He Graduates

May I present to you, our Class of 2018 Senior Graduate, R1. 

I am so proud of this kid! He has accomplished so much in the four short years of high school. This past week has been a flurry of all sorts of events leading up to this day. I will admit that two of those days I was a crying mess. But on this night, not one tear fell. I just kept my eyes on R1 and smiled the entire time. Well, I looked at Hubs to but that was because he was a floor marshal on the same row as R1. Sorry (well I'm not really sorry) for the picture overload that is is about to take place. 

The processional in

Waiting to walk up on stage

The special hand shake with the principal, Mr. B

Receiving his diploma from a wonderful board member who has always supported him

The big bear hug given to the Assistant Principal, aka, Aunt T

The special congratulations dance moment between R1 and Hubs

He did it!

The celebration!

We are so proud of him!

R1 and his church youth leader, Jana

The grandparents

R1 and the BFF. This time he wasn't surprised

R1 and his baseball buddies, Logan and Jack

R1 and Mason, aka the Kings of Kilgore

R2, our future graduate, in 5 years

Class of 2018 Senior Walk

The school district where R1 attends school has a tradition of Senior Walk. It's where the kids dress in their graduation regalia and walk the halls of the elementary school. Kind of like a lets bring it back to where they started their school academic career.

The little ones are brought out and line the hallways waiting for the seniors to walk by and give them a hi-five. Also the teachers are waiting to hug their former students. 

It's almost bittersweet for me as Hubs taught at the elementary school for 17 years before moving to the high school. Most of the teachers have known R1 since birth. 

Today was senior walk for R1 and his classmates. I would like to say I held it all together but I did not. I was a crying mess. Just another bittersweet memory as part of his senior year. 

Here are a few pictures of R1 during his walk and his elementary school teachers. 

R1 walking the elementary school hallway for the last time

 

Class of 2018 and their elementary school teachers

R1 and his 5th grade science teacher

R1 and his 4th grade teachers

 

R1 and his 3rd grade teacher

 

R1 and his 5th grade teacher who just happened to be his dad

R1 and my BFF

R1 and his 1st grade teacher in 2018

R1 and his 1st grade teacher in 2006

R1 in 1st grade. His teacher had a bulletin board by her classroom door with all of her babies pictures from 2006. She even had their class shirt pinned on the board

 

This was one of my favorite pictures from the day The BFF gave him the biggest hug and a kiss on the check. Clearly he was surprised. Me, I loved it!

 

The End of High School Baseball

Friday night brought the end of R1's high school baseball season. We lost in game 2 of the area playoffs. 

Our boys played their hearts out and left it all on the field, however the umpires didn't help us any either. It was a tough series.

The boys walked off the field with their heads held high and straight into the dugout where they proceeded with a 40 minute hug/cry fest with one another. Then one by one they began to walk out to us parents who waiting just outside the dugout door.  When the boys were all out of the dugout more hugging and crying ensued this time with us parents. 

When R1 walked out of the dugout with red swollen eyes and tear stained cheeks I just grabbed into a big hug and he kept saying over and over, this is so much harder than what I thought. He never thought it would hit him this hard. R1 has played baseball since he was four and with most of these guys for 14 years. His season as a baseball player has come to an end.

One of R1's teammates put out a tweet on Twitter later that evening to all of the seniors.

And in true R1 fashion, he came back with a pun.

R1, your dad and I have loved watching you play baseball over the years. Your love for the game and growth as a player has been a joy to witness. This last season has truly been bittersweet. 

 

 

 

 

                             

Senior Prom 2018

Oh y'all these senior year moments are coming fast and furious! It seems this school year has just flown by. 

R1 had his last home baseball game Friday night and we are headed to the playoffs this week and then on Saturday he had Senior Prom. 

I have to admit, he looked quite handsome in his all black tuxedo. His date was beautiful too. 

He and his date had a great time. 

So hard to believe that in 14 days he will be graduating. Time please slow down just a little bit.