More Football

Tonight was a JV game at home - We ultimately lost, but Bryant had oodles of good tackles and at least one fumble recovery. Here's some pix of the evening, including Elle showing us her E & E's (AKA M & M's turned sideways).

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She's Still a Queen to Us

Crazy kids outside before the game began - Conlee, Alex, and Elle.

Conlee, Alex, and Elle with Julie. Grinning cousins!

My sister, Ranelle, and Julie - Julie was the flower girl in Ranelle's wedding. Seems like only yesterday sometimes!

Julie and Granny before the game.

Amy and me - she was the flowergirl when Ken and I got married over twenty years ago. Talk about making me feel old! She and Julie are sisters.

Conlee and Elle giving the mascot high fives before the game began. It amazes me that she isn't afraid of these costumed creatures at all, and never has been. Knock on wood, she never starts!

See how lovely the weather was - and the band was awesome!

Julie, the always gracious, smiling sweetheart. This is her with the homecoming king. I guess I live under a rock, but I always thought you voted in "pairs" for a couple and not for individuals. This young man is who she was running with. He got king, but Julie didn't make queen... booo!

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Julie didn't win as homecoming today, but she's still royalty to us - a Princess for sure if you ask Conlee :-). It was a good time for our family with a remarkable turn out for Julie's cheering section. Elle got a haircut earlier in the day, but her jet black hair is a sauna in the sunshine, so she SWEAT horribly. When we first sat down, she yelled "Go Big Green" and immediately started looking for "6-0" on the sidelines. Oh well, she still had fun even though it wasn't about watching Bryant play! Elle says thank you, Gary, for all the yummy popcorn and fun balloon games!

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Friday, September 26, 2008

Lots of neat things on Friday! Elle and I went to school with Conlee for a while and had a great time. Bryant's game was a million miles away tonight... but, we are faithful (and slightly insane), so we went to watch. Good thing because he played almost the entire offense and WE WON! Remember, he is number 60 in the green and white, playing center. It was an exciting game - certainly worth the two hour plus drive! Saturday, one of my special angels, Julie, is up for homecoming queen at the University she attends. Ranelle and I will go watch, and HOPEFULLY, see her crowned as the woman in charge that we know her to be. We'll keep you posted but here are a few photos from Friday.

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Photos from the Week

More football, more reading books, plenty of great weather, more eating E and E's with Dayton, more giggles with Grampa, more fun with Conlee, another American flag whipping in the wind... what more could you want?

ENJOY!

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Pix from a Park

These are from Monday, the 15th. Elle and Daddy played at the park while we waited for Bryant's game to start. Elle's face on the one where they are swinging is priceless. Just click on it once and it will enlarge so you can see. Swinging is probably her most favorite activity in the whole world! "Swing Higher" is all she knows.

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Misc. Ramblings

The family in the blog I posted below got their daughter and left the local province. That is totally amazing to me as the mom is NOT exaggerating when she says they moved mountains. I know all the hoops we had to go through while we were in Shenyang/Panjin, Liaoning Province and I cannot even fathom all the accommodations that were made to get this child into their legal custody, with the necessary paperwork to get permission to take her to Guangzhou, and soon, home. I am happy for them and hope that things go smoothly from here on out! Goodness knows they've had an unanticipated BUMPY ride so far.

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As for our world, we continue with more football and beautiful weather in the MidWest. Here are some photos from our recent games and then Elle wearing Bryant's football gear this morning. Remember, Bryant is #60 :-). It makes me feel old as we help him make the final selection of his class ring over the next few days - WOW! He's already a giant, but now I keep seeing 2011 everywhere - its really not that far away - YIKES!

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Hope you each have a great weekend - enjoy the sunshine, where ever you may be!

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I Cannot Even Fathom

This is a family that I have never met, don't know them personally, etc. I had read their blog earlier (before travel) only thanks to the Rumor Queen. Now, their situation has taken on a whole new life of its own. Once they arrived in China, and went to meet their daughter, she failed to arrive. I cannot fathom the heartbreak as twenty some other families around you, in the same room, met their daughter, and yours - who was supposed to be there, did not have her name called out. They eventually learned that she is terribly ill. They are fighting hassles on every side to try to get her through all the paperwork to bring her home so that she can get the medical attention she so desperately needs.

How gutwrenching! They need all our prayers so much!

http://roomforatleastonemore.blogspot.com/
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Bryant Football - September 15, 2008

Photos from Bryant's football game on Monday, September 15. He is number 60, or as Elle would say, six zero. He plays center most of the time.

Paul and Kim's Wedding

Elle made a cave with the blankets and pillows to hide from everyone, while we were at the hotel.

This is the small lake and amplitheater where the ceremony would be held.

The path down was lined with tiki lights. Note the bells hanging over the path entrance.

Tulle and Tiki Lights - a very flammable combination :-).

The amplitheater, still empty - pix above and several below.

Empty reception area.

The wedding cake - minus the uncooperative little bride and groom for the top. It still looked good, Kathy!

Kim, her father, the ring bearer and flower girl. Waiting for the right moment!

Kim's Father, bringing her to Paul - Looks like Paul is running away, but he didn't want to "jump/hop" over the little ledge, so he walked around.

Paul and Kim - The magical kiss.

Paul and Kim

Paul and Kim - MARRIED!

ElleAnna and her daddy.

Eighteen of the 26 grandchildren were there.

ElleAnna and her cousin, Teva.

Ken and his siblings. One was unable to attend.

Ken and his siblings, the bride and groom, Ken's parents.