Accolades and Promotions

Here's my life in pictures from the last few weeks.

School has come to an end, and with that brought two "promotion ceremonies." I hate to say graduation, but I do think it's significant they were both promoted to a new grade and new school.

J has finished 8th grade and will go to High School next year. J is the one on the far right in a black vest and orange shirt. We never got good pictures that day!Two days later, B had her ceremony. She was in the first group of 5th graders to graduate from that campus---ever!! Here she is shaking her principal's hand. My grandmother visited Texas for the first time in a long time. One weekend I took J to see her. We had 4 generations together. All of us in this picture are oldest children. Disclaimer---Granny was not ready & we made her have her picture made in clothes she did not like. :-)

The next picture is the very next weekend. I took B to see her great-grandmother this weekend. Again, it's 4 generations. I had a great time visiting with my family. The kid who didn't go----he/she was busy at home that weekend. I couldn't figure out how to get us all there at the same time. Disclaimer---I don't like my hair in this photo!!

Notice how much more the snowball bush has bloomed over the week?

This summer I'm getting the kids to plan and make one meal a week. They have to help me make the grocery list and then I will assist them when they're cooking, too. This meal was J's. He had seen a recipe in a magazine when he was taking the TAKS test in April and asked his teacher if he could copy the recipe. It is Sausage Arugula Pizza. We didn't really know what arugula was!! This will be an adventure. :-) This meal was good!

Sunday night was Ovies night for TROUPE. This the Ovation Awards ceremony for the end of the year. This picture is Larry and J presenting awards.

This is J after receiving one of his wards.

These are the awards he got---I'm so proud. :-)

• Most Memorable Character---his Chef Ludmilla from Dear Edwina
• Best Vocal Performance by an Ensemble----"Book Report" from You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!
• Outstanding Backstage Crew Member----during Seussical, Jr.
• Teen/Youth MVP
• All Star Cast
• People's Choice Award
• The Backstage Award (for kids who were understudies & mostly didn't get on stage!)
• And the Best one----The Wanda Daisa "Heart & Soul" Award

This award goes to someone who's got all their Heart and Soul into TROUPE. Which Jamie does. It's named after one of the founders of Troupe who has passed away now. It's a great honor.

Larry also got two awards!! We're proud of him, too. He got the Outstanding Member Award for the "Nostalgics" (the adults who sing and act), and he also got a Director's Choice Award.

We were at the Woimen's Club in Bryan----A great facility!

This is the People's Choice Award recipients. This category was a write in vote for the people who voted. I think this is a wonderful one to win because it's people who the crowd loves to watch on stage. I love to see all these guys!!

Here are the wards Jamie got!

M.A.'s Angels?

B and I are picking up our knitting again! I am starting this washcloth and actually it's 3 times that big now. I might finish tonight or tomorrow! B thought I ought to make a dishcloth to match. I had the same thought. I love the Yarn. It's Sugar'n Cream "American Stripes." Great Memorial Day Project!

Hope you've enjoyed your weekend as I did. we went to some church friends' house and met up with people who've scattered far and near. It's a tradition, and I really love getting together with this group. Food is good, and it feels really comfortable.

Remember the sacrifices made so we all can enjoy our freedoms, not just on Memorial Day, but every day of the year.

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt 5-29-10

This week I'm back in after a long hiatus! The theme this week is Memorial. You can check out other Memorial pictures on tnchick's website.

I chose this photo I took at a parade in Granbury, TX, at a 4th of July parade. The float was a tribute to local men who had served in any branch of the service, but this is always a reminder that others made a greater sacrifice---their very lives.

Next week's theme is sparkle(s). Sounds like a girly theme, perhaps.

I hope you're enjoying your summer---if it's begun at your house!

New Beginnings

I'm going to blog again this summer. I haven't done any blogging in so long, but I still remember how. I think my Facebook page has taken the place of blogging, which is fine, but there are times I can't say all I need to say on Facebook.

So we'll see how long I actually keep this up . . . will it be another 7 months before I post again?

School is out for me, and even though I started a week and a half before they did, my kids are out of school, too (thank you Bryan ISD for FYP). They both got commended scores on their Math and Reading TAKS tests and were at school the required number of days, so they were able to take an early leave of school. The kids who didn't do so well and missed a lot of days will be toiling away at school until June 4th.

So we're out. I finished all the teacher work I had to do last Friday, and I'm free! I always have big goals for the summer, when I have the time to take care of me and the house more. That's sad, isn't it? I put all my energy into my work, just about. That, and driving my own children to their "stuff."

Here are a few things we've got on the schedule this summer:
Howdy day Camp (B---Girl Scouts)
Softball season (Lar and B)
TNT Youth Conference (J----drama)
GS trip to Palo Duro Canyon (me and B)
BVT's production of Beauty and the Beast, Jr. (J)
Library actvities (including B volunteering with the programs for little kids) (both kids?)
$1 movies at Cinemark (me and the kids)
teaching Tabitha class and a 3s Bible class just for the summer (me! and J helps in another class)
Regional Track meet (Larry and B---and training her beforecompetition)
Church Camp---Bandina (the kids)
a visit with my sister and family when they come to Texas in July (all of us)
swimming (all of us)

We actually have a full summer planned out, and we'll be busy, but not too busy. Summer is full of freedom! Keeping everyone doing the things they love doing is my goal. Summer is when we actually have the time to enjoy our hobbies.

So, spread out, relax-----summer's here!