Colton - Graduation

 

Class of 2024 step right up ... and with that, the Blackham Bunch concludes the high school experience! I ordered the cap and gown and tassel, and when they arrived, we did a little photo shoot. Colton hadn't yet picked up his additional awards/cords (Jag Medallion, Academic Letter, Academic Scholar), so more pictures the day of graduation before he drove off. 

This year, the graduation ceremonies were being held at UVU. West Jordan was on Wednesday, May 29 at 2:00. I was still able to attend my Zumba class in the morning, and Gray got some work in. Landon joined us as well. We hit standstill traffic on Bangerter, but once through it made good time. There was plenty of parking and seating. Only one program per family, with a QR code to access it digitally as well. The ceremony was also being streamed. 

Colton had gone to school dances with both Abbys who were speaking (historian and student body president) and his good basketball buddy Ethan had an address. The ceremony was just over two hours, with most of that being the seating of the students at the start, and the announcement of names. While I couldn't find an exact number for the graduating class we estimated it to be about 550; smaller than most of the other schools in the Jordan School District. Here's a Colton spotlight ...

I like to include the link in text too, https://youtu.be/Zye3TmYkZxk and here's the whole thing if by chance anyone wanted a peek at that, although you never know how long a third party will keep streams up and available. From the West Jordan you tube channel  https://www.youtube.com/live/iutVS1-Jl5c?si=pf-1bmssE0Y_wnbr  ...

A few photos afterward ... like the other boys (sans Coop) the "gown" was just a rental, which had be be returned before receiving the actual diploma. Not as fun for pictures with just the caps (Cousin Addie graduated from Riverton High the next day, and Riverton went with purchased caps/gowns, so they had lots of cute "after" pictures still all dressed up).  Colton didn't seem very interested in more pictures, so we all headed out with plans to meet up for lunch at Texas Roadhouse in South Jordan. 

Cooper joined us there. 

Up next ... College Colton at Clackamas! 

See his new apartment set up HERE. 

Check out the other Blackham Boy graduations too ... Landon, Callahan, Keaton, Cooper. You can also compare and contrast with Colton's Preschool Graduation and Jen's graduation back in 1989!

A Little Look at Lightning

 

Monday, May 13 was a stormy night! I can recall seeing the flashes and hearing the thunder. But Keaton actually went outside to see nature's fireworks. He caught some cool shots on camera, purplish skies. At times it was as light as day, even though it was fairly late in the evening. He shared his pictures with me, and with today's camera setting, live video to see it in action!

https://youtu.be/IxNb1jw63xI?si=X2co5R85nUO_BUhh

Cooper was already in bed, and quite sheltered in the basement bedroom. He's outgrown his weather phobia, although he probably wouldn't go out and stand in the storm as Keaton did. I remember when storms like this would be SO stressful for a little Blackham boy (and therefore his mommy too). Now, like Keaton, I kind of enjoy the light show. 

*** Updated in August after another lightning show. I sat out in the backyard and watched for about 30 minutes and I don't think it really ever stopped. It was far North, enough so that I never heard any thunder. My pictures aren't nearly as impressive as Keaton's captures, but I tried.

... I don't actually have a lightning tracker app on my phone, but this was shared on social media the next day and I snagged the visual ... that's a lot of dots!