New Dog and My Babies

My friend has been trying to get me to take Frodo for a couple of years now.  He is a sweetheart. I used to dog sit him when she was out of town.  Marie loved him.  So anyway when I realized she was still trying to get rid of him the time just seemed right and she brought him over a few days later.  He seems very happy. He gets along with the other dogs and Leia loves to play with him.  This morning I couldn't find him in the room when I woke up and was about to freak out. I got out of bed and he had been sleeping behind my head.  Silly boy!

My sweet Breezi and her little sidekick, Moka.  He loves his Lil Mama.  They were just lying there on the bed and he reaches over and randomly kisses her face.  As much as she loves him, a bit wet sloppy kiss on the face is a little har to take but she accepts it.

Kisses, kisses and more kisses!  How Mo loves his Lil Mama! No one will ever convince me that this isn't affection!

  

Yeah Breeze, get a little closer now while the big boy poses for a picture.  He's handsome and he knows it!

Hmmm, should I sneak in one more kiss?  I haven't seen her all day so I'm going to go for it.  Moka love, love, loves Bree!

He just couldn't take it any more!

Keri's last choir concert was Tuesday.  At the end they present the graduating seniors.  The girls are dressed in fancy dresses.  Keri is wearing her prom dress.  A boy escorts a girl out.  The boy tries to be silly and gives the girl a rose.  The last couple came out and the boy has a guitar.  They sing Time of Your Life to Mrs. Westgate.  She won't be coming back because she is staying home with her baby. It was an emotional choir concert with lots of glitches.  Keri's been in choir since the fifth grade and nothing's ever gone wrong.  Tonight the sound system wasn't quite right. The music stopped playing in the middle of a girl's solo.  Then the concert was stopped in order to fix it again (second time.)  Another girl forgot the words to her solo then a boy passed out

fell off the risers.  Mrs. Westgate stopped the concert and the curtains were pulled while they helped him.  He is okay thank goodness and the concert went on without him.  I was amazed at how much the students love Mrs. Westgate.  Here she is with Keri, maybe not looking her best because she had been crying all evening. I wish her the best with her baby and am glad she gets to stay home with  him.  Mrs. Shotts is the pianist and is quite famous around our area for being and having a very musically talented family.  Her son is one of those guys whose parents want to marry their daughter.  He was at UNT when Bree was there.  Very nice guy.  Keri just loves her

youngest daughter.  Anyway, Mrs. Shotts is a very nice lady and is amazing on the piano.  We will miss her too.  She's staying at Poteet but of course Keri won't be there!

I can't believe that my baby is graduating.  Today is baccalearate (can't spell that, sorry!) then her graduation party. Her party is with five friends at his uncle's place.  We lucked out on this.  Graduation is next Sunday, and yes I hate that it's on Sunday.  It's our year to not get a Saturday time.  It rotates between the other four high schools every year.

Only eight more days left of school for me!  Two of those days are just playin' days (play day and the last day of school/party/early release.)  I have so much to do in my room to get it ready for summer. I'm going to have to buck it up and get started tomorrow.  But hey, at least my grades are in!

Traci's graduation and Keri's drill banquet

It's been an exciting week here.  My precious Traci graduated from Hill College with an associate's degree in liberal arts.  That's exciting enough but on top of that she got Hill College Student of the Year!  She graduated Summa Cum Laude (4.0) and Phi Theta Kappa, Best over-all psychology student and Best over-all physiology and anatomy student, MVP of the soccer team, most goals scored.  They just went on and on about her.  

Unfortunately her daddy wasn't feeling well so he wasn't able to be there.  Thursday was a bad day for him.  He's going to a couple of different doctors so maybe they'll be able to find out what's going on with him and make him better.

I put Grandpa on alert just in case Matt couldn't make it. Traci only had four tickets for graduation and I think Grandpa was a little disappointed.  It was very nice to have him there.  Cameron came along too.  Wish Bree and Matt could have made it.  We really missed them.

 Grandpa, me, Traci and Keri before graduation.  She had to be there early in order to get her rope and stole and get her pics taken.  After this picture the rest of us walked over to McDonald's  and had dinner.  We brought Traci back a happy meal.  She was so hungry that one of her professors felt sorry for her and brought her a cookie.

It was fun to have Cameron there too.  Traci was giddy after graduation.  She let me take lots of pictures. I was so nervous during the graduation that most of the pictures from there are blurry.  They started talking about Traci to present her with the Student of the Year award and I never quit shaking after that.

I didn't realize she was doing so well until about a month ago. I had a feeling she was going to get this award but didn't know until it was presented at the graduation. Someone told her she would be receiving a plaque when she got there though. She said she was hoping that he wasn't talking about her because she was so nervous to walk up on that stage in front of hundreds if not thousands of people.  Her heart was beating really hard.  Good thing she didn't have to give a speech!

The other thing that was nice about this week was that drill team banquet has come and gone. It was very nice. I am so glad that it is over for Keri though.  She's enjoyed being captain for the most part but she has been hated by a lot of the girls because she is captain.  She is only a second year member and I guess in a way took that position away from someone who has been a member longer.  Now she is being blamed for one of the lieutenants quitting the team.  She's been bullied all year by these girls.  The one who quit hasn't been the worst but got too many demerits, the last of which put her on probation so she quit.    Thank goodness for a few friends who have made this year, especially these past few weeks, bearable!

This girl is adorable.  We're pretty sure she'll be the next captain.  I hope so anyway.  She is a sweet girl.  Try-outs for officers are this week.  Keri will teach them the dance then she's done.
I think she'll be there Friday to hand out the envelope to whoever makes it.  Not sure how all that works! I'm just glad it's just about over.


OK, well life happens.  I know I am blessed. Things are starting to get to me. Sometimes I just want to scream and never stop screaming.

She wouldn't let me take a picture of her in the inside of her apartment. It really was TRASH.  I told her that this apartment is just another reason why you should graduate from college!  Nasty!  Lauren's mom and I convinced them that they would appreciate this picture when they were older.  Lauren's been a good roommate. I hope they keep in touch.


My Traci Lynn came home for the summer!  I've missed  her so much!  She did well in her classes, still has a 4.0 for her freshman and sophomore year.  She got an award for best over-all student in her Anatomy and Physiology class and her Psychology class.  She will wear a stole and cords during graduation on Thursday.  I'm so proud of her.  She is very motivated and a hard worker.  She's a smart girl, no doubt, but she isn't brilliant.  Her success so far is from her hard work.  Early Sunday morning she and I drove to Hillsboro to get the rest of her things moved.  Fortunately her roommate's family had rented a U-Haul and offered to bring Traci's bedroom furniture home.  There's no way Matt could have helped with that.  Thanks to Lauren's family!

Well what a week!  Keri was amazing, gorgeous, mature but heartbroken that most everyone made life HELL on her.  We knew the job was tough when she took it.  Those others should be ashamed.  I feel braggy about my daughter when I always say they are jealous.  She can sing, dance, lead, play many sports very well, she  is sweet, nice to people, she's  pretty and smart.  What's not to be jealous of?  BUT there are a lot of people like that.  She's not held up on a pedestal.  She is an easy target.  She is sensitive and has a soft place in her heart for the underdog.  She is a pleaser and doesn't have a mean bone in her body.  I am so proud of the way she has grown and matured this past year.  When I saw her interview with the McClennen dance director, I was amazed that this was my kid.  WOW.  And she did get a lot of positive attention for her singing.  Most everyone was surprised that she could sing
.  I am glad that this is over and am looking forward to seeing her dance with McLennen.  Well she's upset because a fifteen year old sumo boy posted on facebook that he hoped the vocal performance didn't sound like a dying animal.  Well his FACE looks like that of a dying animal that was run over by a mack truck.  How's that?  OK, I am so mature but my daughter had a screaming fit over that comment and I don't appreciate it.

 Here's my baby after the show and standing in front of the senior table.  That's her framed picture next to her.  Much of what they do is tradition and rumor has it that several traditions will be stopped.  I guess our new Belle director wants to make this job hers.  We were lucky to get a slide show this year. Oh the slide show. I don't want to ever see it ever again, I will say that.  That slide show was a pain in the rear end.  It took up too much time and way way too much stress and mental health points.  It's amazing I didn't have a heart attack.  I needed a couple of hours of tech help on both nights.  We really cut it close last night.  UGH!

 Serena almost thinks that my girls are her sisters.  She LOVED the show and participated in it herself.  She was so cute!  Matt got part of it on video.

 I can't believe this is the last time I will see my baby in her white uniform.  She deserves those flowers. And you can tell how much we all love her here in this picture.

We were very lucky for the Miller girls to come see her.  I think 
they loved the show.  Keri was thrilled for them to be there.  Thank you Theresa and girls!

Halleluia!  Keri Lee Cooper made the McClennen dance team. I keep getting told that I am saying it wrong.  But anyhow, I am thrilled that she will get to continue to dance and that she'll be near Traci and not too far from me and let's not forget the scholarship.  That's going to help us a bunch.

Keri tried out on April 21.  There were more try-outs on April28.  We had to wait until April 29 to find out that she made it. We had been checking the website all weekend, unbeknownst to each other.  Then the call came Sunday evening.  The lady had to ask if Keri accepted the offer and all she could say was YES!

I believe that this is going to be very good for my Keri.  She has more growing up to do and more to learn in order to be a better dancer.

 The computer wont let me put my pictures where I want them.  Oh well.  I just wanted to tell my Keri I am so proud of her for all of her hard work and determination in keeping up with drill team and the CRAP that comes with it.  Yeah people!  It's been a smooth year for YOU.  That's because I've done everything.  Now LEAVE MY KID ALONE!  She has done a fabulous job as Captain and has sucked it up and did the not so fun parts.  She was asked a question tonight, "How does it feel for everyone to hate you?"  I wanted to ask her how it feels to have a big butt but Keri didn't work me to.  My attitude isn't so great that I'm not really seething down deep inside.  I have a volcano down inside me that is ready to erupt.  I thought it was hot in here. I just plan to go to afternoon/evening practice all week.  Keri is afraid that someone will hurt her. I'll be keeping my eye on  her for the next week.