Graduation weekend in pictures

Before the Big March:













With the kiddies:

Tamra was one of four speakers and spoke about continuing community service and involvement. One of their graduation requirements was 20 hours of community service, and she encouraged them to stay active and involved in making a difference in their communities, local schools, and families. It was an excellent speech and had a very good message.

After she received her diploma she posed on stage for a few pictures:

Trying to act composed now that she's a real graduate with a signed diploma:

Conspiring:

Her walking partner who was their class valedictorian and is a good LDS buddy of hers ( also a state champ wrestler) threw her over his shoulder as they were walking out and carried her down the aisle. I was laughing too hard to get any decent pictures of that.

Tamra and my brother Jim:

Kendle couldn't be happier for aunt Tamra:

The Whole Crew:

Proud Grandparents:

Happy, yet relieved parents. After 20+ years of that high school they are finally done.

The protective brother-in-law isn't ready to loosen up just yet:

Done with the cap and gown and blue and black:

Ready to take on the world:

The kids' reward for being good during graduation:

What a great way to celebrate!

When did time decide to speed up on me?

So I had to have a good cry this morning while I wrote this. I don't know what I'm more upset about, the fact that my little sister is old enough to be graduating, or the fact that I'm old enough for her to be graduating. Hey, wasn't I just in high school a couple of years ago? That's a big no, more like ten years ago to be exact. Since we're ten years apart in age, I've always felt very protective of her and kind of like I had to be a second mom.




























That wasn't always the best tactic I'm sure, and most likely she's sick of everyone giving her tons of unsolicited advice, and being the baby of the family she's had to listen to the whole family telling her what to do her whole life. Maybe that's why she turned out so well though? HA.













Over the weekend, we were just laughing about all of the accidents and mishaps Tamra has had growing up. Accidents from the trampoline alone could make a long list. It's a miracle she never broke a bone or seriously injured herself. She had what we used to call the "explosive" syndrome, where she would just come running, stumbling, and crashing into a room.











Funny, I think Kendle inherited that same trait.

She was a fun kid and grew up playing sports and was always very involved with academics and school responsibilities. Tam is the type of person that would stress out about getting an A-, she was always striving to be the best and stay at the top of her class. She's never been afraid to walk to the beat of her own drum and she is an original person not afraid to branch out and do something or wear something different. People really admire that about her. It's been an asset to her through the years as I've watched her friends go down wrong paths, and their clothing becoming more and more questionable. She's been a pillar of light at that high school and for everyone around her. Her teachers, church leaders, coaches, friends and friends parents respect and enjoy her. If there was ever an activity in question, most of Tam's friends' parents would call my mom to see if she was letting Tam go before they made their decision. That to me says a lot.


















Recently she had a pretty low moment where she was the last person up to bat in their state playoff game, and she struck out. She was so disappointed in herself and was so upset. She felt like she let her team down when they needed her the most. It was hard for me to sit back and let her have her moment of being sad, but I know that life dishes up some pretty mean disappointments at times and part of growing up is learning how to deal with them. This was one of her times and I knew she'd come out of it OK. In true Tamra fashion she stopped beating herself up about it and even managed to laugh about it a little. Life is hard sometimes, and everything doesn't always come our way, but we dust ourselves off and try to learn something from our mistakes and failures.

With her successes and achievements, it would be easy for people around her to be intimidated or envious but she is so humble and down to earth and will be the first one to compliment someone else for what they've done. Here are some highlights of her senior year:

-1st team all-league for Volleyball

-Homecoming princess

-1st team all-league for Softball

-Prom Queen

-National Honor Society President

-Presidential Academic Achievement Award

This is a girl who could have been studying Nuclear Physics or pre-med in college, (man, I wanted a doctor in the family) but has chosen to follow her true desire of art and photography. Having a photographer in the family has it's *perks* too.













I know she will do great things in her life and be successful at whatever she chooses. And even though she refused to change any of my kids dirty diapers for me, I still love her so much and will miss her being gone next year. I hope she still feels like she needs little old me and doesn't forget to drop us a line once in a while, even when she's having fun and doing the college thing. I know that little town is too small for her and she's dying to leave, but I hope she enjoyes her graduation this weekend and her last summer at home. We are so proud of you Tam, and we will always be there for you through your ups, downs and whatever.


*One last request, Father Time please slow the heck down.*


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Miss Independant

Here's my little independant girl getting ready to head out the door for her first day of kindergarten this morning. Excited would be an understatement.















Do you think she was sad or nervous about anything? Hardly. While I waited with her before school started, she told me to leave about ten times and that she was fine there by herself. As I was turning to go, I glanced back to see two other little girls come and sit down by Kendle at her table and start talking to her. I stood outside the door for a moment and she looked up and caught my eye; I could see a twinkle there. Then she waved, and I was forgotten as she resumed her conversation. As I walked to the car I wasn't sad, but comforted knowing I did my job preparing her for this day. She has grown up so fast. All I want to hear when she comes home, is that she had a great day. And maybe, just maybe, that she missed me a tiny bit.

Here's to the future

This will probably be my last post for a while until after the baby is born. I'm scheduled to be induced Tuesday afternoon, and I couldn't be more relieved. I'm still frustrated that I don't have my pictures of Kendle's graduation yet, but I decided to go ahead and post some of my little brother's graduation last weekend anyways. Other than it being a gazillion degrees in their high school gym it went really well. The speakers were excellent, the slide show was very cute and we were out of there in less than an hour. I wish I had taken more pictures or any pictures for that matter of the rest of my family, but as usual I am the worst event recorder ever. That is precisely why I do not scrapbook. I will say that it was very strange to be back in my old high school watching my little brother come down that aisle and walk on stage and receive his diploma. There were a couple of tears, I have to admit. All in all, it was a great weekend and our family partied like rock stars (well Mormon rock stars). I love my family! Take a look at these pic's. For all of the new graduates, or for those of you getting ready to head down a new path or start a new adventure in life, good luck!

This is Tucker and his friend Josie their class president

All of the Tovey women.....