I’m still catching my breath after the whole graduation thing. Nothing much happened that next week, but last week was pretty crazy, starting with Layla and Emma’s big dance recital on Sunday night. You can’t take photos or video because they are selling those. I’m still trying to make my way through the 2000+ photos taken during the girls’ numbers and the DVD is on the way, so you can look forward to all that.

The next day had Layla in her new glasses, which along with her height really makes her look old. Madysen and Papa took off for a three week adventure to Barcelona and Tel Aviv (where they are volunteering with the IDF), but not before Madysen got into her first accident. Just a little thing, thankfully, but she rear-ended someone while she was rushing around at the last minute.

On Tuesday, Speed got a warehouse job, which is perfect for him other than the 7 a.m. start time.  On Wednesday, Layla and Emma went down to Houston to spend a couple of days with my parents.

But this weekend is really big. Tomorrow Holly and I head to Anchorage for her first (and only?) marathon on Saturday morning. She’s done a great job training (as far as I can tell) and she surpassed her fundraising goal, so thanks to everyone who provided support. I’m sure she’ll do great.

We get back around 6 a.m. on Monday morning at which time Holly and Layla and Emma are heading out to a big surprise something. Not knowing is killing Emma. I’m sure they’ll have a great time, but I’m glad I’m not going.

Really hard to believe we’ve gotten this far. Seems like not too long ago, Madysen was still my baby girl–and she listened to at least a portion of what I said. But this evening, she’ll officially graduate from high school. And she’ll do so with a lot more honors than I graduated with.

All of the graduation stuff really got started last Sunday morning with the Baccalaureate Service held at the Meyerson Symphony Center in the Dallas Arts District. All of the kids got to attend as did Holly’s mom and Grandma Flossie.

The service was nice with the keynote address by Donovan Campbell, former Marine and author of Joker One: A Marine Platoon’s Story of Courage, Leadership, and Brotherhood. We managed to get seats on the aisle that Madysen entered and exited, but Madysen and the lighting failed to cooperate.

Then it was time for lots of celebratory photos.

(Nice choice by whomever chose the spot near the recycling wall plaque.)

And because we are the worst parents ever, we made all the kids pose for a handful of pictures. You can see the pain increase in Speed’s face with each picture.

Even one of Madysen with all the Speed women.

Sufficiently drained from all of that, we went to a brunch for Madysen and 24 other graduates at the Brook Hollow Golf Club.

Emma graduates from elementary school today as well. Not sure we’ll make it through the day.

And because they are awesome, Madysen had Sprinkles Cupcakes for dessert. She wasted her calories on Peanut Butter Chocolate. Everyone else had Red Velvet, which went like hotcakes, including Brendon who wanted to save some for later it was so good and Ashton who was introduced to the amazingly good technique of eating the stump first and then the top.

And then I took more pictures of Madysen with family in the restaurant and by the fountain outside.

After dinner, a group went to Froggie’s 5 & 10 to play with toys and Wild About Harry’s for more dessert.

Emma went along for the first time and had a good time watching with her eyes and ears on.

We did this last year with Holly’s dad, but I can’t find any mention of it. Regardless, we met up with Holly’s dad, her brother-in-law, and Cousin Brendon on Saturday morning. It was humid, and it took way too long–and I stunk, figuratively and literally–but it was still fun. Somehow I ended up signing Speed and I up for both the Civilian and Competition categories, which meant we shot twice at each station.

Speed at the Glock’M station.

If I’d been aiming at the clip fastening the bottom of a target, this would be evidence of quality marksmanship. But since it was a foot below bullseye, it’s a memento of something else.

Next, we moved on to Glock the Plates, which is the most mentally challenging. The metal targets are small and since they are metal, you both see and hear when you hit the target. Miss over and over again and the silence can get into your head. Philip went first.

I didn’t do so hot, but I did finish strong getting 5 of 6 plates on the last of my 8 passes.

Speed did okay. He’s probably not going to be exciting about me posting this video of one of his passes. (You can hear the guy at the next station put his plates down in just a couple of seconds. Intimidating.)

Brendon was the only one of us to get all six plates in a pass. I have no photographic evidence.

I did get this photo of Brian needing one more round to get this last plate.

5 to Glock was, mercifully, the final station. Speed looks cool awaiting his turn.

My Glock jammed twice, and I was unable to finish. So I got the maximum time penalties. That’s why I didn’t win.

Speed, Philip, and Brian went back on Sunday to shot again. They all claim to have done much better than on Sunday, which is exactly what I expected them to say. But the posted rankings seem to corroborate their story.

Here are our results pieced together.

Plenty of room for improvement.

That head used to be covered by a great army of hair

Madysen doesn't believe whatever is coming out of Holly's mouth as per usual

It is sort of genius to serve dinner after 9 since people will be so hungry. Nevertheless, it was good and the mushrooms were cajun-y awesome.

Dig in

I don’t think Speed’s ever been to a boil, but the girls had been almost two years ago at Aunt Abby’s, guh, Ring Dunk.

Layla and Emma kind of half dug-in

Speed definitely in

She had more fun playing with them than eating them, I think

Cook/honoree Logan

Logan’s already back in the danger area. Sure hope he makes it back safe.

And then on Monday of Super Bowl week came a call that changed everything. My father called to say that he had gotten two excellent tickets and did I want to go. Sure, love to. Over a week later, I think we both realize that, while memorable, we aren’t interested in making any further such memories.

We left the house four hours ahead of kickoff, in an abundance of caution. And we got out of the car about an hour later to trek to the stadium and through security to partake of the various pregame festivities. My head is still spinning, but somehow we ended up barely getting through security and into the stadium. Less than fun.

The Death Star--with SB XLV logos--from afar

Despite the terrible local weather last week, most of Sunday was very nice. So it wasn’t that big of a deal that we had to circumvent to the exact opposite end of the stadium to enter the Blue Gate–the very mention of which will forever haunt me henceforth. Upon entering that area, poorly marked and completely devoid of anyone who could confirm the correctness of our path, we left the dryness of concrete for the pleasures of ice-cold, soggy mud–for the next two hours.

Add to that, we are elbow to elbow (and other unmentionables in too close proximity) with 15,000 others mostly standing, sometimes chop stepping, and continuously looking for validation that there is some light at the end of this tunnel.

A sea of people/lemmings hoping to be heading in the correct direction

Amidst the crush of people, someone decided a dumpster was appropriately placed directly in the way

I could detail the two hour ordeal of serpentining (is that a word?) through the security gates standing in mud up close and personal with all manner of Packer and Steeler appareled fanatics (we even saw a husband in Favre Vikings jersey–he loves Favre because “he plays like a kid out there”–and wife in Manning Colts jersey), but my pain cannot be adequately expressed in (polite) words.

That ordeal behind us, we hustled into the stadium, the pregame festivities long since being concluded, and to our great seats. Lower bowl, corner endzone, 13th row. No complaints about that. We saw the team introductions, narrated by the awesomely mustachioed Sam Elliott, and heard Christina Aguilera screw up the anthem. And then kickoff.

Steelers enter the field obscured by fog

The larger-than-life mustache!

Packers kickoff to Steelers--the game begins

I have no affinity for either team, but actively dislike the Steelers, so we were rooting for a good game first and a Packers win second. The game was entertaining, especially as the Steelers got back into the game and the fans really got into it in the 3rd quarter. Most interesting for us was that five of the seven TDs were scored in our endzone corner–it’s like they were playing for our own personal amusement.

The Packers last TD--before the actual score

The halftime show–Black Eyed Peas with Slash and Usher–wasn’t really aiming to appeal to me or my father. Layla would have loved it as did the mid 30s club-loving woman next to me. I know it’s been universally panned by TV viewers, but it was much better than I had anticipated.

Green dancers!

I miss Axl

White dancers!

So glad it was a good game, glad to see Big Ben fail, glad to have gotten home without any further issues, and glad that my shoes are finally dry. Dad: Next time you get tickets, let’s unload them and put the money to good use–like a new handgun?

But even before his birthday got here, I took him and his friend Grayson to the OU-Texas Tech game, which was a lot like the last time we played Tech at home. And poor Grayson, he’s a Tech fan and was at both beatdowns.

But Grayson and Speed remained friends–at least for the weekend–as they spent two nearly sleepless nights playing Call of Duty: Black Ops Edition. Of course, this being Holly’s parents’ house, playing the game meant Speed had to take his PS3 and the boys had to help Papa install the TV that had been sitting in a box in the corner for several months.

Papa, Speed, and Grayson place the TV on the mantel

Still a bit surprised that Holly thought that game was a good idea in her parents’ house–the same house in which she didn’t see any R-rated movies until we were married. But PatPat and Papa were good sports–even buying Speed (and me and Grayson) dinner at the original Cocina de Mino and posing for a picture that Emma needed for Greatfriends Day at school.

Papa and PatPat in their new kitchen

And then his birthday actually got here, Holly went to all the trouble to get him an appointment for his drivers test, gave him last minute, probably faulty, and probably ignored pointers. And he passed on the first try.

That evening, we kind of opened presents. He’d already gotten most of them–OU/TX tickets, OU/Texas Tech tickets, Call of Duty: Black Ops Edition, etc.–so there wasn’t much drama.

Speed attempts to read as Layla and Emma watch

He even pre-picked out these ugly black/white/purple things.

Ugly shoes; I guess that's teens for you

And he pre-ordered a Dez Bryant Cowboys jersey even though he’s a former OSU Cowboy.

Ginger Dez Bryant

For his birthday dinner, he decided on trying a new (to him) burger place, Maple & Motor. It’s very, very good, but the best part was that Madysen got to see her former freshman English teacher, now Maple & Motor burger genius.

Finally, Holly told Speed to endorse a birthday check. Apparently, he has no idea what that means. I guess he’ll sign anything, anywhere.

He actually practices that signature

So we are two weeks into Operation Speed Drives–he’s even taken Emma to basketball practice–and we are all making it. FINGERS CROSSED.

Up first was Layla for the home opener against Utah State on September 4. On the way up, I got my first speeding ticket in five years and Layla played with my iPhone camera.

Her monkey pillow

Once in Norman, we grabbed drinks at Classic 50′s and pizza at Mazzio’s.

She loves it when I take pictures mid-bite

As for the game, it should have been a laugher, but it didn’t go as well as hoped. But OU hung on for a 35-28 victory and left me worried.

Pregame hoopla

After the too-close victory

The following weekend brought a very big game against #17 Florida State. Speed had put in a special request for this game, and then we learned that the Boz and Billy Sims would be signing autographs before the game.

Boz pulls his cycle right up on the sidewalk

A guy calls for "Brian" to turn around for a picture; dude, he doesn't answer to "Brian"

Still cool after all these years

Boz and Sims--greatness

The Pride plays on Campus Corner

And then we ran into Jamelle Holieway; what a day

And they played a game to, though it was only in doubt for a little bit. After a 7-7 start, OU was up comfortably 34-7 at half and breezed to a 47-17 win. That was fun to watch.

Sooners Win!

Students celebrate

The final non-conference home game was last Saturday against the Air Force Academy. Madysen went along for this game but is no great fan of me taking pictures. In honor of the Academy, OU had several special touches in the pregame and halftime festivities–a fighter plane flyover pregame, a bomber flyover at half, a Stoops video intro for the Academy, allowing the Academy to enter the field last, etc. It was special.

For the second time in three weeks, OU played poorly. They held on for a 27-24 win, which will have to do for now.

The Schooner with Boomer and Sooner

So the next two weeks are big–the first away game at Cincinnati and the Red River game against Texas here in town. But most worrisome at our house is that Emma hasn’t been to a game yet. She cannot wait, but she’ll have to.

Noah came to our house for the following week, and he and Emma had a pretty good time together.

Noah and Emma eat dinner in the pool

And probably the best time anyone had all summer was Emma coming to my office for the day. Emma was the last to come and that was over a year ago, which caused great consternation with Speed and Layla (Madysen’s too cool)–mostly because of the new coffee/hot chocolate machine. As always, we had Krispy Kreme for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch (PD Johnson’s this time).

Hot chocolate and a day's worth of gear

Anyway, Emma and Layla love weddings especially. Mostly because of the flowers and music. Evidence: the Cha Cha Slide.

Meanwhile Speed was out on the golf course–not playing golf. It was pouring rain, so he and couple boys finagled a cart and got themselves absolutely drenched. Standard wedding stuff.

And since we were there with all those Lombardi trophies (or at least replicas), we snapped a pic. Speed is the tall, wet one.

Four kids and five Lombardi trophies