Prom Night

I just sent my fifth (and last) daughter off to the prom. She looked beautiful – he looked very handsome – they were very happy.

Oh, to be 17-18 again.

Photos with friends. A stretch limo for the evening. Dinner at the LaSalle Grill and their prom at the Century Center.

Memories to last a lifetime.

From Today's South Bend Tribune....

Here's an article from today's Tribune about Kelli's boyfriend Ben and his 300 game from last week.

Article published Nov 13, 2008 - South Bend Tribune

PERFECT NIGHT FOR CLAY SENIOR ELLAM

RICARDO RAMIREZ Tribune Staff Writer

It wasn't until his opponent faltered that Ben Ellam realized he could be perfect. Ellam, a senior and captain of the Clay High School bowling team, made history for his bowling team by throwing a 300 in a sanctioned match against Penn at Chippewa Bowl last week. Bowling since the age of four, the beginning of the match was just like another day at the alley for Ellam. He and his opponent squared off and went pin for pin, dropping strikes one after another until the eighth frame. With only two frames left to finish, Ellam watched as his foe left an open frame. He wanted to take advantage of the mistake and grab the lead in the competition. As easy as his first seven strikes, Ellam delivered yet another perfect ball. However, it was when Ellam returned to wait to pitch his next ball, reality finally sank in on him. "I just wanted to beat him," said Ellam. "He missed in the eighth and I really started to think about it. "What Ellam realized was that he was a few more rolls away from a perfect game. "I knew I had a great shot -- I wasn't too worried," said Ellam. "Everyone else seemed more nervous than me. "Unlike a baseball team that shies away from pitcher with the no-hitter, Ellam's teammates kept things as usual. And it was this sort of strategy that helped him through the first seven frames, so Ellam stuck with it. He was focused more on keeping up with his opponent, so that he really did not think about how good he was doing in the overall match. So now with things getting more tense, a little chatter from the team helped him keep his mind off the situation. As the final frame arrived, and a soft alley, Ellam approached his lane and blew up the pocket. Two quick strikes with one remaining. On his final ball, Ellam found himself with a moment of doubt as he threw his last shot. "There was one pin that wobbled and I didn't think it was going to fall. It was like it was in slow motion," recalled Ellam. "I started walking away, I thought it was going to stay up. I watched out of the corner of my eye as I turned. "The pin did finally fall and Ellam was perfect. "I was relieved, glad it was over with," said Ellam. "This was my second 300, but it was sanctioned, so this one was better. It counted for something. "With a perfect game under his belt during sanctioned play, Ellam has it in the back of his mind about rolling another each time he steps to the hardwood and looks down the lane. "I think about it all the time. It's all I think about until I miss one," joked Ellam. "Then I just relax and bowl. I am good for this year. I got it out of the way. "His real goal for the remainder of the year is to help his team to a fourth consecutive conference title.

Starting Off on the Right Foot.....

This week, the local high schools started their conference play in bowling. Over the past year, I've heard what a great bowler Kelli's boyfriend Ben is. I already knew he was a good baseball player and I've had the chance to sit in the stands and watch him play. So, a few weeks ago, his mom sent me his bowling schedule. I decided to make it a point to get out there and watch him over the next few weeks. So, Tuesday was Week 1 of the Michiana Conference League - Clay High School vs. Penn High School. It was Election Day, Kelli had softball practice until 6:00 - things were just very busy. As I'm leaving work, my cell phone rings and it's my friend Mary Lou. (Her son Michael bowls for St. Joseph High School.) The first words out of her mouth were, "where's Kelli, when her boyfriend's bowling a 300 game?" I couldn't believe it - how exciting is that??!!!

So, a couple hours later he shows up in my family room with McDonald's and a big smile on his face. Congratulations Ben!! No pressure, but you know you're going to have to do this again when I come to watch you.

From the South Bend Tribune under Prep Scoreboard:

CLAY 17 (1111, 937) PENN 3 (1003, 926)

Clay: Ben Ellam 300, 223; Travis Wise 224, 216; Joe Wesolowski 212

Penn: Josh Jaworski 246; Tyler Tharp 237; Jason Schmidt 223; Mitch Powell 223

High Individual Game: Ben Ellam, Clay 300

High Individual Series: Ben Ellam, Clay 523

High Team Game: Clay 1,111

High Team Series: Clay 2,048

...and a photo of Ben (left) and his brother Andy - Clay's secret weapons.

Girl's Varsity Softball....

....is breaking the piggy bank. Kevin played baseball at Clay for four years and I don't remember boys ever worrying about matching jackets and matching sweatshirts and matching under-armers and so on and so on and so on. As for girls - it's a "team thing". So, they've ordered Columbia jackets with "Clay Softball" embroidered on them and they've ordered purple under-armers for playing on these COLD spring days, and they've got matching sweatshirts and sweatpants. AND then of course, she hits me with this at 6:30 a.m. - less than 48 hours before I leave on vacation. DON'T be cutting into my vacation spending money!!!!

"I'll write you out a check when I get back from the cruise".

"Thanks Mom".

It Starts Again....

For as long as I can remember, our lives as parents have been consumed with girl's softball. Carrie, Katie, Colleen, and Chrissie - Little League, Grade School, High School, Travel Teams and College Softball. More years than I can even attempt to calculate. The summers of road trips, hotels and living out of coolers. Those were some of the best summers of our lives and we made friendships that will last a lifetime. So....we're on the home stretch now. One last daughter - Kelli. It was inevitable that she'd play softball. I think it's in her blood. Maybe the fact that she spent her early years following after her sisters, dreaming of the day it would be her turn.

Tonight - tryouts begin for her high school team. She's been conditioning for months and now it's time to show what they've got (or don't have). She's excited! Ready to get to work and play ball - hopefully in about three weeks if the weather cooperates. As for me, I'm working on a purple and gold afghan to wrap myself in during those early season games.

Oh - To Be 16 Again.....

Being sixteen seems like soooooooo long ago, and yet there are parts of my teen years I remember like it was yesterday - especially meeting and falling in love with my "Rock Star".

My house was invaded by teens on Saturday night - posing for their Mid-Winter photos in front of a barage of camera toting moms. Believe it or not, they didn't complain and they didn't seem all that anxious to head out the door. Hmmmm - could have been because the windchill was about 20 below.

Anyway - they all looked beautiful and handsome and had a wonderful time.

A Father's Worse Nightmare....

...has to be raising five daughters. What can I say - he's finally turning gray with this situation. We've managed to marry off two of them and two more are in serious relationships, which leaves us with the baby - almost 16 - and the biggest handful of all. (Maybe it's just that we're TIRED and OLD). So, last night she comes home with the school newspaper. Published in the paper was a Christmas Survey where four student athletes were asked some questions - one of which was "Who Would You Like to Kiss Under the Mistletoe". A surveyed baseball player, who shall remain unnamed responded, "Kelli Knight". (Said baseball player is also her date for the January Mid-Winter Dance). And so, what was her father's response to the survey??? Let's just say that he took a pen and and changed "Kelli Knight - to - Kelli Knight's Dad's A___".

For those of you who don't know the five of them.....

Daughters number 1 and 5.




Daughters number 2 and 3.



Daughters number 5 and 4.

Mad Dash for Cans

Clay High School wrapped up it's can food drive with it's "MAD DASH". They met at Clay at 6:00 for the big send-off and then it was time to hit the streets. These four (Cody, Ben, Katie and my Kelli) decided to scope out our neighborhood and by the time they were done, Ben's trunk held 348 cans. They trudged through the cold and snow with their backpacks loaded with cans. Kellie said that some people wouldn't open there doors or worse yet, closed the doors in their faces and yet others invited them inside to warm up while they dug through their cabinets for canned good. After a couple of hours, they showed up back on my doorstep looking for hot chocolate - which was the least I could do. Then they were were off again - back to Clay to deliver the goods. According to this morning's news reports, the final tally was 125,000 cans for local charities. WOW - that's awesome! Congrats to all the students and faculty that participated in this year's drive.

Clay High School Presents....CINDERELLA

We're so excited to be able to go and see "Cinderella" tomorrow - performed by Kelli's classmates at Clay High School. One of Kelli's best friends, Arri Pittman has the lead roll. There was a great article this week in the South Bend Tribune and I just had to share the photo and part of the article. Good luck Arri!!!! We'll be there, cheering you on!

Star Feels Like Cinderella - Sophomore Gets Lead Role

Arri Pittman sounds a little like Cinderella when the Clay High School sophomore talks about getting the chance to play her in this weekend's production. "I am nervous, but it's so exciting at the same time," Pittman said. "And it's all going by too fast. I will be sad when it's over," she said, "but I am just trying to appreciate every moment."

She even says she feels like Cinderella."It's kind of like what happened with this," she said of getting the lead role as just a sophomore. "You come from being a freshman and having no leads and it's like you are the lead. It's exciting. You are Cinderella in Cinderella."

According to director David Case, there are plenty of good reasons for her selection despite her limited experience, including that she is indeed Cinderella-like."She had an innocence about her and a purity that fit the role nicely," Case said. "Cinderella has to be an innocent young girl who just lives life every day and doesn't have anything bad to say about anyone and loves everybody."And Arri portrayed that during the audition. And her voice is absolutely gorgeous.

Where Did the Summer Go???

I realize that school is starting two weeks earlier this year and I'm sure we'll appreciate it next May - but right now, it's hard to send Kelli back to school tomorrow.

It really seems like she had no summer vacation and I'm sure that's due to softball. She started playing in March with her high school team. As soon as school ended, she had summer ball with her high school team and played on a traveling team - which then sent her into All-Stars and we all know where that led. She finished last Wednesday on a field in Akron, Ohio - nearly six months straight. On Saturday, she left with her friend Katie and her family to go to their lake cottage and she'll be home later today. After spending a week with her in Akron, I really missed having her around the past few days.

So, tomorrow she'll walk through the doors of Clay High School as a sophomore. Let the FUN begin!!!!

http://www.sbcsc.k12.in.us/clayhigh/default.html

High School Threats....

We received an email on Wednesday afternoon from Kelli's principal explaining that a 9th grade student had made some verbal threats against other students. Students then reported the incident to administrators who in turn removed the student from the building. According to the information we've received from the school, the student is now in the custody of his parents who are cooperating fully with officials. We questioned Kelli on Wednesday evening and she told us that she knew who he was - that his locker was four down from hers. She said that his problem was with football players, baseball players and popular girls. Bob asked Kelli, "are you popular?" Her response...."I hope not." Last evening she informed us that they had located a list of students that he had supposedly targeted. Line 27 of the list had a baseball player's name/girlfriend. The player happens to be Kelli's boyfriend. His parents insist that he did not have the means to succeed with his threats, but in this day, all of this has to be taken seriously. Just thankful that those who overhead his threats had the courage to step forward and say something.

Here is the article from the South Bend Tribune:

April 27. 2007 6:59AM

Teachers and administrators at Clay High School responded to a "credible threat against the school" Wednesday, Superintendent Robert L. Zimmerman said. Students reported the threat to school authorities, who took appropriate action, Zimmerman said. A freshman student apparently verbally threatened to use a weapon to harm a combination of teachers and students, Zimmerman said. The student did not possess a weapon Wednesday, he added. No one was injured during the incident, which Zimmerman said occurred about noon." This matter was taken seriously," Zimmerman said, "as all reports of this nature are." While there was word that Clay went into a lockdown mode Thursday, Zimmerman said that was not true and the climate of the building was calm and orderly, as reported by Principal Ruth Warren. As for disciplinary action, Zimmerman did not say whether or not the student would be expelled. That decision, he said, will be determined later. The student was not arrested. "He's in an environment he's being taken care of," Zimmerman said. Clay officials sent a brief e-mail to parents Wednesday afternoon regarding the incident.

Babes in Toyland

I came home from the cruise in time to enjoy Kelli and her classmates in Clay High School's production of Babes in Toyland last weekend. This has consumed Kelli's life for the past 8-10 weeks - but all the hard work definately paid off! I have never been more impressed!!! Today, I opened the South Bend Tribune and noticed a wonderful review written by Jim Meenan. Guess he pretty much sums it up...

Hats Off to Clay -

In the two years I have been writing up high school play previews for The Tribune, I’ve always wanted to go see one. Saturday night, I finally did. The presentation of "Babes in Toyland," offered an ideal family night out, especially when you consider that a 5-year-old who loves to sing, is part of the family. After watching first Clay High School’s Choirs perform a wonderful 45-minute Christmas show featuring song, dance and an opening and close worthy of its own CD, then watching a play that captured my lad’s attention for another 2 1/2 hours, I have to say: I came away quite impressed.

As my wife said as we drove away, "it gives you a whole different vision of Clay High School."

Indeed, it was a night for Clay to hold its head high. From the opening number of "Carol of the Bells," in which the Clay mixed choir, women’s choir, concert choir and swing choir joined forces to all but encircle the auditorium and present a most beautiful sound, to "Silent Night," when they finished in a similar fashion, it was worthy of its own concert. Then came the play with plenty of music, dancing, toy solders and nursery rhyme characters, that definitely had my boy laughing out loud, and my wife, I and the audience quite impressed. Hats off to the likes of leads John Raab (Alan) and Katie Kuehner (Contrary Mary) who both appear to have very bright futures. We were also quite impressed with Josh Lukas as Barnaby, who did so well as the villain, he was able to get boos and catcalls at the final curtain, George Lund as Tom Tom, Christopher Griffith as Toymaker and Michael Ponder as Inspector Marmaduke. All were plenty entertaining.And my boy got the biggest kicks out of Philip Salvador as Roderigo, the assistant to Gonzorgo (Donny Bradley).

It was a great show, all the way around. I only have one suggestion though for the future, especially with a kid’s show. Have only one show and break out the choir to its own night. Their show by itself would be worth a price of admission.

Anyway, hats off to Clay on a job well done. We will be back. And thank you.