graduation

(flowers were all the rage I guess:)  Love those girls forever (and a few who are missing from these pics.)

That night we stayed up all night long at some big party the school sponsored and my closest friends and I headed up the canyon in my big suburban at sunrise listening to “Forever Young” blasting out of the stereo with tears trickling down our cheeks.

Dave had a huge graduating class here in the desert that was apparently a more raucous group in contrast to our serious celebration at Symphony wall.

 Love these good friends…most of whom we are still in touch with.

Finally the graduates marched in.

See Max with his big smile in the middle below?

We listened to musical numbers and speeches as the sky turned dark.

And then it was time to announce every single one of those kids by name.

…which took a long time.

The fireworks went off and it was a scramble to find your child and hug them on the field.

How I adore these boys who have been such an exceptional group of wonderful friends to Max.

All teary-eyed at that.

And these girls who have built him up so much as well.

(we miss Maddie!!)

So grateful for these volleyball “brothers” who were at his side so much of his time in high school and their great influences:

My Dad lost us in the crowd and came home with Lucy but I had to capture him too…even if he would only pose on tip-toes:

…or slouched.

Dave’s Dad was there too (he and Dave’s mom had to divide and conquer with three grandkids graduating the same night), but I didn’t get a pic. of him.  Love you Papa!