I actually slept in this morning.  First time in nearly two months that I slept past 6.  It was lovely.  As I was slowly being awakend by the beautiful sunlight filtering into my room it dawned on me...so this is how it is, graduation day for my beautiful baby boy, and it starts in such a beautifully ordinary way.  Hmmm.  It is the day I've dreaded for 18 years, but I find that I'm not as sad as I thought I would be.  I am excited for my miracle boy, for the closing of a chapter and the beginning of a new, adventurous one.  He's ready to move on and be what Chucky from the Rugrats referred to as a "growed up".  And he is a growed up.  Ryan has changed and matured so much in the last few months I hardly recognize him but love him even more.  I've said so many times that he is the son every mother dreams of, and I'm going to repeat myself.  He IS the son that every mother dreams of and I still can't believe I'm the one he calls mom.  

I'm proud of you, Ryan Cory Lloyd.  Proud of the man you've become, proud of you and your new adventure, and proud that I am your mother. I am well pleased with your choices.  Go out and show everyone the strength of your character; you're amazing.  I love you to the moon and back...infinity.

Things that make you smile...

I was in interviews all day yesterday.  Grueling, exhausting interviews.  Chels decided to stop by and see me when she got out of school.  Upon learning that I was tied up the rest of the day, she decided to leave me a little note.  I didn't see it before I left last night (at 7p.m.; pretty late for me), but it sure did crack me up when I saw it this morning.  My kids are awesome.

 June 3-5 saw the Dan Lloyd clan on their first REAL vacation....ever.  We weren't in Utah or Nevada.  We actually left the state altogether and headed for LA.  Dan Lloyd and I decided it was high time to start making some really great memories.  I'll never forget how it all came about.  As you know, we are avid Yankees fans.  LOVE us some Yankees.  We were all downstairs in the mancave watching the Yanks play when I said, "I'd love to go to a Yankees game." Dan responded with, "Why don't we?".  Then, after really thinking about it, he said, "Why don't we?".  I figured I had about twenty seconds before he changed his mind.  I got on the computer to see where the nearest place is that they play.  Turns out, L.A. was closest and the game just happened to fall just two days before our 18th wedding anniversary.

I'm so mad!  I just spent the last thirty minutes writing about our vacation...I got kicked off the internet and lost all the work.  Grrrrr.....

So, no stories right now to accompany these pictures from our trip to see the Yankees, the ocean, Hollywood, and Knotts Berry Farm.  Brother!

Abercrombie & Fitch

See? This handsome fellow would do their label proud.  Ryan recently went to a school dance with one of the Anderson twins, Melody to be exact.  They wore matching checkered shirts.  Ry looked every bit as handsome as the model on the huge billboard as you enter A&F in Galleria Mall.  Except, of course, Ry had quite a few more clothes on...that dude on the billboard was half naked!  I wonder if his mother walks into that store and is proud?  Anyway, I digress.  Ry looked so cute and was super funny.  Of course, he's always super funny.  He's just that kind of guy....find the funny in nearly everything...or he's a total smartaleck and makes everything funny.  Either way.  Don't you think he looks adorable?

DISTRICT CHAMPS!

After two very close games, and some good, then horrible playing, our girls decided they wanted to be winners.  They took the 2A District Championship and are headed to Reno for state playoffs.  Cross your fingers and wish Chels lots of luck!

I'm so proud of her and how hard she's worked to be a post...foreign territory for a girl who's all of 5'6".  Chels has learned so much this year, from posting up to driving the ball to the hole.  She's also learned how to use the gift that is her butt.  Way to go, Poppy Tater!

Hoops

Cam has been playing in two different basketball leagues and it's been a crazy-fun winter.  She plays at 8 a.m. NV time in St. George every Saturday, then again at 1 & 3 usually.  She has some great moves and when she decides to she's the best rebounder I've seen since her big sis.  She's a good ball handler, can drive and shoot, and is a blast to watch.  I can't believe how much she's progressed this winter.  Her skillz are mad good (lingo I heard on MTV...kidding!). 

Where the Red Fern Grows

I have my own Billy, although he didn't get his dogs from Tahlequah.  Ryan has several hound dogs that he loves to run.  They are hardworking dogs that love to track and tree mountain lions.  It must be tons of fun because Ryan got a job to pay for his dogs and his gas.  Maybe someday I'll be invited to tag along and I can nab some pictures of Ry in the act.

Million Dollar Smile

Chelsea finally got her braces off! We've been so busy I haven't had a chance to get a good close up of her b-e-a-utiful smile.  I better go buy more shotgun shells because this chick's gorgeous.  Her smile lights up any room, and her laugh increases the wattage.

Picture coming soon...

THE WOLFPACK...

wants Ryan Lloyd!

Ryan got accepted to UNR.  I am SO proud of him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dapper Fellow, Ain't He?

I swear, this boy looks like an Abercrombie model sometimes...just look at him in his tux for Senior Ball.  Quite handsome.  We were waiting to be announced during the promenade, and I was looking at him thinking, "Wow.  So, this is it.  My baby boy is a grown up now.  He's 18 and leaving for college in just a few short months.  Where did the time go? He's so beautiful.  This is the last time I'll dance with him until his wedding." My eyes were starting to well up and that's when it happened.  He farted and I was reminded in a hurry that he's still such a little boy, in spite of his appearance.  The tears vanished and I should've chastised him but he dispelled my would-be maudlin moment.  Besides, no one was around to hear.  If ever there was good timing for a toot...

Uh huh...

The boys told us they were cleaning the garage, but this is what they were really up to.  Definitely chick magnets...if we lived in Kentucky.