Another Pre-Blog Happening

Stephen just started his freshman year at Bishop Kelley High School. I'm not really sure how that happened....it doesn't seem like we've had him around long enough for him to be a high schooler! But, rather than wax nostalgic, I'll have a little laugh at his expense! There is a tradition at St Pius X school that the 8th graders participate in. The annual Shakespeare in the Park plays! The kids really did do a great job memorizing their lines and projecting their voices over the occasional overhead plane or loud truck going up the road. But, because they were all 13 and 14 year olds, they were self-conscious and embarrassed. Sounds like a good time to break out the camera!!

Maggie's First Communion

Maggie with a few of her friends before mass.



Here is Maggie with Mrs Presley before the mass.

Also titled: Something That Happened Before the Blog

While I wait for my missing camera part to be replaced, I thought I'd document some things that went on before the blog.

Last spring, Maggie and the rest of her second grade class made their first holy communion. This was an event they prepared for all year. They learned about the physical and spiritual aspects of communion; what it looks and tastes like, how it is made and the consecration of the host and wine into the true body and blood of Jesus. On the day of their special sacrament, the boys dressed in suits complete with jackets and ties, which led Dominic to be heard saying several times throughout the day, "I'm not wearing that next year." or "You might think I'm doing that, but I'm not." Well, we'll see about that! Anyway, the girls looked beautiful in their white dresses and veils. I think they really enjoyed the day. They were solemn and respectful, a tribute to Mrs Presley and Mrs Schultz and their dedication to these kids and their faith.

Good Boy!

It is sad that we live far from most of our family and many of our friends. The kids are missing out on one of Mike's and my favorite memories from youth: sleepovers at the grandparents house. They are missing out on playing with cousins, having a personal cheering section at sporting events, frequent visits from aunts and uncles, having an audience just for them at dance recitals and those full-house family birthday parties. There are some folks who theorize that we have so many kids to rectify some of those situations. That may be true...we can fill a row at sporting events and our family fills up the table when we gather around to celebrate a birthday. It just isn't the same, though. Because we are so far away, we have had few visitors to our fair city and new house. The grandparents have been here, of course, but the rest of the family and very few friends have made it down. I want to put up a couple of pictures of the house eventually, but the main thing you are missing out on (besides our company, obviously!) is our most recent addition to the family: JONESY!! He is a Border Collie and if you have ever researched dogs and Border Collies in particular, you would find that Jonesy looks and behaves quite characteristically of his breed. He is, and I quote my children and many of their friends, "The best dog....EVER!". We love him, even though he sheds terrifically. He is smart and quick to learn a trick. I believe he thinks doing tricks is his "job", and he is quite eager to please. I don't know if a dog can ever get too much attention, but this dog certainly gets his share. He even seems to enjoy Mary's ever growing desire to put clothes (especially sweaters) on him. So, I'll post a picture of Jonesy. If you ever come for a visit, he may growl at you and act menacing in his attempt to be our family's brave protector, but once you hand him a puppy treat, he'll be your best bud and you, too, will then have met the best dog....EVER!

Dem Bones

When you have six kids, trips to the emergency room may seem commonplace. But really, we hadn't been to the er any more frequently than the average family. That is, until last summer. I was feeling pretty smug. My kids were pretty healthy. No broken bones. Must be a good, no, great mom. Then, out of the blue, God decided to bring me down to earth, so to speak. I should know better than to feel smug. I always end up having to eat my words. So, last summer Maggie broke her arm at DANCE CAMP! Really, should ballerinas be doing things that cause broken bones? Then Dominic broke his elbow at the CHURCH PICNIC! Really, should young boys be doing things at a church picnics that cause broken body parts? Well, last week, Clare decided to even the score to three out of six. Yep, she broke her arm. Here at home, safely away from dance camps and church picnics. Right up in the game room. Did she fall off her bike? No. Fall down the stairs? No. Take a terrible tumble? Nope. She was doing a HANDSTAND! She "fell funny" and her head hit her arm and that was that. Luckily, she is doing well and her arm is starting to feel better. The pretty purple cast should help perk her up. It looks pretty now, but I'm sure once her friends at school get ahold of it, it'll look even better with all of their signatures on it! So, this reminds me of a saying. Always speak sweetly because you never know when you may have to eat your words!

In the Zone

This is my attempt at a blog. I really hesitated to create one simply because I like to read my friend's blogs and they are always so cute and creative. I'm really not up to competing with them! But, I have always been the worst at letter writing and picture sending and I really want to improve. Grandparents demand it! Our technologically rich society has made it pretty simple, even for someone like me, to communicate with friends and family far and near. And you aren't here to judge, right!? You just want to hear what's going on and see a picture or two of the kids. So, check in every now and then and see what's happenin' in the no bologna zone!!

Why the no bologna zone, you ask? Well, I was trying to come up with a name for the blog and Clare was sitting beside me listening to my lame attempts at cute and clever. She rolled her eyes a few times, then said "It ought to be something about bologna.". You know how sometimes you get stuck on a word or phrase? Well, lately I have been telling the kids to "knock off that bologna" or to "quit it with that bologna" and begging them to "please not treat each other like that bologna" and saying simply "no more bologna". It appears they have been snickering about it behind my back a little. Ahem. Now they're REALLY gonna hear it! So, the no bologna zone it is, though I am wondering if I should have spelled it "baloney".