Finally

Yes, finally! Saturday was the culmination of 4 1/2 years of hard work, dedication, sacrifice and prayers. Graduation Day!!! Even though bad weather caused a delay and change of location, I walked that stage. It felt so good to officially be done. I was also surprised to be honored as the Outstanding Graduate Student for the spring semester in the Department of Education & Human Development. This was voted on by the faculty. What an honor! Friday evening Trey and I enjoyed a reception for all outstanding student honorees at the university President's home. What a great way to end my graduate work.

Saturday night we hosted a joint birthday/graduation party for Walker and I. Graduation was over by 6:00, exactly when the party started. In true form, I showed up late to my own party. What else is new!! Ha! It was a great party. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and that's what I enjoyed the most.

Thank you, thank you thank you Michelle for helping me decorate. The hall looked so beautiful and I couldn't have done it without you!!! You're always there!!! You are one of my biggest cheerleaders!!

Mom, thanks for everything. You are the hostess with the mostest and the best mom in the world. You make everything happen!!!

Thank you to my brother, sister in laws and in-laws for helping before and during the party. Your hard work helped the party move smoothly and make it fun for everyone.

Thanks, Dad and Mary for the great music and taking pictures. I have special memories to look at and cherish always!!

Debbie, thanks for going back to school with me. It was such a good feeling to know I could start this journey with you, and we could help each other whenever we needed it. Doing this together was a real blessing!

Finally thank you friends and family for cheering me on to get this done. Trey, the boys and Mirna sacrificed alot to allow me to get my master's degree. When I started this journey Walker had just turned one and Trey's mom had just passed away. To think back now to that time, I don't know how we managed another change to our lives. What a long time for all of us to get this degree!!! Lots of night classes, studying, writing papers and test taking. I think the boys understand the hard work it takes to reach a goal. I know they are glad it's over!!!!

I love you Trey, Mac, Weston, Walker and Mirna. Thanks just aren't enough.

Waiting my turn to be hooded.

The dean making me laugh.

Shaking hands with President Hudson.

Officially done!
Pure happiness!

Our family. We did this together!
Virginia, me, Michelle and Vicki

My beautiful Mom, Mimi, Auntie & Lisa
I love these women!!

My Daddy & Me!!! Love you

Kim & Debbie
These were my mentors when I started
teaching in Goliad. Great teachers
and great friends!

Kim, Lana, me, Wendy & Ronda

Good friends I've known since I met Trey

Yes, I realize it. This cake is huge.
But it is SO CUTE!!!!!

WhoooooHoooo!!!!! I'm DONE!!!!!

Happy Birthday Walker

Our baby boy turned six on Friday. I can't believe he is growing up so fast. He had a blast with his cousins at Chuck E Cheese. This boy was wide-eyed the entire time. He liked all of the special treatment from the cheese man himself. At one point Walker told my mom and Mirna, "I just can't believe I'm six years old!"

Walker, you are such a joy and a blessing to our family. Not a day goes by that you don't make us smile or laugh. You are so smart. You can read so well already and you love learning new things. Your favorite things to do are play with trucks, video games, watch cartoons (Sponge Bob and Phineas & Ferb especially) and you are very bossy! You try real hard to keep us all in line. All of these things are great about you and we wouldn't change a thing. Happy birthday my baby!! I love you sooooo much!

Opening a perfect present from JoJo, Aunt Lee and Hudson

Proud boy

Walker & Mom showing off their medals

Oh, and he has no front teeth!

Dancing with Chuck

The birthday champ

Looking nervously at Chuck E. Wonder what he's thinking?

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Boy!

Saturday we had a joint birthday/graduation party. During the party he told Mirna, "Wow, I'm having another birthday party! That must mean now I'm seven!" hahahahhahaha!!!!!!

The other great moment from the party Saturday was Walker showing off he guitar (broom) playing and singing. My dad provided the music and Walker definitely provided the entertainment. He loves performing. Maybe one day he'll take it on the road.

Jammin' with the broom guitar.

Checking over the music with Uncle JoJo

Hey PawPaw, what ya doin?

Brave Boy

Today was our end of year 4-H party. The kids wanted to celebrate at the lake, so that's what we did. Several families brought their boats, and the kids enjoyed tubing, knee boarding, swimming in the lake and looking for shells. Walker rode in the boat for a while and then swam with friends. I watched from the banks. Before I knew it, he was in the boat and Kyleigh was asking if Walker could go tubing with her. Ummmm.......really? He wants to do that? Walker????? I better go, too. I don't know who took my scaredy cat child. This is a different child. He doesn't even like swimming lessons. But he SURE does LIKE to tube in the huge lake!!! After his first ride, Kevin, the boat owner and friend, asked Walker if he liked it. His response, "IT WAS AWESOME"
Here are the pictures to prove it. Oh....and he got to "drive" the boat too! Thanks, Kyleigh and Kevin and Alex!







And this is a funny picture of Wes from the Relay for Life. The high school team had face painting all night long. Every kid in the Weesatche 4-H club painted their faces, arms, legs....fingers. This was a popular look. Too funny, but I like his clean shaven baby face cheeks better.