Sunday Activities (3/8/09)

It rained heavily this morning and this afternoon. Oh the rain, rain, rain! It made for a dreary day, and what does one do on a dreary day? We worshipped at Mount Olive...listened to beautiful music. Pastor did a good job getting through a certain song. I'm glad he didn't look my way! We heard our friend, Ryan Rupe, preach a good sermon. This is always a good way to start a day, dreary or not. We had a quick lunch at home, and then drove to Milwaukee Lutheran High School for another concert. Logan played with the Concert Band.

They played: El Capitan John Phillip Sousa

Princeton Variations David Schaffer

Scottish Triptych: I. The Heritage II. The Country III. The People Paul Curnow

Trail of Tears James Bames

Pirates of the Caribbean (The Curse of the Black Pearl) Arr. Ted Rickets

Brett and Jim were listening to music on Jim's Zune during the intermission. They're a pair, aren't they?!

After the concert, we had an early supper at the Charcoal Grill.

Musical Saturday (3/7/09)

Today was a busy day, filled with lots of music. This morning, Katherine had her first piano recital. She got to play on one of the grand pianos at church. She was the first one of five performers. Katherine was not nervous at all, but was excited about the whole thing. Here is a list of the music she played:

Russian Dance

Come See the Parade

Lullaby and Goodnight

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Tonight was the Saturday Band Concert for the elementary schools. There are three different groups: the Beginner Band, the Second Year Band, and the Kadet Band. Brett is in the Second Year Band. Since there is only one trumpet player for that group, Logan was asked to help out. He has been going to Saturday morning band sessions and joined in the concert tonight. This is what they played: Bb Rock Ab by Sigvald H. Norman, Londonderry Air arranged by Ernest Ortone, Bach in Rock by J.S. Bach and arranged by Sandy Feldstein, Fiesta Espaniola by Timothy Loest.

Jim did videotape both performances. Stay tuned for video clips. Don't forget to move your clocks forward an hour tonight!

Brett is in love! (2/28/09)

Brett is in love!

I'm guessing I have your attention. My eleven year old is in love with Georgia. She has brown, black, and white smooth hair.

Yesterday, I took Brett, Katherine, and Ella Rupe to the Wisconsin Kennel Club Dog Show at the WI State Fair Exposition Center. Daut, Sue, and Cyrus joined us for a while. There were some extremely funny looking dogs. There were some absolutely adorable dogs. Look at Georgia! Georgia is a two year old, miniature, smooth-haired Dachshund. We spent most of the day walking around, looking at dogs, and talking to owners about their dogs. Brett was so happy!

Katherine with a Chesapeake Bay Retriever

A Miniature Smooth-Haired Dackel

Katherine and Ella with a Corgi

Ella and Katherine with an Irish Wolfhound

Katherine, Ella, and Brett with Stomp, a Bull Mastiff

Stomp really liked Katherine!


This is a dog!

The winner in it's hunting class....a Long-haired Dackel!

Logan and the piano (2/26/09)

Piano

Logan is playing the piano right now, and it sounds wonderful! It has been so long since he has sat down to play. Jim is in the basement working on his computer. He told Brett to go up and see who was playing, because it sounded so good. Brett came up and said, "Oh, that's you." I asked him who he thought it was. Katherine is a beginner, and it certainly wasn't me! I'll try to take a video and post it later.

Mount Olive BB Tourney & Katherine's Special Day

Mount Olive's 5/6 Boys' Basketball Tournament

We had a long weekend helping at the tournament and cheering on our son, Brett, and our nephew, Cyrus. Jim did a great job as the announcer! He is very good at it, and the fans love to hear him. It was so nice having many relatives come and watch the boys.

Cyrus and Brett

Consolation Champions-Mount Olive Lutheran

Congratulations, Cyrus!

2nd Place-Our Father's Lutheran

Ali and Logan

Cyrus, Brett, and Logan

Katherine's Special Day

For Christmas, Uncle Latif & Aunt Ruth gave each child a hand-made gift certificate good for one day with them. They all have a different month. Katherine's month was February. We picked Sunday, February 22nd as her day. Aunt Ruth got Katherine after church. They had a breakfast-type lunch at their house. Afterwards, they went on a scavenger hunt in downtown Milwaukee. There was a list of objects to find, and then a picture was taken when the object was found. It was cold, but Katherine had a wonderful time! Katherine got a couple books at Borders. Uncle Latif brought Katherine home after dinner out at an Italian restaurant. Thank you, Latif & Ruth, for giving Katherine a special day!

Update on our special day

Update on yesterday's activities...I wrote that Jim & I were probably not doing anything special. I was wrong (and admit it)! I had supper ready and left to get Logan from school. When we came back, there were candles lit on the table, roses in a vase, and the lights dimmed. After supper, Jim took my hand and we danced in the living room. Of course, Katherine quickly got between us. It was a lovely evening!

This weekend is Mount Olive's 5/6 Grade Boys Basketball Tournament. Brett's team plays at 11:10 A.M. on Saturday. Cyrus' team plays at 1:30 P.M. on Saturday. If you're in the area, you are all welcome to watch the cousins play. I'll be working in the concession stand, and Jim will be announcing games.

Here are Cyrus and Brett watching an episode of Psych on Sunday, February 1, 2009.

Elm Grove BB Tourney and MLHS Dinner TheaterMonday

What a weekend!

Brett and the 5/6 grade boys' basketball team were in the Elm Grove Lutheran "Spirit" Basketball Tournament. The boys lost Thursday night. They won decidedly Saturday afternoon, which put them in the Consolation Championship game Sunday at 1:10 P.M. It was a close game. Brett scored two points (his usual) and did great on defense! The team was down 4-11 at half (which is what they were winning by on Thursday) and came back to win 27-26. The boys did a great job!

Logan (our newspaper delivery boy) was busy with MLHS's dinner theater, Fawlty Towers. I helped in the kitchen on Friday and Sunday. Saturday, Jim & I got to sit down as parents. Jim's parents joined us for dinner. Bedull came for the performance. Latif came on Sunday. It was nice having family there to support Logan.

During the intermission, there was a "deal or no deal" game. There were 12 gift bags available for $10.00 each. Jim gave Katherine the money to play. She was the only child to participate. She won the "grand" prize: free night stay at the Lake Ripley Lodge Bed & Breakfast in Cambridge, WI. She is disappointed that she will not be going. We told her we would make it up somehow.

Logan stayed for the cast pool party after the last performance. I think he had a good time, which makes Jim & I happy.

Above is Logan walking in with his line, "Newspaper," with a British accent, and the cast of A Touch of Class.

20 years ago today Jim & I had our first date. He, purposefully, did not ask me out on Valentine's Day. Not the best day for a first date. We went to see the movie, Beaches. What were we thinking?! People were openly weeping. I can tell you that being with him was wonderful. What are we doing to commemorate such a great day? He has a faculty meeting after school. Katherine has her piano lesson. One of us has to get Logan when "tear down" is done. At 7:15, we take Logan to the high school for Sophomore registration. It shouldn't take long. He has his classes picked out. Hopefully we can watch 24 together.

Brett and Katherine did not have school today. They got to play with Ella at the Rupe's house, which was a nice change for them. It gets boring being home alone.