This week we celebrated Nursing Home Week and we kicked off the festivities on our back patio with a visit from the reptiles of Monty’s Traveling Reptile Show. Students from Ava Maria Academy stopped by to join in the fun as we learned about (and pet!) turtles, tortoises, lizards, snakes and even an alligator! After a refreshing lunch was enjoyed and mail was delivered, we opened up our dining room for a Ladies Tea Party. Since Mother’s Day was yesterday, we invited our female residents’ daughters and granddaughters for some yummy cheesecake and champagne to celebrate; it was wonderful to see all the gals enjoying one another’s company! The afternoon weather was so beautiful, sunny and warm that it practically begged us to come back out to the patio to play Twister Toss outside. We had a blast tossing beanbags on each color that we spun for and we even played the last round with our feet as well as our hands! Jeff Halverson and Ivan Mason tied for fourth place, Alice Brantner and Dennis Schuh tied for third place, and Kevin Bauer came in second place. Shirley Klinski was the first-place winner! We followed up the game with some supper and then Monday night Bingo with volunteers Teresa Fedie and Kathy Luebker. Thank you to both ladies for all their superb help with set up, clean up and prize passing! 

It was back to normal operations Tuesday morning with Catholic mass after breakfast and we welcomed it immensely! It is so peaceful to begin the day with a little prayer and reflection. Once lunch was finished and mail was passed out, it was time to head to the back patio for a spring concert put on by the students of the Ava Maria Academy. Residents were delighted with each group of students as they sang and played instruments for the happy audience! We went back inside for afternoon church with Barb Werlein Ministry from Durand Methodist Church. After church and supper it was time for an evening of games with Aaliyah!

Wacky Wednesday was the theme for midweek and staff (and residents!) got in on the fun of dressing up in wacky hats and costumes for the day! After breakfast, Rachel and Wanda from PC Plants came to plant pretty begonias with the residents so they would have some lovely little flowers to adorn their windowsills. The rest of our day was filled with lunch, mail and then Fruit Bingo in the afternoon! Wanda Ebensperger came back to the care center to help us with bingo set up, clean up and passing fruit and candy prizes; this week, our blackout winner was Virginia Fritz! The wackiness continued at our Wacky Watermelon Social where we feasted on refreshing chunks of watermelon…but with a twist! 

Thursday was Sports Day and staff donned their favorite team’s apparel; there might have been a friendly rivalry going on between our Packers and Vikings fans! Marlene Zimmer stopped by to share the local news and a cup of coffee with us; we always enjoy having our dedicated volunteers swing by to keep us updated on the happenings on the community. We had a harp player visit us during lunchtime to fill the dining room with lovely music as we enjoyed the midday meal. Then we headed to the backyard patio for a friendly game of Football Toss where residents tried their luck at tossing football beanbags to score the most points and cheering each other on! Virginia Fritz, Alice Brantner and Kevin Bauer came in fourth place, Goldie Helwig was the third-place winner and Ivan Mason came in second place! Linda Tollefson was the first- place winner! The clouds rolled in so we headed inside to cuddle the precious puppies who came for a visit and then after supper it was Pokeno with Aaliyah!

Even though it was the coldest day of the week, Friday was Beach Day! We cranked up the Beach Boy tunes in the morning and we had a rip-roaring time with Beach Ball Toss. As we gathered everyone in a circle and let loose two beach balls in the middle, we kicked, tossed and volleyed the balls back and forth, all while laughing until we cried! It was so much fun! After lunch was over, we decorated the dining room for our luau Happy Hour. Ron Pronchnski provided the accordion and tunes as we sang along to polka favorites; there may have even been one or two couples out on the dance floor! The fun didn’t stop there, as after supper we enjoyed Friday night Movie Night with the film “Heaven.” Stop by sometime to see us; we would love to say hello to you!