Things are starting to slow down for me tomato wise. So I'm glad to here others are still coming on strong. I've got most everything is set for party. Prizes are all decorated and tagged, most stuff at the cottage is ready to go. I still need to go to Lewiston today to pick up my brother's tents because there is a chance of a passing rain tomorrow. Watch that we won't need them, but I really don't trust anything with the way the weather has been so whacky! Looking forward to tomorrow, Remy

Thanks everyone for weighing in - it's been great to read your responses! I admit that one concern I had with sending announcements was that it would seem to be a grab for gifts, which is not what I or my son would want. I don't think my family would see it that way, but I can't be sure about my ex's family. They don't send DS gifts on his birthday or at holidays anyway, so I don't think they'd feel obligated to send anything for graduation. I do think that the appropriate response to any kind of announcement like this is a card with good wishes, which is what I would hope for on behalf of my son. The actual graduation at DS's school is sort of unusual, at least compared to my own (long-ago) high school experience. There is no limit to the number of people who can attend (friends & family sit on the football field, seniors are in the stands) and so there's no issue of tickets, or of only inviting Aunt Sue but not Uncle Joe. Immediately after the ceremony, the new graduates are whisked away to a Grad Night party planned by the senior parents at a secret location. They're there all night and from what I've heard, it's loads of fun. So what this means is that any festivities that family members might want to have to celebrate graduation must be done at a different time. I can just imagine DS's grandparents flying all the way across the country and then not getting to see the new graduate, either right after the ceremony or because he's sound asleep the entire next day! (I think this is a pretty humorous image, but don't worry - I'd tell the grandparents what the schedule was ahead of time). We'll find a way to celebrate as a family, either before or after the actual graduation date. Having said all that, I don't think anyone receiving an announcement will actually fly across the country to attend the ceremony, and I'm terribly proud of my sweet son and want to share his accomplishment with his relatives.

jvanderh, the trick to pink macaroni and cheese is to put food coloring in the water when you bake the pasta, and more food color into the cheese sauce. Oh, and it helps to use white cheddar, gruyere and asiago, they're strong enough to taste like cheese, they melt well and they're white, LOL. Madi (Ashley tells me it's NOT Maddie, LOL) started walking at about 10 months old. She's in a hurry and runs everywhere. Her mother was a "climber", I remember her pulling out drawers and climbing up like a ladder so she could sit on the counter and eat the butter. Ahem. The first thing Madi did with one of the presents was drag it over to a chair and use it as a step to get onto the chair and then onto the table where the cake pops were. Good luck with your new little one, Tricia. They're just so much fun. What am I going to do next year? Ashley is pregnant again, due in August. Since Bud is the only boy on both sides of the family, we're hoping for a boy cousin for him. The girls are "too bossy", he says. (grin) Sharon, they are growing too fast. (sigh) Both Bud and Makayla will still sit on my lap, but they're getting too darned big to fit. Makayla is now 4'5". My Mother is 4'9". The Monkey Princess is working hard to outgrow the "Little Grandma". She's going to outgrow ME pretty soon. I'm sad... Annie

Thanks so much, guys! Maire Cate, here's the closeup of the necklace. I bought it from my favorite eBay seller, Waly Beads. Everything they sell is made of natural stones, but I bought this one some time ago and I don't remember the description. I received several compliments on it, and people were surprised to learn it came from eBay and probably cost less than $15. I didn't add--though I could have--that my outfit came from the Salvation Army. My skirt was ecru-and-black striped pleated satin. Signed, Frugal Me