Ahhh…running the bases on a hot Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. July 6, 2002 found us, once again, at a Royals game celebrating Rod’s birthday. After the game, the kids get to run the bases (more importantly, so does Linda).
Many, many happy memories with running the bases with the girls. They’ve been doing it since they were born – really.
Occasionally, they get to take in some batting practice with Sluggerrrr at the Little K.
In a blatant attempt to make you smile, I’ll be posting some “Blast from the past” pictures.
Way back in July 2002, Linda took the girls to stand in 98-degree weather outside a Leawood restaurant to get the autograph of Mike Sweeny – their most beloved player. As you can see on Anna’s face, this was just right!
This picture is proudly displayed in our cabinet of Royals memorabilia. How we miss thee, Mike Sweeny.
So begins the many years of attending year-end band and orchestra concerts – by my estimation, about 8 years (unless you also count college). Emily participated in the Shawnee Mission South area band concert the other night – bands from the several elementary schools, the middle, and the high school.
Despite having the concert in the high school gym with the audience sitting on the bleachers, it was a very nice concert. We’ve attended Anna’s string concerts for the past 2 years, but now we get to enjoy both girls playing.
Emily has progressed at an amazing rate considering she only started the flute at the beginning of this school year. Her many years of piano have prepared her well. She’s anticipating starting private flute lessons this summer.
Emily ran for Student Council Treasurer this year; she has been campaigning hard for the past 2 weeks. Additionally, she was helped by her campaign manager, Savannah. They worked hard on campaign posters – announcing the “Million Dollar Girl”. After delivering a very convincing speech this morning at an assembly, she was voted in by her peers to serve next year.
She lost last year when she ran for Sargent at Arms and was pretty upset for several weeks. However, she became involved as a class representative and found that she really enjoyed serving on StuCo. One of her favorite activities with StuCo was the “Student Store” – which is monitored by the treasurer. She’s really excited to take on this challenge. Her 6th grade year is already starting to shape up.
Way to go, Emily!
This weekend is filled with rehearsals and concerts for the 2010 Kansas City Music Teachers Association Multi-Piano Concert. This concert involves 18 grand pianos on stage with 2 players at each piano. This duets-only concert includes around 20 pieces that have different sets of players on each set. It’s like an orchestra of pianos.
All four of us are playing again this year. I’m playing with Anna; Anna is playing with Emily; Linda is playing with Emily and also with several other students. It really is a lot of fun.
The picture is from the yesterday’s rehearsal.
Anna and Emily have been on an extended leave from their dance class due to an ankle injury sustained by their dance teacher (who is over 80 years old). Having these 2 extra hours in their weekly schedule, it was decided to let them take a Cheer Class that was being offered at our gym. They have had an absolute blast!
Pictured here is the final pose in one of their routines – they really looked like they were having fun.
Emily’s 5th grade class recently had to complete an in-depth report on their hero – including speech in full costume. Last night the parents were able to go to the “Wax Museum” up at the school. All of the kids were lined up in their costumes with a red or blue “button” on the palm of their hand. Upon pushing the “button”, the character would come to life and present their life story. It was incredibly cute.
There were many heroes – Harriet Tubman, George Washington, Jonas Salk, Jackie Robinson, Theodore Roosevelt, Pocahontas, and many, many more. Emily was Mary Lou Retton.
Working several 12-hr shifts in a row creates stretches where I don’t really get to see the girls – I leave the house before they get up and I get home after they go to bed. So, this morning I called Emily to say hi and tell her how much I love her.
Me: “So what have you got planned today?”
Emily: “Oh, I’m gonna take some tests and do other crazy stuff.”
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Just a quick reminder that tomorrow is the big game with #2 Kansas Jayhawks travelling to Manhattan to take on our beloved #11 KSU Wildcats. Go Cats…EMAW.
The time has come to deliver the Girl Scout cookies. Anna and Emily do a great job selling cookies in the neighborhood, but a majority of their boxes sold are to the many nurses in the ER at work. Since I work 35 miles away, this means the boxes get packaged up and sent with me for delivery.
The girls do a great job putting all the orders in individual sacks that are tagged with the persons name and the amount due. A nice touch is the personalized thank you card written by one of the girls placed inside the bag.
The real problem…the ER is staffed by nurses that work different shifts and different days. Therefore, waiting for the times our schedules match, I will drive back and forth to work for the next 2 weeks with Girl Scout cookies in the back of my car (awesome if I ever get stuck in the snow).
Finally, the cartoon is for those of you that see Girl Scout cookies the same way I do – they always arrive after the holidays ten-pound weight gain and New Years resolutions!
I don’t remember when we got this much snow that lasted as long as it did. It started snowing here in Kansas City on Christmas Eve…and we haven’t seen the ground yet. It finally got above freezing yesterday and some melting has started to happen, but I think it’s still gonna be with us for a while.
Playing in the snow can be such fun – you don’t even care how cold you are (or if your four legs can’t keep your belly out of it).
