A Race to the Finish

Finally, we are out of school.  And, finally, a post from the purple palace.  The cats are fine.  Spunky doesn't look fine, but her behaves well and eats well.  I hope you don't mind the photo dump, but many different things happened that were photo-worthy.  First of all, we held our annual senior barbecue and kickball game.  My team lost for the first time ever.  We tie-dyed shirts for the two teams and we all looked great.  As always, it was a fun, but hot, afternoon.  Travis came and made funnel cakes - always a hit.  

The 2013 Senior Kickball game

That week, we also got to hand out our state championship rings to the cheer team.  That was lots of fun to see them all so excited about it.  The ring is rather large; it covers knuckle to knuckle!

Then there was that week that Morgan came home!  It was so good to have her here, even if it was just for 6 days.  I let the girls out of school and they drove with me down to Orlando to get Morgan.  She was home specifically for her dear friend JoAnna's wedding.  

As always, Morgan has a good time wherever she goes!  JoAnna was a beautiful bride!!

We were able to go out to lunch for Rozzie's 17th birthday!  Happy Birthday Rozzie!!  Even tho it was Rozzie's birthday, everyone got shoes.  Apparently, Morgan was wearing tennis shoes that Maddie had grown out of in 7th grade!

Lunch at Bahama Breeze

Rozzie is now 17.  This was taken at a Young Women's activity where they learned a little about photography.  This is just a reminder to me to get her senior pictures taken!!  (Jenny - we'll have to coordinate schedules!!)

 On the heels of Rozzie's birthday was graduation.  Rozzie was a graduation marshalI  again; however, she was promoted.  Last year she tied off a rope.  This year she led a row of seniors onto the field and through the graduation process.  Due to her quick thinking and somewhat questionable tact, she was able to lead her friend Lauren's row and also sat just a few seats away from me.  By chance, I ended up seated just a few feet away from our dear Chelsea who is recovering from her brain tumor surgery and doing very well.  The dance coach (Ali) and I discussed what a treat it was to sit so close to her and be grateful for her and her recovery.  What a miracle!!

Lauren, Rozzie & Chelsea

Rozzie takes her work very seriously

Spying on Rozzie

Celebrating Chelsea's graduation moment

 Many of you have heard the story of Matt.  Matt was my student the past two years.  On the first day of school his junior year, he filled out a student information sheet as did all my students.  In response to the sections "Interests", he wrote:  trains and West Virginia.  That was an odd response, but I thought to myself, "I've found a new best friend for Travis!!"  Weeks later in a meeting with Matt's mother and grandmother, it became apparent that Matt was the one who needed a new best friend and mentor.  I was informed of the alcohol and drug abuse in the home.  His parents had been in and out of jail on a variety of charges.  Money was spent on drugs and alcohol rather than food.  All Matt wanted was to get out of high school and the house, and work for the railroad.  My department head worked with Travis to set up a Big Brother program that paired Matt up with Travis to act as a mentor to help Matt attain his goal of working for the railroad.  The past two years have been horrific for Matt and his family.  The one constant (other than Grandma) was Travis.  Matt has now graduated and is on his way in the next few weeks to start a job in Fitzgerald, Georgia, working at a railroad car shop.  He will get his 2 years of experience working outdoors and with heavy machinery so that he can apply to become a railroad conductor.  This has been a life-changing experience for both Matt and Travis (and even me).  I don't know who benefited more.  Matt knew what he wanted (and didn't want); however, he lacked the knowledge and resources to make it happen.  Travis provided him with that.  Matt has not been "given" anything, but will be successful on his own.  I am so proud of him.  He is a humble man who just wanted better than what he had seen in his house.  On the other hand, Travis has seen some of the problems we face at school and has a different understanding of people.  This has been a great source of satisfaction and joy for Travis.  We are really proud of Matt.  His grandma threw him a party with lots of family and friends there.  His mom is trying to clean up.  Dad was shipped off to live with his mom in Oregon the morning of the party.  Apparently, everyone here in Florida is over his antics.  Travis and Matt head to Fitzgerald to get Matt's apartment lined up tomorrow!!

Congratulations to Matt!!

 Then I got this hair-brained idea to make cute pillowcases for the dance team to take to camp.  Rozzie thought they needed their names embroidered on them.

 And let's see what Maddie is up to.  She is driving a lot more, in anticipation of her 16th birthday in November.  I like this picture of us.  The phone camera makes everything backwards.

That is us in a nutshell.  I hope you are all done with school and on your way to a great summer.

Newsworthy

Here is what is newsworthy:  

• Congrats to Rozzie and Maddie for making the dance team again.  There were over 50 girls at tryouts, so it is getting harder and harder to make the team.  They are both really excited for the new year.  Rozzie is the co-captain.  
• It rained for 4 days straight here.  The storms didn't happen until last night, but it rained steadily.  These Floridians act as though life is ending when it rains.  I was happy for it, as it keeps the kids mellow at school.  Licky spent those 4 days in the house looking for safe places to take cover.  We had to get Patrick down off the roof.
• The Young Women at church had their annual camp fundraiser.  I brought popcorn cupcakes.  Rozzie made them and decorated half, then Maddie, Travis, and I decorated the other half.  I got the plastic tubs at Target.  They weren't popcorn flavored!! They were a lot of fun and the kids really liked them.  My bestie bought one bucket!! (and I bought her dessert!

Lots of Reasons to Get Dressed Up

Last week was, as they say, off the chain.  I had cheer clinics and tryouts which took up ALL my free time.  By Wednesday, Rozzie texted me and asked, "Are you coming home today?"  Sadly, the answer was, "No."  We survived it, though.  Now it is the girls' turn to tryout for the dance team this coming week.  But before tryouts, there is the banquet.  It was a lovely evening with lovely kids.  

The Freshmen

The Juniors 

And then there was Prom!  Rozzie went with her small group of friends.  They got a limo and went to dinner at PF Chang.  McCall did her hair and makeup.  You might recognize the dress from the pageant, so now she has 2 wears out of it!!  We met at the park in Green Cove Springs.  You can see the spring right behind them that runs into the St. Johns River which is further in the background.  

Chelsea, Rozzie, and Lauren

As you can see, Rozzie's friend Chelsea is back to "normal".  She returned to school this past week.  Her tumor was benign.  And she was able to go to Prom!!  She has been, we all have been, greatly blessed.  She is on a lot of medications and will continue to have many doctor appointments throughout the year.  She is happy to be doing normal things.

Travis and I always enjoy going to the Prom.  Travis is very good to sit at a table with shoes and purses.  I check in with him regularly.  It is fun to get dressed up.  We went to dinner with the dance coach and her husband, Ali and Stu.

The girls and the limo driver

Rozzie's closest friends hamming it up.  I tried to ignore Rozzie at the Prom.  However, I wanted a few pictures.  She was irritated when I asked them to take a picture.  Then they got to posing and we had to cut it off at 5.

Chelsea, Nora, Rozzie, Lauren

Rozzie went to Lauren's house with her friends to spend the night.  Then they went to Lauren's grandparent's lake house where they spent the day jet skiing, sunbathing, eating, and having fun!  Now it's time to get serious and finish out the school year strong.  We have AP exams coming up, EOC (end of course) exams for Maddie in Algebra and Biology.  And I just have to tolerate my seniors for another month!!

The Holiday From Which We Measure How Long It Has Been That We Have had Diarhhea

"Nacho Libre" enthusiasts will know that to be "Easters".  

We were on Spring Break this past week.  Travis was out in California having his voice surgically altered.  So it was just the girls hanging out at the house.  Spring Break couldn't come soon enough and now we just have to trudge through to the end of the school year.  This is when all the testing happens and there is no break in sight.  The kids have already started going to the beach so their minds are not on scholarly employs at this time.  sigh....

So what did we do while Trav was away?  We watched lots of movies and I finished a pair of socks!!  Now that it is 80 degrees everyday, I won't be needing them.  

I celebrated my 44th birthday!  We went to dinner at PF Chang.  Trav left me a gift card.  Sadly, this was my first cakeless birthday...  (Trav is coming home tomorrow, so I baked one today.  Wait til you see pictures!!)  I survived.  

While we were all waiting for school to get out last Friday, Rozzie's dear friend Chelsea went to the ER for a very bad headache with vomiting.  This was the start of 10 days in ICU for a tumor on her pituitary gland.  It was, and still is a very scary time for her.  The surgery went well and she came home today.  Rozzie, Lauren, and Nora have been to visit Chelsea many times.  It is nice to see kids rally in times like this.  They rose to the occasion and did the difficult thing - all of them.  

Sara sent me a puzzle for my birthday.  I'm always very intimidated by puzzles and this was no exception.  I spent an entire day doing this puzzle - even stayed up until 1:30 to finish it.  I couldn't go anywhere, and was coming out of my own funk, so I just committed one day to this beast and I conquered it!!

Then came Easters.  Just so you know, I am wearing flats and the girls are both in heels.  Yes, they are both taller than me, but not this much taller.  It was a nice Easters and we went over to Lani's for dinner.  

I also had a colonoscopy during the break (that is the funk I was in while doing the puzzle).  I do not have pictures to show you of the procedure.  Yes, the prep for the procedure is unpleasant and if I never have Gatorade again, it will be too soon.  I hated it in the first place.  After the procedure, my IV sites have been bothersome.  I was dehydrating pretty fast by the time they put in the IV that I was happy to see the saline solution.  The problem was that they couldn't get a good vein and it HURT when they put it in.  I've had MANY IVs in my lifetime so I know what it should be like.  It continued to be uncomfortable (it even hurts with typing - I think she messed up a nerve) and they must have moved the IV when I was out because I have 2 big bruises on my hand and wrist.  All went well, they found what they were looking for, removed some polyps, and woke me up.

That was Spring Break.  I hope you all had a good Easters and that the temps are warming up a bit and Spring will spring for you, too.

Also, for those who haven't already heard me tell the story:
Last night, Maddie and I were watching a movie and Licky came to the front door and was meowing.  Maddie went and opened the door.  Licky ran away.  Maddie turned to me and said, "We were just 'ding-dong ditched' by our cat."  That's pretty low.

The Best Kept Secret in the Universe - Part II

Last weekend was the girls' national competition in Orlando.  We stay at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal and the competition is at Hard Rock Live.  It is such a fun weekend with these kids and it was great to have Maddie along.  I chaperoned Maddie's room.  Maddie had never gone to see Rozzie at this competition and so it was all new to her and she LOVED it!!  The freshmen girls all hung out together on Saturday which is exactly what Maddie needed with these girls.

Their first performance was Saturday night at 11:02 pm which was ridiculous.  There are a lot of really great teams in their division and it was fun to watch our favorite team, West Springfield.  This team always does a very robotic, precise dance.  This year's theme surprised us all - old men!!  The dance was just hilarious and very good.  So, the team made finals that night. We got to sleep in a bit before we had to check out of the hotel.  The girls didn't dance until 8:12 pm so we had some time.  It is a lot of fun to watch the other routines in different divisions.  Our team ended up placing 6th out of 15 really great teams so we are proud of them and their efforts.  The 4th/5th/6th teams were all VERY close.  We didn't get home until 2 am that night.  I let the girls sleep in and come in late to school, but I got up and went on time.  It was a struggle all week!!

Rozzie and Maddie all ready to dance

Rozzie and Nora are best buddies and we recreate this picture each year!

Ready for the world

The end of a great weekend and season!!

Rozzie is on the far right

The girls and their coach

This last picture is from the very end of the night.  All our group was dispersing and it was just our family, Nora, and Ali left.  Then these two kids came running up yelling for Rozzie and Nora.  Over the past three years, Rozzie and Nora have developed an online (stalking) relationship with the West Springfield team.  These two West Springfield dancers left their big, exclusive party to find Rozzie and Nora.  It was really fun.  West Springfield has been on "America's Got Talent", the "Today" show and all sorts of other things.  The parent that was with them told me that their team really respects our team and loves to come and watch them each year.  It was a really great ending to the evening.  Rozzie and Nora were so thrilled and our coach was speechless.

Last night was the cheer banquet which officially brings the season to a close.  I didn't want another sheet cake.  Lani had someone make New York themed cookies for a party and they were amazing, so I got the name and number of her friend and ordered cookies with a summer/beach theme.  I picked them up and was THRILLED with what I got.  LOOK AT THIS!!!

Now I want to quit my job and make cute cookies!!  The kids loved them.  They took pictures with the sunglasses.  We did our awards and gave each of the cheerleaders a mini megaphone (oxymoron) with their name and year on it.  They were a hit!

After awards and the videos it was picture time.  I was posing for a picture with the boys when they all did this:

See, I didn't need to have sons, I have these guys!!

FIHS Jewels

When I started working at FIHS, I was very surprised to find out that they still did a beauty pageant in the hight school.  As I've gone to see the pageant now for 10 years, I've seen that it isn't so much a beauty pageant as it is a fun experience for these girls to challenge themselves and have a bit of fun dressing up!  It is a pretty big deal in all the schools.  In the past few years, the dance team has provided the winners of the pageant, as well as the 1st runner-up!  This year, Rozzie decided she wanted to try her hand at the pageant.  Well, not this year -- since she first saw the pageant, she wanted to do it.  But as the time came to actually sign up, she got nervous and worried and nearly didn't sign up.  The teachers in charge of the pageant were great support and really encouraged Rozzie to commit.  She did and the work began.  She had to have a talent to showcase, so we got with her tap teacher and they got a dance put together.  That dance needed a costume.  Tap is a very casual style of dance so we had to be careful that we didn't get an outfit that was too casual or an outfit that was too dressy for the dance.  I found a sequined halter style shirt at Kohl's on sale for $17 and then she wore her dance team capris and it was just perfect.  When she took it in for approval, the teachers called me and and said we hit the nail on the head - thanks for not going overboard.  After solidifying the talent, Rozzie had to decide on a platform - a cause that she would support as Miss FIHS - and write a one minute monologue explaining it.  Then came the casual wear (casual as opposed to formal).  The casual wear is worn for the interview.  Rozzie's best friend's mom is a stylist for Banana Republic and is always dressed to the nines, so Rozzie asked her to come along shopping for the perfect outfit.  We ahd a good time and found something really nice.  Next was the dreaded formal wear.  Rozzie knew our guidelines and found a most amazing dress at Dillards.  We had only been shopping for 3 hours and 2 stores when we found it.  The most dreaded part actually went very smoothly.  Then there were shoes and accessories to get.  

Rozzie balanced dance team practices and pageant practices for the past 2 months.  It all finally came to fruition this past Thursday night.  Rozzie was very nervous about her monologue and, if she made finals, the on-stage question.  I was plenty nervous for her, too.  I had been a good mom and not taken advantage of my teacher status to go in and "peek" at practices so I hadn't seen anyone else's talents or anything.  The dance team always comes together to support their contestants.  However, this year, they only had one to cheer for so Rozzie got all their attention!!  It was great to turn around and see this:

FIDT - Rozzie's cheer section

So the pageant started and Rozzie looked SO GROWN UP on stage!  I was taken aback by it.  All the make-up and lipstick makes a big difference.  She walked confidently in her casual outfit.  Then it was talent time and she tapped the daylights out of that stage.  That was good to see.

Then it was time for the formal wear portion.  Travis was her escort.  Men's Warehouse donates the tuxedos for all the dads/grandpas/brothers.  I have to say, Rozzie's dress was the best one on stage.  The proof that I have for that is the number of students that told me so today!!  I had one student who never wears the same thing twice marched right up to my desk and demanded to know where we found Rozzie's dress and that it was the best one of the night.  I think she looked beautiful.  Ok, you got me.  The dress is magenta so of course I think it is the best!!  After the formal wear presentation, the top four  were announced.  Rozzie was the last of the four called (in no particular order!!).  She was just stunned.  Well, those four girls had to answer an on-stage question.  Rozzie was the last to go and she got the question of her life:  If you could choose anyone, who would you choose to sit down and have dinner with?  Well of course, Kate Middleton.  She kindof laughed as she said it and her cheering section all cheered for her because it was the answer they were expecting.  Then it was time for the big announcement.  They called off 3rd runner-up.  Then 2nd runner-up.  Rozzie was called as 1st runner-up and was just thrilled.  The girl that won is said to be a very humble, nice, smart girl.  Rozzie reported that she was really happy with the winner.  Then it was picture time:

Miss FIHS 1st Runner-Up

A number of the dance team girls.  They were so good to her!!

Rozzie and her dance team coach, Mrs. Connell

Mrs. Walker runs the pageant and is the heart and soul of the school.  

She is so excited with her placement - you would think she won it!!  She wore her sash to school today and was congratulated all day long.  The bonus is that there is a little scholarship money involved with this upon graduation!!  Rozzie went by "Rosalin" in the pageant.  It was kindof funny because the two emcees are dance team girls and they kept correcting themselves to call her "Rosalin".  Next year, Rozzie will be an emcee!

I did not take pictures during the pageant - it was dark and we were behind a row of people.  There was a photographer and I'll be sure to order a few of his photos when they are available.  The school TV production crew videoed the pageant and the DVD will be available before the end of school.  We were exhausted today, but are still very excited.  It has been a good year, so far.  No complaints.  

Ring Size = 7

You may remember in my last post that my cheerleaders won a state competition.  It was run by a cheer/dance company that hosts competitions.  As our dancers are not an official sport in Florida, this was really their big statewide competition and they had a pretty big division with some serious talent.  This weekend was the official FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Cheerleading Competition in Kissimmee, Florida.  It is just outside of Orlando.  There are many divisions in cheerleading and we compete as a small coed division 2 team.  This means that we have 4 or fewer boys on the team and that we are a large school.  The school paid for a bus to drive us down for the day and we left the school at 8am.  We arrived at Downtown Disney at about 10:30 and set right to getting lunch.  The kids had voted and chosen the T-Rex Cafe.  I had nightmares from "Jurassic Park" so this was unsettling.  All I can say is that it was very noisy in prehistoric times.  I don't know how anyone got any rest.  The kids had a great time.  We got to eat in the ice cave that you see as the purple section in the background.  The lights in there changed constantly and it was difficult to tell what was in your food and it was a strain on the eyes.  Beyond that, the food was good and the kids were pumped to get going and start this competition.

T-Rex Cafe - 2 thumbs up

We knew going into the competition that if we could hit our routine, we had a chance.  However, we also knew that our competition was very good.  There were 20 teams in our division.  Most of them have been competing with boys for years.  This was our first year with boys.  The big thing about having boys is that they do different stunts with the girls.  All our boys but one are new to cheering and have learned it all this year.  We competed twice.  In the semi-final round, we placed 2nd - .55 behind the leaders.  We had 15 minutes to get ourselves ready and into warm ups for the finals.  We went first.  We nearly lost the pyramid, but the group muscled the girl back up into position and we finished out wonderfully.  Our tumbling was right on and synchronized.  Everything looked good.  The problem with cheer competitions is that they aren't actually playing someone and they can't control another team.  They can only do what they do and then the rest is out of their hands.  So then Bartow went after us and they have some good tumbling - one part of their tumbling is better than ours and one part isn't.  Then they dropped 2 stunts and I knew the door was open.  We waited for awards and, as you know, we won - by .1!!!

My captains- Vanessa, Leslie, and Christina; and my choreographer Cortnee

It was late and we were starving so we went to Steak and Shake for dinner (at 10:45).  Then the bus ride home...I got home at 2:30am.  Travis was so excited that he was still awake!!  I was exhausted.  I had spent all day feeling like I wanted to throw up from nerves.  I kept my body all clenched up.  I get so nervous for them and I have to play the music and pretty much be in charge of everyone.  I had to work on Friday so the alarm went off at 4:45am and I was up and going.  I stopped at Chick-fil-A to get a celebratory breakfast and realized I left my wallet at home.  So, not only had I not fallen asleep (not dozing, but asleep) but I had no food either.  One of the secretaries went and got me lunch when she went out for a lunch run.  I was shaking pretty good by then.  After school there was a dentist appointment and grocery shopping.  THEN A BASKETBALL GAME...  I finally got to go to sleep at about 11pm on Friday night and it was wonderful.

Thanks for reading my story and at least feigning interest.  I'm still really excited about it.  What is really fun, is that we get championship rings!!  I already know that I'm a size 7.