Graduation

So this happened last night:

That's from my point of view amongst my fellow graduates.

I took this one later:

That's me, after the Commencement, with my tassle on the left, which I guess means I have now "left" college. For all the pomp and circumstance around graduation, no one seems to want to take a moment to explain all the vestments.  It's all kinda shady if you ask me.  Somebody asked if the Green shawl meant honors. Nope, that means UVU.

The Green shawl is standard for UVU Dress, the Orange Tassle means I am Graduating from the Colledge of Technology and Computing. That Silver Medallion means Honors though. Check out the back of that little guy:

Magna Cum Laude, folks! That means i had at least an 3.80 GPA. (But not a 3.90. Curse you math 1050 and Biology classes!!!) [Note from Paige: Even with a Biology tutor in the house...all b/c of missing a deadline on having a paper reviewed from the writing center by 1 day...yep...still mad at us for not paying closer attention.]

It's a big weekend for our family. Today I Do my actual diploma walk for the individual college convocation. I think my walk should look like this:

Meanwhile, in about 55 minutes, My younger brother walks for his Masters at BYU, a smaller university across the valley from UVU you may have heard of pefore. (Note, UVU has the smallest campus square footage per student in the state, but at over 33,000 students, it has the largest student body. That's only a few hundred more students than the University of Utah, but almost double BYU.)

Here we are in my living room Celebrating the Pomp and Circumstantial Evidence of our graduation. (I don't get my official Diploma for 2 weeks, I don't know about Caleb.)

My robes are more wrinkly than my brothers, but that is because mine are made from 100% recycled Soda bottles and will MELT IF IRONED. Since UVU does not rent graduation gowns, this makes it cheaper for the students.  My Brothers robes are just wrinkly.

Forts and Trampolines

....from any cushion we can find.

Escape from Alcatraz

Almost...maybe next time.

Princess Numchucks

Belle trumps all other Disney Princesses for James.

Hello, anybody there?

Scare tactics

Jimmy Fingers: "If you don't give me what I want, you're gonna sleep with the plastic bathtub fishes."

Kitchen Helpers

Right now it is more laughter at their "help," but I love having their company. (Except when I want to cry at the mess)

Feeling Fine.

I have a week and a half until everything is due for my final project. I have a plan, with each piece in place. I should be done early.

So why Am I stressing?

Because I had a plan in November, too. A very detailed plan with generous time allotments.

But I have team mates who don't know what a schedule is. Team mates who do not understand the concepts of deadlines and personal responsibility.

Oh, we will finish. We will graduate, most of us anyway. I have a couple of key people I can count on, and we have been working long hours for 3 weeks to fix what others broke.

But that does not mean my sanity will survive intact.

Dirt Painting

Brian and the kids have too much fun while I am at school. Thank goodness for pictures to help me relive the moment.

Did someone say Chips and Cheese?

The Builders

Home Depot has a free kids activity on the 1st Saturday of the month. (Just in case you were clueless like we were.) We took Lilly in December and she loved it. We remembered to go back in March and April and were glad to give both kids an acceptable outlet for hitting. The cars and bird feeders that they made have been a hit.

Get ready for the cacophony of kid noise and hammering, but it is so worth it.

Yes, I know the muffin man

"Mmmmm...datz goo."

(Not everything he says is that clear. When we can understand him, we know he really means it.)

Watching Conference

Going Tribal

Because what other purpose could a pen possibly be used for?

Caliente Playground

Lilly, James, and I recently took a weekend to visit Gma and Gpa Barlow in Caliente. We had great weather and fun on the playgrounds...and I am in awe of my childrens' courage and use of their bodies.

Easter Egg Hunting

This year was nice as Lilly and James were both excited about the game. James was very good at spotting the colors in the dead grass, but Lilly's longer legs often beat him to the punch.