Memorial Day Weekend / TdL / School EOY / USS Silversides / The Raising Sand Tour

Hi everyone: Sorry it's been a while since I posted, but here is a fresh new set of blog entries for you. Enjoy the pictures! Cheers, P. :O)

The Raising Sand Tour (06.17.2008)
Michael really wanted to go see Robert Plant in concert at the Fox Theatre but couldn't get the tickets he wanted. He ended up talking to his sister, who said, "Why don't I call Alison to see if we can get tickets to the Detroit show?" Marilynn just happens to be Alison Krauss's physician back home. She made a few calls, and it was a done deal. We had great seats, and the music was great! We were lucky enough to meet members of their backing band as well as T Bone Burnett and Alison. It was a wonderful night! If you want to see the other pictures, let me know. Cheers, P.



Robert Plant & Alison Krauss | "The Battle of Evermore"


Robert Plant & Mr. T. Bone Burnett | "Who Do You Love?" (Tribute to Bo Diddley ~ RIP)


Robert Plant & Alison Krauss | "Black Dog"


Troop 863: USS Silversides (06.15.2008 - 06.16.2008)
Troop 863 spent Father's Day sleeping in the USS Silversides submarine in Muskegon. I think everyone had a great time spending time with one another. I got to sleep by one of the torpedoes, too. Very cool! On the morning after, we went to PF Hoffmeister State Park and had a nice picnic lunch as well as visit their nature center. Some pictures for your viewing pleasure below...

(l) Dockside view of the USS Silversides.
(r) The Captain George tugboat. It's yours for $ 60,000!


(l) Our beds. My bunk and Michael's bunk is on the very bottom. The kids got to sleep in bunks near their friends.
(r) Troop 863 Group Picture!



School EOY (End of Year - 06.13.2008)
Another school year has come and gone, and another picture in front of the Farrand School sign.



TdL - Tour de Leelanau (05.25.2008)
During the Memorial Day weekend, we were Road Marshalls at two stops (the Homestead & Kolarik / Jeleniak Roads). We were there at the beginning of the race in Leland and watched the end at the casino

(l) Kids on the old tree stump in Leland before the race.
(m) Kids at the Start Line.
(r) The riders are ascending to the finish line at the top of the small hill behind the kids.



Memorial Day Weekend (05.24.2008 - 05.26.2008)
Over Memorial Day weekend, we hung out at the cabin, went to Blackstar Farms & Leelanau Cheese, fished and Minnie caught another Easter Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly.

(top left) @ Blackstar Farms: The kids are by the horse stable.
(top right) The grape vines at Blackstar Farms.
(bottom left) Minnie & his butterfly
(bottom right) Yummer on the boat pier

Farrand Talent Show & Piano Recital all in one night (05.22.2008)

Apologies for the lack of posts ... but we've been pretty busy. The kids had a piano recital and their school talent show both on the same night. Basically, they played their pieces at their piano recital and then we shuffled off to the middle school where the school talent show was held. It was a busy, but fun night! Enjoy the performances.

Anita and her piano recital performances.


Minnie and his piano recital performances.


Anita and her talent show performances. (Apologies for the blurriness and initial confusion ... I thought she was going to be on the stage, too!)


Minnie and his talent show performances.

Farrand Poetry Slam (04.16.2008)

The Farrand PTO, Farrand Elementary and Barnes and Noble partnered together for a really cool "Poetry Slam" event. The kids read their own poems, watched magic performances and learned juggling from Mr. Jones (Our principal's husband). Very cool. Even more cool was that all proceeds of sales by Farrand families were given to the school. Below are some pictures of the event. Enjoy!

(L) Anita read her haiku to an enthusiastic audience.
(R) Minnie learning how to juggle with handkerchiefs first with Mr. Jones.


(L) Minnie did not want to hang out in the kids section anymore. I found him in this section.
(R) Thank goodness it was a handkerchief that landed on Minnie's head and not hard balls!


A bit OT, I know, but I thought I'd show you what Minnie made me for my birthday: A broom and dustpan out of tape, cotton swabs and paper. Good lord.

Talent Show Audition @ Farrand (04.15.2008)

Yesterday, Anita and her classmates all auditioned for the talent show at the school auditorium. The kids were split in two groups. There were dance acts, a very strange comic routine, and a couple of guitarists. Surprisingly, she was the only pianist in the talent show this year.

Minnie got roped in the talent show as well when he was playing Yummers' "Magician" song on the piano after the auditions were over. One of the third grade teachers, Mr. Hammond, said, "Hey, why aren't you in the talent show?" and put Minnie on the spot. He said his infamous, "I don't know." Then, Mr. H. said, "Do you want to be in the talent show?" Yummers said, "Yes, do it, Minnie!" His Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Fryberger, said, "You can do it, Michael!" So, he's signed up now, and he'll be doing his recital pieces for both the recital and school talent show.

FYI ... their teacher's recital and school talent show are on the same time and night. Sheesh ~ we're going to have the kids do the recital first and then hop over to the school for the talent show.

Here she is ... sans microphone though!