Category Archives: Logan

Skywatch Friday – Life is Better Outside

Life sure is better when you can get outside and do things!

Launched my drone again from my back yard. I thought the sunset was going to be better than what it was. Better than nothing though.

I pointed the aircraft west and oriented the camera down a little bit and caught the west side of our neighborhood.

Son, Logan and I went for a hike on Turkey Mountain the other day. It was beautiful. We spent some time on the paved trail next to the Arkansas River.

We had a good time.

I went geocaching the other day. The sky was pretty cool, and I had a successful hunt. It was close to residences and I was feeling watched.

Found some more at a neighborhood park in an older part of town. It was an historic park. For one thing it was close to aircraft manufacturing plants during World War II. The men were at war so the housewives worked. There was an old retired guy who looked after the kids at this park during the workday. I bet that was a zoo.

I got lucky and found a very small geocache, It still counts.

I’m linking with Skywatch Friday. Come check it out.

College Graduation Time for Logan

Our son, Logan graduated from college last Friday. Heather and I drove down to Chickasha and found him chillaxing with a frappucino in one of the lounges.

He got cleaned up and ready for the ceremony. It was actually a banquet for the December graduates but they had caps and gowns and got awarded their diploma covers. It was kind of funny because they had a disclaimer that just because you went through the ceremony doesn’t necessarily mean that you met the requirements for graduation. You see Friday was the last day of classes also so if one celebrated too early you may not get anything to put in your diploma folder.

Here is Logan with Sean, the program director who oversaw the students who had autism. The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is the only place in the state with a program for people on the spectrum where they can get a fully accredited degree instead of a certificate. More programs are coming but right now USAO is the only degree program in the state. If you are interested, it is called the Neil-Wint Center for Neurodiversity. Click the link for more info. One takes regular classes and does all the work that other students do.

Here is Logan with his sweet fellow student Erin. My heart goes out to these graduates. Talk about being through the wringer with Covid and a pivot to online classes and putting up with protocols and all that. The world is changing.

Here is a video taken by Seann of Logan getting called up to get his degree. One of the benefits of a small college. The academic advisors for each student introduced the student individually. I love it. When I graduated from the University of New Mexico way back when all several thousand of us got a wave of the hand. Here, Logan’s advisor, came and sat down with us during the dinner.

And here is Mom and Dad with Logan. Yes, I know my hair is a fright!! I am getting it cut this coming Friday.

And another pic of the graduate.

The next morning, the party is over. Clean out his dorm room and check out. Our SUV was cram full!!

And a final photo with Heather and Logan.

What’s next? He is applying for jobs in the Tulsa area. He is a great writer and a hard worker.

Somebody’s Having a Birthday

This sign got added to the yard last night.

It’s for this guy, who is now a college man.

But we remember him napping with Pooh Bear on the beach.

And riding Ranger the stick horse all over the house.

He’s a great son who we are proud of.

And here he is with his Grandmother, Nana.

And hanging out in the flower gardens with his mom.

He loves hanging out with his Mom in quiet times.

And more exciting times.

Happy Birthday Logan, we are proud of you and love you very much.

An addendum,

The Birthday Boy

I think he loved the yard sign. Heather hired an outfit to do it. It’s like a super-duper birthday card.

Used the drone to get a little altitude plus it is its own tripod.

A little bit higher angle. Tried to use the tripod with my Nikon but it would have to be in the middle of the street.

We loved the sign and missed it when the people came and pulled it up.

We had a birthday dinner at a nice restaurant.

And lots and lots of candles.

A good time was had by all!

Birthday Weekend!!

Son Logan is having a birthday this weekend. For some reason either he is growing or his mother and grandmother are both shrinking.

He is a patient kid, he puts up with all my hiking, geocaching, and other things I like to do.

He’s a scholar, presently at a community college and may be going to a four year university soon, and staying in the dorm. And his mother and I will be empty nesters, except for our five other kids (dogs and cats.)

And he is always ready for a good stretch!!

And he is patient with his dad sticking a camera in his face. I have almost 5800 photos of him in my archives.

And lucky for him, he takes after his mom. I think he is a good looking kid.

Especially when he is next time.

He loves chilling in his grandmother’s poo.

And he is a big reader. He goes everywhere with a book.

He and his mom love parasailing together.

And he loves video games.

Happy Birthday Logan!! We love you.

New Beginnings – Logan Starts College Today

We were trying to figure out what to do Sunday when Logan announced that he would like to go hiking on Turkey Mountain. It only took a few microseconds for the words to hit my ear and my response didn’t even go to my brain “Lets go!” I said.

It was a change for Logan. He has a couple of other big changes coming up. For one he is starting college today at a local community college. He is starting part time. So we are not photographing decorated dorm rooms and new room mates and all that. We are starting kind of slow to see how it goes and get him used to it and he’ll live at home.

Not everybody of course goes “off” to college. I graduated from high school in Albuquerque and went to the University of New Mexico and stayed at home. Suited me!! I went off to the Permian Basin of west Texas to work as a roustabout in the oilfields during the summer. I loved the work but I loved getting home also. I think Logan is a home body also. Eventually he want to get a job and get a place of his own. Hopefully not too far away.

We found someone camping illegally on the Mountain

The other change for Logan is that he is starting a work skills class at Goodwill Inc sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitative Services (“DRS”). Its going to be several hours a day and they are going to learn about all the various things a person has to know in order to have a job. We have been very impressed with both Goodwill and DRS. They are very nice people and we think this will be great for Logan. It will be in a small group type environment and they will all learn together.

Anyways say a small prayer if you would for our son as he starts this new things in his life. He is very nervous about it.

“…Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go…”

Joshua 1:9

Logan’s Graduation

Well the rapidly rushing river headed towards Niagra Falls of Logan’s senior year finally came to the end and I guess we all survived. Wow, a lot happened this year, and wow, it all accelerated and got very fast at the end and then the end came and I guess we were all right.

It was all very emotional for me as my little baby boy that we brought home from the hospital 18 years ago is now a big strapping young man.

He is still our baby boy though except he is going to register to vote next week.

We were fortunate to have my Sister Ellen (far right) her dashing husband Irv (far left), and my brother Bob (betwsen Logan and Ellen) travel a long distance to share the event with us.

The High School principal, Dr. Burrows, a very nice man came by and congratulated Logan. He told Heather a few weeks ago that they took a risk admitting Logan and he was very glad that he did. We are glad that he they gave Logan a chance also.

And here is me. No we didn’t plan on being so color coordinated.

And one of Logan’s classmates, Matt. Matt went out of his way to make Logan feel welcome when he first attended.

And this is Logan’s Kindergarten teacher from a long time ago. She had her hands full with an oversize class and Logan took a lot of attention but she hung with him. She was the first of a series of teachers from several schools who had a heart of kids and went the extra mile to give kids like Logan the attention he needed.

And this is the Kindergarten teacher’s daughter who went to school with Logan way back when and also graduated from the same school with Logan. She spent a lot of time helping Logan back then and they reconnected when Logan enrolled at the new school.

Another look at Irv and Ellen. They make a very handsome couple don’t they. They are very nice. Our dogs fell in love with them though and have been down in the dumps since Irv and Ellen left to go back to Colorado.

Afterwards Nana hosted a party for Logan at her house the next day. Many of Heather’s relatives attended the party as wells as Ellen and Irvin.

The party was a combined graduation and birthday party and had a drama theme since Logan’s first love is acting and performing. Notice the cake with the marquee.

And the little chalk board like they use for movies. Or used to use anyway.

Several of Logan’s friends showed up and all had a good time. This is where I admit that I am a bad son in law and did not get a picture of Logan and his grandmother together. Don’t you worry though because I will get a picture and add it to this post. One nice thing about blogging is that you can rewrite history any time you want!

And then we sang Happy Birthday!!

I did get a picture of the boy and his mom. They have a special bond that brings tears to eyes when I think about it.

So anyways, maybe I’ll be a better blog friend now. We have been busy lately!!

Skywatch Friday – Graduation Day

I cheated, I found this in my archives from 2011. I don’t feel a bit sorry about it.

Thursday is Skywatch Friday in the blog world.

Logan with his Mom and Nana (the world’s greatest MIL) at the Baccalaureate last Sunday.

It is also the day that our son Logan graduates from High School. A big day of celebration in our house I’ll tell you. Of course, the next phase starts.

We are really proud of him.

Skywatch Friday

It’s Getting Real!!

Graduation is getting real!! The baccalaureate is tomorrow. I’ve never been to one, I’m not sure what it is. I guess that I’m about to find out. The actual graduation is next Thursday. The kid is getting nervous. The whole family is for that matter.

He humored his old man and put on the cap and gown earlier this week before I school. I have to say that I have never seen that expression before.

He has been going to graduations of friends of his at different schools, going through finals, and finishing up class projects and it is all a whorl of activity.

Wish us luck and keep us and him especially in your prayers. Life is going by pretty fast right now.

Logan sings “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin

Logan had another recital Saturday night at his music School. He sang “Friend Like Me” from the musical Aladdin.

Such a ham. He goes to his lessons but doesn’t practice much on his own but he still pulls out pretty decent performances. Heather took the video above. I took one of him practicing. It was nothing like he pulled off about an hour later.

That was fine even with a few stifled yawns. Oh well, I wish sometimes I wish I could figure out what is going on inside his head and other times I think I don’t want to know.

The recital room is packed with parents and students. They start with the youngest, some of them pre-school, and go up to the oldest. Some of them are scared to death, others are poised and ready.

Logan has never seen a microphone or stage that he was scared of taking.

It amazes me sometimes, like “Where did that kid come from.”

Here we are at the post recital dinner. I’m still wondering where that kid on the stage come from.

And here is the proud Grandmother and Mom.

Sorry, I just love bragging on my kid. He did great.

And guess what!! The 100% solar powered plane, the Solar Impulse which has flown about halfway around the world purely on solar power is in Tulsa and I am going to see her up close tomorrow morning and take a few photographs. I am so pumped!!

Logan in Footloose

Logan’s school put on another musical this year, Footloose about a small town in Oklahoma that bans dancing in the city limits and the kids fight city hall and win. It is based on actual events in Elmore City, Oklahoma in 1980. Read about it here.

Logan as a parishoner during a sermon. The beige and beige on beige look was what I had in the 80’s until I met Heather and she introduced me to color.

Logan had a small part but he worked hard at it. So did his mother from shopping at Goodwill for 1980’s era clothes (why didn’t she check my closet?) to being at almost all the rehearsals and all the performances.

He is a town council member here. He “forgot” to tuck his shirt in before going onstage. I thought Heather was going to have a coronary. She texted him to tuck his pants in before he came back out. Yeah for cell phones. Of course playing on it may have caused the problem in the first place.

The teacher that directs the kids is very demanding but has a big heart. The kids really respond. This production had kids down to sixth grade participating.

Logan had a small part and he made the most of it and gave it is all.

Those of us who are parents know what it is like when you see your kid doing something and enjoying it.

This is his air guitar technique. We hadn’t seen that before.

This is his last high school production so we’ll see what the future holds for Logan. Will he be in any more productions? If he wants to hard enough he will.

But I will worry about that later, right now I’m enjoying his joy on the stage.

It was fun!

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