Whoo Hoo!

She did it. Little Lizzy graduated from college on Saturday. And YOU were there. Okay, you weren't there but we were!

This was the first time that Studly and I were in Reno at the same time. Together. It was novel. Stud Muffin got to meet Ray, "the boyfriend" for the first time. It went well. Hands were shook, conversations were had, and no shots were fired. Pretty good for a father meeting his baby's beau.

Aren't they cute together??



This is Liz's best friend Tiffany who came up from Vegas to help celebrate. Liz and Tif were roommates in the dorm and had their first apartment together. Tif's now a first grade teacher in Vegas.



When joined at the hip, they are a formidable two-headed monster of shopping and giggles.

We took everyone out to dinner the night before graduation and ate ourselves silly. In fact, we ate ourselves silly at most meals. I gained weight :(



Before they let you graduate, you have to figure out how to put on the hat! Without messing up the hair. It is serious business.



During the opening ceremony, the University President explained that the class of 2010 was the largest graduating class in the school's history, the most accomplished (by virtue of the number of "laudes" and distinctions bestowed) and had the highest graduation rate of any class.

There weren't nearly enough chairs for all the spectators, what with over 1500 graduates! We tried standing in the shrubs, on rocks and finally settled for sitting within earshot and racing back when the degrees were handed out.

The view from our initial spot.



The canopy is where the dignitaries sat and the speeches were made. The black spot is the President making his comments. Waaaaaay over there!



We wandered around while the degrees for the other colleges within the university were conferred. This a view of Liz's dorm from freshman year. She was on the top floor, in a corner room over to the left. Love the pond!



And then her turn came. I tried to get a picture of her walking, but my camera didn't like being zoomed in that much and wouldn't fire when I wanted! But this is how she looked after it was all over.



The BFFs:



And the parental units:



And then it was time to go home. Visiting is nice, but there is nothing like sleeping in your own bed. Courtney did a great job taking care of the dogs and the property. She has been picking strawberries like crazy and they are still coming! I froze a bunch this morning.



Courtney hadn't harvested any lettuce, so I cut some this morning, along with the first of the broccoli!



So that's it! All children graduated from college and ready to support me in the style to which I would like to become accustomed. Now they have to prepare to come to MY graduation in 1 1/2 years!