Since I didn't ever go to a Homecoming Dance in High school myself- it only stands to reason that I would bust my rear-end to make sure it was fun for the high school kids in my life! Here are a few snapshots of the evening:
This is a picture of Hannah and her date, James. I have known James since he was maybe five years old, through church. He has been volunteering with our special ed department as a helper, and one night working up here at church, I asked him if he would like to be "set up" with Hannah. He agreed and they had their blind date for homecoming! Looks like it worked out: See for yourself!
Since I'm new at the whole blogging thing, you will just have to deal with
the fact that some of the phots are sideways. I'm sure I will figure it out sooner or later.
And if you are wondering why the red tie . . . here is a short and TRUE story that will give you an indication of what it's like to live with a seventeen year old girl (incase you don't already know.) Up until Friday - the day before the homecoming dance - Hannah was planning to wear a red dress. It was borrowed from a friend and very cute and flattering on Hannah. Friday night, Georgia was over at a girlfriend's house and John and I, Hannah, and the four boys, were having dinner when Hannah disclosed that she was "not excited" about her homecoming wardrobe. Oddly, this was the first time she had said "I'm not excited about my dress." WHAT?!??!??! Why am I finding this out on Friday night at 8pm, the night before the dance. Well, lately I've become a "suck it up" kind of lady with the kids because someone in our house seems to always be irritated, frustrated, left-out or otherwise depressed about SOMETHING - could be anything. But on Friday, Hannah must have caught me at a particularly benevolent moment because I hopped up from the table in my raggedy t-shirt and shorts and said "Then let's go find something you want to wear!" And off we went at 8:30 to hit Ross, which by the way, is the BEST place to buy a teen girl a formal dress. Last year, Hannah's little pinkish-purplish dress - all sparkly and stuff - was just $14.99 - yes, you read that correctly. I bought Georgia's very unique dress for her last year's 8th grade dance at another Ross store for only $17.99 - WOW!!! So off we went to Ross to find something little Miss Hannah was "Excited" about wearing. Halfway to Gainesville, I pointed out that we had already informed the blind date that he would be escorting a lady in red. So at some point during the evening, we actually swapped his tie for one of John's ties and it all worked a little better.
She ended up in a "zebra" looking short-dress that I have to admit was not impressive on the hanger, but it did fit her perfectly and the price was so good! Gotta love that!
Our second couple pictured here is my "adopted" son Cody, who is a senior, and his lovely girlfriend, Shelby. I also fixed-up this couple (yes, I am a matchmaker at heart, always have been.) Shelby was one of the children's ministry summer interns this past year, and Cody is a close friend of Hannah and Georgia, often staying at our house and blending in like one of the family. He is over so often these days that the dogs don't even bark at him (and if you have ever been to my house, you know this means he belongs there.) Cody is an all-around good kid. He is active in his church, goes on mission trips, and is a drummer in the marching band as well as a varsity football player (often a starter in the games.) He somehow manages to march with the band and play football all at the same time. Shelby and Cody have been dating about a month and she goes to Dacula High. She and Georgia and Hannah have all become fast friends and we love her to pieces.
So, here are some shots of the four "upper" class students. Everyone really hit it off!
Now, isn't this sweet? This is our little Georgia (a freshman @ LCHS) and her cute date, Daniel. Becky likes to point out that Daniel is a dead-ringer for Ben Folds. I first met Daniel when we took a big group of Georgia's friends to the lakehouse for Georgia's 15th birthday back in September. He is a good kid, and you can tell he doesn't really know what to think of our family.
When he comes over to visit, he generally tries to stay away from the dogs. Porky knows he is a little nervous around her, so she puts on her worst behavior. Hercules, tries to sit on his lap, which you can imagine is pretty exreme considering Hercules weights twice as much as Daniel. We picked on Georgia a lot before homecoming, telling her that Daniel probably went up to the outlet mall and got his shirt and tie at Osh'kosh or Gymboree. Cody teased Daniel and said "looks like you went to baby gap." Nice one, Cody.
For dinner, Emily had made these awesome menus for the kids to decide what they wanted to eat. They had a choice of steak or lemon-pepper chicken, and a choice of sides. We also had soup (Georgia's favorite potato soup) or salad, french bread, and the best part- desserts!!
Of course, I cooked way too much. With 6 kids in our home full-time, John and I have gotten used to the complicated task of cooking for a crowd every night. I can make some instant mashed potatoes in quantities that would serve the US military. And as I have pointed out to John, teenage girls can eat just as much as little boys, but maybe not with quite as much catsup. But the interesting phenomenon with girls is that you cook a ton of food when they have a *date* and they just push the food around on their plates and pretend to be full oh-so-quickly. It's not until late at night when the date is long-gone when the teenage girls get up and raid the refrigerator and leave nothing behind but crumbs and a sink full of dirty dishes. Pay attention, guys, because that sweet little thing that says "I'll just have a salad," will likely inhale an entire cheesecake as soon as you leave the room.
And so, after the "big" fancy dinner, they all piled into the Suzuki with John as the chaeuffer and off they went to Lumpkin County High School. Three hours later, they all smelled like sweat and perfume mixed together, Hannah and James were holding hands and Georgia had ditched the high-heeled shoes that Emily loaned her in a pinch. Cody said it was "the best homecoming ever!" I should hope so!!
Here is the whole group together:
It's a special bathtub. 
Here is Samuel with his fourth grade class. His teacher is standing behind him at the microphone. She and Mitchell's teacher are both expecting baby girls this year. Samuel received awards for perfect attendance, honor roll, and good behavior. Go Samuel! Go Straterra!
Here is Peniel with his second grade class. He has a very sweet teacher who is fluent in Spanish. Today he is wearing a Georgia Tech T-shirt since I told him that John is a big Tech fan and that Grandpa used to teach math there. 
Peniel won awards for good behavior and honor roll. On his report card, he got all A's with only one B in math. And it was a high B! 
the fact that some of the phots are sideways. I'm sure I will figure it out sooner or later. 
She ended up in a "zebra" looking short-dress that I have to admit was not impressive on the hanger, but it did fit her perfectly and the price was so good! Gotta love that! 
Our second couple pictured here is my "adopted" son Cody, who is a senior, and his lovely girlfriend, Shelby. I also fixed-up this couple (yes, I am a matchmaker at heart, always have been.) Shelby was one of the children's ministry summer interns this past year, and Cody is a close friend of Hannah and Georgia, often staying at our house and blending in like one of the family. He is over so often these days that the dogs don't even bark at him (and if you have ever been to my house, you know this means he belongs there.) Cody is an all-around good kid. He is active in his church, goes on mission trips, and is a drummer in the marching band as well as a varsity football player (often a starter in the games.) He somehow manages to march with the band and play football all at the same time. Shelby and Cody have been dating about a month and she goes to Dacula High. She and Georgia and Hannah have all become fast friends and we love her to pieces. 
When he comes over to visit, he generally tries to stay away from the dogs. Porky knows he is a little nervous around her, so she puts on her worst behavior. Hercules, tries to sit on his lap, which you can imagine is pretty exreme considering Hercules weights twice as much as Daniel. We picked on Georgia a lot before homecoming, telling her that Daniel probably went up to the outlet mall and got his shirt and tie at Osh'kosh or Gymboree. Cody teased Daniel and said "looks like you went to baby gap." Nice one, Cody.
Here is the whole group together: 
