Queen Anne's Lace and Lilacs

Evan's Concert

On the evening we were celebrating the day of Bethany's birth, Evan was conducting his first Christmas winter concert at his middle school.  Thankfully, Courtney was there to take photos!  I think Evan looks quite distinguished.  I know Evan was a bit nervous, what with conducting, playing the piano, and playing the drums.  I still would give this loving bit of motherly advice:  Smile at the kiddos, even just a couple of times. 

I was actually surprised to learn of Evan's playing of the drums and piano.  He mentioned on the phone, after the concert, that those piano lessons I'd given him eons ago finally came into good use.  Of course, there weren't very many lessons (was there more than one?), but he did like to look through the book.  I think Evan was 5.

I guess those drumming sessions with Uncle Timmy at a much younger age (of 1) may have been helpful the other night, too.  

Thanks, Courtney, for sharing the photos!

First Day of School - the Other Side

Today was Evan's first day of school, only from the teacher's side.  Riverwood Middle School is the name of this new school (the Longhorns?  Really, Evan?).  Evan has the orchestra website set up, which you can check out here. 

I wonder if he was as excited as he was on his first ever day of school many moons ago (see photo - and click for a larger view).  I remember this first day, my mom in Houston for the big event, and Evan with his Ninja Turtle backpack.  Brett was lost those first few mornings and would sit at the front door and wait for Evan to come home. 

It seems crazy to me that so many years have happened and that they have flown by so quickly.  It doesn't even seem right!  Oh, well.  I'm sure I'll get over it.  Just in time for Bethany to graduate from high school and really mess me up. 

Just kidding.  No, seriously.  Yeah.

Evan, I hope you had a wonderful day and that it's the beginning of a fantastic year!  (Yo!  Remember how I asked for pictures?  Courtney?  Are you reading this?  Please remind Evan.) 

Congratulations, Evan! - UPDATE

The University of Houston's commencement exercises are occurring at this very moment.  We are all very relieved excited about his finally graduating from college!  The "degree of Bachelor of Music with a major in Music Education, a Double Bass emphasis, Cum Laude" is being conferred upon our dear Evan as we speak, or type and read.  He'll be available for those high school orchestras very soon!  I'll post more photos later.  (The photo, here, is of his cake.  Click photo for a larger view.  I wish I'd have thought to have the cougar paw print and "2009" put on the cake.) 

UPDATE:  You know, you think if you order and pay for an expensive cake, someone might bring a piece or two home......Nope.  And it was the best cake Evan's ever had, too!  Bummer.  If you're ever in Houston and have need of a fantastic cake - or even just lunch - check out Dacapo's Pastry Cafe (they're in the Heights).

Evan and Cougar Brass

Wednesday night (I think it was Wednesday night) was the first televised University of Houston home basketball game this year.  I was excited to watch the game, because Evan plays bass for the Cougar Brass band during basketball season.  I have written before on how it irritates me that I watch all of those football games for glimpses of Evan on TV, and they have NEVER shown him.  But, during basketball season through the years, I've seen him many times.  Unfortunately, during this whole basketball game, they showed only one little corner of the trombones a couple of times.  No Evan.  Very frustrating. 

But, I was checking out Evan's Facebook page, and he had this photo over there.  So, I am using it here.  I hope it's ok.  I'd hate to be doing the wrong thing.  Seriously.  You know I hate being wrong.  

Hey, interesting thing.  I was able to get to Evan's page because Evan has added me as his friend.  Brett still hasn't done that, so I can't get to his page.  Funny how it's Facebook's only incidence of a friend-adding malfunction.

In trying to find a link to the Cougar Brass, I found this page with all kinds of interesting tidbits about the sights and sounds that occur at the U of H football and basketball games (or, as they call it, "traditions").  This would have come in handy a few years ago.  Tim and I spend some amount of time during each game trying to figure out why people are doing the things they're doing.

If you'd like to see how the U of H basketball team is faring this season, click here.

They are the Champions

December has been a month of weekend basketball tournaments.  Normally, that would be fine.  This time, however, not so fine. 

1.  Bethany was not able to have a Sweet 16 party because of the busy weekends.
2.  I fell and sprained my leg and my foot and can't get around very well, so Tim hates to leave me in the evenings and weekends after being gone all of the weekdays.
3.  Tim and Bethany have contracted colds (I'm thinking they're colds, since we've gotten flu shots, but I don't know that for a fact.  And the last time they had "colds," I spent several days in the hospital.  I am so hoping this doesn't happen again!). 

In spite of these negatives, there have been some pretty cool positives.  Last weekend, Bethany won MVP of her team (two MVPs per team).  This weekend, her team won the tournament, Bethany was, again, MVP, and as team captain, she was able to bring the trophy home for the weekend.  We have pictures, but they're not downloaded yet.  Or uploaded.  Whatever.  They're not on the computer, yet.

You can barely see a slice of her face in this team photo, but she's up there (behind #40).  So, cool!  Congratulations, girls!  (Tim is now concerned that he's a bad luck charm, as they've done better without him.  Well, that's too bad.  He's the team videographer!) 

Summer's Officially Over

Major changes the last few days.  I've decided it's time to quit sitting around, crying and depressed. Well, it's not been that extreme, but it could have easily been!  It's so quiet around here, now, I hardly know what to do. 

Thursday night, we learned that Brett would be skipping off to Atlanta early Friday morning.  Evan left Saturday morning.  He was here the entire summer, which hasn't happened very often.  I was so happy when I made the plane reservations in early May.  Two and a half months!!!!  Yea!!!  Well, it all went by so fast, it could have been two days.   I hate that!  It truly makes me sick to my stomach when he leaves.  This year is a bit different from the other years.  He will be graduating, getting a job, and so his free summers are probably over - and that makes me feel even sicker.

        

On top of all that, Bethany began her sophomore year today.  How did that girl get to be a sophomore so fast?!  She was just starting kindergarten last week, for crying out loud!  It was upsetting for me as Evan and Brett advanced rapidly through high school, but at least I always had Bethany in elementary school to keep me from totally losing it.  And now, it's her racing by.  I knew I should have had more kids!

I've got photos to add to this, probably sometime this evening.  I still am having some uploading problems with Typepad.  And, I still have a lot of catching up from last week to do, blog-wise.  I will, therefore, be doing things out of order, which drives me crazy, as some of you might know.