at camp

Brad and Katie are currently at Luther Point Bible Camp for a confirmation retreat. They left yesterday and will be returning today. I hope they have a great experience exploring their faith.

the day of the movie

On Sunday, Anders and I saw the movie Jexi together. I laughed out loud in many sections. Then I drove him home for play practice. I turned right around and went back to the theater to see the Downton Abbey movie. It was great to see all the characters on the big screen! Thanks Anders for coming to a movie with me! I had a blast.

4th place in class AAA competition at the Youth in Music Championships

The Youth In Music Championships have quickly become one of the premier marching band events in the Midwest, and the 2019 field contest promises to be the biggest in the event's history. The YIM Championships will be held in the brand new U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis. Join us on Saturday, October 12, 2019 for the fifteenth annual event.

As in past years, special guest units will perform during breaks in the contest. The 2019 lineup includes the South Dakota State University Marching Band, Minnesota State University-Mankato Marching Band and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugold Marching Band.

YIM MARCHING BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS (DAYTIME SHOW)
CLASS A
64.60 Andover
64.40 Blaine
64.30 Anoka
62.40 Eisenhower
61.60 Park Center
60.40 Lakeville South
58.80 Harrisburg
57.60 Mukwonago
56.60 Hutchinson
53.50 Pipestone
Exhib Hudson
Exhib St. Croix Central

CLASS AA
75.10 Hastings
71.30 Farmington
70.80 Minnetonka
70.20 Baldwin-Woodville
69.30 Lourdes
67.80 Champlin Park
62.40 Sioux Falls Washington

CLASS AAA
80.50 Millard West
80.40 Sioux Falls Roosevelt
79.70 Brandon Valley
78.20 River Falls
73.10 Waukesha North

CLASS AAAA
88.70 Rosemount
87.80 Eden Prairie
84.20 Marshall
83.80 Eastview
82.50 Irondale

COLLEGE BANDS IN EXHIBITION
Minnesota State University-Mankato Marching Band, Mankato, MN
South Dakota State University Marching Band, Brookings, SD
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugold Marching Band, Eau Claire, WI

YOUTH IN MUSIC GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP (EVENING SHOW)
88.20 Rosemount
87.40 Eden Prairie
84.10 Eastview
82.40 Marshall
81.70 Millard West
78.70 Brandon Valley
78.60 Irondale
75.80 Sioux Falls Roosevelt
74.60 Hastings
69.80 Andover

2019 Performance Schedule

Updated 6:30PM with tonight's Finals schedule

Session 1
7:25 Star Spangled Banner - YIM All Stars
7:30 Hutchinson High School Marching Band, Hutchinson, MN - A
7:45 Harrisburg High School Marching Band, Harrisburg, SD - A
8:00 Lakeville South High School Marching Band, Lakeville, MN - A
8:15 Mukwonago High School Marching Band, Mukwonago, WI - A
8:30 Eisenhower High School Cardinal Regiment, Blue Island, IL - A
8:45 Park Center Marching Band, Brooklyn Park, MN - A
9:00 Andover Marching Band, Andover, MN - A
9:15 Blaine Marching Bengals, Blaine, MN - A
9:30 Pipestone Area Marching Arrows, Pipestone, MN - A
9:45 Coon Rapids Marching Cardinals, Coon Rapids, MN - A
10:00 Anoka High School Marching Band, Anoka, MN - A
10:15 St. Croix Central High School Marching Band, Hammond, WI - Exhibition
10:30 Hudson High School Marching Band, Hudson, WI - Exhibition
10:45 Washington High School Marching Band, Sioux Falls, SD - AA
11:00 Baldwin-Woodville High School Marching Band, Baldwin, WI - AA
11:15 Farmington Tiger Marching Band, Farmington, MN - AA
11:30 Minnetonka High School Marching Band, Minnetonka, MN - AA
11:45 Champlin Park Marching Rebels, Champlin, MN - AA
12:00 Hastings Raiders Marching Band, Hastings, MN - AA
12:15 Lourdes High School Marching Band, Rochester, MN - AA
12:30 Minnesota State University-Mankato Marching Band, Mankato, MN - Exhibition

12:45 A/AA Awards

1:15 Brandon Valley High School Marching Band, Brandon, SD - AAA
1:30 Millard West High School Marching Band, Omaha, NE - AAA
1:45 Waukesha North High School Marching Band, Waukesha, WI - AAA
2:00 River Falls High School Marching Band, River Falls, WI - AAA
2:15 Roosevelt High School Marching Band, Sioux Falls, SD - AAA
2:30 Irondale Marching Knights, New Brighton, MN - AAAA
2:45 Eastview High School Marching Band, Apple Valley, MN - AAAA
3:00 Marshall Tiger Marching Band, Marshall, MN - AAAA
3:15 Eden Prairie Eagle Marching Band, Eden Prairie, MN - AAAA
3:30 Rosemount High School Marching Band, Rosemount, MN - AAAA
3:45 South Dakota State University Marching Band, Brookings, SD - Exhibition

4:00 AAA/AAAA Awards


Session 2/Evening Finals

7:15 Star Spangled Banner - Forest Lake High School Marching Band
7:30 Andover Marching Band, Andover, MN
7:45 Roosevelt High School Marching Band, Sioux Falls, SD
8:00 Hastings Raiders Marching Band, Hastings, MN
8:15 Brandon Valley High School Marching Band, Brandon, SD
8:30 Irondale Marching Knights, New Brighton, MN
8:45 BREAK
9:00 Millard West High School Marching Band, Omaha, NE
9:15 Eastview High School Marching Band, Apple Valley, MN
9:30 Eden Prairie Eagle Marching Band, Eden Prairie, MN
9:45 Rosemount High School Marching Band, Rosemount, MN
10:00 Marshall Tiger Marching Band, Marshall, MN
10:15 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Awards

Here are some photos from the day (I was the lead chaperone for the color guard)

snow

This year, there is a sweet little girl in our shared classroom named Snow. I think she is incredible, but the white stuff that she is named after was falling from the sky throughout the day. The snow fell during the River Falls Wildcats football game versus Superior (we won 21-0). Katie was the only brave Olson to attend as Anders marching band performance was cancelled due to icky weather.

Snow I like you. Other snow, I'm not ready for you yet.

the boy is 62 pounds and 4 foot 3 inches tall

Favorite color: black
Favorite number: 95
Favorite food: noodles and meat sauce
Favorite friend: Jayden
Favorite television show: Stranger Things
Favorite movie: Jumanji
Favorite school subject: play at recess
What he's planning being for Halloween: Black Panther
Favorite book: Dog Man and Captain Underpants books
Favorite musical: Hamilton
Favorite band: ACDC
Favorite football team: Vikings
Favorite baseball team: Twins
Favorite soccer team: MN United
Favorite basketball team: Milwaukee Bucks

big yummy mushroom

Our friend, Mike N. found this tasty hen of the woods mushroom in the woods near Menomonie. We have been dining on it for several meals now...yum yum yum!

weekend up north

 Joe and his buck

Brent, Siri and Natalie bringing in the dock

Micha, Nate and Joe bringing in the dock

Henry and his buck

This past weekend, Brad headed north to go hunting with Henry for the Youth Deer hunt and it was a successful hunt. Nate and kids were also there and helped bring in the dock. 

13 and life to go

Here's to our sweet niece Siri Audree Olson! Happy 13th birthday to you. The last 2006 Olson Swanson Quintana cousin to turn 13.

Katie and Molly at Siri's shower

Anders and Katie playing little baby when visiting cousin Siri

proud Momma and her sweet baby girl

here's her birthday today

if at first you don't succeed, try try again

This morning, I was out of the house at 5:45am to drive to St. Paul for the Twin Cities Marathon. My training was challenging with some sore feet and a sore hip, so I decided I would try to train on elliptical. The first 14 miles were great and then...my legs felt like lead. By mile 18, I was falling pretty far behind, so far behind, that I had to exit the course due to time limits. I was going to try and just walk the rest of the way, but then decided I needed to take care of my body and my health, so went to an aid station and asked to be picked up by the bus of people who had the same struggles.

I ended up in a nice conversation with several people and have decided this is not my only attempt at a marathon. I was kind of hoping it would be, but there is an alternate plan for my Personal Record.

On another note, my 18 miles netted me nearly 45,000 steps and 50 floors. That is a victory in my book!

marching Wildcats take first at the Chippewa Falls competition

They won the honors of best percussion and also the honors of top band at the competition. I again was a chaperone and Katie and Osten tagged along on the bus. It was pretty heavenly when we were driving home very late and Osten snuggled up on my lap and fell asleep. I was able to play with his hair and just enjoy a few moments of snuggling with my big nine year old.

Here's Anders and his tuba section (photo credit Tuba Mom Carrie)

and here is a photo of them in action:

and the Wildcats won homecoming!

Wildcat homecoming was on Friday night and they took down the Chippewa Falls Cardinals! It was a terrific outcome. Anders band played at half time and I was a chaperone for the festivities. It was an exciting evening.