Yo-Yo Pa

I'm sure you've heard of Yo-Yo Ma, the internationally famous and award winning cellist.  But, have you heard of Yo-Yo Pa?   You might know him as Judge Crow or Granddad.  Well, he is my Pa and the guy who won the Topeka Yo-Yo Championship circa 1939-1940.  Last night I took Yo-Yo Pa to a demonstration by National Yo-Yo Champion and World Runner-up, Brent Dellinger.  It was truly amazing.  He did tricks that were too fast to follow.  Double Yo-Yos.  Yo-Yos in the dark.  Free style Yo-Yos.  Yo-Yos off the string.  Hundreds of people attended.  Yo-Yo Pa loved it!  

Here is Brent at the 2003  World Championships:

Yo-Yo Pa bought several of Brent's custom-made ball bearing Yo-Yos.  Here is Yo-Yo Pa as he waits in line for Brent to sign his Yo-Yos.  

It was fun.  The next time you see him, ask Yo-Yo Pa to show you some tricks.

Happy Father's Day to the best Dad ever!

I am soooooo lucky.  I have the best Father ever.

Happy Father's Day, Dad.  I love you.  

Granny turns 85

Yep.  June 13th is Granny's birthday and this year she turned 85.  We had a small dinner party ....

and then dove into Nancy's made-from-scratch coconut Birthday Cake.  Helen licked the frosting and behaved like a 12 year old.  Shame, shame.

Happy Birthday Granny.  We love you.

Judge Sam A. Crow receives Medal of Distinction

Last night Helen and I attended the Kansas Bar Association's Presidential Installation & Awards Dinner in Wichita where Dad received the Philip H. Lewis Medal of Distinction.

Awarded to someone who has made significant contribution to the administration of justice, this award is the most distinguished honor bestowed by the Kansas Bar Association.  After receiving a standing ovation from the room of 400 + attendees, Dad made a wonderful and gracious acceptance speech.

Some of his staff (and their spouses) attended as well.

We are very proud.  We had fun too.

Congratulations Dad on a well-deserved Award.

Ironman 70.3 Kansas, Wedding Gown and Circle S

SRC and JRQ arrived in Kansas on Friday so Jake could compete in the Ironman 70.3 Kansas on Sunday.   The check-in was Saturday morning.  Before going, Jake prepared his TREK feather-light carbon fiber bicycle.  

The race was at Clinton State Park near Lawrence.  We gathered all the Gu and other race stuff before checking in Saturday morning.  Once that was done, Helen and I accompanied Samantha as she had her wedding gown fitted by our friend Phyllis Livingston.  Here is a picture of Samantha in her gown along with Phyllis and Helen.

(OK ... so I cropped out Samantha and her gown as it is top secret.)

Jake and Samantha left early Sunday morning for the race.  I joined Samantha by 7:30 and we tried to find Jake in the swimming crowd.  No luck.

Those little specks are hundreds of swimming heads.

After the swim, Jake transitioned to the 56 mile bike race.  We were lucky to catch Jake as he zoomed by on his bike.  Then came the run of 13.1 miles.  Here Jake stops for a moment and gives Samantha a friendly hello.  

A cry of "me too, me too" was heard from the female athlete that was following Jake.  He ran on.  After 6 hours and 48 minutes, Jake came to the Yellow Brick Road where he took another short break before greeting Dorothy and the Scarecrow at the Finish Line.

That same evening we drove to the Circle S Ranch where wedding plans were discussed.  These photos might give you an idea of the setting. 

The wedding spot.

Some of the wedding guests.

The Kansas sunset from the Lodge yard.

After a jammed-packed weekend, Samantha and Jake drove back to Boulder this morning.

Carly marries Travis

After dating for years, Carly Waugh and Travis Swanson get married.  I was honored to perform the ceremony at the Reinisch Rose Garden.  Here Steve and Marilyn escort Carly down the rose aisle.

Carly, who we have watched grow up, was (as always) joyous and beautiful.  Travis, a very loving and gracious man, has a wonderful extended family.  Here is the ceremony itself:

The Reception featured excellent food and great music.  Here Carly dances with her Dad.

Later, we are exposed to the Cupid Shuffle and treated to Helen singing and dancing to Shout!  It was fun.

Life-long Kansans, they now relocate to Knoxville, Tennessee, where Carly begins her job as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Congratulations Travis and Carly.

15 years in Bella Vista

Dan returns to Bella Vista for the 15th straight year for golf and golf.  Here is a photo from the first trip in 1996:

and here is one from last week:

SRC delivers THS commencement speech

At the invitation of the Senior Class, SRC delivers the commencement speech for the Topeka High School class of 2010.  She was great.  Since I video taped (yes taped) the entire speech, I was unable to get a still photo of her at the podium.  But, I was able to get this photo of her on the speaker's platform with all the dignitaries.   She is the one in the middle with the blonde hair and the red shoes.

Like I said, she was great!  Full video of her speech available soon.  In the meantime, here is a video clip of the students singing and swaying to the Topeka High School song at the end of the ceremony.  Here is SRC holding her Google High School diploma as presented to her by the Principal during the ceremony.

The 8 of us celebrated with dinner afterwards with Nancy, Rocio, the Gs, SRC and JRQ all in attendance.  Samantha rocks!

Let them eat cake

HRC organizes a casual dinner party of young people and cake eaters.  She has the caterer (Anna Serene) prepare 4 different flavors of Princess Cake ... a name that is not endearing to either Jake or me.  Anyway, we have people vote on their favorite flavor.  It was fun.

Here are the happy cake eaters:

Votes are being tabulated by SRC.

Visitors from Colorado and Chile

SRC and JRQ come to town so SRC can deliver the Topeka High School commencement speech on Saturday.  At the same time Rocio, our friend from Iquique, Chile and currently an exchange student in California, joins us for the weekend.  Fun stuff.

Now 18 years old, Rocio was last here in 2005 when she was only 13.  Here is a 2005 photo of Rocio the Christmas Reindeer.

She is soooooo grown up!  Very cute too!