well yesterday afternoon i took the kids on a walk. on our way home we saw maci and julie (our neighbors across the street). we stopped off for a quick hello. there was a small black stand sitting in their garage which i noticed quickly became elle's microphone. next came multiple renditions of "Oh Susanna." apparently she has picked up a lot more from American Idol than i thought!. she was bouncing her head like Taylor and had a pretty good scream like Chris on a couple of verses. she would conclude each song with "well i come from Alabama with a banjo on my mee" (instead of knee). guess i'm glad this week is the finale of AI because apparently we've been watching too much reality tv.

well on monday we drove over to tulsa for our last visit to T-town. martha graduated from college with the highest honors her college gave with a degree in social work. it was pretty crazy entertaining the kids while all the professors paraded around on stage, but we got to yell really loud when they announced "Martha Llewellyn Newman" and she walked across the stage. we ended up spending the night and then went to the Tulsa Zoo the next morning. elle keeps reminding us that we saw polar bear and turtle and elephants. it was a gorgeous day and we strolled the kids around creating memories for us, but ones that they will someday forget. mostly we are just proud of martha, only getting one "B" during her whole college career, in statistics (numbers were never her strong suit). matt and martha are headed off to ohio this month where she will be completing her degree and getting a masters in social work...way to go little sis!