Clara

Hey Kids it's Dad, and today I want to talk about something really special that happened at Clara's graduation. I went there expecting to be a teary eyed mess watching my daughter cross the stage. I was certainly a teary-eyed mess, but not for that reason. Sometimes it's the unexpected things that catch you off-guard. This unexpected tender moment happened when Clara's elementary school friend Richard took the stage to get his certificate. You see Richard has special needs and is been in a wheelchair all his life. Clara and Richard have been good friends since fourth grade. Clara would sit next to him at lunch and went over all just be his friend. Clara has always had a warm spot in her heart for Richard. Kids we all have mountains to climb. But we need to give it our all. Richard gave everything he had to get where he is today. We all need to use Richard as our example. We all need to be a lot more like Richard!

Hey Kids, it’s Dad and today is Clara Eleanor Clifford’s High School Graduation day. What a joy to be able to attend and watch her shine. Today is all about you and your magnificent achievements. You are graduating #3 in your class. You make your mom and I so proud! You are such a light to the world and everyone who meets you – knows exactly why. Keep Shining bright Clara!

Hey Kids it’s Dad and today I want to talk to you about an amazing experience I had over the weekend. This weekend I had the opportunity to accompany Clara to a vocal scholarship audition at Carroll University. We got the opportunity to drive to Milwaukee and to just spend some good one-on-one time with each other.

Ok kids, for today’s TommyLog I want to first congratulate Clara on getting her first job. How exciting is that?!?! I could nto be more proud of her and her accomplishments. I actually am very proud of all my kids and everything they have accomplished.

Yesterday I found out that Clara was accepted and is being inducted into the Little Chute chapter of the National Honor Society. How great is that?! So for today’s TommyLog I talk about that.

So for today’s TommyLog, I want to take a few moments to talk about the dance dad routine for the season ending Little chute high school dance show off. Boy I sure am sore, but what a great way to tribute our daughters. I’m so proud of Clara and everything she has accomplished! She is truly amazing!

Hey Kids, last weekend was a once in a lifetime opportunity to sneak off to Orlando for a day to surprise Clara at her Little Chute High School Dance team as they perform at nationals. This video is a compilation of all my little snippets from the trip. WOW what a trip it was.

Clara and the whole Little Chute High school dance team head to Orlando today to participate in national Dance Championships this weekend. I could not be more proud of her and her accomplishments! last night I also had the chance to be a part of the Prospera Credit union annual meeting and one of the high lights is recognizing an employee for outstanding community service. Bob Dorn was the one to win the award and i could not be happier. What a great guy and thanks for serving others!

Today is a daddy at home day. Taking care of emma and drew then going to Clara’s school to see her get awarded the Kiwanis citizenship award for Little Chute Elementary. Makes me so proud of her. What a great kid as are all the clifford shorties. Sorry, goofed up on the title of this video…

Today Tommy went on a daddy daughter date with Clara. We went to Blue Berry Hill restaurant of Friday morning tweet up fame. Clara and I had a blast and its always as we eat breakfast and talked about things that Clara liked. Clara even took her hand and using the flip… Don’t quit your day job Clara.

As luck would have it, Tommytrc is out of state and we are having a blizzard in NE Wisconsin. Clara is Mrs Claus in the Little Chute Christmas Play and I MUST be home for that. Can’t miss it…

It’s parent teacher conference time for Tommy and Clara. Jody and I always go to conferences together so we can better understand exactly how the kiddies are doing. Well and per usual, the both got glowing reviews. Not so when i was their age. I’m sure Tom & Sharon hated having to sit with my teachers and hear how terrible I was. Mrs. Messner, Mr. Nagle & Mr Domm all had a hit and had it out for Tommy. I was a great kid, too bad, no one knew it :)~

You did it, You did it, YOU DID IT!! What an amazing accomplishment! You did IT!! To think here is little Clara in end of 6th grade, coming to mom and dad asking if she could join the dance team. “The dance team we thought?” You hadn’t taken any dance in your life. You didn’t’ even know any dance moves…at all. But you had a plan. You knew the extra time it would take; you knew you would need to study extra hard and at different times to make room for practice. You knew it would cost money and had a plan to pay for uniforms, costumes and competitions. Your practiced and practiced and practiced and as a member of Chuting Stars you rocked it. You couldn’t even do the splits or kick above your shoulder level, but look at you now? You rocked all the competitions and then JAM… you were the best in the state!

This weekend was just so AWESOME! Clara in the Little Chute High School dance team participated in the state dance championship which was held in La Crosse Wisconsin. What an amazing sight to behold to watch one of your children participate in such an event. This is a pretty big deal!

I know my first Tommylog of 2013 is LONG overdue. What an amazing weekend I had. Clara’s Kick and Pom team win 1st place in the state wide JAM Tournament in Sheboygan. What a proud dads moment to see your little girl, dance her heard out and really do amazing. Today is also the national holiday of Dr. Martin Luther King as well as the inauguration of President Obama. Such a great day for all America regardless of how you voted, the process works and for one day we can be thankful!

Emma and dad take time to cheer on Clara at her Hortonville dance competition. GO CLARA!! We Love You!

Today I want to talk about Clara and her willingness to stand up for the little guy at school, even if it’s not the “cool” thing to do. Clara has a tendency to gravitate towards the people who are siting by themselves at the lunch table or alone in class. She has many friends at school with disabilities. She has won a few community service awards for her thoughtfulness. What a true hero in my mind and an example for all.