Ricky Nelson Remembered

I took Mom to this concert event on July 8. This was a tribute put together by Matthew and Gunnar Nelson for the dad, Ricky Nelson. It was a blend of VH1 Behind the Music and a concert. The guys stood in front of a floor to ceiling screen to sing their dad's most famous hits, with Matthew playing bass or acoustic guitar and Gunnar on electric guitar. They spoke directly to us, telling stories from their dad's career or their own childhood growing up with him, and then they would step aside so we could watch a series of video clips that elaborated on their story. It was fascinating (at least for me) to learn that between 1958-1961 Ricky Nelson was right up there with Elvis in terms of Billboard hits and fame. While Elvis was the King, Ricky was referred to in the teen magazines as the Crown Prince of Rock and Roll. Gunnar and Matthew clearly enjoyed sharing their dad's life and music with the audience, and were very proud to elaborate on Ricky's musicianship and his ability to come back in the 70s as the founder of the country-rock genre with his Stone Canyon Band after so many people thought he was washed up. The guys still looked handsome, although their long blond locks (think Nelson from 1990--Love and Affection, anyone?) are long gone. The guys stayed afterwards to sign merchandise and pose for pictures with anyone who wanted to meet them. They do this after every show. I think their father would have been so proud of them. Here's a link to a youtube clip of them singing their dad's 1972 hit Garden Party with their little brother Sam. Beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShwSZtDdl3M

Gunnar on the left and Matthew on the right.

Been gone for so long

For the longest time I have felt like I haven't had anything to blog about. Now I've been away so long that it's intimidating to come back to it at all. A quick summary:

June--Kris was out east in Philadelphia at another military school for a week and a half. We missed him a lot, but that short time span was a piece of cake compared to last summer's 8 weeks. He has to go to another school in FL for two weeks in August, the dates of which coincide exactly with my first to weeks back at MSUM. When he came home we all headed to Sioux Falls to spend 4 days with Mike (Kris's brother) and Kelly and their three kids. We had a wonderful time! Kris and Mike golfed in a tournament, Kel and I enjoyed some girl time together, and all the kids swam, played wii, rode bikes, and had a blast.

July--brought with it a new responsibility for me: co-chair of our department at MSUM. For the past three years we have been organized as a sort of 'mega department' called the School of Teaching and Learning, which includes 4 'programs' that used to function as separate departments: Elementary Ed, Early Childhood Ed, Special Ed, and Foundations of Ed. I'm not thrilled about this new responsibility because it takes me out of teaching almost half time, but I have a wonderful colleague with whom to share the load. I'm very nervous about the new responsibilities: hiring adjunct instructors, being responsible for scheduling classes for all 4 programs, coordinating faculty reviews, leading dept meetings, and much more. But it is what it is. I will do my best.

Last week I took mom to Ricky Nelson Remembered at the Fargo Theatre ( a separate post will follow). Super show! This week, Kris and I have the good fortune of borrowing my in-laws' brand new 5th wheel camper to take the kids to Storybook Land in Aberdeen. It's a great campsite and park, and we're looking forward to three days of lots of outdoor time with 5-star camper amenities. I'm not kidding. This thing even has 2 bathrooms!

Grant has been playing Babe Ruth baseball since May. We love watching him play! He really enjoys it and the boys on the team are a neat bunch. Hope and Ross are getting bigger all the time. Unfortunately, I haven't downloaded pics in forever, so that's another daunting task I have to bite the bullet and get back to.

Be back soon!

First Communion

The group of communicants around the altar for the consecration--oh yeah, and Ross walking down the aisle (and right into my shot) coming back from the bathroom. Grandpa Wayne took him to the bathroom--and had to wipe his butt. Grandpa NEVER does that, but he had no choice this time.

Look at those two cuties. I love them both so much!

Olivia and Hope--"Erin, take our picture!"

Grant with Deacon Tom and Fr. Raul.

Doesn't he look smooth?

Grant and Kate--two cousins sharing a special day.

Family picture--Kris must have missed the cue to smile. ;)

Grant and Kate celebrated their first communion last night with all parents and most grandparents in attendance. It was a joyful Mass with lots of children participating--all the readings were done by communicants, as well as all the petitions and the carrying of the gifts. Kate read a petition (super job, Kate!) and Grant carried up one of the carafes of wine. All the kids looked so proud in their fancy clothes. Afterward we gathered at Bonnie's house for dinner and cake...ah, the cake. Bonnie was so excited about this specially-made, amaretto-flavored cake, but it didn't go over too well with the kids. I'm sure she'll have more to say about the cake on her blog.

You should have seen my adorable nephew Brady eat! I didn't get a pic with my camera, but I bet Bonnie will post a few. He had oreo salad and cake from his eyelashes to his elbows! He also treated us to his latest dance moves. So hilarious! It was a busy day and a beautiful evening. Kudos to the Religious Ed staff at St. Joseph's for planning everything so perfectly.

Big weekend ahead

It's Grant's First Communion this weekend. At our church, we get to choose at which Mass to celebrate this milestone. We opted for Saturday night, 5pm. My niece, Kate, is also getting her 1st C so we decided to have a cousin-family celebration together afterwards. Unfortunately, when we picked Saturday night I didn't realize:

1. It's a drill weekend, so Kris will be at the guard all day (he will be at church, but not much beforehand)
2. The school carnival is noon-4 the same day
3. Grant has a soccer game that morning at 10
4. Practice for the big event is 10-11 at church that morning

First of all, we're skipping soccer. Second, thank heaven for Saint Grandma Jeanne!!! She will be watching Hope and Ross (and Brady and Olivia, I believe) while Bonnie and I are at the church with Kate and Grant for practice. Unfortunately, I have to work at the carnival for part of the afternoon, so we will race home, eat, and then I will hire 2--yes 2--babysitters to help. One to stay home with Hope while she naps, and one to take Grant and Ross around the carnival while I work at the clothing table. Then we will rush home, clean up, snack, and get dolled up for the big event. I hope I can keep it together. I tend to freak out and yell a lot under pressure. Again, thank God for Grandma Jeanne. She is preparing ham and salad for dinner. Thank goodness Bonnie is hosting at her house--saves me from having to clean my pit! Sorry, Bon. Bonnie has ordered the cake, Jo is bringing potato salad, and all I have to do is buy napkins, cups, and plates. I got off about as easy as possible. For that, I am VERY grateful.

On a positive note, they interviewed each communicant at church last night--questions about the Mass and our faith. I beamed with pride as I watched Grant smile a genuine smile as he answered his questions. Even though he moans and complains about having to go to church and do his lessons, he does know his stuff, and he is excited (and nervous) to receive communion for the first time.

Getting things accomplished...

feels so good! It hasn't been an eventful weekend, but a productive one nonetheless. Kris got loads of yardwork done yesterday, I washed, folded, and actually put away 5 loads of laundry. But the best part was having our families over for grilling last night. Good food (too damn much chips and dip for me), great conversation, and cousins all over the place playing together. Twice yesterday I watched Grant and Ross actually playing with each other without fighting and said a little prayer of thanks. It's so nice to see them enjoying each other instead of fighting and hurting each other's feelings. I truly think that's one reason I got so much done during Hope's nap yesterday--I didn't have to play referee or extra playmate.

On a completely unrealated note, I had Mojo 104 on in the bathroom yesterday morning while getting ready and heard a song I hadn't heard in 20 years: And We Danced by The Hooters. Wow, did that take me back...I wasn bopping all around the bathroom dancing and singing at the top of my lungs (much to Grant's chagrin--I got that look that said, "you are SO WEIRD, mom"). That came out in 1985...25 years ago. Holy sh--!

Pics as promised

Easter Egg Hunt at Yunker Farm...

Hope sitting daintily on the bench at Yunker Farm


Checking out their stash of eggs


I love this one.

Hope's first haircut...

Wetting it down and combing it back


It's really rather long


Don't I look pretty?


Hope loves her Daddy!

Marvelous Day

Kris and I both had work off today. It was wonderful to spend the whole day with our kids. In the morning Kris had to work up at the Air Guard, so after breakfast, dressing, and a quick trip to Payless Shoes, we went to the Children's Museum at Yunker Farm for their Easter Egg Hunt. What a blast! The boys raced to collect as many plastic eggs as they could, and Hope toodled around the lawn gathering eggs with me. Once all the eggs were gathered, every child there traded in their eggs for a treat bag containing a Troll doll, tatoo, sticker, chips, and a few candy treats. There must have been over 100 children and families there for the 11am hunt; when we arrived at 10:30 we had to pay at the gate and park in a lot across the street. I have to give props to all the high school volunteers/workers at Yunker Farm, especially the young man dressed up in a full-size white Easter Bunny suit--they did an awesome job keeping everything running smoothly. And this was the first of three hunts during the day! After the hunt, the kids and I took some pics (which i'll upload sometime next week--I'm having issues w/my home computer), played at the park, and then came home for lunch.

Kris took over at the end of lunch so I could go to Jenny Craig (maintained--whew!--after a week and a half of off-program eating), work out, and then come home to gather Hope for our next appointment: her very first haircut! I took her to Lil' Whipper Snippers and she was perfect! No tears or fear, just patient sitting and a big smile when it was all over. Again, pics to come...

Meanwhile, Kris played outside with the boys, Grant had a friend over to play and stay for dinner, and then we colored Easter Eggs tonight. All in all, it was a fabulous, family-oriented day.