50th Anniversary Celebration and Memory Lane

Replicated top of the original wedding cake with pictures from the wedding and 25th anniversary!

Preparing to surprise Grandma and Gramps.

How long are we going to be stuck in Denver?

One of Joy's original leotards for gymnastics.

What was your nickname, Joy?

Self-designed sweatshirt--she had art skills back in the day too.

Visiting Big Rapids and Joy's college friend Krista and her husband Brad.

Goodbye to the Kaleb and Logan.

Bryce reading a bedtime story to Sofia.

Brett fit into his high school wetsuit!  But he did have a hard time getting it off.

Griffin paddles Sofia around in the kayak.

Sunrise over Sutton's Bay.

The beach at Traverse City.

The downstairs hangout room at the beach house.

Visiting a lighthouse on Lake Michigan.

Umbrella ladies?

Gotta capture the photographer who was almost as entertaining.

Skipping rocks into Lake Michigan.

Building sand forts.

The highest rock stack on the beach, 22 high.

 

Michigan Beach house activities

We rented a boat for a day and went tubing and waterskiing.  It began with tubing and Matt set the bar high with some serious air achievements.  All three boys and Joy and Brett took their turns on the tube with Brett trying and failing to replicate his flip turnover and back led to his bailing.  In the afternoon, Brett was the guinea pig while the drivers figured out how best to pull a skier out of the water.  He got up on two skies and set the tone for the great success of the rest of the family including Joy who was amazing on her second try and looked like a natural.  Garrett kept the streak alive by getting up on his third try and did well.  Bryce forgot to let go after his skies went behind him and got dragged for quite a ways before finally swallowing enough water to count it an experience.

Prepping the downstairs for the 50th Anniversary Celebration.

The boat crew.

Bryce in the tube.

Griffin in action.

Griffin growls and tries to look mean in the face of smack talk from the driver.

Garrett relaxes before the intensity climbs.

Garrett in action.

Bryce recovering from some flying.

Kaarli, Joy, and Alecia enjoy the firepit.

Smores time!

Bryce and Logan discuss the art of smore consumption.

Grandkids!

Are you ready to run down the sand dune back to the car?

Either that is a huge tsunami wave coming on a flat beach, or a really steep dune to the water.

Pausing in the shade along our 28 marker hike to Lake Michigan on the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Trekking across miles of sand.

How long do we have to wait to be seated for dinner?

Griffin and Logan take a nap after the dunes...

...but the go-getters were right back at it playing catch later.

Bryce shows Kaleb and Sofia how he does his Perler bead creations.

Aaron helped Bryce rise to the challenge in tennis.

Griffin and Brett were a formidable duo as well.

Griffin sets up to serve.

Picking out rocks to see who could throw the furthest with their opposite hand.

Boy cousin breakfast table.

Adult breakfast table with the girl cousins.

Aunt Joy greets Naomi.

Hanging out on the deck at the beach house.

Picked up at the airport by Grandma and Gramps.

Sitting down with our former President, Gerald Ford.

ICC Guild Ceremony

Numerous hours of preparation, planning, and coordinating went into the 2021 ICC Guild Ceremony.  First, we had to have four eligible kids who had completed all of the 3 phases of the young speakers guild curriculum.  Then we needed a theme that could incorporate all of the kids in a unique and storytelling way.  Enter the Wizard of Oz, which perfectly had one leading lady with three guys.  Finally, we needed a host site and a date.  But it wouldn't be characteristic of the last year if we didn't have to cancel and reschedule the event at least once.  What became of the night was a successful showcase of all that Bryce, Garrett, Hannah, and Zach have learned over the last few years.

Poppy and Grammy get their picture with the newly inducted Guild members.

 

Garrett receives his certificate.

Hannah, Garrett, Bryce, Zach, and chapter Affirm sponsor Robin.

The Mom crew who helped put it all together:  Gretchen, Joy, Linda.

Proud parents with the Guild inductees.

Bryce gets his guild certificate.

Mr. Eliason discusses the honor of a guild certificate and pin.

Garrett (scarecrow), Bryce (tin man), Zach (lion), and Hannah (Dorothy) get ready to follow the ICC Road.

Hannah finds the Scarecrow.

The whole cast and crew from ICC.

Garrett the scarecrow.

Bryce the tin man.

Griffin and Jake and Jude as some of the Munchkins.