Train!

Staying with the Steens has some real perks.  Marty built this train for his grandchildren and ours got to enjoy it too.

Pat got to pull them around in the yard and even in the neighborhood.

I think Butch and Lydia's faces tell how much they liked it.

Across the street in the condo parking lot was a great place to pull them.  Especially with the missionary vehicles gone.

Papa! You should build one!

Family in Nauvoo

The Gourley and Fillmore families minus Clint and Jeff spent a few days in Nauvoo.  They took the temple city tour and here are Tom and Adam cutting stone for the temple.

The Gheen home is part of the same tour.  I loved giving that tour!

On the nights when we worked the 2-6am shift or when we had the day off, we were able to go to the County Fair with our kids.  Almost all of them except for maybe Henry loved trying the stilts.  

They came on Wednesday night but couldn't get into Don's house until Friday so they crashed with us at Jamie and Marty Steen's home.  Children were sleeping everywhere!

The first night we played tug-of-war and mostly the littles loved it.  

I don't know who this man is but he was willing to help Lydia pull.

I think our children and our grandchildren love Nauvoo as much as we do.  Our testimonies have been strengthened each time we go.  I pray that the same thing happens for our grandchildren.

 

Nauvoo Security 2024

This is the third year we have gone back to Nauvoo to work as part of the security team for the pageants.  What was extra special this year was having John and Eloise Carlson there with us.  

We ran into Darryl (the plumber) one of our first days there.  We spent some time catching up and met Elder Astill who is living in our former apartment #9 at Village Inn.

As always, Pat had a co-pilot for a few nights in William.  Our final night he presented him with an Iron Man shirt with his name on it.  I never saw anyone get a hug so fast in my entire life!  It was sweet.

Most nights my assignment was backstage and on the first night the sun was shining on the temple so brightly as it was setting.  Many people came up to snap a photo.  A picture just doesn't capture what I really saw in person.

The water was really high on the Mississippi river so we didn't see any barge traffic until just before we left.  This beautiful shot was from behind Joseph and Emma's home.  I think our fence makes it even more beautiful  I painted that fence and Pat assembled it!

There are way too many deer in the city.  These twins were hanging out by an empty home.

We ran into Craig and Tori Sanders who we know from the City of Joseph pageant.  They are now serving as site missionaries!  It was so fun catching up with them.

Being on the south side of backstage paid off for me as the Lusvardis found me there.  I love them so much.  They were our mission president/companion when we arrived in Nauvoo for our mission.

Working the 2am-6am shift was full of adventure for these raccoons.  We saw them everywhere.  They tipped a lot of empty trash cans.  Fortunately they were empty.  One night just before we left, a raccoon found its way onto the stage during the performance.  Wish I could have seen that!

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!