Graduating

Here are some pics of Kindergarten, Seminary and High School graduation. It was wonderful to have my mom and dad and Tiffany here for Ryan's graduation. I thought I would cry, but I didn't. I was so happy and proud. It was a really great day. Way to go, Ryan! Great things are ahead of you.

Camary and her teacher, Mrs. Nelson, on Kindergarten graduation day.

Ryan and his seminary diploma.

Pomp and Circumstance

High School diploma! Those yellow cords are for high honors!

All of us on graduation day. Way to go, Ryan!

So, you want an update, do you?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know it's been a while. I was kind of waiting for Tracy to put together a video of spring break and well, time just slipped away. There is still no video of spring break. But that's okay. You can see pictures of our spring break on Lindsay's blog. We had a great time.

Well, let's see. It's been a whirlwind of concerts, awards assemblies and other end of the year stuff. May always seems to pass by in the blink of an eye. Here's a little about everyone:

Xander is crazy as ever, microwaving burritos, going outside whenever he feels like it, getting into Sam and Fin's room and playing with their legos... You get the idea. I am trying to potty-train him. It's going...slow. He loves to snuggle with me and have me sing "I Am a Child of God." He sings along too. So cute!

Camary graduated from Kindergarten last week. She did so well this year and she's reading like a pro! She even reads aloud from the Book of Mormon during family scripture study. Today she made a little house for her toy animals, complete with furniture made from play-dough. So cute. Right now she is helping Tracy make cinnamon rolls. Yum!

I went to Finlay's author party at school Friday and got to read all of the stories he's written this year. He's terrific. And doing so well at everything in school. I don't know if I mentioned he got braces on his front teeth. This makes him look like a mini-teenager. So adorable!

Sam is just finishing seventh grade. He has been in the advanced orchestra this year--one of the only seventh graders in it--and he is first chair bass! Plus he is one of the only seventh graders in the jazz band. He played electric bass at their last concert. It was great. Sam is so creative. He's always drawing or writing or making up his own languages (just like Tolkien!). He's getting taller too.

Rusty just finished playing soccer with the Salem Shooters. Unfortunately, they lost every game. =( But I think he had fun, in spite of spraining his ankle last week. It's feeling a lot better now. Rusty tried out for the high school jazz band (yes, he'll be in high school next fall) on the bari sax and he made it! He'll also be doing marching band again this year.

Ryan graduates from high school on Wednesday! I can hardly believe it. He's graduating with high honors. Tomorrow I am going to go to the Senior Sob Assembly to hear him perform a song that he wrote. It'll probably be the Mom Sob Assembly too. I am so proud of him. Eighteen years old! Wow. He's got so much wonderful stuff ahead of him.

I (Angie) had my novel accepted by Walnut Springs Press! I. Am. So. Excited! I have been waiting for this day for seventeen years. It will be out later this year, hopefully in the fall. I am having a blast coming up with fun ideas for the launch party. I hope you all will come to that and celebrate with me. I finished this year's Christmas story. Yeah. Last week was my Musettes concert. It turned out well. Tracy made a video of it, so if you are ever at my house and want to watch it, you can. I also ended my term as president of the Musettes. It was nice to serve, but I'm glad to have a break now.

Tracy is gardening, making videos, taking pictures, and working, working, working. At the moment he's making cinnamon rolls. What a guy!

So, ya still reading this looooooong post? I started a new facebook profile for family and friends that I actually know and feel comfortable sharing more personal info with. It's Angie Taylor Lofthouse (my regular profile is just Angie Lofthouse now), so if you'd like to be friends on that profile, please add me. I added too many friends all at once, so Facebook has banned me from adding more friends. =( But I think you can add me. Hopefully my friend adding ban will be lifted soon. Whatever, Facebook!

Here are some picture highlights, since I know you all want pictures with these posts:

At the Jacob Hamblin Home

Dying Easter Eggs

Ryan heading out to prom

Sam on electric bass

Rusty playing soccer

Pelicans on the pond in Springville