It's Been Great, Goodby Freshman, 11 and 8!

 It's that time of year again to say so long to another year of school.

Last day of freshman year in Rawlins Hall, with Zeke's friends Amé and Xavier. He and Xavier will be roommates again next year.

ALA did not have an 8th grade promotion ceremony, so I made my own.

These three kiddos make me proud. Time is going by so fast. 

[May 22]

Sooner or Later

Will Daisy be a Sooner? We will find out later. But first, dessert.

The OU campus buildings all match with crimson red bricks and cream trim, and it's actually a pretty campus. Very small and walkable.

Being founded 135 years ago, the University of Oklahoma is 17 years older than the state itself. The colors are crimson and cream; the Choctaw words, "okla" and "homma" mean "red people," or Native American. Maybe that's why they chose crimson as the school color?

Bizzell Library, lovingly referred to as The Biz, is a beautiful building inside and out.

The stacks have glass floors. These were originally installed because this portion of the library was built before the invention of electricity and lights. The glass floors let natural light in.

The Great Reading Room is a place that remains silent. Interestingly, there is an old confessional booth in the room. You can see it to the right of the picture.

In 1889, the 'Boomers' were traveling west in conestoga wagons for Land Runs. The white cloth that stretched across the wagon's frame resembled a sailing schooner, hence the name prairie schooner. Each land race began with a pistol shot, and those who jumped the gun were called sooners. The name Sooner came to represent energetic, determined individuals, and violà--Boomer Sooner was born. The Sooner Schooner that races around the football stadium is a small version of the prairie schooner that was used to long ago. Boomer and Sooner are the little white horsies that pull the wagon around the football field during games.

Will Daisy be a Sooner? Probably not because they don't offer the cheap Texas rate that used to be available. But I guess all things are possible.

[May 8]

A Touch of Korea - Clark Gardens

 It felt like we stepped back in time a few years and had a lovely Korean-style afternoon.

Kate, Linda, Theresa and I spent the morning wandering around Clark Gardens in Mineral Wells, followed up with a long lunch, all rolled up in lots of conversation and laughter. Just like old times.

The gardens consist of 50 acres of native plants, flowers, trees, ponds, waterfalls, varieties of birds and ducks, butterflies, and turtles.

I don't know where Waldo is, but I spot Kate and Theresa back there.

Lilly pads, just like the pond by 엘크루 Elcru (our Korean home).

Persian silk trees remind me of Korea. It was a nice little throwback kind of day.

[May 20]

Brains and Brawn

 We spent a busy week honoring our girl in both her academics and her athletics.

Daisy was inducted into the National Honor Society. She has been a member all year, but the induction takes place at the end of school for some odd reason.

The purpose of the NHS is 'to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to recognize outstanding students, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools.'

The inductees recited the NHS pledge.

Daisy ran for office and was voted by her peers to be the vice-president of the WHHS NHS chapter next year.

It was a busy week for DanFam5. We also attended the Hills Athletic Banquet. Here Daisy is with Mrs. Bell, the cheer sponsor.

Our girl was nominated as a finalist for the junior female athlete of the year! 

Forever proud of how hard our girl works in the classroom and on the field.

[May 15 and 16]

Lighting Up The Little Mermaid

 Lijee worked his spotlight magic during his advisory's production of The Little Mermaid. Mrs. Wood fell ill on the day of the performance, so the kids pulled this off by themselves. The sign of a great teacher/leader is when you make yourself unnecessary.

Eli and Sam got lights and props ready to go.

I caught him working.

He said his job was basically hitting the space bar because the lighting is pre-programmed. But at least he hit the space bar at the appropriate times.

His biggest fans.

[May 15, 16 and 17]