Pomp and Circumstance

A couple weeks ago, Millie Janalee and I made a little day trip to celebrate another big occasion.  Uncie "Buck" graduated from PTA school!  Dustin has previously graduated from Mississippi State with a Kinesiology degree, and he went back to complete PTA school.  We are very proud, and I know he is even prouder to be out of the classroom.  Ha!

Millie Janalee can knock her first graduation off her bucket list now.  I came prepared with lots of snacks, a few books, a lovey, her paci, juice, and more.  Of course there was also her Susu, Pawpaw, and She She to keep her company too.  We arrived about an hour or more before the ceremony to ensure we had good seats.  If you know my family, you don't even have to think about it to predict who saved our seats first.  Ha!  Mama has that gift.

Once the ceremony began, Millie Janalee was arching her neck and reaching over Pawpaw so she could see who was talking and all the graduates coming in.  She watched them all march in...like such a big girl.

We eventually spotted "Buck", and followed him around the floor to his seat.  Once all the graduates were seated, we listened to the key note speaker, and then the diplomas were presented.  The key note speech is when I broke out the Cheez-its!  Ha!  Millie Janalee is really such a good sport!

Dustin walking to his seat

Dustin walking on stage to receive his diploma

We are so proud of Dustin for his perseverance and dedication.  And graduating with honors is just the icing on the cake!  Now the job search begins.  His PTA class is very close since it is a small class.  He is one of three boys, which I thought was fun.  They have done so many fun things the past two years, and the stories he comes home with will make you roll on the floor laughing most times.

Dustin's class

During their last rotation, one of his classmates has been living with him.  We have all gotten to know Jordan over time.  He visits our tailgates at State a good bit, and I've almost gotten him trained to actually wear the school colors on gameday!  Ha!  We have enjoyed getting to know him, and I'm pretty sure these guys have many more shenanigans to come!

Ummm...no diplomas

Great friends

We finally managed to coax him into some family photos after all his friends gathered, laughed, and took a few group pictures.

Sheila and Dustin

Daddy, Mama, and Dustin

Me, Millie Janalee, and Uncie "Buck"

In case you don't know what it's like to be the oldest of three, let me give you a glimpse.  Dustin was in sixth grade (I think) when I left for college.  I cried the day I called home and he answered with a lower voice - his voice had changed while I was away.  He was just a kid when I left home.  So to me...he's always my "baby brother."

Now as a mother, I look at people in a different way.  I look at them to see how their life will affect Millie Janalee's.  And I've gotta say that I couldn't be prouder of the man he's grown up to be.  I'm proud to have someone so incredibly fun, affectionate, compassionate, deep-thinking, honest, and loyal for her to look up to.  I think she will always find that Uncie "Buck" is way more fun that I am.

But isn't that the way it's supposed to be??

She's looking up to Uncie "Buck".  Lord help us!  Ha!

We ended our day with supper at Mount Fuji hibachi grill.  They even brought out the cake with a candle and the gong to help us celebrate!

Congratulations Dustin!  We love you and are so proud!