Birthday Boy!

Well, I would say I hope you had a great day Eric Christophe but, if you didn't have fun today than you seriously have issues.

And just for explanation. . . . . Eric's middle name is Christopher which makes for a lot of letters when his whole name is put together. While at Jenks schools his name was always on the rolls and tests, etc. as Eric Christophe so some friends occasionally just referred to him as Christophe. He didn't mind, it had some class.
Apparently the BYU testing center has less tolerance for long names so his name was reduced to Eric Christ. Well, that's a lot of added pressure when you are already taking a test. So I would like to apologize for any grief this may have caused. And it was nice spending the day with you. Happy Birthday!

Not cool.

Every morning they show up like they own the place.

That is so not cool, does anybody have some chlorine?

Regret.

Tonight the 100th graduating class from Jenks High School is honored with their graduation ceremony. Tonight is when Eric should have graduated. These are the students he went through school with since kindergarten. Eric only went to Jenks Schools unlike his siblings who hopscotched across the USA. He is a "Jenks lifer". You have no idea of the magnitude unless you are a Jenksonian (Jenkster, Jenksite, I really have no idea) but it is a substantial honor given to kids whose parents don't ever move. We asked Eric yesterday if he regretted leaving a year early, he didn't. He was done with Jenks. He was ready to move on.

But,
if he had stayed,
Eric would have been valedictorian tonight. He should have been salutatorian last year but was disqualified because he graduated early. I have regret. In fact I feel sick to my stomach over the whole thing. Being a valedictorian from a competitive school like Jenks is an honor he could have had forever.

So what if during the program he would have sat on the stage and had his name prominent on the program. Oh well.
Ugh. I never have pronounced Jenks like the locals (Jinx). I may start.

So what, if Jenks didn't want to give him the honor, he had universities clamoring for his attention.

Yet, somewhere, somehow he knew he was going to BYU. Hopefully we have enough funds to provide for his counseling later in life if some regret flares up.
For full disclosure, no one has to attend tonight, we already went, and you shouldn't go twice.

Piano Recital

I have been to more piano recitals over the years than I care to relive or discuss but last night was Emily's first as a performer. She was amazing. She really was. She played the song like she knew how to play the piano. That's the objective right? The girl in the pink is her teacher. She's small, Emily's tall. The boy behind Emily is in her class at school. They didn't know they had the same piano teacher until last night. The boy behind him is a boy. Yes he is, I thought I was back in Eugene and it was still the 60's.

The picture is blurry and too bad there ain't no more because the room was cool. The recital was held at The University of Tulsa's Tyrrell Hall Auditorium. Geoff said it looked like an English Pub but how does he know?

Make your bed.

I'm begging you,is that too much to ask? Mother's Day has now come and gone. I needed to take time to reflect on that one day of the year when women everywhere are reminded of everything they were supposed to do, forgot to do, or were simply incapable of doing that has left them inevitably pondering the question; what do I do now? This is Eric's room today. Through no fault of his own Eric had to speak in church on Mother's Day. It was at least the third time in the past six years that he has done so. They say the third time is the charm and really he did make me sound way more impressive than he should have because well, look at his room. I mean really, if I had any idea what I was doing would his bed look like this. And if I really wanted to enjoy Mother's Day would I choose to have my child speak about me in public, in front of everyone. I have never liked being the center of attention and this one day is no exception. I thank him publicly however, for not mentioning that I have not particularly shined at teaching the art of making a bed, hanging up a towel or landing the dirty clothes in or even near the basket.

If it is any consolation I am highly consistent. Because this is his brother's room. And if it appears he plugs himself in at night, take note, he is not recharging his "clean up after yourself" battery. This room is the direct result of pleading lectures, unbridled bribing and full scale warfare. It is all for naught, whatever that means.

Some experts warn not to embarrass your children. Don't be alarmed, this will not happen. This isn't my first try.

It's raining, it's pouring

Kirsten put these boots on during a downpour two months ago when she was here to visit. She went home but the rain remained. It's like a northern California winter here. Yesterday the rainfall in OK was compared to the current rainfall in Seattle. We are winning, or losing, however you prefer your wetness.

Geoff came home the other day complaining about the ducks swimming in the street. I had to brake for a mother duck and 8 little ducklings crossing my path, they were out in the street without looking both ways I might add. I feel a plague of frogs coming on. The turtles are out but at least you can drive over or around with out fatal consequences, the frogs, not so much.

The grass is green and growing and Geoff and Eric have a day off of work. They should mow. Yesterday after work they went swimming. Emily swam more. The pool is a pond it's been so full of wildlife. Today, no swimming, no mowing, too wet for either. It's a good news, bad news moment for them.

Happy Anniversary, uhh Baby?

They were my babies . . . but I guess not so much anymore.
Today is
Jenny and Jon's 7th anniversary.

S e v e n t h!
Where has the time gone?
That was such a crazy day.
We drove to Dallas the night before while friends prepared the house for the Friday night open house. There apparently was not enough to do because they spent the day taking pictures of themselves in our shower, jumping on our bed, in the tub, bathing their kids in the kitchen sink, my dad with his shirt off sitting in the Miata. I should put those pictures on here but then I would fear for my life.

And Friday was
Justin and Miranda's 5th anniversary.
They were married in the Oakland, CA Temple 25 years after Lonny and I were married there. Miranda's parents were also sealed there so it was just meant to be.

Let's see 7 + 5 = 12. Twelve years of marriage and three grandchildren. It's almost as if they are related to Lonny and I. Five kids in Sixteen years. It's the quality, not quantity.

Hicktown

Emily and I were driving home from her dance class last night while Taylor Swift sang on the radio.
I told Emily I had read that
Taylor Swift wanted to sing a duet with Taylor Hanson.
She responds with who is Taylor Hanson? I forget that Emily hasn't been around forever. And although Emily adores her big sister Jenny, apparently Emily wasn't aware of Jenny's adolescent crush on the three brothers of Hanson, formerly of Jenks. When we first moved here Hanson was a hit on the celebrity drive-by-tour of Jenks. I would have even said Hanson may have been Jenny's first crush (sorry Jonathan) but then I saw New Kids on the Block this morning on the TV and was reminded of her 7 year old self's obsession with NKOB. I do wonder if Emily thinks the music industry production begins in OK. She knows David Cook from American Idol lived in Tulsa for the five years before he won AI. Her friend recently played soccer against a team with the daughter of Garth Brooks who was in attendance. Jason Castro of American Idol knocked on the door of our church friends looking for their neighbors just this week. She knows Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts is from Picher, OK and Kristin Chenoweth is from Broken Arrow. James Marsden from Enchanted and Hairspray is from Stillwater. We are not really country music fans so the gazillion of them from OK don't really count except for Carrie Underwood. Emily is a fan, so one day this year when she had a weekday home from school we drove to Checotah just to say we had been there.(It is the steerwrestling capital of the World.)
I have just one thing to say about Checotah. Hicktown.
If Carrie had been home we would have seen her. It's that small. Which reminds me, actually Emily and I did see her. About three years ago. We were at Valley River Mall in Eugene, OR on vacation. Emily and I walked into the theater to see a movie and standing there against the wall was Carrie Underwood. I leaned down and said to Emily, OMG there's CU!
(I am positive I didn't speak in code at the time.)
When I looked up there were two women whispering and gawking at CU and they quickly recognized an opportunity and persuaded Emily to accompany them to go speak to her. Emily would be their excuse to ask for an autograph. The signed movie popcorn advertisement from one Okie to another stills hangs on Emily's wall. Here's to all the Hicks from Oak La Home uh.

Want to borrow a jacket?

If I don't blog something, does it mean it didn't happen? The mundane, ridiculous and inept are debatable but the tacky, well, that should be explained.
Eric came home.
For the summer.
About 10 days ago.
He has so far:
been to the Senior boy's overnighter with the Stake Presidency
been to the dentist.
been to the orthodontist. Twice.
found a job.
had his Eagle Scout board of review.
viewed four movies at the theater.
and had apparently just what it takes to feel right at home at the "tacky prom" stake dance.

Okay, so Eric has survived his first year at BYU. He has enough credits to be a junior in the fall. But, he's still 17 and apparently just tacky enough for the stake dance. Does it get any better than that?