Olivia's graduation day

If anyone recalls, way back in May we had two graduations, Olivia's and Owen's. And boy did they each have their own story. But I'm beginning with Olivia's first and the tale that went along with the day. It just goes to show that it takes all kinds of people. Most of them seem to be rude and obnoxious. 

Here's how it went...

When the seat holders arrived at our regular time for seat holding which is 8:00, we were met with a note on the door of the coliseum stating the doors wouldn't open until 8:30. SO. Obnoxious. With all the different ways of dispensing information, it would seem to be a good idea for the university to TELL PEOPLE THAT. But they didn't. The note also said there was no seat saving....also obnoxious. We've been doing this FOREVER. Tell people the changes! Well as about 75 ish people stood waiting for the doors to open there was one lady in the crowd that had attitude and an agenda. And as fate would have it she ended up in the section we always sit in and proceeded to exhibit her attitude towards anyone in the area. That means us in case you didn't get that. She was so rude. It was a crazy beginning to what should have been a fab day. I'll leave the rest of the details out because she isn't worth the words. But when it was all said and done, the big stick of knowledge made its appearance, the robed people entered the coliseum in their usual manner and Olivia received her diploma. And we didn't have a fist fight. So as I see it, we won the day.  

I did try to enjoy the ceremony, but I've gotta say it was one of the most disappointing graduations I've attended. The speaker truly sucked...and I'm not even kidding. People! Graduation speeches are supposed to inspire the graduates as they go out into the world! Not depress the crap out of everybody! I was all like, "Man you're an idiot. Why talk about debt incurred by attending college on the day these people are graduating! Shut it up. I may actually hire myself out as a no nonsense graduation speaker. I would be AWESOME. 

The main purpose of the day, the actual diploma cover, did happen, so all in all it was a success. Albeit an annoying one.

Let's scroll down and see how it all went as the morning unfolded. 

Pre-graduation ready in the seats before reporting to her spot in line. 

With the Dad.

And then me.

Some of our spectators. 

Cute pic of Carrie. I've discovered this is Carrie's standard graduation wearing shirt.

Olivia reported to her place in line.

There it is...that stick.

Olivia's in there. Find her.

At first I thought these were Olivia's arms up in the air. Then I decided they weren't. Then she confirmed they were. Riveting information. 

Dude! You are sooooo tall!

Olivia making nice with the prez.

It's her diploma cover now never to be taken away. 

A wave to her fans.

Then a pic with Gmaw.

And another.

Some people love to have their picture taken. 

Yes they do.

The usual suspects for graduations.

I put this entire sequence of pics in for a reason. 

Notice that Randy is trying to crowd Caitlin out.

But she prevailed and kept her composure and her ability to find the camera. 

Goober butt. 

Once more.

Then just the grands.

Mollie's adding a little flair.

Olivia's parting her graduation wisdom.  

Grandma's out.

Brookshire's wouldn't let Owen off to attend his sister's graduation. Jerks. 

One more.

Cuzeez are all grown up. Maggie with glasses.

And without.

And sissies too.

Once more with feeling.

Dad with the grad.

Why did I use this picture without fixing the off center first? 

It's over.

Nothing more to see here folks. 

We're moving on....

I'm glad to report the mean lady didn't completely ruin our day and Olivia graduated with honors and then shed a tiny tear as she walked out knowing she was probably done with school for life. OK, that's not really true because she didn't so much like college as she did tolerate it. But I'm so proud of her accomplishment, and while Olivia didn't exactly love it, she will always be able to say she has a college degree. And that matters to me and to John...and probably to her...even though I don't think she would admit it....yet.

I still love a graduation, and I still can't believe my kids are old enough to have finished college. It's a universal thing with parents. Every single parent I know can't believe the kids they birthed are actually grown up. Even though it happened right before their eyes. Every day I'm still working on my heart catching up with the events of my life. I don't think my kids get it. That feeling of letting go isn't a fun one. But even so, I'm doing it. Even though I hate it, I think I'm getting pretty good at it. 

To the future for Olivia. 

I can't wait to see what's next. 

Love, Mom 

Just a few tales to tell

Procrastination and wasting time are beautiful things. Unless you are a blogger. That's me, the procrastinating blogger. But it takes so long to upload photos and blah blah blah...it gets old quick. Because I can procrastinate so well, I've successfully put off graduations and the documentation thereof for over a month now. Yay me! I have much to blog about and since I'm leaving on Wednesday, I gotta move fast. 

But a few things first...

When we went to Corsicana last month, John forgot to take his toothbrush and had to make an emergency run to Wal Mart to get one. Keep that in mind. 

While in the hotel in Baton Rouge Caitlin dropped her toothbrush on the carpeted floor, and since she's not a boy, she had to have a new one. She got a temp while there and when we got home she went to Wal Mart and bought a new one. You see where this is going. Tuesday after all things were unpacked and we were all under one roof, John was about to brush his teeth before bedtime. He came out of the bathroom with identical toothbrushes asking with whom he was toothbrush twinkles. Yes that's correct. There are no less than 1 billion kinds of toothbrushes in the world. When you think about brands and sizes and colors and kinds and softness and adult and medium. But with all the choices of toothbrushes in the world, John and Caitlin had gone shopping in two different cities in two different states on two different days and bought the exact same toothbrush. What are the freaking odds? He then presented the dilemma to his eldest and as I listened from the den it amused me greatly. She was grieved in her soul. We now have new bathroom rules that include toothbrush zones and none shall cross the invisible lines. But even so, I suspect Caitlin will flinch first and purchase another brush before John. After all he is a boy. 

Last night our lights went out due to a storm blowing in and out very quickly. The lights came back on in a bit and when we went to bed our TV wasn't working and as John was trying to fix it I was leaning against the bed. Suddenly and without warning my feet began to slide out from under me and lickety split I was on the floor before I knew what happened. It was quite the amusing shock. Then today as Emma was entering our bedroom to harass Addy, who was wallowing in there along with Caitlin and Olivia, her shirt got caught on the doorknob and as she kept going, the shirt did not and after the dust settled, Emma was flat on her back on the floor. We all erupted into giggles and ended up with laughing tears from the incident. It was hilar. 

That's all my stories for now and since I have nothing to claim but laziness, I'll begin more posts with Olivia's graduation. 

Check back if you are out there people. 

Is anyone out there anymore?

I'm not sure....

Another new Mr. and Mrs.

Our trend of adding to the family continues with another new Mr. and Mrs. This time it was celebrating the wedding of Mollie and Aaron in Baton Rouge. It was as beautiful a wedding as I've seen. The setting made for the most special day for the excited couple. I hope they will always look back and remember how lovely it was the day it all began. That special moment when they became their own family as they stood together and became one. One family united to face the future. It's exciting and new and fun, and with many prayers and patience needed, I suspect Mollie and Aaron will have the time of their lives figuring it out. 

Everything is possible. 

So the adventure begins. And as they are faced with all the possibilities for their future, decisions become a discussion about the greater good for them both. Where to live and what cars to drive and what schools kids will attend. All big decisions will be made with best intentions. Together. Together is good. Even when it's not good, it's still good. And I hope the good will always outweigh the other. But if tough times do come, remember to reach for each other, because facing it as one will cause you to grow more than you could ever imagine. And before either of you can blink you will be thinking back on years past and how it all began. The good memories will be the ones you reach for.  

The story of your family will always include a warm southern evening in Baton Rouge at White Oak plantation on a night made of memories. For now, it's for the two of you to treasure. But years from now it will be all together different. "Tell me how you met. Tell me about the night you were married." Surrounded by questions and kids and grandkids is where you will be with all the details for them. And as you, Mollie and Aaron, reminisce about that night, I hope it will always bring a gleam to your eyes and a smile to your face. 

Remember it well. 

All the best to the lovely couple.

In Jesus name...

Amen.

Lets go back to the daffodil farm

Mollie and Aaron's wedding weekend is fast approaching and I've been finalizing our last minute trip needs. Caitlin, Olivia and I went in hot pursuit of Owen's tie last night and after two stores and approximately 20 minutes of discussion, we made a decision. I'm still not sure it was the right one. But now I have to assemble all the outfits for him and John and me. No way would I ever leave theirs up to them to remember all the moving parts required so as not to show up to a wedding in shorts and t-shirts. Has that ever happened? Not to my family, but yes it has. I love a destination wedding, but it's a lot of pressure making sure we have everything we need! 

Besides the fact there've been kinks thrown in our path to getting out of town for the weekend and making things a bit more challenging. John went to Arkansas last night to work today and come home tonight. Well he's been doing this trip for about 20 years and for only the second time in all that time, the machine in the plant went down for the day. So, instead of working all day, he was home by 10 this morning. Now he has to go back on Thursday to work on Friday, so we can leave on Saturday. It will work out, but ugh.  

On Sunday evening we discovered that Owen, whose been housesitting since last Tuesday, has been using his phone without being on the people's wifi for almost 6 days and therefore has used up our entire data package for the month all by his lonesome. I was super happy about it when I found out. So far this week have been awesome.

But I was looking back at some drafts for my blog and saw these photos I never posted  from our trip to the daffodil field. I went through them today and believe it or not, I did take some out. But how can I eliminate pics of such a cute face looking back at me. It's a very difficult task for reals.    

So scroll and see how our afternoon was spent on a very cool day in March. 

No commentary.

Just one cute boy discovering something new. 

Marching to his own drum.

Scroll for two, because there are....