A special date with moms and dads

BREAKFAST WITH THE BUNNY: Amelia, 2, and Floyd Absher, 11 months, get the best seat at Stone Oak Country Club's Easter breakfast as they snuggle up to the Easter Bunny himself. The children are visiting their grandparents, Lanny and Mary Ann Laritz.

Hires / Blade

Special moments, special memories. In this fast-paced world, with endless activities for children and parents who are busy at work, it's nice to take time out. Father and daughters and mothers and sons gathered this year for special time with each other.

DOUBLE THE FUN: Brock Rimmelin, center, has a double date with daughters Dodie, left, and Mikey Rimmelin, right, escorting them to St. Ursula's Date with Dad.

THE RED carpet was rolled out March 6th for fathers and daughters of St. Ursula Academy for the 29th annual St. Ursula Father-Daughter Dance. This year's date with dad, titled PAPPArazzi, followed a Hollywood theme as closely as any script. At the entrance where a limousine was parked, paparazzi - aka St. John's students - flashed cameras and vied for autographs before "Joan Rivers" - aka Amy Brodbeck - took every opportunity to get interviews.

Inside, giant silver and gold film reels, stars, balloons, celluloid film, and cameras were the props used to set the scene, which included sunglasses for party favors. A tasty dinner was topped off with a sundae bar.

Dancing and competitions for each class made the evening whirl by. Each senior and her date - dad, grandfather, uncle, or friend - was introduced and presented with a fluffy red boa. Everyone received a T-shirt as a memento.

Event chairman Boo Hensien was assisted by co-chairman Teri Giacci and a host of mothers on the committee, who stayed behind the scenes.

MOM'S PROM DATE: Becky Jarosz and son Brooks are a picture-perfect couple at the Mom Prom for St. John's Jesuit High School at SeaGate Centre.

ST. JOHN'S Jesuit High School's 16th Annual Mom Prom was Feb. 27 at SeaGate Centre to accommodate the crowd of about 800. Professional "prom pictures with mom," an old VW bus, a vintage "retro room" - complete with shag carpeting and "flower-power" cut-outs for photo opportunities - hurtled guests back in time for this year's RetroBlast.

The girls were soooo cute and on their best behavior. Dinner, where everyone displayed their best manners, was followed by dancing. The girls also made bracelets with help from the dads.

Hosts were Tom and Gretchen Downs, Matt and Sandy Kelly, Joe and Rachelle Young, Terry and Susan Gerken, Bob and Mary Ann Michel, and Brett and Mary Zimmerman.

As is traditional, the seniors' moms gathered to sing and dance a tribute - perhaps to embarrass them one last time - to their sons. But it was all in good fun as the moms sang their version of "Swingtown" by the Steve Miller Band.

DADDY'S LITTLE GIRLS: Bob Michel, center, divides his attentions with daughters McKenzie, 6, left, and her sister, Allie, 4, for the Belmont Country Club's dads and daughters event.

Individual classes all had a chance to strut on the dance floor, then everyone joined in as they grooved to the tunes of Up Town Sound of Defiance.

Co-chairmen Cathy Schoen and Tina Martisihius were assisted by Skip Sobczak and Kathleen Sorg and a host of mothers.

THE Father Daughter Snow Princess Ball Feb. 10 at Belmont Country Club was a winter wonderland with snowflakes and sparkles that glistened in the eyes of girls. It was also a great chance for proud fathers and grandfathers to have their special ladies - all dressed up for the evening - all to themselves for two hours.

LADYFIELD School's father-daughter dance Feb. 5 at the school was an evening for grades K-8. Many fathers took their daughters, all dressed up for the occasion, out to dinner beforehand. That is, after they gave their sweethearts corsages to wear.

DADDY'S SWEETHEART: Paul Favorite and daughter Taylor find their evening together is their heart's desire at Ladyfield School's Valentines Day dance.

Once they arrived at the dance, it was a girl's dream with red roses, hearts, balloons, finger foods, and punch served from a silver fountain. "Prom pictures" were flashed for memory books.

Everyone was having so much fun they extended the DJ "The Class Act" for another half hour.

Seen were Jay Conway and his daughter Morgan, 9; Roger Kerner and his daughter Kylie, 6; Kevin O'Shea and his daughter Mackenzie, 8; Frank Stobinski and his daughters Katie,14, and Kristen, 9; and Bill Sturt and his daughters Alyeska, 11, and Sierra, 8.

Chairmen Sheila Conway was assisted by Marie Kerner, Sheryl O'Shea, and a host of other volunteers.

ST. FRANCIS de Sales mother-son dance Mom's Knight Out was a rocking good time, with nearly 500 mothers and sons Feb. 13 in the school gymnasium. This year the theme was Queen for a Knight, and since it was so close to Valentine's Day, decorations were red, pink, and white with hearts, balloons, and crowns.

Proud mothers and sons posed for pictures that were later framed. Pizza and a salad bar sated appetites, and dancing was continuous throughout the evening. Senior boys serenaded their moms with a special song. One mom, Kathy Rennels, designed a T-shirt that proved a popular keepsake. The event was sponsored by the mothers club, the Chappuis Society, with Cathy Dudley as chairman.

Concert-auction for Toledo Animal Shelter and Nature's Nursery Center. 7:30 p.m. April 1, Maumee Indoor Theatre.

BREAKFAST WITH THE BUNNY: Amelia, 2, and Floyd Absher, 11 months, get the best seat at Stone Oak Country Club's Easter breakfast as they snuggle up to the Easter Bunny himself. The children are visiting their grandparents, Lanny and Mary Ann Laritz.