Here he is giving his valedictory address. He got to be the first-ever valedictorian of the first-ever graduating class of Faith Lutheran High School. You can read all about it and see a slide show with better pictures here: http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/05/25/news/local/doc4839397ce6979035395626.txt (I tried to make it a link, but it didn't work. Sorry!)
It's enough to make a parent proud.
And here you can see that Steve and I were indeed very proud and happy.
Here's Aunt Ruthie being happy for the graduate, too.
And just look at all these happy people. Except maybe for Clare, still wiping sentimental tears away, and Mike, who cracked maybe one smile in the four solid years we've known him. Mrs. M.--science teacher extraordinaire-- looks like she doesn't know quite what she feels. Her smile is somewhat like a grimace, but your face would be confused, too, after an hour-long emotional wringer (laughing, crying, laughing, crying) like watching the kids you've poured your heart and soul into for four years finally walk across that stage.
But happiest of all had to be Matthew. Here you can see he was so thrilled he could have spread his wings and taken flight. Or maybe flapped his wings...er...arms...and crowed like a chicken. Either way, he was pretty darned chipper.
