Spring Evening, Spring Flowers

It was a beautiful spring evening tonight and the kids and I spent some time outside soaking it up. It's that pretty time of year when the grass is really green and the early flowers are in bloom ... and haven't been scorched by the hot summer sun yet!

We took some pics of the pond and the honeysuckle that is in full bloom on the trellis over the pond. It is a favorite of the hummingbirds and we see many of them during the summer months.

We also tried to get pics of one of the resident pond frogs, but they all let out a screech and jumped into the water anytime we came near. They are pretty funny, and pretty scared of us. Wonder if it has anything to do with TJ's relentless efforts to try and catch them in a net all the time? ;-)

Then we moved out front to shoot a few hoops. Abby had to get in the action, even though she was in a dress.

While we were there we took some pics of the beautiful Irises that are blooming near the front walk. I wish they stayed this pretty all year long, but soon they will fade.

A Summer-Like Weekend!

It was a balmy 85 degrees this weekend, felt more like mid-July than the end of May. Well, I guess it is now June as of today!

TJ had a swim party for a group of 4th graders on Sat, so he spent the day at the neighbors house enjoying a good cool down. They had balloon fights (girls against boys) and a great time.

Then we went out to the boat on Sat afternoon. After dinner out, we made a quick stop at a local festival to listen to a set by one of our favorite area Jimmy Buffett style bands. After the music we took in a fireworks show, and the kids were beat so we headed back to the marina to spend the night and get ready for a busy day relaxing on Sunday.

Today was nice and toasty, and just the perfect day to try out the new little boat. It was lots of fun and a great day to be out on the water. We took several rides and didn't leave the marina until way late since it was so nice ... at least it's not a "school night" any more, but it is still a "work night"! Well and Drew starts his 8-week Chemistry class tomorrow morning at the community college, to get a jump on the fall semester at college ... so a few of us aren't off for the summer like TJ and do have some obligations tomorrow! HA

Summer is Officially Here!

Nothing like a three-day Memorial Holiday weekend to get summer underway!

It was supposed to be yucky all weekend according to the weatherman, but apparently it all went around us. It did cloud up a few times, but we enjoyed some sunshine too. We spent the weekend at the boat, from about Sat Noon through Mon Noon and only had rain overnight last night.

TJ was in heaven with the extended time to drive his new remote control boat and got a chance to demo it for lots of people on the dock. The marina is a great place for him to use it and it keeps him busy during the times we are just relaxing on the dock.

The marina is gearing up for summer with lots of people and boats, and of course no summer could start without a parade of baby ducks! It's fun to see the mama ducks swimming with them around the boats and waddling up on the jet ports.

After we left the marina today we dropped the kiddos off at home and made a short trip to pick up a new water toy ... a 14' SeaDoo Speedster. We're thinking the kids will love the chance to tube and hit some river beaches, plus we can all fit in it for an excursion instead of taking two separate jet skis ... with room for floating toys and a cooler to spare. And it has a nice trailer that makes it a lot more mobile than our other boat, which can't be trailered at all.

They were very excited when we pulled into the driveway with it and jumped at the chance to help Dad wash and scrub it up. TJ's wondering if we can buy a tube in time for next weekend since it's Monday already. hahaha

Pre-School Graduation!

We have another graduate in the house! Abby's pre-school graduation was this week and it was a fun night for her! Click picture for a larger view.

She has been so excited about this for so long. They have been practicing the program they did for the parents since March. So at home, we have been hearing songs and memorized lines from "Goldilocks and the 3 Bears" for many weeks now! A couple of weeks ago they made their shirts for the program, which had painted stamps of a house and bears.

She could not stop smiling that night and was so excited for us to be there and see her on stage. I think we might have an actress on our hands! HA

After the program each child received their "diploma" and a treat bag. We capped off the night with dinner out and Daddy gave the graduate 5 gold dollar coins. TJ got some too since he is "graduating" from grade school to middle school without fanfare. Hey it was only fair after Drew's graduation haul!


Our little one is crossing that bridge from pre-school to kindergarten in just 3 short months. She is so ready! It will be fun to see her get on that bus in August with TJ ... and she's eager to learn so she will have some good years in grade school!

Graduation Day!

Well the big day was lots of fun ... actually, it started as a big weekend as we prepared most all of Saturday. We had a combined party with our neighbor whose daughter is in Drew's class, so on Sat a tent arrived and there much much to do to get ready for Sunday! You can click on any of the pictures to see a full size version.

The ceremony yesterday was very nice. Here you can see how much Abby enjoyed it. HA Before the diplomas were handed out, Drew was part of a Senior Ensemble that sang ... it was so fun to see them smiling and having fun during the song that I didn't even cry. Until the end. HA! Here's a You Tube video of the song ...



Then it was time to get serious. There were exactly 100 graduates in Drew's class who walked graduation yesterday. A few graduated early, but this was the largest class to ever graduate from Tremont HS. It was so wonderful to see Drew cross that stage and receive his diploma, and incredible to think of him crossing the bridge from being a kid in school to his young adulthood.

They did a wonderful job and even with the song and some after-diploma sillyness ... we were out of there in 40 minutes flat! The moment it was announced that the class was approved for graduation, the Silly String popped and the noisemakers started, and it was quite funny. Might be hard to tell, but that is Silly String in the air and hanging off the mortar boards!

The ceremony that was filled with so much dignity and pomp and circumstance left us all smiling instead of feeling the impact of the bittersweet changes our kids just went through. I greatly appreciated the chance to smile with them and for them! It is so unlike THS to have anything but a serious program, so it was extra funny to see them cut loose and just enjoy the moment.

Then it was party time! We had a wonderful crowd of people ... teachers, mentors and friends. It was almost 9pm before we closed up shop, and we got started about 3:30, so it was a good afternoon and evening.


Now today is going to seem pretty routine and boring. HA


Congrats Drew! And congrats to my nephew, Zach, who graduated at virtually the same time, but 3 hours away!

THS Baccalaureate

One big graduation event down, one to go! Tonight was Baccalaureate for the THS Class of 2008, and it was a very nice event. At least with the cooler weather outside it wasn't as hot inside the gym as usual!



Hard to catch good pics in the lovely lighting of the gym, but I did get a video of Drew and two other Seniors (Lisa and Kristen) singing "Amazing Grace" during the ceremony. I was zoomed in, so it is shaky ... and it's from the digital camera not the camcorder, so the sound quality isn't that great ... but you can hear them! HA They practiced only 1 time (busy Seniors, you know!) at 6:30 tonight, before Baccalaureate started at 7:30!



Not long until the big day now! Saturday is going to be a busy day cleaning and getting ready for the after-party, and Sunday will be here before we know it! Drew is singing again with a group at graduation on Sunday, so that will be fun.

Do these come with a bottle of tylenol?

It's official ... TJ is all signed up to play the snare drum for 5th grade band in the fall! The band director requested that we purchase this type of snare drum and bell combo kit, complete with snazzy wheeled carrying bag, for his use in band. The kids selecting the drum will actually start out on the bells for the first 3 months or so in band as the band learns to function as a group ... and then the more serious drumming will begin with some after school lessons! He's very excited and can't wait to try it all out.

I went to a meeting tonight of current 4th grade parents to learn more about our kids' transition to middle school next year. I think it's going to be a good schedule for TJ to change classes and move around a bit during the day ... he gets bored easily with some school projects and maybe that will keep him on his toes! At any rate, he should be ready to return to school after a fun summer break. His last day is May 29.

School's Out ... forever!

Well, at least for Drew ... the seniors last day of school was yesterday. Now it's just a couple of graduation practices early in the week, Baccalaureate on Wed night, and waiting for the big graduation day the following Sunday!

I have been so emotional this week, it's so bittersweet. I'm so excited for him to graduate and move onto college and start his life as an adult. It's just hard to think that means leaving his life as a kid at home with us ... but I know watching how his world comes together over the next few years will be so very rewarding that it will outweigh the sadness I feel about him being gone.

On a much lighter note ... Drew received word yesterday about another scholarship! I work for the Home Builders Association in Peoria and we are affiliated with the National Home Builders Association. The group of executive directors like myself across the country has a scholarship fund for our children ... and Drew's application was selected to receive a one-time, $3000 award in recognition of his work on the teen driving issues and other community service. He is one of 6 recipients across the country to receive this award. He has done so well in scholarship awards that we are down to paying just about only the room and board now ... way to go, kiddo! :-)

Senior Moments

No, I'm not the one having senior moments this week ... it's Drew! :-)

That senior boy has us running about every night to some type of year end function, and it is so bittersweet to take part in the "last" of all of these events. I'm so happy for him and what the future holds, yet it's hard not to feel sad that our lives all change in a few short months when he leaves for college!

Yesterday our day started with a breakfast session for the Principal's Leadership Award that Drew received. It was held at Eureka College, and a very nice event. Drew is shown here with his Principal and another THS student who received the Principal's Award along with Drew.

Last night we spent 2 hours at the school celebrating the successes of all the THS graduating seniors in awards and scholarship. Drew received special recognition from the Illinois State Police for his work on the Tazewell Teen Initiative, and a special mention of the award he received in Springfield a few weeks ago.

Tonight was the final THS Spring Band & Chorus Concert. Here Drew is shown with a part of the Men's Concert Choir.

Next with the Madrigal Singers. This acapella group practices completely outside of school hours, usually at 7:20am before school ... and they are an incredible group of singers.

Next Drew performed with band, and I didn't really get any good shots of that (the horror!) but I did get a nice shot of the combined mens/womens Concert Choir at the end.

The juniors gave the 19 graduating seniors in Concert Choir a single stemmed flower, and the tears started to roll. Not just mine, but those of several of the senior girls. They struggled their way through the songs, and the moms struggled their way through seeing the performance through the tears. HA

Afterwards, the scene looked like this ...


... and soon smiles and this ...


But before we knew it, the silly kids we know and love were back, and there were lots of laughs and smiles, and it looked like this ...


You can click on any of the pics and see a larger version, but that last one is especially humorous!

Congrats, THS Seniors ... I know I have not cried my last tears with you yet! Only 11 days to til graduation! :-)

Prom Night!

Prom night here in Tremont ... here's Drew heading out with dad's wheels to pick up Taylor. The weather was so cool and gray today that we didn't do any pretty outdoor pics like last year. Bummer.

Then it was time for Promenade at the school. Here's a You Tube video of Drew and Taylor being announced and walking out ...




It's always fun to see everyone dressed up and see a few personalities come out! Some interesting dress and tux choices, and a few guys in tuxes with either tennis shoes or flip flops. Always good for a smile!

Drew and Taylor standing after being announced.

After Promenade was over I did corner them long enough for a few pics in the gym, but the lighting isn't great and the pictures aren't the best!

Now it's off to Peoria for them for dinner and dancing at WeaverRidge, and then they will head to an after-prom lock in event at Riverplex in Peoria. Lots of games, contests, prize drawings, even swimming if they want to ... but I think most of the girls don't want to get in the pool with all that hairspray on their beautiful hair do's! HA They are there from Midnight to 6am, and he'll roll in here in the morning for a long snooze. I'm looking forward to going out to dinner myself tonight ... spending some time with Mitch and the kids since I just got back home late last night, and not sitting at home thinking about having a teenager out at prom overnight! EEK!