Graduation Day......"it's all about Luke."

Monday was Graduation Day for Luke.......and I have to say that it goes down in the my record book as the the loudest, craziest, most disruptive, disrespectful, non memorable, Graduation that one of my kids has ever had.
Sadly.

The crowd was SO out of control that they had to be warned a couple of times to settle down. Which they didn't and you couldn't even hear the kids that were being called out for dipolmas, names being called.

Don't get me wrong....I am all about the "celebration" but air horns and sirens and God knows what else some of that stuff was....I can't even go there but let's say it was....ummm....."very obnoxious."

I know that sounds mean.....but I've never seen anything like it. I now am already DREADING what next year will be like for Miss Priss at her Graduation. Ugh!!!
Luke afterwards at Boutin's Restaurant

I was so GLAD when it was all over and it WAS over in one hour. They herded those hundreds of Graduating Seniors through that program FAST.
By a few minutes after 6:00pm....we were outside taking photos. Wow.

Then we were all off to go to celebrate!!!

Luke outdoors at the restaurant where we ate that night.

Luke and his best friend Evan.

"Miss Priss, and The Brothers"

Mom and Luke

Mom and Dad and the "new" Grad.

"Miss Priss and Italian Boy"

"Big Brother and Miss Priss"

"The Brothers" arriving at the restaurant. Handsome "Blokes" I must say.


Luke choose for our family to go to "Boutins Cajun Restaurant" after Graduation. It's a very nice and well respected Cajun Restaurant here in Baton Rouge and since we haven't any family in Louisiana we celebrate Graduations this way.....by going out to eat together as a family afterwards.

Figuring out "what great Cajun dish" to order....yuuuummmm.

I hope you can see this it's a bit dark but it's the "Crabmeat Au Gratin" and to die for.....that's what I ordered :~). It was FAB!


The "Mom and Dad"

Outdoor view from the back of the restaurant....it's a small but beautiful swap.
The temp was 90 degrees in Baton Rouge on Monday...believe me it was NO FUN walking in "high heels" to that Maravich Assembly Center...and I thought I was going to die between the walk and the heat...whew!!

But by the time we got to the Resaurant it had cooled down and bit and the humidity had eased up a tad (only just a tad) but actually it was WONDERFUL outdoors.I don't know if you can see them or not..but there are about a bizillion "turtles" in this photo eating bread that someone threw to them.

My husband and our oldest son after dinner.
The "Luke Shrine" and Graduation Cake....which was actually made up of "28 Cupcakes" into the shape of a "Diploma." I saw it at Target on Graduation day while grabbing Luke a "new shirt" since the Gray one he had just BOUGHT the day before wasn't the "correct color" for Graduation....(good Lord people give me a break)...anyway I loved that "Diploma cupcake" cake ideal....
so I bought it. HA!

Ugh. We were full from our great dinner but somehow managed to stuff some cupcakes into our mouths anyhow. Well, at least Miss Priss and I did.

Gabe and Caleb went to see the new "Prince Caspin" movie after dinner. Luke went to his friend Evan's house and Italian Boy came over for a bit but then went to a friend's house to spend the night "cramming for a final" for today at his school.

Miss Priss will be out of school for the summer as of Thursday...and I am thrilled.
Is it "Beach time" yet??? I'm thinking..."oh yes it is."

I will post the rest of the "cake" photos later. It's late.....and I'm whipped after these two crazy days.

Well actually after about a month and a half of crazy days. Or it could be years at this point....I've lost count. Sigh.

We have canceled our 6 day trip to Texas that we were leaving for on ....Thursday .....I'll fill you in on that too later.
Goodnight for now.

Wow LSU.....you did good!

I'm not one to gloat over things and won't.....because we have friends all over the nation and in Ohio. But we are SO GLAD this game is over and that LSU won the BCS Championship Bowl Game last night.....!!!

This is a super important "moral booster" for our state.

When you've been at the bottom of the "Food Chain" for so long and in so many areas..it's a bit refreshing and nice to be "on top" of something good for once.We took this photo back in November in Iowa.....on the same day that Arkansas played LSU and won..in triple "overtime."
We were having a special "after Thanksgiving Day Lunch" at some of our family's home in Nebraska and had to watch the game there. Ugh!

Can you imagine what we had to endure that day? HA! HA!Ouch!
It was painful I will tell you that.
Hummmm....Funny how those things all turn out.

This year is a NEW year for everyone.....now we move onward.
Football is FUN but it isn't crucial to our souls.

New Years Day

Caleb, Caleb's friend Phoebe, Luke and Don

Today we are trying to remain "festive" even though my husband has "offically" started the beginnings of the "remodel" on our kitchen. Blah!

It will be nice when it's finished. He's started to rip out the laundry room area. It's been a bit messy however....nothing like what's about to come though.

They PROMISE me that this project will go fast and since my son Caleb is one of the very, "Top Notch" Cabinet installers for my husband's company.....so I believe that it will go very fast.
My husband amongst many other hats....is a "Master Carpenter" as well.
So I know I am in GOOD hands.

In the next few weeks as my husband finishes the laundry area, and gets the new cabinets installed, they will then move into the kitchen.
The new cabinets are in and waiting in the warehouse.
We will be putting in brand new "Cambira" (natural quartz) counter tops along with all new kitchen appliances. All these things are set to move into where the "old" things have been.
It's time.

It's also been a day for impressive "Bowl Games"....GOOD JOB MIZZOU!

I hope our "Tigers" do as well next Monday......we are all excited here but it's scary too. There's been way tooo many "thrills" this season. HA!

For a late lunch we had the "traditional" Louisiana fare for New Years Day......
"Pork Loin, cooked cabbage, and black eyed peas and rice and gravy"....amongst some other things I made...cheese biscuits and asparagus.....for dessert.....yummy...."Key Lime Pie."
Thank you "Mrs. Smith" for that.

We "forgot" to open our "English Crackers" for Christmas Day so we did them today!
That was fun! We laughed at the very cheesy jokes too.
Look at these "Grand" prizes we got inside of our crackers....amazing how they can shove all that stuff into them.

Paper Hats, and prizes and jokes.
Caleb putting together a "toy train" he got out of his cracker.

It's cooled down a bit from yesterdays high temps...so we were able to light a fire in our fireplace to warm us today as well. Ther is going to be a "hard freeze" tonight and supposed to get down to 29 degrees so we will have to cover our plants up real well in a bit.


Miss Priss is with friends at a movie, Gabe's in Connecticut. He went to Boston this past weekend so I will post his photos from that trip when he sends them.
HE LOVEEEED Boston, even much more than New York City.
He said it was a lot "calmer" there. HA!

The "Sugar Bowl" just came on......I think I will go get into my Pajama's and watch it from the couch and be cozy, right beside the fire. Ummmmm......
Cheers!

I SO didn't "fix up today" can you tell?
Oh well....there's always tomorrow.

Christmas Day photos........

Our family had a very relaxing and "quiet" non-eventful Christmas Day.
Just what we needed actually. It was a very nice day inside and outside. The best thing was that we were all together. That is what is most important of all to us....."presence more than presents."

You can't take "things" with you later.....but you can take "people."
Don reading the "Christmas Story" and explaining certain things to the kids.

He does this every year so that they "don't forget the REAL meaning of Christmas"...he then expounds on certain points.. and always asks them different "questions" to make them ponder.....like...."What was the gift of Frankincense used for" and "How do you think Jesus' parents felt about their baby being given the gift of Myrrh?"

To which they then all answer various things. They really get involved in this which is cool. It's interesting to listen to their "thoughts" on these things.

Luke "loving" his accessories for his "new bedroom" which was Caleb's "old bedroom" we have just finished remodeling.

Miss Priss in her new "Peruvian Beanie"....now she can go to "Machu Picchu."
Caleb who also has a "December birthday" received birthday AND Christmas presents this day. He "cashed" in.....if you get what I mean.
Danny O'Shea, being a very "sweet" Christmas Dog.

IT finally all becomes "too much fun" for Big Daddy.....zzzzzZZZZZZ.

Sorry for the "blurrs" and crazy darkness in the photos.....my battery was nearly dead on my camera and I was having loads of fun dealing with it. I was glad I got these shots even. Ugh!

Sweet Little Tree

Here is our "Sweet Little Tree"......I snapped this tonight before turning into bed.
I had to wait up for the kids, who were both working tonight.

I love the little "Fairy Lights" on it.

I'll take another one of it in the daytime sometime.

Gabe's going to New York City for the weekend with the Girlfriend and her family and their visitors from England that are in staying with them all for the Holidays.

He said he would "send me some photos" from the trip.
He better.

I just "transfered" his "Christmas present" into his bank account today so that he could buy some "Snow Boots" and a few other things he needed.

We will miss him for Christmas this year. The last time he was gone from us for Christmas was when he was living in England doing an "Internship."

It seems weird not to have him here.

My very good friend Lori JUST e-mailed me to tell me that her family is in the "middle of a big Christmas!" They are opening their GIFTS right now.
She decided it was "the night" and woke everyone up and they have been doing gifts. IS THAT CRAZY?? I told her she was crazy.

Every family does different things you know.
That's what makes the world go round.

For now.......
Goodnight.