Jill's Journal: 'If You're Happy and You Know It ...'

Like many of you, I’m typically not overly excited when my alarm sounds off on a Monday morning. It signals the end of the weekend I so look forward to and the start of another week of work that I wish hadn’t arrived so quickly.

I’m guessing that’s just human nature.

This week, however, my Monday morning was a bit different. I was literally wide awake when the alarm summoned me out of my sleep and quickly found myself ready to tackle the day head on.

Perhaps it was a sign of what was to come.

Perhaps my ‘top o’ the morning’ inspiration came from the kids across the street waiting at the designated bus stop. With the late summer temperatures ideal for the windows being wide open, I couldn’t help but smile as I heard one of the youngsters singing loud and proud. I took notice of him as darted out of the daycare center and ran full-steam ahead to the group of kids waiting for the big orange school bus to roll down the street.

Immediately, this kid began singing an all too familiar jingle, “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”

And immediately, I found myself humming along.

It was clear that he knew every verse of the song and the accompanying actions.

He clapped his hands.

He stomped his feet. 

And so on and so on.

Although the youngster may have started out as a solo act, it wasn’t long before he had all of the other kiddos waiting for the bus singing along with him, clapping their hands and stomping their feet and so and so on.

If I’m honest, I much prefer the mini-morning concert than the shrill of screams I typically hear from across the street as the kids chase each other in their early-morning sessions of tag.

With September hanging on tight to these much welcome late-summer temperatures, it’s my hope that this wasn’t the first – and only – bus stop concert from the kids that I’ll be hearing from across the street. It was a sweet way to the start of what is a typically long work day for this ol’ gal. And a reminder that “If you’re happy and you know it,” then “your face should surely show it.”

Clap your hands.

Stomp your feet. 

nd so on and so on.

Marching Lynx step off season with big success

The Marchng Lynx “roared loud and proud” at two competitions over the weekend, the Prairie Colors Marching Festival and the Eastview Marching Competition.

At Prairie Colors, the Brandon Valley band captured first place and earned caption awards for best winds, percussion and drum majors.

The Marching Lynx were awarded second place and earned caption awards for best percussion and drum majors.

“The weekend went about as well as we could have expected,” said director Tyler Nettestad. “The weather was perfect, we had big crowds to cheer us on, and we performed exceptionally well at both competitions. Our show ‘Jackpot!’ was a bit hit with both the audience and judges. These kids are having so much fun with the show, and we are excited to keep working on it to make it even better for next weekend at the Pursuit of Excellence in Marshall, Minn.”

If you haven’t seen and heard this show, Lynx fans, you’re missing out. But have no fear, the band performs during half-tme of home football games and will host the Big Sioux Review on Sept. 24, when they will perform in exhibition.