Isaac's Graduation Party

Lots of people = lots of fun.


Wow has time flown! I'm sorry it took me, (AnaLise,) so long to get this post out, especially sense the open house was in June!!! This is a picture acount of Isaac's graduation party of which many of you helped take part in. We had beautiful weather, a good turn out, didn't even come close to running out of food, plenty of helpers, and plenty of fun. Thanks to all those who made this a memorable experience.

Adorable Drew.

Jamming away.

Yum Yum!

It was a warm day so the water ballons really came in handy, (unfortunately for Isaac!)

Taking with friends.

Below are some of the various activitys we had.

Play set.

Chess; thanks to Mr. Pullman Lucas's chess teacher.

Bocce Ball.

Ladderball. (Isn't she cute!)

Water balloons; complete with a water balloon launcher!

Volleyball!

Ultimate Fribee and Football.

Catch and throw, (aka; Nucume.)

Mrs. Ender graciously arranged gorgeous bouquets of flowers for us. What a blessing!

Isaac's Graduation

Isaac graduated on May 30th 2009 from a home school organization called T.E. A.C.H.

Isaac with diploma in hand. Congrats! You made it to the finish line with honors!

Isaac delivering his brief "acceptance" speech. He couldn't resist an opportunity for a little dry humor.The graduates sang a few songs together with harmony parts.

The T.E.A.C.H. Superintendant, Mr. Newhouse, conducted the graduate choir.

Isaac played his bass as the Alzen Family performed a song at the graduation.

We sang "On the Sea of Life"

Denise with her harmonica.

A wonderful graduating class with some very impressive graduates!

Milwaukee Music Trip

This summer we had a concert trip for Millwakee, Michigan, Green bay, and Illinois, so we made it into a 'vacation' by going to Six Flags theme park in Illinois and to a Brewers vs. Twins game at the Millwakee Brewers stadium. Here are some pictures from our trip.

Riding the log flume.

Riding one of Six Flags' many wild roller coasters.

Eating breakfast before six flags.

Twins-Brewers Game in Milwaukee

While on our music tour in easter Wisconsin, we took in a Twins-Brewers game in Milwaukee. It was a beautiful day, and we had a great time. The Twins won!

Standing inside the beautiful Miller Park in Milwaukee. Lucas is the only Brewers fan amongst us!

Check it out!!!

The Brewers have an awesome stadium, especially compared to the Metrodome but soon that will be different.

Brotherly conflict. (Notice the different shirts.)

Here we are at the Brewers vs. Twins game.

Beaver Lake Camp, Ontario Canada

On July 31, we drove up to International Falls, MN, where we spent the night at a very nice family-owned motel. The next day, we crossed the border into Canada - the first time in Canada for the Alzen children. Hard to believe they had been in England, Ireland, Sweden and Kazakhstan, but not Canada! After crossing the border, we continued driving three hours north through beautiful scenery until we arrived in Dryden, Ontario. A few more miles north from Dryden we arrived at Beaver Lake Camp. This is a camp run by Mennonites as a ministry to the First Nations People of Canada. We were invited to come to the camp to share our music with a family camp consisting primarily of Ojibway and Cree tribes. We had a delightful time, in spite of the cold, rainy weather on Friday and Saturday. Following are some more pictures during the camp. Lucas loved interacting with the Oji-Cree of the First Nations peoples

It was a joy to meet so many First Nations people that love Jesus and came to the camp with their families. There is a wonderful passage in Revelation that came to Brad during the Family Camp. It talks about how there will be someone from every tribe, tongue and nation in heaven. Here it is: (Revelations 5:8-14) Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:


"You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood. Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures , and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand , and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to recieve power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

And every creature which is in heaven and on earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne forever and ever!"

Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

-Revelations 5:8-14

Singing praises to the Lord. Wonderful music!

On left: Albert, Mathilda and family. Many families came great distances, some even used sea planes.

Lucas making friends.

Smile!

People gathering in the tent despite the mud and rain.

Lucas managing the CD table.

Alzen girls in the dining hall with Mathilda.

At the entrace to the camp.

Silver Dollar City Youth Bluegrass Contest

Here we are at the Silver Dollar City Youth Bluegrass Contest in May 2008. We had so much fun meeting several like-minded musical families in Branson. We met family bands from North Dakota, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, New Mexico, Arkansas, Ohio, & Tennessee. The quality of the family bands was excellent, and we were so impressed with the skill level of so many kids there. We didn't win the contest, but we had a wonderful time. We were amazed with the large crowd in the opera hall to watch the show!

Silver Dollar City quickly became our favorite amusement park. The staff are modestly dressed in pioneer-day clothing, the buildings are also cleverly themed like the "old days", and the park is built in the Branson mountains with lots of trees. There are artisons making their crafts all around the park, and music is everywhere! We were there during the Bluegrass & Barbeque festival, so you can imagine how much we liked that. The shows are all included in the admission fee, and we got to see some of our favorite bands.

Tessa, Denise, and Isaac seemed to really enjoy this "giant swing" ride (it was a HUGE and really wild). However, the lady next to Isaac looks like she is about to lose her lunch!

This ride, called Wildfire, was decided that it was the funnest, of them all. We had a blast riding this crazy, looping, spining, jet speed roller-coaster ride. All but dad, that is :)

Just prior to Branson, we spent a couple of days with the Bontrager Family in Kalona, Iowa. They farm there and travel with their music in their "spare" time. We had a wonderful time with them. Pictured with AnaLise and Tessa are their eldest daughters Alison and Chelsey.

After Branson, we had a couple of days alone as a family to enjoy a cabin the Smokey Mountains south of Gatlinburg, TN. We had an awesome view from our cabin! Brad got really sick, but that didn't diminish the restful time there.