Pa-Po Has Passed Away

Kristen and Kaitlyn's grandfather (Joe's stepfather) passed away earlier this evening. He was 70 (or 71) years old. He had 5 grandchildren, Kristen, Kaitlyn, Stephen, Hayden, and Taryn (3 girls, 2 boys). Apparently there won't be a church service but we are planning on going to Destin this spring to scatter his ashes. His name was also Joe but when Kristen was little, we called him Papa Joe (which she couldn't say) so it was shortened to Pa-Po. Pa-Po had been very sick recently and he went fast with little suffering. Godspeed Pa-Po.

Senior Night Pom and Cheer

Last night was senior night for the cheer and pom teams at the high school. Here is a picture of Kaitlyn with her senior board that one of the junior girls on the squad did.

Here is a closer picture of the board. Kaitlyn was anal about how she wanted her board to look so she gave Holly (the girl who did it) DETAILED instructions.
As senior gifts, the girls all got a senior "nightie" with their name monogrammed on it. They got some sunglasses that looked like stars and a $50 gift card that they can use to spend while in Fort Worth for nationals.

Modeling their senior nighties, the theme for the night was walking the red carpet so they each had stars on the floor with their name on them. Kaitlyn is the tall one here.

This is a picture of Kaitlyn and Calli. They have been on cheer (Kaitlyn is now on pom) together since 8th grade in middle school. This picture is from senior night.

This is from 10th grade cheer on the varsity squad together.

Kaitlyn's Solo for Nationals

Tonight, the pom squad had a "dress" rehearsal for their nationals routine for the parents. Kaitlyn is doing a solo at nationals as well. Unfortunately, we had to do it in a dance studio so there wasn't a lot of room to videotape. Kaitlyn stops halfway thru, her booty shorts were going up her rear, which temporarily made her forget where she was, then she picks back up. I had another mom use my camera and film this while I used the videocamera in the middle of the room. I filmed it twice but I haven't transferred it over to DVD yet. We leave for nationals (in Fort Worth) on Friday. I'll have lots of pictures this week, it's also Senior Pom and Cheer Night during the basketball game on Tuesday night.

Valentines Day

Here's a picture of the cake Kaitlyn made for Matt for Valentine's Day. She's a regular Martha Stewart - she loves baking and sewing and being creative.

Here are some presents I wrapped for my boss to send to some of her clients. These were mugs with kitties on them stuffed full of candy.
I finally finished the prayer shawl I started last summer! It has bands of different colors of blue.

I got a haircut today. I had Joe take pictures of the back and sides. Now if I can just make it do this tomorrow after I take a shower! Joe gave me a "deluxe" manicure for Valentines at the nail place up the street and I got a box of chocolates. Ymmmm.

Halftime Routine

This is a new half-time routine that Kaitlyn's squad did tonight. She is in the very middle and she and her BFF walk up to the front and then Kaitlyn does the solo at the end.

It's Tornado Time - Again!

It looks like we're in for a long night. There won't be anything on television but the local meteorologists forcasting until the watches/warnings have passed (which looks like at least 8 PM this evening). Norman is usually very lucky (hear me knocking on wood). The tornados start up to the west of us and move in a northeasterly pattern usually cutting a path between Norman and Oklahoma City (20 miles away) or to the north of OKC. We're supposed to go to a high school basketball game tonight here in Norman. If it starts hailing, I've been instructed by Joe to park my car underneath the oak tree in the front yard here at the house. (My side of the garage is full of my junk and Joe keeps the Yukon, our travel vehicle, in his side). I'm keeping one eye to the sky, the other on my computer, one ear to the TV, the other ear to listen for the tornado sirens outside. I don't have a 'fraidy hole, but I do have a "sports equipment closet" in our bedroom that has come in handy over the years. I feel lucky in that the National Weather Service and the National Severe Storms Laboratory are both about 1-1/2 miles from my house. So we will be the first to know if anything is coming our way.

Semi-Formal - Norman HS

Last night was the semi-formal dance at the high school. Kaitlyn did not go with her boyfriend of 2 years, she went with a "friend." Matt, her boyfriend didn't want to go. Joe took these pictures before she left (I was at work at Kohl's). She just had her hair highlighted yesterday morning and she's been fake-baking for a couple of weeks in preparation.
Hopefully, I'll have a few more pictures to load if she'll let me download some from her camera. Anyway, I loved her dress and she looked cute (much older than her age - 17). As you can see, we still have some remnants of the recent ice storm, but it was like 70 degrees yesterday outside during the afternoon.