Pomp and Circumstance

This is especially for those family members who didn't get to join us at my daughter Valerie's graduation. There's no quilting content, but I'm happy to share the big event with any of my blogging friends who don't mind wading through family photos. :)

Valerie is now a college graduate!
What a wonderful weekend we had! After Brian and I got off the plane, the kids took us to dinner and presented us with a 25th wedding anniversary book they had made of photos and memorabilia from our wedding and their childhood years. It's an absolutely wonderful gift, and we keep looking at it. Thanks, guys! We will always cherish it.

Here are Val and Jocelyn at the graduation picnic on Saturday.

Sunday was graduation, which always starts with the Wacky Walk. Instead of marching solemnly into the stadium, the graduates carry signs, wear costumes, perform, do all kinds of things as they parade in. There are no lines, no rules, just celebration. (Kind of like liberated quilting!) Here's a pre-Wacky Walk photo of Caley, Brooksie, Val and Nessa in their shades. They each carried a huge balloon (Val's was a champagne glass, maybe because she's from Champaign?).
As you can see, they all had a blast coming in for the ceremony.
Eventually everyone took a seat.
Oprah Winfrey was the graduation speaker, but those of us in the stands found it easier to see her on the big screens rather than on the stage. If anyone is interested, you can listen to her speech on U-tube if you click here. It's half an hour, though!
After the big ceremony, everyone dispersed to departmental ceremonies to formally receive their diplomas. Here's Val getting hers. Yay!!
Someone can't stop smiling.
Of course, we took lots of photos after the graduation. Here's Val with her grandmother.
And with Kim and Craig, Val's cousin and her fiance, who came all the way from Florida to celebrate with us. We were so pleased to see them!
Val's parents were pretty proud of her.
We had a wonderful family dinner that night with the Bay Area family, but the restaurant was dimly lit and my photos are terrible. Sorry! It was so great to see everyone and it meant a lot that they call celebrated with us.

The next day Val and her closest friends had a final get-together. Here they are -- Brooksie and Jenna in the back, and Val, Caley and Nessa in the front.
Congratulations, Val! You worked hard and did a great job!