Chief Brush Master

Pretty strange? Interesting? My dad texted this photo that his dad was in a beard contest in 1957. It was for the Appleton Centennial and you can see from the ribbon that he won.

This is the strangest part. Brothers of the Brush? Official membership card? I never heard my grandpa having a nickname “Rebel” before! “…agreed to grow some type of facial adornment (whiskers)….” !!!  Chief Brush Master!

My grandpa and his friend.


Grandpa and his mom, my great grandpa. This is the strangest beard ever!


My brother found this in the newspaper archives.

 

Makai’s WI Vacation

We were barely home from our 3-week trip to Hawaii, when Makai went to Wisconsin for 10 days! He had off a few days for Fourth of July and Dallas and I each only had one day off. So we asked my parents if he could go to their house. But the timing for pickup and drop off really extended the visit. He loved it, of course! He didn’t even miss us! He did so many things in those 10 days:

Party at a nearby park and a nighttime parade.

Lakehouse day with my brother and Jill.

Helping grandpa wash his truck.

Crashed my cousin Skyonna’s wedding.

Celebrating Fourth of July with my cousin Kelly’s family – Jeff, Tessa, Margo, Charlotte.

Visiting a park on the Fox River.

Hanging out at home!

Old Glory Honor Flight

My dad went on the Old Glory Honor Flight on October 18! This is an awesome program that takes veterans on a day trip from Appleton to Washington DC to see the monuments that were built in their honor.

I wish I could have been there to greet him at the airport in Appleton, WI, but we had a flight to Arizona the next morning already booked. Luckily, many of my family and my dad’s friends were able to go. My cousins took a ton of photos and even did a live video, so I could still see the moment.

Brunch at SAP Brunch, Brown Bag and Bakery in Appleton

Richard and Amanda had taken my parents for brunch at SAP Brunch, Brown Bag and Bakery before and I thought it looked so good that I requested to go! Everything on the menu is locally made or grown. Our waitress was super nice and very friendly. our food was delicious. I find it odd that even indie places like this with top notch food and ingredients are located in a strip mall!

Visiting Family in Wisconsin

The first night we were in Wisconsin we stayed at Kelly and Jeff’s house in De Pere. Makai had so much fun playing with Tessa, Charlotte, and especially Margo. Margo is several years older than him, but the closest in age. Ironically they have spent the least amount of time together, compared with Tessa and Charlotte. Makai and Margo got along great. They have many shared interests. They both had space shirts on and love dinosaurs and superheroes!

In the morning, Tuesday, Jeff and Kelly went to work and the girls went to school. Makai and I went to my parents house in Neenah. After breakfast we went to The Building for Kids Children’s Museum in Appleton. Makai loved it. He showed everyone how the lizard stuck its tongue out at him and when we passed a construction site he talked about how he operated a crane!

For lunch we met my mom at Antojitos Mexicanos, my parents favorite Mexican restaurant, which is conveniently located by my mom’s office. The food was really delicious and everyone was super nice.

Since we’re always looking at the murals in Chicago, my mom took us to see a big butterfly mural on the walk back to her office.

The next day, Wednesday, it snowed. A lot! Makai was so excited to go outside and play and make a snowman. He and my dad were outside shoveling and playing for probably over an hour. Buddy was at the groomer, but when he got home he ran right up to the snowman and peed on it. Makai thought this was so hilarious. He told every person he saw for the next few days about Buddy peeing on the snowman.

On Thursday morning, dad and I took Makai to see a movie called Rock Dog. Then we got my mom and went for lunch at Pullman’s at Trolley Square. Then we went back to the office to meet a lot of my mom’s coworkers. Later on at night we did a fun robot craft. Makai had seen it in a magazine, so I saved a box and bought a few supplies. He had fun making his robot!

On Friday morning we headed back to Chicago.

A Family Reunion, Birthday and Celebration of Life

This weekend we went to Wisconsin to visit with my parents. We also got to see their beautiful new house that they just moved into last weekend! The main reason we chose this weekend to go to Wisconsin was for the big family reunion that was planned. It was also a birthday party for my Aunt Ali and a celebration of life for those whose time with us may be limited.

img_7253.jpgimg_7305.jpgimg_7379.jpgFullSizeRender-6img_7257.jpgThe family reunion was held at Lindberg Park in Combined Locks. It was a really nice park with a lot of grassy areas, a huge pavilion with a kitchen, plenty of parking, a playground and a basketball hoop. It really was a perfect setting. I told on of my aunts that I’d never been to this park before and she laughed and said our family had been holding reunions there for 50 years. According to my mom I’d been there when I was young. Also, on the drive to the park I passed by the house where I lived in Kaukauna (although I didn’t recognize it), the street that I lived on in Appleton (Drew! I didn’t remember it til I saw it) and the place on the river where my dad grew up (which I recalled driving past often when I used to drive from Little Chute and Kaukauna to work in Appleton).

img_7264.jpgimg_7277.jpgimg_7269.jpgimg_7283.jpgIt was my Aunt Ali who was celebrated her 57th birthday three days early. She has had a tough battle with breast cancer for many years. Her positive outlook on life in the face of death should be in an inspiration to all of us. I’m sure she has her dark times, but the positive energy that flows from her being is uplifting to everyone around her. Amazing lady. Makai decorated  birthday card for her with markers and stickers and included two photos of himself. Aunt Ali has always had soft spot in her heart for Makai. It’s so sweet!

FullSizeRenderFullSizeRender-1img_7399.jpgMy cousin Dawn has been visiting from Florida for several weeks. It was so great to see her again!

img_7389.jpgMy dad and his brother Doug.

img_7403.jpgMy mom with her sisters Connie, Wanda, Sue and Alice

FullSizeRender-4img_7352.jpgThe sisters: Connie, Wanda, Mary, Sue, Alice and their brother Maurice. (And Charlotte!)

img_7398.jpgMy mom and her brother, Morey.

FullSizeRender-2Kiara is my cousin’s grandaughter. FullSizeRender-3I’m not sure what the officially makes her to me!
img_7290.jpgKiara and Makai blowing bubbles. Both are just about 3 years old (She in September, he in October). img_7291.jpgOn a family tree, Makai would be on the same level as Kiara’s Mom, Miranda (I think.)

img_7419.jpgArt by Aunt Sue.

img_7393.jpgimg_7330.jpgimg_7391.jpgCousins: Tiffani, Melissa, Marla, Kelly, Rachelle, Dawn, Skyonna, Katrina, Ciara, Kelly, Richard, Molly, Pat. (And Charlotte!) Me: “Is Pat the only guy?” Everyone: “Uh, no. Your brother… ?”

img_7404.jpg
Cousins Pat and Kelly

FullSizeRender-10Family photos: Amanda, Jessica, Richard, Stephanie, Rick, Mary, Rachelle, Dallas, Makai

img_7397.jpgFamily photos: Kelly, Margo, Jeff, Sue, Charlotte, Tessa
FullSizeRender-11img_7260.jpgFullSizeRender-9FullSizeRender-7FullSizeRender-5FullSizeRender-13FullSizeRender-12img_7401.jpgimg_7400.jpgThe kids (even the big kids) played so hard on the playground! I hardly even went in because Makai had lots of babysitters: Stephanie, Jessica, Tessa, Charlotte, Margo. Ok, maybe not Margo. And Larry.

img_7320.jpgLucky for Richard, Dallas, Matt and Dominic, Larry had a basketball in the trunk of his car. Dallas was feeling pretty great about his “old man game” when he beat some of his competitors who were 20 years younger than him!

Fun fun day for everyone! So glad we came up and could see all of the the family!