derek, we love you!)

Oh dress rehearsal. That's four hours of dance to you and me. This is the Harry Potter dance

Practising with Miss Rhonda the tap teacher and studio owner

Doing the final number. My favorite. They did such a good job with this

I loved this bit in the dance they all put their legs out one after the other and they were spot on and I loved the costumes and Louie's waistcoat!

I like the fact they are smiling

End pose

But they are laughing and having fun. Love this picture

It can be boring sitting about

Then you're on again!

How sweet is this

Magic trick!

Now it's the performance and this is group huddle before they go on

Louie watching from the wings

Lunch time

Time for the second show!

and down time! All in a days work for the dancing boy

I hope you enjoyed this blog. This has been a fun time remembering this all again and it was only last Saturday that we did the recital...feels a long time ago.

Graduation

Now that's what was missing from the last list of things we have done. But I felt that this could do with it's own blog. Truly a special day and enjoyed by all, especially surprisingly Isaac himself and so he should and be proud of getting to this point. So here is the day

Ta da!!! How fantastic is this. Hand loomed on the Island, at Laxey Woolen Mills and brought to us here. Splendid and right down to the fantastic shoes. He really did look amazing and I'm so pleased this is what he wanted to wear and in his own style with the sash. Brilliant

That smile says it all!

That's the back view. 

Those are my boys

No one knew he would be wearing this outfit....

look at the reaction from one of his friends

That's a big hug

The rest of the class mates are mightily impressed

He smiled all day and Louie just quietly hung back and let him have his moment

Lots of getting ready in the Quaker meeting house for the class of 2016 to have their photo taken

There are some serious moments to this

But mostly just having a laugh. Because of the outfit, he got the center!

I couldn't believe how proud and happy he looked

Literally laughing his head off

Say cheese

Thumbs up from David means it's time to start the show

They parade in again

take their seats

and the ceremony begins

Isaac and Derek as always together

I've included this one, Andrew Stone a really special friend for Isaac and someone he has nurtured and encouraged for the last four years. We love Stone

All the graduating students get a small piece said about them and they also have an opportunity to say a few words. This was Derek after his intro music to Hail to the Chief...typical Derek!

So now it's Isaac's turn

Kirk the headmaster says some very nice things about him

And Isaac's speech was wonderful and without notes!

The boys meeting and greeting afterwards with some favorite teachers

Isaac and Glenn....someone Isaac has spent many hours with doing the robot

I love this one...so smiley and in the moment

This has got to be the best, relaxed and fantastic pictures ever!

Hugs again with Sam and Andrew Stone

This teacher truly is the best ever and lovely Andrew Stone!

How sweet is this

This is my most favorite picture. That smile is from the heart and is lovely to see

And this is how the house looked today! Pretty cool!

I hope that you enjoyed this Graduation Special. We are proud and loving the moment for Isaac....he now can just get on with what he wants to do and that is be the incredible writer he is! Love to you all. I want to thank Sam, for just everything he does, for Isaac, for all the kids. He is an amazing teacher and we are so lucky to have him at our school. What he has done for Isaac is life altering and just so wonderful. I just don't have enough words. For Tim, for helping Isaac hone that skill of writing in essay form and giving him the help to tap into that awesome skill and ability that was just waiting there all along to come out. This school has changed all our lives and I am so pleased that Isaac was able to attend there. Even though it was hard. It has been the most incredible foundation to spring from....so watch this space for Isaac B Fozard....I can't wait to see what happens next.