Graduation Bashes

Six weeks behind...but before I begin:  HAPPY 4th of JULY!  Thank you to all servicemen and women who have worked for our freedom in the past and present.  Reading about what our Founding Fathers went through the other day, it's hard to imagine the sacrifices given so we can shoot off fireworks, have picnics and parades, and just live the way we want to live now.  Freedom is not free!

* * * * *

Every May somebody graduates, right?  How can our little Twin Hams be graduating already!!

Shae, Officer Day, and Mrs. Kubal

Okay it's not high school graduation yet (whew!), but it's certainly an important step toward growing up and making grown-up decisions:  it's the DARE graduation!

The serious pic.

 The silly pic.  Hope you guys remember that there's freedom in making positive choices!  This class is full of talent and academic strength...can't wait to see them in middle school soon!

Next up:  Kelsey's graduation from UW-Madison!  Kyle and Mary moved into this beautiful older (yet updated) home not far off of campus.  

Sadly, I didn't get a good picture of the graduate, but there she is on the right side of this picture talking to friends.  Kelsey graduated in English and has a journalism internship with Brava magazine this summer.  Congratulations and best of luck to you, honey!

Mary & Kyle, Mary's mom, 2 friends, Kelsey

 Korrine helped Kyle and Mary put together a beautiful spread in their back yard.  It was really a nice gathering!

Very cool to be at a Badger bash like this!

Speaking of the Badgers, incoming freshman for fall 2014:  Rheann!

 Rheann graduated from IGHS and is going to study genetics at UW-Madison.

 Whenever Dan and Tammie throw a party, you know it's going to be fun.  They had a pasta bar which was totally different and delicious, AND....

check out the inflatable slide/jumpy/whackamole thingy!!

The look on Mark's face is priceless.  He holds back on the girls, but when it comes to Cy, there's no restraint.!

 Give Cyrus credit.  He's growing bigger and stronger, and he holds his own against his dad!!

 EVEN BETTER FACE:  Ally.  Ready to take her sister down with that huge puffy q-tip!  Memphis (in the front) wasn't having any fun, either;)

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR GRADUATES!

May you work hard to pursue your goals, but always remember that being helpful, humble, and huggable are the greatest traits to have! 

(and always make time for fun exercise;)

I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame.  I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.--Psalm 119:31-32

5th Grade Poperetta

Happy 4th!  Sorry it's been soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long since I've posted.  End of the school year, kids' softball/baseball schedules, taking a grad class, school stuff...it all gets in the way of getting on here!  Plus the camera isn't downloading to the computer anymore, so I have to figure out how to get June's pictures on here.  So here we are back in late May at the 4th and 5th Grade Spring Fling(concert)!

The twins play clarinet (Paige) and French horn (Shae).  They have a great big bunch of kids out for band who will hopefully stick with it.  Mr. Cooley works very hard with them, and from their first gig in October to the last one in May, what improvement.  The 5th Grade band showed a lot of progress this year!

Paige in the front; Shae in the back with the headband ;)

The vocal music teacher and student teacher taught their whole class a poperetta (pop-style mini-opera) spoofed off of Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance.  It was really cute.

Paige and Shae both had considerable speaking and singing parts...they were very excited and nervous about showing off what they learned!  Shae was not happy about wearing the gold "cheerleader" uniform, but it fit her snobby character "Karly" I think it was.

Shae and Brooklyn did a great job of speaking loudly and really getting into their snobby characters:)

"Three Little Maids...from school!"  The girls joined Martia in being shy, giggling behind their fans, and singing out nice and loud (with expression! yes!!) for the crowd.  It was so. cute. (Mom-biased opinion here.)

Two years ago, these kids were in 3rd grade and I was their long-term sub.  We did a pioneer play with lots of acting and singing.  It was neat to see how the kids have grown up and yet not lost that enthusiasm for performance.  The boys on the ends (Jack and Wade) have always been quite the characters!  Here they play Gilbert and Sullivan traveling ahead in time to see how modern-day kids respond to their music.  Great job, Ms. Parker and kids!!