Hunt for Red Hot October

This week has been insanely warm for October. Record high Friday and tied for high temp today. And you know who loves that? A solar powered sister like me! Of course I had to work every day this week but I did get some outdoors time the past three days.

After work on Thursday I headed straight up to Athens with my camera for a Royals cross country meet. So behind on fall sports pix! Guess who doesn't like summer weather in autumn? Runners. Spoiler alert if you have a gag reflex!

Yup, this was the look on probably half the runners' faces right before they crossed the finish line and tossed their cookies! Not kidding. I do not know how I stayed upright since that is such a trigger for me. Uff da. Those poor runners. Both our high school and middle school girls teams took first place anyway!

Gives new meaning to "hurling" through homecoming week! Speaking of homecoming...

Finally was IN TOWN so I could attend and photograph a Royals football game! So many weddings, so little photography time. But we still managed to attend a retirement/birthday party before the game! LOL.

The Royals ended up falling to Pittsville 30-6. Still, I managed to capture a few good photos of both the game and musical entertainment. Once a Pep Band Mom always a Pep Band Mom!

Today's summer-like weather called for a summer activity. 

Mr. Fox and I have literally not been golfing for more than a month! So fun to get out for a very warm round with our friends Craig and Sara.

It also happened to be Big Cup Challenge Day so we got to play larger holes but somehow none of us could manage to take advantage of it. I was just too rusty. That's my excuse. Still... so fun to be out again like it was August!

Of course I 100% got into autumn mode at the Nekoosa Giant Pumpkin Fest! 

Seriously, holy Great Pumpkins, Charlie Brown! I feel like there were tons more arts & crafts and food vendors there than ever before. I found quickly that I was grateful there was an ATM on site, too, because I did not prepare for that. It was so hot, though...

Much like my tasty mini donuts! But productive. I had a few gift things in mind and I found what I needed. After 12,000+ steps on my pedometer between that and golfing I was ready to head home and shower!

Because, of course, our social calendar still had another appointment to go to, after all! And we wonder why time flies.

Had a special 50th anniversary party for our friends Jon and Audrey, who are more like family since they helped raise our baby boy. I mean seriously, how did they know that 30 years into their marriage when she was operating a daycare that they'd meet young Mr. Carter needing afterschool care? And that he'd work his way into their hearts and they'd find a home in ours? 

They really are like family – and we've come to know their entire family very well, too. Just special!

Sometimes I can't believe how blessed we are with the people in our lives. Even how many we've spent time with in just the past few days. It might be the hot summer temps, but I suddenly have water leaking out of my eyes.

Life is so good when you count your blessings! Just sayin'. 

Lucky Are We

Feeling fortunate as we end the week. A full but good Thursday and Friday.

After work, our Marketing Department got to have a little gathering at SentryWorld to celebrate 100% by our team in the recent United Way campaign. It looked like a gorgeous fall day to be out golfing. Unfortunately, the course is closed for the season. And double-unfortunately, I didn't have my clubs in the car anyway.

I was lucky, though, when it came to door prizes. Keeping my winning streak alive and got my name drawn. I picked out a little travel fan since I need "white noise" in order to sleep and I have a big trip coming up.

From there, I headed to Assumption High School for the volleyball "Pink Out" night to raise money for a 9-year-old boy named Braxton. He inspired us all to meet diversity head on and still smile.

Since the Volley for a Cause covered any type of cancer, I put my friend Jeannie's name on one ribbon (Praying for you, girl!!).

And my cousin Jeff's name on another. He just died of cancer and was laid to rest in northern Minnesota today. 

There was a lot of support and a great crowd. And opportunities to "donate" through bake sale purchases and raffle baskets.

Guess who won another basket? Yup, this lucky girl! Another one I can take up to the benefit.

And to cap off our luck, we got to see the glorious Northern Lights again from our front yard. It went from pink and green to definite red and green tones. Guessing it's a sign I should watch some Hallmark Christmas movies this weekend!

Today, I was lucky to have a half day off. Mainly because this tree outside my office window was coming down – not sure why other than it's ugly – and there was going to be a lot of noise.

Here is the tree removal tree-oh figuring out the lift situation.

Good neighbor Mike went up the lift since he is the best chain-sawer. And apparently isn't afraid of heights.

Notice he is safely strapped into the bucket.

Just too high for me!

Jim and other helper would pile up limbs as they fell. They had a good system so that no one got hurt.

I was concerned at this stage though. I came outside and hoped they measured correctly so the final trunk wouldn't fall and hit hubby.

Timber!!

Whew! Lucky! Why would I doubt them?! Thanks for all the help and hard work, guys! Glad I could celebrate with an hour-long deep-tissue massage this afternoon. Hey, it was previously planned before I knew anything about sweating lumberjacks in the front yard.

This eveing, we headed to the Homecoming football game. We lost by a ton to Auburndale. But there was a great halftime show with all the bands and even choir members leading grade school kids in some ribbon dancing to Jimmy Buffet's Cheeseburger in Paradise. Fun.

Hoping our luck continues as we head into Saturday with a cross country meet and, you guessed it, a golf scramble! I'll keep you posted.

Have fun this weekend and appreciate your good fortune!

Homecoming Coup

It was so exciting to see our Royals football team continue their hot streak tonight – soundly defeating the Iola-Scandinavia team in front of a pretty big homecoming crowd. On a super gorgeous summer's eve.

I'll have to go through my photos when I get time tomorrow. So tonight I'll just show the first ones I took. And the important last one...

It's not every game that the players get to burst through a sign. But it sure as heck looks cool when they do. And it get everyone fired up.

How fired up?

This fired up! Way to go, Royals! Although I did know a few players on the Iola team (thanks to working over there 12 years), I stayed loyal to our Royals, who are sitting on top of their conference right now!

It's definitely been a minute since we've been in this position! We'll take it. I'm sure it's a much better way to kick off the homecoming weekend, too. Have fun, kids.

Be careful out there!

You Can't Up-End Fun

Despite the fact Gilman (4-1) upended our chance of winning our homecoming game, it was still a lot of fun for most of the kids anyway. I assume.

I was just feeling blessed for a gorgeous day. Took hundreds of photos and didn't even get a chance to go through the actual game shots. Picked out a few for the newspaper and that was about it. The one above sort of tells it all.

They stopped almost all our efforts to move the ball. Thankfully we scored in the end so it was a complete blowout. Still, a loss of 42-6 is no fun. Glad they all got to shower, clean up good and go to dinner and the dance. That's something to smile about anyway.

After the game, I went for a run (walked) a bit. Then hubby and I met my BFF, her hubby, brother and sister-in-law at Anchor Bay for an early dinner. The freshman class (including her nephew) were eating dinner that before the dance, so we figured we would, too.

I did end up going to the Grand March later. Needed to get a picture of the full homecoming court and took a few others. Plenty to look through yet. But hey, it's my bedtime.

This homecoming Cinderella turns into a pumpkin long before midnight!

TGIF (Thank God it's Frost??)

Yes, it's true. It's on the Internet, so it has to be. We may get frost tonight! Figures. A Friday frost equals frigid football on Saturday!

It's homecoming week for Assumption. Kickoff is 11 a.m. tomorrow. So the good news is that we aren't freezing our backsides off watching the game tonight. However, I don't know how much it will warm up by late morning. At least there allegedly will be sun!

Tonight, to kick off things before the pep rally, the German Club held their annual Oktoberfest fundraiser.

Yummy brats and apple strudel. Wunderbar as usual! We didn't stay for the pep rally. I feel like a stalker sometimes, ha. So I'll save that for the sidelines tomorrow! Gotta pick and choose.

Plus hubby and I had a nice date at Wal-Mart followed by a quick walk and...

Gorgeous sunset! It's getting dark so early now but sometimes God has a pretty way of turning down the lights!

What's that saying... Red sky at night... Turn on the electric mattress pad all night?

Sounds right.

Homecoming and Going

You know it's truly a homecoming when all three occupants of the house spend time at their respective alma maters. Throw in 2 or 3 weather patterns and you've got quite a day.

Started off the day shooting cross country in the rain. It was a home meet for Lincoln High School in Rapids, which meant it was nearby at the Ridges golf course. Probably can't see the raindrops in this picture but they were coming down and up and sideways.

Crazy to run in, I am sure, and crazy to balance my big umbrella in the wind and my camera. Felt like Mary Poppins Photography!

Was able to stay just long enough for varsity boys and girls, then raced home (in car not on foot) to change into dry clothes and head up north for a funeral visitation. Apparently it stopped raining in time for the homecoming football game at 1 p.m. because look who was willing to play in Pep Band before the game!

That's the mark of true homecoming spirit! (And look how he smiles when Dad takes the picture!)

Hubby was happy he could take dry stats on the sidelines and that his alma mater won the game 21-0! #RoyalPride

While that fun was going on, I met my friend Julie in Osseo. She was coming up I-94 and I was coming across Hwy 10. So she parked there and I drove us up to Luck. For the record, it has been confirmed that I can talk for 2 straight hours without taking a breath! I let Julie talk on the way back, I swear!
 

Stopped at the homestead first so I could say hi to Mom. My brother Ron and sister Rayna also were there. Had a short and sweet visit before heading into town for the visitation for the father of our friend (and classmate) Gail. First person we saw was Amy, another classmate who we haven't seen since shortly after high school. Sad that this is how we see each other now. So glad we made the trip. Sometimes it's best to give really good hugs of sympathy in person.

Knowing we had hours and hours of driving ahead of us, we hit the road by 5:30 so weren't completely in the dark on the way home. First, a stop for a selfie at OUR alma mater! Of course! Strange that the new (to us) sign is located probably 20 feet from where Julie and I first met on the bus on the field trip to the Shrine Circus. Life and friendships come full circle sometimes.

Got home at 9:30 and need to get rest before singing in church tomorrow morning.

What a nice homecoming for each of us.

Life is Full of Surprises

Apparently there is a good side to having your kids sneak around and not tell you everything. But I'll get to that.

This weekend is homecoming for a lot of area high schools including Assumption. As usual, they precede their pep rally with Oktoberfest – a fundraiser for the school's German-American Exchange Program. We continue to support that program as much as we can since it changed Carter's life. And ours.

So after work today, I met hubby at the school. Nothing tops a dinner date in the school cafeteria. Especially when it's brats, German potato salad and apple strudel – accompanied by live polka music! Ya, sure. You betcha.

After our yummy meal, hubby went home and I swung by the library to check out some audio books. It takes me forever to go through their inventory because I have listened to a lot of them over the years and I never know what is new. I guess it did take me forever because Jim texted me wondering where I was. Normally, it wouldn't matter how far I lagged behind him, but now I know why he wanted me home.

Wasn't 10 minutes later when an unfamiliar car pulled into the driveway. "Someone's here," I said. "Don't know who it is. Don't know the car." All of a sudden the back door opens and out jumps College Boy! What??

What an awesome surprise!!

Of course I hugged the stuffing out of him! And then found out he and Dad were in cahoots. Actually Carter planned on Wednesday to come home for homecoming. He told Jim that he planned to surprise me.

Yup, thoroughly surprised! I had even texted him at lunch to see what was up this weekend. What a sneak. And I love it!

Pretty much been staring at this picture daily since he left for year two a month ago. And now it has come to life! Yay!

Naturally, he's already gone to see friends here and there and, I suspect, that will be the agenda for the weekend. That's what "homecoming" is all about. But I saw him first! And I'll get the last hug in on Sunday. So it's all good.

Life is full of surprises.

Royal Pride and Then Some

Whirlwind day of Royal activities today as Assumption wrapped up Homecoming week with the football game and dance. But not before our Royal runners hit the links, well Ridges Golf Course, to compete in the Rapids Cross Country Invitational.

Let's just say a big shout out to Mother Nature first, for bringing out the sun on an otherwise very chilly day! It could have been worse!

Instead, I managed to stay warm enough in my winter hat and jacket to take a hundred pictures or two at cross country. Ha. Can't break the habit! Stopped home to add on another layer and charge my phone. As I grabbed it to head out the door to the football game some 15 minutes later, it was dead. I couldn't get it to turn on no matter what buttons I pressed or what charger I used. Ugh. Do I have time to deal with this?

Knowing Carter was already playing with pre-game Pep Band, I grabbed an old camera that could fit in my jacket pocket (added batteries first!) and got to the game as they finished playing their last song before the fight song and national anthem.

So at least I got one more picture of him half hidden behind that baritone! Olivia and Macie are also 2016 grads – and frankly, the ones convincing him to play. He wasn't going to respond to begging from me or the band director!

It was a very exciting game. We played Owen-Withee, who had just two conference losses, I believe. They scored on their first possession – as in returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown! Yikes. That wasn't a good way to start!

Somehow, though, we managed to keep pace with them, answering each of their scores. And, despite turning it over a few times, were able to score a winning touchdown with less than 2 minutes to go! So not only did we sort of pull off an upset with the 28-21 win, we also became "playoff eligible." Very good news with just one regular season game left!

After the game, I raced over to the Verizon store to see if I needed a new phone or what. They couldn't get it back on at first either. Then they did some magical "reboot" and it was jump-started. Whew. And I didn't lose any data, photos, anything. Another whew!

I could get on with my life!

This evening, Jim is off with some friends to prep something for their hunting land. Jim doesn't hunt but he does know how to pack a cooler! So while he is off having fun, I went on a dinner date!

Yup, finally got some time with the boy. Had a tasty meal at Tamarack's Pub and good conversation. I warned him I was going to ask about everything from the roommate to classes to food. We got it all covered, I think. And it was great. I had to congratulate him on "adulting" very well.

After dinner, we went to the Homecoming Grand March, then he went off with friends again. It's all good. I got my one-on-one time so my weekend needs are fulfilled.

As a bonus, I not only have Royal Pride but Parent Pride, too. Hopefully that comes more often than one week a school year!

Home, Sweet Homecoming

For some Royal fans, the excitement of homecoming is highlighted by the burning of the Assumption letter A. For this Royal fan, it is the meaning of the word homecoming, as in coming home!

Yup, a month of empty nesting was long enough! My baby is back home. Granted, for less than 48 hours, but still home.

The 3 AHS grads at UW-P traveled together from Platteville today, arriving in Rapids a little after 4 p.m. When I got home from work, I thought I beat the boy home so I could welcome him. Jim never said anything to the contrary. All of a sudden, I come out of my office, about to yell something about today's mail, and here comes Mr. Handsome down the hallway!

I hugged him and squeezed him and hugged him and squeezed him some more!

Oh and of course, forced him to take a selfie with me...

Yeah, I guess I was just a LITTLE excited to have him home. Couldn't stop smiling – or hugging and squeezing him. Ha. How did I think I was going to manage until November?!

He took off pretty much right away. "I haven't driven in ages!" And I figured we wouldn't be seeing him much this weekend. It's his homecoming, after all, and it's a bonus visit since we weren't expecting him this month. But still, it's hard to have him so close, yet not.

I guess this is the part where he's growing up and I need to, too. Hopefully some time tomorrow amidst all the homecoming festivities, we can sit down and catch up beyond our recent texts and brief phone calls. We'll take what we can get!

Jim and I went to the Oktoberfest brat fry at the school and the pep rally / bonfire after. Carter stopped at the school to meet up with a few friends and is heading over to someone's house tonight. At least I managed to sneak another hug!

This weekend is going to fly. I'll just keep collecting hugs when I can and store them in a safe place until I need them again.

For now, I'm just grateful he is home, sweet home.

And the Band Played On

With a dozen senior band members graduating last May, there sadly has not been an Assumption Pep Band appearance this year for home football or volleyball games.

Until tonight.

According to the band director, the challenge has been low numbers and no low brass. Without Carter on baritone, she now has one of her trumpet players handle the baritone, trombone, any low brass instrument while she fills in on trumpet. Not the best option, but doable.

She has an additional challenge this week for the Homecoming football game. Not enough band members for a Marching Band performance and potentially not enough for pregame entertainment. As it happens, the three trumpet players (and one of the flutists) run cross country, and they have a meet Saturday morning. The football game starts at 1 p.m. so there's no guarantee they'll make it there on time.

So as Miss Molly stated, desperate times call for desperate measures. In other words, she begged me to beg Carter to play this weekend. And I'm sure she did that with other class of 2016 musicians. Carter was pretty adamant he wasn't going to. In his words, Miss Molly says "just pregame" and that's how she lures in the alumni.

Ha. Well, it worked. Carter allegedly has agreed to it but, he says, only because some of his classmates who are home this weekend are going to play as well. Can't wait to try one more time to take his picture and have him hold up that big baritone in front of his face.

In fact, I had to text him this picture of two of his buddies (aka my other "sons") to prove that there is no shame in being cooperative for a mom with a camera!

By the way, they sounded awesome. A great way to start off another Dig Pink night at volleyball. The band did have a little help from 4 alumni who happened to be home and willing to assist. Helped round out the sound with high, medium and low. Very nice to hear again. Excellent as always.

It's comforting to know that no matter how many Royals come and go, the band plays on...

Thursday Night Lights

Finally some redemption after our Royals lost that high-scoring game in Chippewa Falls on Saturday. Tonight – yes, Thursday night – they hosted conference rivals Wausau Newman Catholic.

Don't know if it was the magical Thursday Night Lights or a bit of home field advantage, but the boys in Royal blue dominated with a 35-0 win.

That was a much better way to spend a Thursday evening than watching TV or doing something productive like laundry or cleaning my office. Now I have Friday night for that!

I gotta admit it is still weird watching a sporting event when my child is not in the student section or pep band (which they don't have the numbers for this year). I did sit by and visit with parents of other college "freshmen" who are in the same boat. We are actually looking forward to homecoming next weekend because our kids are coming home – and we don't have to shell out money for tuxes or dresses.

Yup, Carter called last night and told us his plans. So that'll be cool. (Understatement, ha.) We didn't expect to see him until we go down for Family Weekend in early November, so this is a major bonus. Naturally, his weekend will be booked with seeing friends, but hopefully I can squeeze in a few hugs at least!

In the meantime, business as usual. I'll continue to nag, er check up, on homework from afar while relaxing under the Thursday Night Lights, er bedside reading lamp, in our empty nest.