Game On: UNI vs. Iowa State Tailgate

Flashback to August 2017

Tailgating before the UNI vs. Iowa State football game has been another great way to spend time with family.  For our first tailgate in 2013, I gave Dad a House Divided flag for his birthday.  It has become a great way to show our family support for both teams, while also creating fun photo opps.  Prior to heading off to the game, we snap a couple pictures to show that even though we will be routing for opposing teams, our house is united and we love this time together.  The Cyclones get bragging rights after this years game, but it was a fun time spent with family.

Summer 2017

Summer 2017 Highlights

Flashback to Summer 2017

The Summer of 2017 was a pretty relaxed one.  After having so much fun in Minneapolis a couple months earlier, we ventured back up to our favorite hot spot, the Mall of America.  We hit our favorite stores, but also experienced some new attractions including Fly Over America and taking our picture with Spongebob in Nickelodean Universe.  On our drive up to Minneapolis, we stopped by Cabin Coffee in Albert Lea, Minnesota to check out the coffee shop my cousin Sarah and her husband Josh had opened.  Unfortunately they were not there, but we enjoyed some tasty drinks and now make this a regular stop on our trips up north.

A big highlight for the summer was Bailey receiving her intermediate driver's license.  Driving with an employee of the DMV reminded me of when I had to drive for my school permit.  It's nerve-wracking, but she did it.  The Jeep Liberty is now her car and she's enjoying the independence of driving herself around Cedar Falls.  Her first venture out on her own was a trip to Starbucks while I was in Kansas City with friends.  It was an interesting short trip which may have involved turning onto the wrong lane on a side road.

Like summers past, we found time for a couple movies including the next installment of the Pirates of the Carribean franchise and Captain Underpants.  A new member of the family joined the Wood household, Hercules.  He is the sweetest dog and a great addition to the family.

Reflecting on these summer highlights is a great reminder to take time, slow down and enjoy life.

This Is 9th Grade

Great Peeps At Peet

We moved to Cedar Falls in June 2017.  The new move meant a new school beginning in Fall 2017.  Bailey would spend 1 year at Peet Junior High as a 9th grader.  Throughout the year she would make new friends and have some awesome teachers in the classroom.  This was evident when her science teacher, Mrs. Schultz, sent all the students in the classroom positive messages one day.  Bailey's note said, "Loves the 90's so she is 'All that and a bag of chips'.  I have seen lots of growth in you this year.  Keep up the great work and tackle the world with confidence'.  Mr. B was her awesome band teacher.  His passion for teaching came through loud and clear as Bailey would share so many stories throughout the year of what Mr. B did in band that day.  The caliber of the concerts was amazing for a middle school band.  Mr. Wolfe, her art teacher, also challenged Bailey to go deeper with her art.  She worked throughout the year on a machine head and personal collage (below) which showed the many facets of Bailey Seegers.  Peet Junior High and her 9th grade year were a breath of fresh air.  Like Mrs. Schultz, I also saw Bailey come into her own again and make lots of growth over the year.

Self Collage

Machine Head

9th Grade Formal

Flashback to May 6, 2017

An annual tradition for the 9th grade class is to hold a 9th Grade Formal in the spring.  This is a way for the 9th graders to say goodbye to their middle school years and celebrate moving onto the high school. 

When we went shopping for Bailey's dress in February, she knew she wanted a red dress.  After trying on about 15 dresses at Hope's Bridal, we struck out.  We headed back to Cedar Rapids for some lunch and I suggested we check out Von Mauer in Lindale Mall.  We hit the jackpot.  She found her red dress!  In true Bailey fashion, she matched her dress with some red Converse shoes.  Classy with a little fun.

The magic fingers of Julie Lensing styled Bailey's hair for the big day.  The weather was a little cool, but comfortable enough to get some pictures on the UNI campus and Hearst Center for the Arts flower garden.  We had so much fun!

Bailey danced the night away and when she arrived home, she was on a high from how much fun she had.  What a great way to cap off a pretty successful 9th grade year!

 

Ariana Grande Concert

A Night To Remember--Part II

Flashback to March 16, 2017
For my Sweet 16 gift to Bailey, I took her to see one of her favorite people in concert, Ariana Grande, or as she likes to call her...QUEEENNN!  When I found out Ariana was performing in Minneapolis and it was the same week we both were on Spring Break, I felt the stars were definitely aligning for us.  How lucky were we that just 2 days earlier we would be at the Panic at the Disco concert in Des Moines?!?  Following the P!ATD concert, I kept telling Bailey that Ariana's concert had a lot to live up to.  But she definitely delivered.  The energy from this concert definitely matched P!ATD's 2 nights earlier. 

Before the concert we stopped at our favorite place in Minneapolis to visit, Mall of America.  While at MOA, we got to see Little Mix perform a couple songs just hours before they would open for Ariana.  The energy from this short concert built us up to the big event just a couple hours later.  The entire day was pretty surreal.  Bailey has loved Ari since her Nickelodean days on Victorious.  To see how much joy she had the entire day made my heart so happy.

One of the highlights from the concert was during the performance of 'Greedy'.  At one point in the song, a confetti cannon shot out dollar bills.  One came floating down to Bailey and when she grabbed it, we saw that it had Ariana's face on it.  Bailey put her "stamp of approval" on the bill with a kiss and this bill is now framed and sits by her bed as a wonderful reminder of such a special concert.  Ariana's encore to 'Dangerous Woman' capped off the concert perfectly.  Bailey's Queen had delivered.

The Bicycle Song

 

Greedy

The Encore--Dangerous Woman

(Listen for Bailey's QUEENNN at the end)

Panic At The Disco Concert

A Night To Remember Forever

Flashback to March 14, 2017
For Bailey's 16th birthday, her Aunt Hope gave her tickets to see Panic at the Disco at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.  She surprised Bailey early with this gift while we were at Cedar Creek Retreat House in Winterset, IA.  Hope had told me about the tickets in advance.  I knew Bailey would love them, but I had no idea how overwhelmed she would be when she received the tickets.  We all cried (we're Seegers women, it's what we do).  Bailey and I had listened to P!ATD's CD, Death of a Bachelor, many times in the weeks leading up to the concert.  To put it simply, the concert was EPIC!  From the opening act of Saint Motel to the encore, it was the best concert I've ever been to.  The energy throughout P!ATD's concert was amazing!  One of my favorite songs on the CD is Halleluia and I loved the performance of that song, but the most moving parts of the concert for me were the sets for This is Gospel and Girls, Girls, Boys.  You got to see all sides of Brendan Urie throughout this concert and I have to admit that I am now a fan of P!ATD.  Bailey and I have shared so many special times together, but this was truly one I will always remember.  Fortunately Bailey captured a couple video clips from the concert on her phone so we can relive these moments.

Opening The Show

This Is Gospel

Bohemian Raphsody

The Year Was 2016

Another year has come and gone and once again Bailey and I have been blessed in 2016.  One of the best blessings was moving to a duplex in Cedar Falls in July.  I now enjoy a 5 minute commute to UNI and Bailey has adjusted well to her new school, Peet Junior High.  I'm in my 4th year as an Academic Advisor at UNI and Bailey is a freshman in high school. 

Just a couple other memories from 2016 are:

We walked in our 11th March for Babies fundraiser, raising money and awareness for premature babies.  Hope and Graham walked halfway with us.

Bailey and I had fun cheering on the Panthers this year.  Tailgating with family for the UNI/Iowa State football game in Ames was a great time.  A Panther win capped off a fun day together.

One of the highlights for 2016 was Bailey's Confirmation.  A blog on this special day can be found here.

We look forward to more blessings in 2017.