I don't recall how many rungs are on a 6' aluminum or wooden step ladder but here's an idea. Paint the ladder in several colors..her favorite color on the frame of the ladder, then maybe alternate the steps in her school colors. On the very top-you could put a sign "The Ladder of Life". Starting at the bottom-a pic of her at birth. Next step-her 1st birthday. Other steps could include her first steps, her 1st day of school, her elementary graduation photo, her 1st prom, pic of her driving her 1st car, her 16th birthday, then one in her cap & gown. The 2 steps before the top could be an illustration of a college or a bride in a gown with a question mark in highlighter on top of those unknown future pictures...not sure how you'd secure these photos..maybe if a wooden ladder-put a finishing nail on the front edge of each step to hang it from. If aluminum...drill a hole on the edge & wire it on. Maybe make BIG tassles in her school colors from yarn & place on the corners of the food table, gift table, etc. Set a poster size photo of her on an easel on which guests sign a message. Make simple mortarboards from heavy posterboard in black..leaving the 'lid' off the cap, then fill w/mints & nuts or some kind of treat as a favor.Attach a tassel to the mortarboard made from embroidery thread. Get 2 10' pieces of PVC pipe, paint them & dig a hole or use Xmas tree stands to hold them. Place about 10' apart at the entry of the party for people to walk under. Place a 'Graduation 2007" & Happy Birthday banner across the top and tie helium balloons all along the top too.

Another idea... Since the guests are folks who've know her since babyhood...when you send out the invites-include a page from a smaller sized photo album (one with 2-3 ring holes so it can be inserted by her the day of the celebration. The size of the album should have pages that will hold the photo & memory card on the 1 page. Print a'what to do' directions to include with the invite (send in a manilla envelope to fit the photo page)stating to please place a photo of her they have taken, and also include a recipe sized card for them to write down what the occasion was when the photo was taken and/or what special meaning it has for them. If they don't have any photo (from birth thru the present-perhaps you or another family member would give that person one to use. Then...(you still with me? LOL) place a ladder at the party location-place an 8x10 photo of her (Sr photo?) on the very top of the ladder with a sign under it saying : "___'s (her name) Ladder of Life". You can tie cording to each side of the ladder, with clothespins threaded on it (to hold the photo/memory cards that each guest brings. A little sign dividing the rungs of the ladder into sections (Babyhood, Toddlerhood, Elementary, High School)-guests would pin their page of the album into the section when the photo was taken, along w/their memory card. You can decorate the sides of the ladder with bows, school colors or party colors. You'd give her the empty album when she gets ready to open cards-have her read each & then place it in that section of her Memory Album. I've done this w/all 3 of my children & a couple nieces & nephews-well received by all and a treasured album for the graduate!

I hope Caitlin will have a job that can afford to send the amount of money she expects to everyone who sends her a graduation invite/announcement. Many would have to forego a mortgage payment if they sent a minimum of $100+ to all the graduates of friends and family, It's a gift not an obligation or entitlement. When I graduated, I never expected any gift. My parents threw a party to celebrate, it was just a reason to get together and have party. I was happy with cards, flowers, words of wisdom, I didn't expect anything and any monetary amount was greatly appreciated and thanked for personally with thank you notes. I don't care if it's a phone call. Email, text, in person, or card. Just acknowledge the giver - they are under no obligation to get you anything.

Michelle -- are you still working on this? I have the same assignment for my daughter's class. The past few years they have included: * full formal class pic with teachers, * many candids, * individual pic of each child, * individual baby pic of each child (w/out captions -- anwer key at end, a guessing game, really), * write-ups for every grade/teacher (In Mrs. Lucy's Kindergarten class, we....), * a Remember When section, for kids to post both funny stories and on-going pass-times, * a "trends" page (names of popular artists, fashions), * poetry, artwork, etc. * a "In the year XXXX I will be ..." section for each students predictions. * a couple of pages for autographs. Any other ideas from anyone? Any other resources you've found helpful?