As promised...

Here are some pictures from John-Heath's pre-school graduation.

My little graduate. Doesn't he look handsome, minus the scrape on his chin from where he released the cocked hammer on his toy gun a little too close to the face?

Receiving his diploma from Ms. Penny, one of his teachers.

Ma-Ma reattaching his cap.

With the family (L-R) cousin Meg, big sister Ren, Uncle T, Aunt Sissy, John, Ma-Ma, and Pa Gene.

John-Heath with Ms. Penny

With his good friend Kolby at the restaurant owned by Kolby's family for an after-graduation party.

The Weekend - Where Did It Go and Why Am I So Tired?

John-Heath and cousin Dylan after playing against each other. Unfortunately, team orange was victorious.

John and I both feel wiped out. And it's not even because we've had that busy a weekend. Ren and I went to the graduation Saturday and then John-Heath had a soccer game that day too, but other than that there was nothing else causing us to rush through the weekend.

John-Heath with his first trophy. He thought getting one was pretty cool and told Ren she could set it up on the shelf in her bedroom with all of hers.

John thinks it may be the mowing and weedeating of 5 acres every week. And, though he has always maintained that he would never enjoy living in a subdivision, even a posh one like Fairvue, he freely admits it would have its advantages and even suggested selling everything and moving some place with a smaller yard. Of course, we won't. Not until the kids are both out of school, at least. And since our little surprise is not yet 5 it looks like we'll be here for about 13 more years.


Anyway, with no energy to write anything else I'll just have to settle for posting a few pics from the weekend.

Ren and one of her friends at the graduation ceremony - just three more years and they'll be walking the line (hopefully)

Here's looking forward to the last week of school.

Ren and her cousin playing around before church this morning.

Bmmm Bm Bm Bm Bmmm Bmmm

Bmmm Bm Bm Bm Bmmm Bmmm Bmmm Bm Bm Bm Bmmm

That's me humming Pomp and Circumstance in honor of my little boy's graduation. John-Heath officially graduated from New Hope Child Learning Center's Pre-K program tonight. I'll post pictures and news from the ceremony tomorrow.

In honor of John-Heath's big day, as well as our graduating senior class at the high school (many of these students were in my 3rd grade class during my eighth year as a teacher), I thought a little trivia about Pomp and Circumstance might be fun for today's post.

It was composed by Sir Edward Elgar in 1901.

Its full title is Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches.

A series of 5 marches for orchestra make up the total work.

The title is taken from Shakespeare's Othello:

"Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump,

The spirit-stirring drum, th'ear-piercing fife,

The royal banner, and all quality

Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!"

Even though we could not imagine one without it, it was not originally intended for graduations. Instead, the march was used for the coronation of King Edward VII.

Its use at graduations began in 1905 when Elgar was honored at Yale University with an honorary doctorate (played as a recessional). After Yale used it other ivy league colleges used it too and soon it became a graduation standard.

It was recorded in November 1931 at the opening of <a href="http://www.abbeyroad.com/">Abbey Road Studios</a> in London.

It was used in Disney's Fantasia 2000

Now, don't you feel better? When you attend a graduation this year and hear this familiar tune you'll have all sorts of trivia running through your brain.