Report Card...

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

                          Jacob's report card!  Yep pretty proud!

Sophmore

Can't believe that my baby is a sophmore either!  What an amazing young man he is.  He is much taller than me.  This was taken the first day of school, August 20.

This will be an exciting year for Jacob.  He turns 16 next month!  Yikes!!!

SENIOR AGAIN...

Can you believe this boy is a senior again!?  Yep, that's right.  Michael will graduate from the University of Arkansas in May 2013 with a double major:  electrical engineering and physics.  WHERE did the time go?  I simply can not believe this.  The  college years have had many ups and downs... and it has been a journey to say the least.  I've had to learn and grow myself as a momma.  But, I could not be more proud of this boy!!! Way to go Michael.

FBLA Winner!!!

Um-momma bragging time! Jacob competed in district FBLA competition last Friday in Harrison. (Just now getting time to blog about it)
He got 3rd place in Sports Management!!! He was the youngest in the group to test! 9th grader up against 12th graders! W A Y TO GO JACOB! This qualifies him to go compete at state in April! So proud!

Survived!!

WELL...Jacob and I survived the first week of school! It was a very busy and exhausting week! Jacob hit the ground running with two golf matches. They sure didn't waste any time. His golf scores weren't very good. He is the youngest on the team; but spends alot of time on the golf course during his free time, trying to improve himself. Roger has been very busy at work. And I have just been trying to adjust to getting up early and putting in a full day of work. My day is never boring at work! Well it's time to get to bed and get ready for week two! Wish us luck! (I think this is my first post ever without a picture!

FRESHMAN

I can NOT believe that my 14 year old baby is a FRESHMAN in high school!
At Flippin School- we have three phases of school. Elementary (check), middle school (check), and high school! Jacob entered the doors today of high school. Our last phase of school!!!! YES, I am sad!

Banquet Time

We have been busy with banquets- which that means: SCHOOL is about OVER!!! :)
HONOR AWARDS: Jacob and his G/T teacher. He got All State for Quiz Bowl. So proud!

Mr Hudson (Principal) giving Jacob A/B Honor roll award. Jacob made his 1st B ever this past 9 weeks= in pre algebra. He got it brought up to an A for semester...

Middle school is AWESOME! Hate to see him go off to high school!

Looks nice holding all of his awards..

Jacob has some proud parents.

Then we had Athletic Banquet. He got basketball award.

It's been a busy week....

Fun post tomorrow- will shock anyone who really knows me!!!

Talent Show

Tuesday night was the Talent Show at middle school. Jacob and some of his friends did Ray Steven's "THE STREAK"...it was really cute. We put alot of hard work into practice - and it went off PERFECT. Last year, the kids did two Ray Stevens skits. This is it for us - Jacob moves onto high school next year. The pie/cake auction and Talent Show raised over $2000. This is wonderful and it goes for activities for the kids during testing "week". So glad that my kid has been apart of this for the last two years...I'm going to miss it....

1st Day of School

Today was the first day of school. My baby is an 8th grader~13 years old..and last year for middle school!!! My how times flies......... Here is to a great school year~

Talent Show

The middle school Cake/Pie Auction/Talent Show was Thursday night. Jacob and crew did 2 skits, PLUS closed the show out as the Black Eyed Peas.
What an amazing job these kids did with the skits.
They did 2 Ray Stevens songs/skits.... "The Pirate Song"... Jacob was the "happy" pirate and did a lot of singing/dancing....

The other skit was "It's Me Again Margaret"...It was hilarious...Jacob played a detective....
Then they closed the talent show with the Black Eyed Peas song "I've Got a Feelin"...the kids danced ...

Our own Black Eyed Pea..... it was GREAT!!!

NJHS

Today Jacob was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society; along with about 20 other 7th and 8th grade students. We are so proud of you! Congratulations!

1st day of school...

Today was our first day back to school...new clothes...new shoes...new supplies. Jacob is in the 7th grade. I can't believe it! Where did the time go? He was excited about the first day of school. He is always ready to go back to school. So glad he doesn't dread going to school. I am just ready for our new "normal" routine. Whatever that will be without Michael around....(sniff sniff)

Michael update:

* I have talked to him a couple of times.

* All is well

* Experienced his first dorm shower

* Actually enjoys the cafeteria food!

* Did his first load of laundry today

GRADUATION DID HAPPEN!!!

I haven't blogged about high school graduation. It DID happen May 15. I don't really know why I didn't jump on the band wagon and blog about this before now?? It was such a HUGE day for our family and one that I have dreaded since he was born! My feelings never changed over the years. I do realize it is the circle of life and this is what we raise these kids to do. But it also closes a chapter in our life....our life will never be what it was. But it also begins a new chapter and that is how I am trying to look at this. We are so incredibly proud of Michael. He was valedictorian. He has received a full ride to U of A. He did receive the Fellowship scholarship at U of A . ($12,500 per year) He also got the Governor's scholarship ($10,000 year). HUGE financial burden lifted off his parents! :)

May 15th was a very busy day for us. It started out with graduation practice, then we came home and planted a Bradford pear tree in honor of his day. Then onto friends for a backyard luncheon for our group of friends in honor of our kids. Then we came home and both sets of grandparents were here waiting on us, along with his aunts and uncle. Our special friends who are like family also joined us. Our family isn't big, but there sure is a lot of love and the boys both know they are loved very much. He opened presents. He got ALOT of cash and he is soooo thankful for all of his cash! (He put it all into his savings account.) Then onto graduation..it was about two hours long. I thought that Michael did an awesome job with his speech! It was so HOT in the gym. I really wish we could do something about that! Since Roger is school board member, he got to give Michael his diploma! That was so neat and so special. Three of the school board members had sons graduating and got to give their son their diploma. WOW! After graduation Michael and his girlfriend went with another couple on a limo ride! Talk about a night...it was....

BIG QUESTION? Did I cry? Because I've dreaded this day for 18 years. NO, I actually did not. I was a big girl! Teary eyed a couple of times, but no bawling like a baby. GO ME! :)

This is a very exciting time in all our lives!! And we are ready to begin this journey.

Proud mama!

Roger's side of the family.

My family.

Opening presents.

The cake did bring tears to my eyes when I picked it up! Can you believe his KidKo graduation had a red cap/gown also?

Giving his speech.

Roger giving him is diploma.

Big hug after graduation.

A WINNER!

Michael competed in the State FBLA competition in Little Rock. His competition was "Personal Finance". Drum roll please....he placed 1st! This qualifies him to go to Nationals! This is the 3rd year in a row that he has qualified to go to Nationals. This year nationals are in Anaheim, CA in June. He is very excited about going and of course...we are very proud of him.
He completed his last duties today as a District FBLA officer...it was very bittersweet. He had to give a farewell speech. Of course, me, Rog, and my mom were there. We are his biggest fans! He has been given so many opportunities with FBLA and has truly enjoyed every minute as a state and district officer. (Yep, Michael is wearing a tux--officers have to wear one at this ceremony)

Guess it's time to talk about it...

Michael's announcement's came in last Monday, and I JUST opened them today! The box has been sitting on the table staring at me! So I finally brought myself to look at them today. This May 15th day is NOT going to go away! It is fast approaching. Here is a look at the announcements....yes, just typical announcements....but extra special to me, since it has his name in it.

Been BUSY....

The Leonard family has been very active over the last week! We have played soccer, pee wee basketball and Michael and I have been to Dallas, Texas.

Michael had a soccer game on Monday, we won. Jacob had a basketball game Thursday night at Bruno Pyatt and won. A game Friday night at Bakersfield and lost. Michael had a soccer game Friday night at Eureka Springs and won. Roger and I went to the soccer game at Eureka. My mom came up and went with Jacob to his basketball game on Friday night. I don't know what we would do without her. It has been a very difficult year for Roger and I to divide ourselves to try and be at each child's activities. We both tend to follow Michael this year since this is his senior year. So mom comes and goes with Jacob to his activites, which has been a blessing...he really likes someone there to watch him! Then Saturday Jacob was back in Bakersfield with two more basketball games. We lost the first one in overtime, and won the second one. Michael was in Searcy at State Quiz bowl. They lost. It was a long day!

On Wednesday, Michael and I left for Dallas, TX along with 8 other students, 3 other mother's, and the G/T teacher and her husband. We came home Friday. Had to get Michael and another student home for soccer, and another home for baseball! We went to Dallas to attend a NBA Maverick's and Miami Heat basketball game. We went to the King Tut Museum exhibit, and to JFK Museum. Both were very intersting.

***WARNING TON OF PICTURES!***


Michael playing soccer against Batesville. We won 6-5.


Jacob shooting free throws at the basketball game. Look at it "swish" the net.


We ate at a restaurant called "GATORS" before the basketball game. They had a bus that took us to the basketball game. The driver was Jamaican. You got to sign your name on the bus. Writing was all over the seats, ceiling, etc..anywhere you could find to sign.




This is the colorful bus that took us to the game. Had some great music playing.



Michael signing his name.

A shot inside "American Airlines Center". We were in the NOSE BLEED section! Couldn't get any higher.

Tip off of the game. Mavericks won 98-96. Good game. All of us enjoyed it.

The cheerleaders barely dressed!

We saw Lou Gossett, JR at the mall. He was there doing a promo for his new movie coming out.

On Thursday night we ate at a place called "Dicks Last Resort". We had a blast there. Everyone got a bib. Michael modeling his. This place is a chain and is known for its snotty waiters, making fun of the customers. Live band. They make hats and write things on the hat. I won't post anyone's writing on the hats!! Some were pretty bad, but the kids ate it up. The food....well I've had better, but the atmosphere was awesome!

NO pictures posted of King Tut or JFK, because they would not allow any picture taking or video recording.

Kids also rode a tram and city bus. They had to learn to read the maps, to figure out if we had to get on the "red" line or "blue" line.

We had a wonderful time in Texas. The G/T teacher has made some wonderful memories for these kids. We had 8 seniors and 1 junior that went.