Prom 2013

I snagged a shot of the boys before Pumpkin left for prom.

 The beautiful couple...

 The parents crash a photo...

They went with 7 other couples.  A family who has a child in the 10th grade offered to host the dinner.  How nice is that?  The weather was fabulous.  We snuck in just to say thank you to the owners and snap a few photos.

 The fancy heels were swapped out for the Chuck Taylors.  I love it!

The kids are going to an after prom.  I hope they have a good time.  I'm gonna try to get some sleep, but will be listening for the door to close around 3am.

Crafty Door Hanger

I have a list a mile long, but felt the need to be a bit crafty.

The burlap wasn't as much fun to work with as I expected.

I marked it with the boys' high school thinking we will get to use it again in four years.

Now, on to getting ready for all the festivities...

MTAC Senior Banquet

On Saturday night, we had the Thunder senior banquet.  Parents were invited too.  It was enjoyable and very fun to see the kids outside of the pool.  One mom said that is was hard to recognize them with real clothes on!

The seniors gave Coach a little gift.

Pumpkin has a wonderful coach.  He is such a great role model and has positively influenced his life.  We are truly grateful.  Not only the coach, but the great set of kids helped keep swimming so important in Pumpkin's life.  I think it will be tough on Pumpkin when he walks away from Coach this summer.  Fortunately, Coach is a philosophy major and knows how to handle it.

The senior boys (minus one)...heading to Washington University in St. Louis, USCGA, Alabama, US Naval Academy, and Alabama.

Here is the group of senior swimmers.  The three boys on the right are heading to service academies, two to Naval Academy and one to USCGA.

It was fun catching up with senior parents.  The best thing is that swimming is still going on.  The guys are heading to the beach over Memorial Day and the team heads to Pensacola a few weeks later.

We've tried to convince Peanut to swim, but no such luck.  I hear him and am all for him paving his own way.  We hope the cross country and soccer coaches are just as exemplary.

Pops Concert

Pumpkin's high school choir career is history!  Last night, they had a dinner/concert.  The theme was pops tunes.  It was just a lovely evening.  It all started with Elvis -- in the room.  We were laughing at Pumpkin's facial expressions (left of Elvis) as he sings in the chorus.

My favorite high light was Pumpkin's solo.  I know.  A proud mom moment!

I think this was at the end of the concert.  Pumpkin did a great job.  He took responsibility to get a gift for the director.  

 His choir buddy.  They swapped vests and ties.  Silly!

 Pumpkin's girl.  She goes to the neighboring high school, but came to hear him sing.

 Another choir Buddy.

So very grateful for his four years of choir.  His director is the best.  She exposed the kids to, oh so much.  Music can be so powerful.  I hope Pumpkin keeps with it at the Academy.  It will be such a stress release for him.  I am not sure I can handle listening to him sing patriotic songs in uniform.  It will melt my heart!

Timing Career - Check

Pumpkin's swim team hosted a swim meet this weekend.

It was kind of odd as he did not participate.  He was in Orlando, FL with the choir.

We volunteered, anyway, as the  team needed the help.

I am now officially retired from timing at a swim meet!  That is, unless Peanut decides to swim.

I'm going with the retirement plan.

Most of the time, we timed with friends - just like today.  It was fun while it lasted!

Sneak Peak

Graduation announcements forthcoming

Opted for nonstandard, creative ones

Here's the front of the card...

I keep pinching myself that this is really happening!!

Road to Independence

Pumpkin and the rest of the school choirs boarded charter buses for Orlando, FL this afternoon.  (They are driving through the night.  Ugh!)

At the same time, Peanut had an ortho appointment.  I called the orthodontist and asked to switch the time.  No can do.  Peanut is sooo close to getting the braces off.  We are visiting every two weeks and he could not miss this appointment.  (Much to Peanut's chagrin, he was told to come back in two more weeks.)

My only alternative was to have Pumpkin drive himself to the bus and park the car at school.  Pumpkin was fine with it.  I felt guilty, for a bit, that he had to put himself on the bus.  It all worked out.  He parked the car, put the keys under the mat, and left the car door open.  Fortunately, no one else drove away with our '96 wagon:-)

The Big Guy and I walked Buddy to the car.  He brought it home.  I walked the dog home.

And, Pumpkin's taken another step on the Road to Independence...