Brady graduates high school

Our nephew, Brady, graduated from high school on Sunday.  It was a strange experience for us because Brady is the first person we've ever known & been close to since like his BIRTH.  I was dating B-rad back in 1996 & we were both at the hospital when he was born.  We would babysit him, he would spend the night at our house & now Brady helps w/ the farm.

B-rad would play w/ him when he was little & take him in tractors.  B-rad's cool like that.  Brady wrote a little paper in school when he was in like 3rd grade about what he wanted to be when he grew up & he wanted to be a farmer.  He said that he 'liked to work on the farm like his dad & uncle Brad.'

They have been best buddies since the very beginning.

Of course, it's easier to be a cool uncle & practically a kid himself.  And they do fight sometimes...but they never stay mad at each other long.  

They are a lot alike & Brady looked JUST like B-rad's baby pictures when he was little.  (B-rad responds, 'I swear I didn't touch her.')  When we would point to B-rad's baby pictures & ask Brady who it was he would say, 'That's me!'

Brady has a work ethic like his dad & uncle.  When they're working - he's working...

 I was really worried about his front teeth when he was younger.  When he lost his baby teeth & they came in they were huge.  I would tell him, 'Man Brady - I hope your head grows into your teeth.' (tough love, people...) Luckily his head did grow into his teeth...

 We call this his 'Justin Bieber' stage.  His hair was even longer than this at one point...

Even tho I'm not as sentimental as SOME of you - I will say watching him graduate brought a tear to my eye.  We are so proud of him & he's a really great kid. He definitely has a sensitive side too.  Of course, he has his moments (remember when he wrecked the mustang?  Oy.) but I'm telling you I can call Brady ANYTIME & tell him I need him & he will be there.   Once I was home alone & there were 2 strange men that pulled into the driveway & they started walking in the yard & field & I FUH-REAKED.  I called B-rad & wherever he was he was too far from home to get there quickly (story of my life) & he called Brady to come save me.  

Brady showed up with a shot gun...

He's my kind of people.

I have the self appointed distinct honor of being Brady's favorite aunt.

Ok, OK - his mom has a sister but he NEVER EVER sees her so I'm totally taking that title by default  - I DON'T CARE.  

That's been my joke w/ all of them since they were little.  I would tell Erin I was her favorite aunt & she would say, 'Yea - you're my ONLY aunt.'  Then when she would want to butter me up she would say, 'but you're my favorite aunt!' to which I would reply, "Yea - I'm your ONLY aunt..."

Brady texted me on my birthday, 'Happy birthday to my favorite aunt!'  

Seeee - TOLD YA.

I had already given B-rad EXPLICATE instructions weeks ago, "You know Brady graduates on the 31st & you ARE going."  (yes, he said he knew.)  He has been working on putting down nitrogen so I told him Friday what kind of schedule I we would be keeping on Sunday:  "I want you home around noon so you can eat & get ready.  I want to leave here no later than 1:15 because I want to be at school by 1:30"  Notice all the "I's" in there?!   (Graduation started at 2:00...)

I really wanted to be there earlier than 1:30 because ya'll know I'm crazy but I knew I would not be able to sell that to B-rad...

The Gods of 'getting places on time/early' smiled upon me because it rained Saturday night into Sunday morning.  B-rad had thought about going to the barn to work on something that morning but sleeping until 10:00 am sounded better.  We left the house at a glorious 12:45 & were at school by 1:00.  Brady was inside the lobby when we got there so I we were able to hug him & gush all over him & take some pics before the ceremony started. 

The band was warming up & I was a little worried about their attire.  I was like, "Are they gonna wear THAT?"  (They did change into all black before the ceremony.)  I can't tell you how many people I saw that we went to school with that had a kid graduating.  It was a weird thing to see.  It doesn't seem possible, people... I don't feel old enough for that... 

Look at this kid?  Giving us a smile AND a wave?  He's a favorite aunts DREAM.

The colors at North Harrison are blue & white.  Back in our day the boys wore a dark blue gown & the girls wore white.  Now they're all royal blue.  I did not like it...but no one cares what I think.  (Brady is on the 2nd row from the left, 5th kid over.)  (And if you look real close in the next row to the right at the end of the pic closest to you -you will see half of loyal blog stalker Kiersten!  She graduated this year too!)

I took my fancy pants camera with me & I had NO problem marching my happy ass down to the stage to take a pic of the graduate.  (Have you MET me?)  I saw loyal blog stalker Kiersten's mom in the front row & I went to her & said, "There's no shame in my game - I'm gonna stand in front of you to take pics of Brady!"  She's met me - she understood...

He's such a handsome guy.  This has to be one of the best pictures EVER (if I do say so myself!) He's such a good boy that he stopped for me & waited for me to take THREE pictures.  He never made a face; never said, 'Come ON Jaime!'.  

DREAM.

The other boy looking at the camera is Adam.  Here is a long, confusing story for you: Adam is our sister in law Lora's ex husbands son.  Follow that?  That means he is also our niece Erin & nephew Derik's half brother.  He & Brady were born about a month apart & they have been friends their whole lives.

I'm so mad that I missed B-rad running up to Brady after & almost knocking him down to hug him.  B-rad was messing around w/ him but it would've been a great picture.

I tried to get him to do it again but he wouldn't.  Hmph.

Since I had the fancy pants camera I was in charge of pictures responsible for taking the pics during & after the ceremony.  No pressure...  

In case ya'll don't know what I have to put up with... This was supposed to be a family pic of Brady w/ his mom, dad & brothers. (Erin & her family weren't able to come home for the graduation.)  Which one of these things doesn't belong???

The trouble w/ having a fancy pants camera is that no one else knows how to use it. When you want someone to take YOUR picture you have to have an extensive screening process for applicants.

Cole gave me off center & super bright...

He got another try but still off center...

Derik said, 'Jaime - I know how to use it!' & he did a pretty good job!

All of us minus Erin & her family.  Brady stood there for picture, after picture, after picture...after picture.  He never said, 'Are we done yet?' 'UGH I'm tired of taking pictures!.'  

I'm telling ya'll - he's a GOOD kid.

Another issue w/ having the fancy pants camera & being in charge is that you have to do something w/ your handbag.  I wasn't gonna set it on the ground - psssssh.  

(I only took it w/ me because I had my other lens in it.)  

Have I told you lately he's a kid disguised in a mans body? 

After pictures we all went to dinner.  Brady's girlfriend, Sarah's, family were at graduation & they got in on pictures as well & went to dinner w/ us.  There were 15 of us total.  Obviously Cole & I are the only ones that knew I was taking a picture.

 

I told ya'll that Brady got accepted into a program for heavy machinery mechanics w/ Whayne Supply & he will be leaving for University of Illinois in August.  They have decided they want him to come to work before he starts the program so at the end of June he will be in the 'real world'!  I am super excited about the gift his parents got him for graduation & what we got him to go along w/ it.  Stay tuned for that - his party is this weekend!