Lia's Graduation Party

Yesterday we wrapped up Lia's graduation season with a huge grad party at our house.  After passing out and mailing a total of 192 invitations for this party, I spent many hours this past week preparing for the big event.  Since it was the last few days of school, I was unable to find any sub jobs which worked out perfectly as it allowed me to space out all of the items on my to-do list over the past six days which was a huge help to me.  After getting the house clean, the yard ready, the decorations up, the food purchased, and the baking and cooking done, we were ready to host Lia's party from 5 to 8 o'clock last night.  We hosted a really successful party and I am so grateful for the beautiful weather that we were blessed with and for all of the people who came to support Lia in this milestone event in her life.  The party was well attended and everything went really smoothly.  After an extremely busy and whirlwind grad season, I am so happy that we were able to finish it off with a bang!

The decorations on our front step.

A close-up of the welcome poster.

The beautiful table that I put up in the foyer displaying all of Lia's activities, accomplishments, and awards during her high school years.

A close-up of the framed picture of Lia surrounded by her graduation gown, cords, and cap that she decorated with a Beauty in the Beast theme.

A shot of Lia's senior overalls hanging over the table in our foyer where people could sign a guest book.

The decorations in the family room.

The decorations in the dining room, including pictures from all fourteen years of Lia's first day of school hanging on the China hutch.

The kitchen table with all of the dinner fixings.

Another shot of the dinner table.  We served two types of sandwiches, three types of salads, fruit, veggies, a charcuterie board, and chips.

The kitchen island with three different kinds of punches and all of the desserts.

Another shot of the island with all of the desserts we served--cookies, cupcakes, and cookie bars.  I am so grateful for my mom and my dear friend, Kristina, who baked the cookie bars and the cupcakes and who also helped me in the kitchen during the party.  I couldn't have pulled this party off without them!

The view of our deck with the tables set up outside.

Since I spent the majority of the party working in the kitchen, I only was able to slip outside once to take some pictures of the guests.  Here are some of Lia's friends hanging out on the patio.

Some of Lia's friends on the deck.

From front to back:

Willow, Esley, Alyssa, and Emma.

My parents, brother, and my sister-in-laws spent most of the party at the dining room table.  I was able  to join them for a few minutes while they became acquainted with our second cousin, Laura, who lives in my stake and who I met for the first time last year.  Here is a group family picture that we were able to take together.

From left to right:

Eli (Laura's daughter), Lia, Vivi, Lisa, Laura, Chris, Eric, and my mom

Logan, Trenton, and Emmett playing in the backyard.

A bunch of Lia's theater friends hanging out on the playground.

Ella playing volleyball with some of her friends in the foreground of this picture while Emmett played pickleball with Uncle Chris and some of Lia's friends in the background.