We had a graduation party and it was a HUGE success! EVERYONE came and more. Karl spent 2 days preparing the food- everyone says it was the best ribs they had ever had. Karl is the ULTIMATE chef! There were ribs, chicken, potato salad, baked beans, fruit and vegetables, EVERYTHING. Mom brought my family's staple, cherry jello salad, Jackie and Tami brought brownies and fruit cocktail cake (Bonnell staple), I got a cake at Kroger's with graduation decor.

Nathanael's friends- Bryce, Matt, Kristen, Rosie, Aaron, and Tara were here. They all played croquet. Tami and Mike and little Jackie, Martha, Jim and Jackie, Dave with Jasmine, Sierra, and Hayden, Jeff and Tawnya and Kyle, my parents, Dan and Tracy, Aaron Taylor and his son, 3 neighborhood kids Ariana, James, and another James I had not met before, Micah and me and Steve- it was a huge success. Food for days. Different kinds of drinks. It was really awesome. Even though the back porch or patio isn't done, everything was great. Nathanael received tons of excellent gifts including a homemade plaid flannel quilt made by Jackie who makes beautiful quilts. A computer (still has to choose it) from my parents, gift certificates, a Grinnell sweatshirt Tami got online.

Everyone met Martha and LOVED her...she is soooo adorable...my kids' godmother...she is such a wonderful person and I was so glad she came and met so many people. And people got the honor to know her.

Most people knew Karl or had heard of Karl, this guy who is Steve's best friend and really the family's best buddy, he's another one of us, but no one knew his real skills (except us) in the kitchen. He is a chef by trade. They knew there was this guy named Karl that hung around us most weekends but they were like, who is this guy and why is he always there? One taste of those succulent ribs and now everyone wants to adopt Karl.

Pictures to come. Huge success even despite thunderstorms!