Missing link...

Amy VG provided a missing link to the hairstyle path over the past 40 years. This is Brent's hotshot id from 2004. It would fit in between the shiny & shaved look & the current (thankfully different) hairstyle.

Amy says this is called a "reverse head" & if you put the chin hair on his head, it would be quite the afro! I'm sure Brent's goal with this look was intimidation. He wanted to scare the fires out. You're a much friendlier guy than this look projected Brenter!!
Thanks for the pic Amy. I've got some cute little Brentie pictures to wrap up the tribute. I'll post them as soon as I get the scanner humming again :)

Brent - A look back...at his hair!

Here's a quick look back at the many phases and styles of Brent's hair over the past 40 years :)

As a blond...he's 4 in the picture:

Much darker & puffier...upper elementary school/jr. high

Zipper-headed...high school senior picture:

Flat-topped...early college fad:

Flat-top grown out a bit so it's more square...college with friend "Butler".

Side part...post college & probably while living in Colorado even though this picture is in Mom's old farmhouse kitchen (and with Ryan & Barney).

Shiny & shaved look...roughly 4 years after the previous photo since he's driving Ryan to KC after Ryan spent a week harvesting with Gpa.

Hair again - thankfully Amy convinced him to not shave it anymore! Photo at the rehearsal for their wedding in 2006.

I hope you enjoyed the look back via hairstyles :) Happy 40 years Brenter!

More photos from the past to come....

Thanks Brent!

Thanks for 40 yrs of fun with family Brenter! You were always the fun one in the family - always kept us laughing :)

Hanging out in AZ with Mom & Dad:

Taking us all for a mountain bike ride in CO:

Hunting with Art:

Hanging out with the nieces & nephews:

A visit from Uncle Brent was always exciting:

Especially when there was a new baby to see: (I think this is Trey)

We more serious types (aka as me) always appreciated having a fun, funny, adventurous little brother to keep things lively. And as we all get older, nothing adds more spice to life than a visit from Brent, Amy, & Zella!

Happy Birthday Brent & Derek!

Happy Birthday to Brent & Derek. It's the big 4-0 for Brent & #28 for Derek. They are both June 20th at 12 years apart.

I thought I'd post a little look back on this big occasion for Brent. Here are the boys showing off their fancy birthday cakes on birthdays #16 & #4:

Since I have Mom's old pictures and the scanner humming this morning...I've decided to do a little 40 year tribute for Brenter. Stay posted daily for a new flash from the past :)

Ryan's Tournament Weekend

Ryan had a big weekend in Nevada, MO at a baseball tournament over the weekend. His team played 2 games on Saturday & 3 games on Sunday. They played awful on Saturday & I never guessed they'd make it to the championship game on Sunday - but they did. They lost by 1 run and got 2nd place. Here's a photo of the team & their 2nd place trophies:


Ryan is front row, 2nd from the right. He wasn't too happy with 2nd place but everyone else is managing a smile. The team got 2nd place in their last tournament too. At least they give trophies to both teams who make it to the championship game.

The boys had a fun weekend in Nevada since they had a town festival going on & dirt track car races on Saturday night. Mom & Dad came down for the games so I had fun hanging out with them. Megan got on the bus to church camp in Colorado Springs on Sunday. She'll be back on Saturday.

Last Day of School

We have finished yet another year of school. Megan is on to being a Sophomore & Ryan finished elementary school. I feel like I've graduated elementary school since they kids have been there since 1999.

Here's Megan with her friends after their last final exam. I dropped them off at Lauren's house (no I haven't redecorated, this is not my house) and got this quick photo. The girls are Megan (of course), Jessica, Lauren, Abbie, & Kayla. Ryan's photos are in reverse order - sorry! This was a full class photo at the final day picnic. The 6th graders lead the "walkout" and then came to the park by the school for food & frolic. Ryan is on the far right side in the yellow shirt. There were 72 kids in his class but I'm not sure they are all in this photo.

The final day includes an awards assembly. Here's Ryan and his buddies showing off their President's achievement awards for academics. There is a silver level for a 3.5 GPA and a gold level for a 4.0. It's over their 4th, 5th, & 6th grade years. Ryan got a gold award and we are very proud of him. Megan got a gold award when she finished 6th grade too & had warned Ryan not to break the "Donnelly kid" streak. Hmm.... Ryan's friends to the right are Joe, Dalton, Matthew, & Luke. Pete is on his left.

This is the video of the actual walk-out. It's a privilege for the 6th grade to lead it and they walk around & gather all kids behind them. Ryan is at the front so feel free to stop watching after he passes (10 second mark or so). His teacher is in the white shirt a little after Ryan. You'll hear me say "Yeah teachers." But they didn't hear me. Ryan really loved Mr. C & will miss him.

It was hard for me not to cry while watching Ryan walk out of elementary school. I'm ready to move on but scentimental for all the years I picked him up from school. He'll now ride the bus to & from school. It's for the best cause as a teen-to-be, he won't run to my car anymore & talk my ear off all the way home anyway :)

Ryan's 6th Grade Graduation

Ryan's 6th Grade Graduation was last night. It's not formal but the kids do dress up. Here's Ryan looking dapper before we left for the school.

The ceremony is very short and, if you blink, you'd literally miss your kids turn to be recognized. They ran through all 72 kids quickly and then showed a video that lasted about an hour. There was cake afterwards and then it was done. It's nice to recognize the kids moving from elementary to Jr. High.

We've been in elementary school since Megan started in 1999 - ten years. We are all ready to move on to Jr & Sr. High School. Although, Ryan said he'll miss Mr. Cusumano (his 6th grade teacher). He's the one announcing names in this video clip. He's one of the many great teacher Ryan (and Megan) had at this school.

We can look back at our years at Oak Park with satisfaction and fond memories!