Basketball..

This is our life right now.....

It's basketball season, and this is what we do 3-4 nights a week.  It's our year to travel, so we have alot of away games...We love following the Bobcats!

Election

Hope everyone got out to vote!  Enough said...

Sad OR Happy....

I received this text from Michael.  It brought tears to me!  He has officially applied for graduation in May.  He is right on track and will graduate with a double major.  A degree in Electrical Engineering and Physics. 

I have very mixed emotions about this.  He has worked so hard to get where he is and I am so proud of him.  It has been a rough 4 years for ME.  I don't know who has grown more..Michael or his mom!!!  I'm just getting use to the "college life" and him living in Fayetteville.  NOW...he has many decisions to make.  Will it be:
1.  Do an internship for a year?
2.  Go to graduate school?
3.  If he does graduate school, will it be in Fayetteville or somewhere else?
4.  Real world/real job?
So many choices to make.  I know he will make the right choice.  I trust God with this and I am at peace knowing that he will lead him down the right path. 
In the meantime, he still has 6 months left of college.  I am going to continue this ride with him and savor every minute.  I find comfort in knowing that I can get in my truck at anytime and drive 2 hours to see him!  Soooo....I don't know if I am sad or happy!

Report Card...

I don't have to say too much about this post.  It says it all!

                          Jacob's report card!  Yep pretty proud!

Surprise....

It was a "surprise" visit from my boy this weekend!!!  He wasn't going to come home- had said it would be Thanksgiving before he would be back home. 

But Saturday, he texted and said he was bored!!!  So he came home Saturday night- it was about 6:30 pm before he got home, but that was fine.  He then went and hung out with friends.  He left about lunch time today.  It sure was good to have him home.  Oh how I love it when he is home!

Driving..

Well...Jacob has been driving alone for about 3 weeks now.

So far, so good.  He basically just drives around in town.  He loves his independence and not having to depend on mom so much.  I'm not so sure how I feel about that.  He has to text me when he is leaving a place and when he arrives.  He has been pretty good about it.  He is driving 'ole blue.  The truck is old old old with tons of miles on it.  But we feel like it is what he needs to learn to drive in right now.  He didn't get his learner permit until this summer, so he doesn't have alot of drive time under his belt. We will get him something later...but for now...his life is good being a solo driver..

Nashville, TN

It's been a busy week.  Roger and I made a quick trip to Nashville.  He had to go for a conference and I decided to tag along.  We stayed here.

 Roger was in workshops all the time and I did my own thing.  I went on a city tour.  We went to the Music Hall of Fame.

 This is Elvis Presley's 24 karat gold piano.

 Garth Brooks was inducted into the Music Hall of Fame the week we were there.

 Inside the motel.

 We went one night to see an Elvis Presley show.  It was pretty good.

 I went to the Ryman Auditorium.  It was cool.

 Pictures of inside the Ryman Auditorium.

 Went on a tour of the stars homes:  This is Eric Church's home.

 This is where Hank Williams, JR was raised.

 Little Jimmy Dickens home.

 Kelly Pickler's home.

Taylor Swift lives on the top...I don't know which end.
Not a trip that I would normally say...let's take.  But there is so much history and I did enjoy it; but wiped out!

HOMECOMING..

Homecoming was Friday- it came early this year.  Jacob dressed up as a Cotter Warrior for the sophmore float.  He looks like the real deal.

 He was also the announcer (MC) for homecoming, along with two other boys.  He looks pretty sharp in his suit and tie.

He also had a pretty good game that night!  It was a busy Friday!

War Eagle

I live for War Eagle!  It's a huge arts/crafts festival that happens the third weekend in October every year near Fayetteville.  I've gone for YEARS.  Roger has gone with me a lot of times.  But he has gotten so busy at work, that he just isn't able to take the time off to go with me.  I always go the first day; Thursday.  So one of my best friends goes with me.  She loves it as much as I do.

 This was my big purchase this year.  A cedar log that has our name carved in it.  The guy uses a chain saw to do this.  I saw it about 4 years ago and have wanted it every year.  So I went for it this year.  I. LOVE. IT.!

And the best part of the trip, was I got to go into Fayetteville and have lunch with Michael at Powerhouse.  1.  LOVE seeing Michael.  2.  LOVE eating at Powerhouse.
It was a good day.  Had to get back for a basketball game at Norfork. 

It's That Time Again..

Guess what time it is?  It is basketball time already!!  We kicked off our season on Friday night.  Let the craziness begin.

Jacob is now on the senior high team.  It just does not seem possible.  He is now playing with 10th, 11th, and 12th graders.  Senior high level is alot different than what we are use to in junior high.  The boys are taller and alot stronger.  Jacob made 2- 3 point shots.  He has the prettiest 3 point shot, and it is smooth (when it goes in).  We lost the game; and we aren't use to this.  Since we won everything last year as junior high players.  But in time, will come better games and wins.  It's going to be a busy week. We play Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  All AWAY games!  Let the season begin.....LoVe me some basketball...as does his daddy.

The birthday boy..

When it's your birthday at our house, you get to pick where you want to go eat.  Jacob wanted to go to Branson and eat at Texas Land & Cattle.  He picks it every year, as do Roger and Michael.  We weren't able to actually go on his birthday, because it was on a Tuesday and he had state golf at Melbourne.  AND...we had to wait on Michael to come home.  So, he did come in and we went to celebrate Jacob.

 His birthday dessert that was free!  It was yummy!

LoVe this brotherly picture.

State Golf

Running a little behind with posts.  Last Tuesday, October 2, (Jacob's birthday) he had STATE golf tournament at Melbourne.  I haven't missed very many of his golf matches.  Sure wasn't going to miss STATE.  Roger wasn't able to get off work to come watch. So my mom came to Melbourne and rode in the golf cart with me and we followed Jacob.  You can't talk to him or acknowledge him in any way at all.  It really is just like it is on TV!

This last picture tells the story of the day.  It was NOT a good day at all for him! :-(

Golf season is now over.  WE were just thrilled that he qualified good enough to play in district and state. So until, next year, bye -bye golf.  Now onto BASKETBALL!  First game is this Friday night.  No rest for the Leonards!

SIXTEEN

Happy Birthday, my sweet baby boy!  I can not believe you are 16 today.  I remember it like it was yesterday. 

We have had a very busy day today.  Jacob competed in state golf tournament today at Melbourne.  We had dinner at El Chico's tonight, and opened up presents.  He is so excited about being able to drive ALONE.  Me?  Not so much!
LOVE YOU SON!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Legal...

Well my baby is "legal" to drive alone!  Boo hiss.  He went and had his license made today.  He no longer has a permit.  You can get this done 5 days prior to turning 16.  Soooo....starting tomorrow- I am no longer a mommy chauffeur.  I dread this all over again!

Jacob getting his driver license made.

Party Time

My baby, Jacob, will turn 16 on Tuesday.  Sigh. We did something that we have never done and threw him a "surprise" birthday party this weekend.  OH MY- what work that was.  First, how do you keep 14 teenagers quiet and NOT talk about it for a week? I contacted the parents and let them tell their child.  We had a dinner evening cruise on the houseboat on Bull Shoals Lake.  We cooked hamburgers and hot dogs. The weather was PERFECT and it was so nice.  We decorated the boat with lights.  The kids stayed on the top deck while we cruised and played, cards, twister, listened to music, talked and just had a good time.  What an awesome group of kids!  They are the best~

Before we left.

 When we returned.  We cruised about 3 1/2 hours.

 Couldn't be more proud.

Did NOT do a cake this year.  First time EVER.  Did "cake balls".  They were delicious.  And a hit.  I figured that would be easier for the kids to grab and eat.

Also had decorated sugar cookies.

Was Jacob surprised???  Not really!  The majority of the kids had been together that day for a float meeting for homecoming and he suspected something was up about 2 hour before it actually happened.  Roger has a hard time telling a "lie" according to Jacob. LOL.  But if we kept it from him prior too two hours then that was good, I guess.
Don't really ever want to plan another "surprise" party, because it is stressful.
We had a blast.  And Bull Shoals Boat Dock is the best!
Happy birthday, Jacob!