Goodbye Santan

Spenser graduated from 8th grade today!  It is both exciting and bittersweet as we now have to say goodbye to Santan, the school that Sienna had attended since kindergarten, and Spenser attended since first grade.  They did a great job growing our children and broadening their minds and abilities, both academically and musically.  Yes, I know their parents were also a factor, but it takes a great school and inspiring teachers to create students like our children are, so thank you Santan.

 

Here are the boys this morning, getting ready to head off to the last day of junior high.  Rob always has to see his children off on their last day.

 

 

Before dropping him off at school, we treated Spenser to breakfast at Mcdonald's - yum.

 

 

Then at 2 pm we were in the gymnasium for Team 8D's celebration.

Here is the program.

 



 

Can you find Spenser?  He is in the second to last row on the left side.

 



After a few speeches and hurrahs, it was time for the names to be called.

 

 

 

Here he is with his 'diploma.'

 



 

Of course we have to take several photo ops with our little guy.

 



 

No longer a stormer, now he's a Perry Freshman!

 



 

We had to stop in to see Mr. Kane and thank him for everything he's done for Spenser.

 



 

While in the music room, I snapped a few close up photos of the awards won in Anaheim.

 



 

What a great year and we couldn't be prouder of our Spenser Allan Samour!



English Student of the Year

Perry held their sophomore academics awards tonight, and Sienna earned two accolades!

 She not only won a letter for her high GPA, but also was chosen as the female Honor's English Student of the Year!  That's a huge accomplishment!

 

All we can say is W O W !!!!

A Hop and A Peep

Our Easter started with attending Mass

and then taking a few photos at home.

 

 Here I am getting silly with Spenser

 

and snapping a family selfie.

 

Dinner menu tonight includes salmon, red potatoes, green beans with almonds, cornbread, and a

PEEP CAKE!

 

HAPPY EASTER!

 

 

 

You Going to Roads and Streets?

This was quite an ADOT week for the Samours!  It started with the Gateway Freeway opening and ended with the annual Roads and Streets Conference in Tucson.  Held in Tucson every April, it is the place to be as engineers, dignitaries, and contractors from state and federal entities come together to celebrate the fine work and progress they've made. 

Even Sienna and I picked up on the frequent said query - "You going to Roads and Streets?" while at the freeway opening.  We heard it so much that we were excited to reply, "Why yes, we are going to Roads and Streets!"  Of course not being employees ourselves, there are some events we are not privy to, but staying on property luckily is not one of them.  So here is a view from our room at the Star Pass Resort.

 



 



 

Many of the people who attend the conference are people we have got to know over the years and some have even been to a Samour Sounds Bash, so although not official registered attendees, Sienna and I had many people to talk to and mingle with. 

 

They had some cool things to interact with at the Expo, including what Sienna and I would look like as engineers.

 

 

Kinda cool!

 



 

Of course you've seen some pics of our favorite display!

 



 

We all got in a picture with Dewey and Comic Dewey, including Sharon Gordon, the cool chick who works for the FHWA.

 



 

Jennifer, Dallas, and John were also caricatured, unfortunately I was not able to photograph them all.

 



 

The sun did not show the next day, so pool time was not a possibility.  Instead, Sienna and I headed to the U of A to watch men's tennis.

 

 

 Believe it or not we were back home at 4 pm to get a practice session in!

 

Definitely a good Good Friday, but certainly a long one!

 

 

 

 

AZ 24

Arizona State Route 24, otherwise known as the Gateway Freeway, held its ribbon cutting tonight and of course the Samours were there to celebrate the event.

 

There were a lot less people in attendance than most freeway festivals, but the intimate atmosphere made for an enjoyable evening.  There were several guest speakers, including John Halikowski (Rob's boss) and Governor Brewer.

 

After speeches it was time to cut the ribbon.  John is happy about it!  Next to him is Halliday, Director of DPS.

John is joined by his boss, Governor Jan Brewer.
 

Here are a few shots of John and Jan, with the fly-over bridges as a backdrop.
 

Did you check out the size of those scissors?

 

Photo op!  Selfie!

 

Selfie #2!

 



My favorite pic of the evening, me and Doug Nintzel!  Love him!

 

Another ADOT achievement!

 

 

Too bad you missed it Grandpa!