Friday, June 4, 2021

Celebrating Sam!

 Today we celebrated Sam's High School Graduation!
My first grandchild!
Amber, Mike and the kids picked me up and we made our way to the AT&T Stadium for the ceremony that started at noon. There had been one at 9:00 AM and another would be at 4:00 and 9:00 PM.
I'm so glad we got the noon slot!


Security was tight but we finally made it to our seats!
We knew we would be there for awhile so we enjoyed visiting with each other and catching up....and taking pictures!


We grandmas stick together!
And we are both Linda!


Amber and her big brother, Jesse!


We were all so happy!
This was the kids' first time to attend a graduation, so they were excited.
Every first event is so special.
A few months ago, Amber was telling them about the first wedding they were going to see - and Logan said, "This will be our first wedding but we've been to two funerals!"
Both their great- grandmother's funerals.


We switched places so we could all have one on one time with each other.


There's Mike back there watching the big screens and Leigh Ann and Jaelyn (Sam's girlfriend) are both  smiling and Levi is doing his serious pose.


THIS is what we were waiting for!
They called 'Samuel Reid Davis' and we all clapped and cheered.
Later Sam said he was glad there were enough of us there that he could hear us cheering.

We continued to sit and visit and Linda and I entertained ourselves by watching all the cool shoes that walked across the platform. We saw everything from flip flops to spike heels to boots to all kinds of footwear!

Once the last names were called and then the top 2% graduates were up, the ending speeches made and the new graduates file out, we left our seats and went in search of Sam.

It was a zoo getting out of the stadium and then finding our boy - threading our way through the crowds. Once we had our group together, we started taking pictures!
These are all really good because I didn't take them!
Jesse and Jaelyn and Leigh Ann were in charge of pictures.


Leigh Ann, Sam and Jesse.


Nana, Sam and MiMi.
I'm not sure if Linda was already a 'Nana' when Sam was born but I do know that he named me 'MiMi.'


Faith, Sam and Levi......
my three oldest grandchildren.


Faith and Mike are missing in this snap shot but I did have 7 of my 8 grandchildren with me today.


I love this pic so much!
What a wonderful heart this grandson of mine has.
All his younger cousins look up to him and to Faith and Levi, too.

Each one wrote him a special note of their own in the group card they made for him.


Faith and Linda

 After leaving the stadium, we met up at one of Jesse's favorite grills called 'No Frills Bar and Grill.'
Our crew was the first to arrive followed by Jaelyn and Sam. We pushed tables together and spent the next 2 hours talking, laughing, eating and having fun.

It was a happy day and I admit to tearing up a bit a time or two and twice I laughed so hard I was crying........but later when Leigh Ann sent me the pics from the day.......


and I saw these - I started bawling like a baby!!
And my eyes are wet now as I write.
There's something about a grandchild's hugs that melts a grandparent's heart....no matter if that child is young or grown. This was my very favorite memory of the day.

We came home in rush hour traffic and they had planned to just drop me off and head home....
until we saw the front door standing wide open and Louis Dean sitting outside.
We all knew what that meant! A cat had got out!


Sure enough! 
Tabitha had slipped out when Louis Dean had answered a knock at the door.
The kids sprang into action and we circled the wagon!
Amber managed to get her!

Listen to the plan Louis Dean had laid before we got there.......
He'd opened a can of our best tuna and dropped pieces of it as in a trail all across the front porch and inside on the rugs and carpet all the way to the can setting on the kitchen floor.
Of course, we had stepped on all this on our way in and out so Amber and I got down on our hands and knees to clean all that up. There's still some on the front porch but he says the neighborhood cats will take care of that.
Never a dull moment!

I changed clothes and went out to do some work in the front yard.
We have been concentrating on the back for so long that the front beds had grown shabby from neglect.


Louis Dean managed to tear down the dead bush and vines while I pulled weeds.
That when I heard it!
The very first locust of 2021!
8:20 on June 3rd!
I call them locust but they are really cicadas - the difference being that cicadas do not swarm as locusts do nor do they damage and eat plants like locusts do.

Normally, I am thinking of them and listening for that first one this time of year. However, I hadn't even thought about it once when I heard them. They are in the big cottonwood tree in the yard behind us.
My own special moment that is what I consider the beginning of summer.
Perfect ending to a perfect day.

That's when I took this picture.





14 comments:

Sharon Larson said...

I love, love, love the making of memories you share each time. You truly epitomize the art of joyful living! 💜

Deanna Rabe said...

What a special day! The photos Leigh Ann sent you are special! I teared up looking at them!

Vee said...

Awww...what a great family. Congrats to Sam! 🎓

😁 Louis Dean has been keeping me in grins for years. I am always wondering what next.

Changes in the wind said...

It is almost like having two separate families but yet in unity. Sweet pictures. Those cats getting out would be the death of me, glad you were able to find her.

MadSnapper said...

every year you mention how muchyou love to hear cicadas, and each year i say i can't stand the noise. this year is different because i did not know they don' swarm and eat stuff, just make that horrid noise. i thought the locust was a grasshopper. live and learn. i heard one here last week, but only one and none in sight.
i enjoyed every word and every photos and wanted to tear up on the 4 photos of you and Sam. what a wonderful family celebration for him. the photos are all excellent and Amber and the runaway cat look great. oh noooooooo on the Tuna Escapade...

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

It's so wonderful that the kids can have graduation ceremonies again. This time last year no one had one. Your grandson is a very handsome young man soon to be an adult. Wishing him the best of luck with what ever he does. You have a very loving family. that is something to be proud of.

Arlene G said...

Harrison and Sam look alike...you can really see the family resemblance in the photo you shared. Only three more years and Kendall will graduate. Oh My Goodness I am sure the tears will flow for sure.:)

Ginny Hartzler said...

The pictures are wonderful!! It is good that the graduation was such a big deal; the kids missed so much during Covid.

photowannabe said...

What a wonderful, Rich and Full day you had.
I would have been bawling too, seeing those candid shots of you and Sam.
You have precious Grands..every one of them.
You are Blessed.
Sue

Wanda said...

Oh Linda. What a wonderful post. How special this graduation, and getting to have all the family there. The pictures are wondeful. Nothing is more important after the Lord, that family!
You look beautiful!!

Eva said...

Man....

Carole said...

Lovely post - here 'our' cat spends most of its time outside - I guess we don't have any predators... Cheers

Bluebird49 said...

Can't believe Sam is old enough to graduate!
I just have to shake my head at Louis Dean and his tuna trick!! Glad Amber found her--she has a way with cats!
You've had quite a week--as always!

Carla said...

I've watched these kids grow up on your blog. It's crazy to think they growing up. You have beautiful grandkids.