A Week In Pictures

Snow Day!

Mary Kate's orchestra concert.

Many times in public school they will play a lot of "winter" songs or secular Christmas songs.  This night we heard songs like O Come, O Come Emmanuel,  Angels We Have Heard On High, O Come, All Ye Faithful, and Joy To The World!  Loved that!

Saturday we went on our annual Christmas Tree Hunt.  The weather outside was frightful!
However, Bill insisted we risk our lives and head to the mountains to keep up with our tradition.

It was FA-Reezing.

Here's proof.

Then it was back to the house to decorate and watch a classic.

Maybe not the best night to stay up late.  Billy and Mary Kate had to serve the 7:30 mass Sunday morning.  We are strictly 12 noon mass goers.  This early time was hard, my friends.  Digging out of the snow did not make it any easier.  (on Bill, that is)
Speaking of Bill....

A perfect weekend I did not want to see end.

How was yours?

Cute Babies Alert

I was supposed to meet my newest nephew today.

Traffic accidents and the weather stopped us from getting to his baptism on time.  We had driven about forty miles of the sixty mile ride and had to turn around. We were all so disappointed.

The kids were disappointed because four hours in the car with nothing to show for it really wasn't fun; and I was disappointed because I haven't met Andrew yet and this is the only picture I have of him and well... just look at him and his mohawk.

Andrew William

And if that isn't cute enough, remember my twin nephews I blogged about back in September?

They went from looking like this....

To this.....

And if that doesn't get you smiling on a Monday morning, nothing will.

Out Of The Mouth Of.....

 First up-Matthew:

Me:  Matt, what should we get your teacher for Christmas?

Matt: Ummm, something teachery.

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Matt: When is it going to be Monday Black?
 (when I asked what he meant, he was thinking of black Friday and got mixed up a bit )
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Next up-Billy:

Billy ( typical 13 year old with complete annoyance in his voice ):  It's not fair that everyone in my class watches shows like NCIS and I'm not even allowed to watch the DISNEY channel.

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During a conversation about the need to wash his hands with soap and water and not just hand sanitizer.

Me:  It kills way more germs than sanitizer.  Why are you arguing me about this?

Billy:  Because you are factually incorrect.

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Next up-Ann:

Me:  You're my Honey Bunch.

Ann: You're my Mommy Bunch.

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On a different note, all of the kids did their lists for Santa.

Can you guess which two are the girls'?

They would be the pretty decorated ones.

 Ann's list says iPad, American Girl doll car, Goosebumps book series, Vera Bradley in Indigo Pop, and a Clarinet.

Mary's list says violin, Vera Bradley lunch box in Lime's Up, iPad or iPhone, or iPod, Divergent Book series, pajamas and slippers, craft stuff, hair stuff, and a "please surprise me."

Tommy--Razor Dirt Rocket, Star Wars Legos, Avengers video game, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Hard Luck.

Matt--(forgot to take a picture of his )  Star War Legos,  Bad guy Legos, chainsaw, bullhorn, and Flippy's hat.

Billy--Lebron 7 or 11's basketball sneakers (customized ), Xbox 1 (optional --maybe for the whole family), and Madden 25.

Yes, you read that right.  Billy made a list for Vader.
He wants Scooby Doo Movies, a new collar (possibly a different color), toys, and Just For Men Dogs anti-Gray.

Santa has his work cut out for him.

Thanksgiving Recap And A Song

Oh, the laziness of the person NOT hosting on Thanksgiving.

That would be us. 

We had the gift of showing up at my brother Jim and sister in law Kathy's house.

My brother Bob, my Dad, and brother Jim.

My sister in law Linda, and nieces Maddie, Bridget, and Kathleen

My sister in law Kathy and niece Eileen

My brother John and Ann

My nephew Jimmy, Bob, Uncle Art, John, and niece Moira

Bill and me :)

My sister's family and my other nephew were busy with their other families.  We missed them greatly!

 Here is a picture of all the cousins who were there. 

Something special happened at the end of the night.  My brother Jim is quite the singer and guitarist.  For years we've asked him to play at our family gatherings, but we could never convince him.  Well, on this night he did!  It was so awesome.

  I will leave it here with a video of him singing Bruce Springsteen's If I Should Fall Behind. 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Milkshake Hugs

I used to cut up his food in very small pieces. 

I kept him in his stroller for years, seat-belted in, so he wouldn't wander away from me.

Don't let him near the dock of the bay!  He might fall straight to the bottom and drown!!

He was 10 years old before he was allowed to ride his bike in the street.

He had to be 12 years old and 80 lbs before he could ride in the front seat of my car.

The control freak momma in me was able to do all these things to keep my first born safe. 

Tonight, after basketball tryouts, Billy got in the car and told me he didn't make the team.  Tears welled up in his eyes.  Then tears welled up in my eyes.  I asked a couple of questions and then the rest of the ride was quiet, except for our sniffling.

I couldn't protect him from the disappointment.  It felt terrible.

And so it begins.  The journey to adulthood.  Being there but letting go.  Learning when to speak and when to stay quiet.  Knowing when to offer a hug and when to back off. 

Billy has never been one for showing affection.  Tonight was no different.  All I wanted to do was grab him and hug him.  He definitely did not want that.

So I made him a milkshake instead.

Whatever it takes to let him know I love him.