Stumbling onto a Piece of Family History

OK, it's a small piece, but nonetheless... You may know Papa has started a new hobby of collecting and flying American flags (JF2.com/flags). In writing short blurbs about each flag, he sometimes uses anecdotes about what happened when that particular flag was flying. The only genuinely original flag in the collection (besides the current 50-star flag) is a 48-star flag that was in his family since before he was born. In the process of digging out an old American Legion (founded in 1919 when the 48-star flag was flying) award that he had received in childhood days, he stumbled onto an award (medallion/coin) that his mother had received, also from the American Legion, in 1940! We had no idea she had won such an award when she was a teen. Apparently Papa had never noticed the name and date until he looked at a greatly enlarged photo of the coin when creating the flag post. Here's the 48-star flag entry.

Pentatonix at the Amphitheater

Wow! We knew the Pentatonix would be fantastic! How do they do that?! We were also pleasantly surprised about just how nice the amphitheater is on the inside (a view you just can't get doing a drive-by). Very nice. And if you're lucky enough to do the "Suites" with fireplaces, it's about the most luxurious way to do a concert (that we've ever done, anyway). Papa remembers arguing with people (way back when) that they couldn't possibly be making all those sounds by themselves. Oh yes they are! If you're not familiar with this amazing a cappella quintet, check out one of the songs they're known for doing: Hallelujah (it's like the "Fight Song" is for the Piano Guys).

Lots of singing along...

From candles to lighters to cell phone lights. And swaying!

Josh & John's Ice Cream!

She has a metal knee.
Oh, and a cell phone in her pocket!

 

Willy Wonka is in the Books

As always, it was something of a family affair. Antonio played Augustus Gloop and Matteo was on the set crew and lighting crew. Tracy, Nana, Fina, and occasional others set up the concession stand, supported tech week dinners, created Wonka Bars that were sold as a fundraiser ahead of time, some of which included a Golden Ticket here and there, and, of course, threw a very Wonka cast party. Tomorrow everyone rests.

Wonka Bar production facility

Haley's Mom, Lynette, made these Wonka specials!
Haley played Charlie.

The Wonka Concession Stand

All Wonka cast parties have a chocolate fountain.

We retired the banner by moving it over to the cast party.

Cotton Candy

If only Wonka made breakfast cereals...

One of Jonnie's friends played Mike Teevee.

49th!

Nana and Papa celebrated their 49th Anniversary this weekend with a viewing of the new Betelgeuse movie and the discovery of a restaurant - Carlos Bistro. Where's this place been all our life?! The menu doesn't quit, it all looks great, and what we did have was superb! Just go to their website and check out the menu! Carlos himself greeted us in the parking lot! And it went uphill from there...

Best seat in the house.

Space Foundation's Discovery Center

Jamie recently started volunteering as a docent at the Space Foundation's Discovery Center...

Science on a Sphere.

Mars Rover exhibit. You drive!

MMA = More Miscellaneous Activities

Tracy, Nana, and Matteo get busy packaging Wonka Bars, complete with a golden ticket here and there. David gets going on a new construction project. Lexi's Barbie dolls are active. And all the Littles take Nana and Papa to IHOP.

College Classes Begin Today for Two

College classes begin today for two of our flock. Fina starts her sophomore year at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) and Brahm begins his freshman year at Western Colorado University (WCU). And Papa found a way to make it part of his most recently blossoming hobby: Flags of/in the USA.