A Literal Homecoming

Homecoming wouldn't be homecoming in Texas without the riduculous mums. This one was a collab effort from both of us at Cougar Corner.

Thursday afternoon there was a homecoming parade.

I followed the band and the cheerleaders in case anyone got too hot, because it is still about a thousand degrees outside. Last year the day of the parade I was asked to do the same; I felt a little painfully plain driving in the parade in my simple van with nothing on it nor anything in it but me. This year I was asked in advance so I made a couple signs to hang on Sea Biscuit (that's the name of my car--because Sea Biscuit was a horse). 

I also decided to bring Chuey, so there was something to look at in the car besides me.

Of course she loved it and everybody who spied her little head peeking out of the bottom of the window loved her.

Chuey even got her own mum!

The parade starts at the middle school, 

goes past the elementary,

and finishes at the high school. The pep rally immediately follows, and it was held outside this year.

That evening Abe and I attended 'Meet the Cougars' night, where we got a picture of the cheer squad autographed by the cheer captain!

Alexander is the little brother of Zeke's roommate Xavier. Alex and Daisy are good buddies.

Hills hosted pyramid night at the game. The weekend before the team hosted a cheer clinic, and the little girls were able to join the cheer team at the game.

Daisy was discussing important things with her little friend while waiting to cheer the football team on when they entered the field.

Look who made homecoming an literal 'homecoming'! 

Zekers picked up his old bass drum,

and caught up with his old band bestie.

On Saturday Sam and Daisy got ready for the dance at our house.

Daisy and her friends strike a pose at the dance.

[September 27]

Terrifying

 When your babies are babies, you worry a lot. It starts with "Are they eating enough?" Then it's SIDS and "Are they still breathing?" As they get older, there are new concerns to worry about. "Are they going to choke on that grape?" "Are they going to stick that metal object into the outlet?" "Are they going to run into the street?"

I naively thought the worrying would start to subside as they got older, and life would be easier for all of us. But the worrying does not subside. It never subsides. It's a different type of worry as they grow older, but it's just as real.

My biggest worry now is this:

Daisy got her license and is legal to drive without an adult in the car with her.

It. Is. Terrifying.

She is actually a pretty good driver. But the road is dangerous and accidents happen. 

There goes my little girl.

[August 30]

And Then There Were Two

First day pics hit differently this year with only two.😪

Of course we got our annual first day of school ice cream with Grannie.

First day of freshman year a week later.

Even though we weren't with him, Zekers continued the traditional first day of school ice cream, college version.

8th day of 8th grade

11th day of 11th grade

[August 13]

Take Flight, My Little Eagle

The weekend prior to move in, The Richmonds had a going away party for Xavier and Zeke.

 

The daddies and the boys...

and the mommas and the boys.

The night before move in day my heart was full as I listened to all three kids playing games together and just laughing and laughing.

Taking family pics before we left is where I got emotional.

It was this last picture of DanFam5.1 that really got me. I may have went in the bathroom and cried after taking this. I rallied quickly though.

This is all the stuff Zeke brought to college.

Here he is, walking into his new habitation.

Greg and Nicole were moving in Xavier at the same time. The room is pretty small, but neither of the boys brought much, so we weren't really on top of each other.

The goodbyes were hard.

It made me feel better that Zeke was rooming with a good friend. The thought of endless sleepovers reassured me that he is getting ready to embark on the time of his life.

[August 8]

Update: The boys moved in a week before school started to attend First Flight, which is like freshman camp. Zeke was in the top left part of the N with lots of other freshmen.