Athletic Banquet

Clint couldn't make it to Cami and Adam's athletic banquet so Clare asked if I wanted to come.  Why not?  I enjoy seeing the youth being recognized.

The girl's basketball team was recognized for winning their 4th straight conference title.  That really wasn't too hard considering what schools are in the conference.

Maddie Haffner was recognized as the outstanding basketball player she is.

Adam was chosen as the Most Improved on the boy's track team!  He's not great at what he does but he enjoys it.

Cami has improved in her discus throwing skills this year!  Even after not coaching for the last many years, I still enjoy watching the athletes compete!

 

What a Deal!

For years we have had a couch in the basement.  There's also a television down there so in the winter when the pellet stove is going and it is nice and warm, we spend a lot of time down there.  Couches have come and gone and the last one was our old leather one which was so cracked and worn.  

Pat wanted to buy some matching recliners to put down there.  I've been watching some online auctions to find some deals.  I discovered that you can go and look at the things up for sale prior to bidding.  We went to Cloverleaf Lakes and looked at some recliners.  We were outbid and didn't want to pay what they were going to sell for.  Instead we bid on a couch and loveseat with reclining ends.  

We won this loveseat with it's matching sofa for $3!  We gave the sofa to Andrew for their basement and brought the loveseat home.  While cleaning both the couch going out and the loveseat coming in, I found $1.50.  That meant I only paid $1.73 for both pieces.  The auction company gets 10% and we also pay tax.  The auction company made 30 cents off of us.  I haven't used it yet but Tom certainly has!

 

Concerts

Before school was out there was a scheduled concert which was cancelled due to impending weather which never materialized.  Better safe than sorry.  The concert was moved to a time during the school day instead.  

I think Brock didn't enjoy band in the beginning but he is doing so great in playing the trumpet.

Cami scored a 1* with her vocal solo which meant she qualified for state.  She didn't go because it was the same day as her prom.  She got to sing her song for us on this day.  She did great although the lyric wasn't something I was crazy about.

For the last several years the choir has consisted of only a handful of voices.  This year it was finally a choir!

Cami had independent choir her last semester so this day was the first time she was able to sing with the choir.  Whoever heard of independent choir?

It was a relatively short concert but I was so glad I went.

Great job Cami, Adam and Brock!

 

Donny Osmond Concert

My whole life I've wanted to see Donny Osmond in concert. I grew up on the music of the Osmond Brothers and just always loved it.  We went to Vegas and were there a bit too early to catch his concert.  He's doing a summer tour and it kicked off in Milwaukee and then he came to Appleton!  That close I wasn't going to miss it.

Of course his song Puppy Love is probably the one he's known for.  He sang it for us just after he opened with Soldier of Love.

I loved that he was so interactive with the audience.  He sang a rap that chronicled his career.  It was accompanied by a slide show.  That was so fun to watch and listen to.

He spent time asking the audience what songs of his 60 albums he should sing.  That was fun and so entertaining.  

Then he brought out his "brothers" to sing with him.  He has some incredible dancers who doubled as his brothers.  

At the end he gave a great tribute to Andy Williams!  I loved that!  He had video footage of he and his brothers as well as Marie from when they were just little kids.  I love that he gave credit where credit was due.  Besides, I always loved Andy Williams too.  It was a fun night and one of my most favorite concerts ever.  And I got to spend it with my best guy!

Cousins

On June 29th, Gresham had their Independence Day celebration with a parade and fireworks in the evening.  This is the day I throw a picnic at our home for whomever wants to come.  This year, Nichola and Stefanie have moved back to Wisconsin so it was a no-brainer that they along with Alyssa would be here.  Not only that, but the Robertson reunion was the next week so Zack and Zane and families were also in town.

The school is getting new playground equipment and there were a few pieces no one wanted.  One of them being the "spider".  It is set up on the south lawn just below the driveway.  I'm sure I don't know the names of all these 2nd cousins but I think they had a good day getting to know one another.

Alex and Cate were also in town so it was really just a family reunion plus Edwina and the Raddants.  I didn't get to have time with everyone, but I think all had a good time renewing and remembering.

We had to have a photo so all the cousins who were in attendance created a pose on the front steps.  Pat threw a water balloon just prior to me snapping a picture that hit Tom almost squarely in the crotch.  That got some good laughs!

In the end I really did get a better photo than this one.  It was so fun to have all these people together once again.  It made my heart smile.

What a She Saw Can Do

We had a storm with high winds come through at the end of June.  We didn't have any trees down at our house since the willow was taken out a couple years ago.  But there was a tree down on the corner of Herman Street and Lyndhurst Road.

Tom and I took the "she saw" (it's the battery operated one) and began clearing the debris.  There was quite a bit that we could just throw in the ditch but then a lot that was still attached to the tree.

When we were finished, traffic could easily go through as though there hadn't been a problem at all.  I never used the power saw prior as it is just so heavy for me.  This little Stihl is the perfect size!

We Did a Thing

Andrew graduated from NWTC in May with his degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant.  We're so proud of him for accomplishing this task.  He never really liked school outside of the socialization and athletics.  Cierra graduated with her Master's degree last summer and we never got around to giving her a party.  

Cierra wanted to throw a surprise party for Andrew and with her family coming for a visit and celebrating Eddie's birthday all in one weekend, I told her we would handle the party for Andrew.  What she didn't know was that the party was also for her.  

Invitations were printed and sent out and food was ordered.

I was with Edwina in Green Bay for her shoulder surgery all day so my children had to figure out how to set everything up and pick up the roast beef.  I got the cake from Costco on our way home.

Cierra took her family to Bay Beach and told us she would get back about 5:15.  We had everything ready when they arrived.  It was so fun seeing her face as she recognized that the party wasn't just for Andrew but also for her.  He was oblivious to what was going on.  

We had banners, food, friends and family, a bouncy house for the kids and lots of pictures.  It could not have gone any better.  I'm so proud of both of them for their wonderful accomplishments.  Cierra made a poster for Andrew and we had Sydney Wagner make a matching one for her.  I loved all of it.