Coming Soon To A Curb Near You...

The famous Bishop Carroll trash bags!
They are bright yellow, and Val is selling them starting tomorrow......

Each class is competing in the sale, so she wants to sell a bunch.

They will dress up your trash cart too. Think of the neighbor envy.

Little Miss Smarty-Pants

Val got her 1st week and a half grades, and she has done very well.

Old Testament- not entered
PE-100%
Study Skills-100%
English-111%
Algebra 1A-98%
Spanish 1-87%
Physics-89%

Baby's 1st Breathalyzer

You know, when you start a family, and buy the memory books, and fill out every single line, with pictures, and mementos, and write about her first hair cut, solid food, every single detail.
This Friday night is Val's 1st breathalyzer. She gets to go to her 1st high school dance. It is a back to school dance, in the school commons area, after a scrimmage, and she and her friends are super excited!
Well, we went on bcchs.org, like we do each day, to see what is going on at school, and we got the rules of the dance. Like dress code and stuff and it said that a breathalyzer would be there before students would be admitted they would have to submit to the test.
Baby is growing up.... just don't put her in the corner. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHEEHEEHEEHEE!!!!

Kentucky Fried Connor

Poor Connor! He has the chicken pox. He started to show the spots on Friday. A couple of weeks ago he had the vaccine, but, he is one of the rare cases that actually came down with the pox.
First, I tried to tell him he was turning into a chicken, and he needed to start saying BAWK, BAWK.
That put him out a bit.
Then, he told me I sounded funny, so I told him he looked funny, and he said that wasn't twooo.(true).
But, seriously, it is too bad. Emi had the vaccine last November, I hope she doesn't get them!!!! I doubt she will.
I hope I don't get them more! I had a very light case as a child. Like, 11 total spots.
Hope he feels up to snuff soon. He starts school a week from Wednesday!!!! Mrs. Simons class.

On Strike

The girls were hungry. It was lunchtime. They wanted McDonald's. We said gross. So, they did what made Mark proud, and went on strike.
Emily made a picket sign,and attached it to a stick and they walked around the driveway. Mostly laughing.
It was cute.
Management caved to their demands.
Crises averted.
They will report to school tomorrow.

Re: You Know That One Movie...The One With The Guy....

This is the beginning of a blog my brother did on kwch.com. It was all about him and Michael Schwanke driving to Wichita late one night and trying to come up with bad movies that they enjoy wathcing.
Made me think.
I love a bad movie. Those cornball movies from the 80's that were so self absorbed.
My favorite from that timeframe was MIDNIGHT MADNESS. It was also Michael J Fox's film debut. I also remember MANNEQUIN, PRETTY IN PINK, all the JAWS sequels-although I do try not to watch underwater movies, since I can't swim, they make me feel like I can't breathe.
Mark and I were talking about it, as we had just finished watching CON-AIR. Now that is corny!
It is not just limited to movies either, I think. I have never missed a season of BIG BROTHER, THE MOLE, or THE NEW GILLIGAN'S ISLAND. My new TV obsession is IRON CHEF AMERICA, and while it is a little hokey, I don't think it is full out corny, but I am still waiting to see if there is an episode about corn.
I also love sitcoms. My days off always start watching Diffrent Strokes, or Kate & Allie. And sometimes on Sunday evenings, there are a few episodes of Newhart on one of our Nickelodeons. I like the one in Vermont where they run the inn, not the one where he lives in the city as a doctor.
Yesterday, we watched THE CROSSING GUARD, which was definitely a serious movie, and TWENTY BUCKS, which I believe would fall in the corny category.
Anyways, my point is, I love a corny movie. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING is my fave of all time. I could watch it over and over, and any movie with a Christmas theme. I have a collection of about 20 or so, and am always looking to expand. Especially those that are made for ABC Family channel.
I don't know if it means I lead a simple life, or what, but I have always enjoyed TV and movies that have no educational content whatsoever. They are an escape. MELROSE PLACE and BEVERLY HILLS 90210. They are pure enjoyment. You have to take it at face value. Mark loves the History Channel, I know Danelle is shocked by this piece of news, but I would rather not watch anything, than have to sit through that.
After all, I am already educated. I did go to Bishop Carroll after all. Right Tim?????

Not for the faint of heart....

Wrinkles killed this bird. I know it is gross, but it is a fact of life. A nasty fact, yes.
I figured that if noone else appreciated this pic, Landon would so I decided to post it.
Who knew Wrinkles was such a killer.

Did You Think I Was Done....

....with first day of school blogs? I did Val. I did Emily's. That one was also mine. Who is left?
MARK!!!!!!
Mark started classes at the NAJATC today. He will go every other Wednesday for the next 4-ish years. These are his books for Year 1 which will be over in May. It is a total of 19 books. He will get the same next year, and then about double that the next 2 years, each. All the books together are about 10000 pages!!!!
Starting tomorrow, I guess Val,Emi, and Mark will all be around the table together doing their homework, reading, studying, and sharing supplies, not highlighters though, unless they need a pink one. Mark's teacher said not to bring pink highlighters to class because that is gay. He got blue,yellow, and orange. I will keep the pink one.
The girls are one up on Mark though. He only has to go once every 2 weeks now, but he will have to go to "summer school" too, since classes don't stop, so I am sure they will rub that in!!!

E For Emily, E For Exemplary

Each year the Diocese gives all the school children a test of their knowledge of religion, and what they have learned.
At the beginning of the next school year, they find out how they did the year before. So Emily found out today that she had an Exemplary score on her test she did in 6th grade.
She was so excited! I have no idea how Val did. I guess they will send us her results.
On another note, like a treble clef, her new teacher is named Emily Anne Baldridge, which is her married name, her maiden name is Young. Freaky, huh? Emily and Emily.

We're Back In It

School. Volleyball starts this week for Emily. Cross Country starts today for Val. Homework. Friends. Pack Lunches. Busy,busy,busy.....

This Little Piggy....

was nearly severed in a horrifying accident at Target. Well, I got Target right. It was not nearly severed, but is badly bruised and swollen, and the accident was not so much horrifying as uncomfortable, but you get the idea.
Poor Gram, she wrote a blow by blow about the incident on her blog, so you can check that out, but I took the pic, so I wanted to be sure it was memorialized for all to see. Aren't I sweet that way????

Since We Last Caught Up....

Val got her schedule taken care of. It is good because now she is in all freshman level classes, but now she does not have the Physics teacher she really liked-Mr Hill, and she has Mrs Meeker, who noone seems to like, and who assigned homework on the first day.
Now, she takes:Old Testament. If only she had an uncle or someone who knew a lot about the Old Testament, then she could ask for help. That is her 1st hour.
2nd hour is PE- she has this with Jessi from her SMM class
3rd hour is Algebra 1A- she has this with Jessica from her volleyball team
4th hour is Study Skill- she has this with Adrian from SMM, and she goes to lunch halfway in the middle of this class, then goes back. It is nice, because it is broken up this way.
5th hour is Spanish 1 also with Adrian. It's a good thing they are friends!
6th hour is Physics. This is with the bad teacher, and she has not technically gone to this hour yet, so she doesn't know if she knows anyone in there.
7th hour is English 1- again, she spent last 7th hour with the counselor, so she may or may not know kids.
Even if she doesn't know anyone, she will be friends with everyone by the end of the first week. She is gifted that way.

Emi is excited about her 1st day on Monday. She has never had a nun for a teacher so they are all a little nervous about that, but she will be fine.
It is funny, that this is the first year that either of the girls have ever had a nun for a teacher,and Emi beat Val, because she won't have one until 2nd Semester.
Mr Jones will be Emi's homeroom, so I am sure she will be very good at TurboTwist, Kickball, and YouTube by the end of the year!

I keep prodding the bear...

...but he won't take the bait. What is going on Tim? I tease you about your tickets. Nothing! I tease you about the vandalism. Nothing! I tease you about a green and gold Christmas. Nothing, again!
Have you grown complacent, or are your eyes so bad now that you can't read anything until you have your Lasik?????

PS-You know I love you!

Fresh-Frogger

OK, you are probably sick of hearing about Val's 1st day, but this is the last one, I swear!
Fr Jerrod, told the kids in his speech today that the most important thing they should remember about the school is that.....they should not just stand in the middle of the hallways. They need to stay to the sides, so people can get through.
He told them to think of it as a game of Fresh-Frogger. Get it?
I always liked him, he's funny like me. Went to school with him, but he was in my bro's class.

Anyway, I am planning a blog about Emi for Monday, her first day. She is still around, just hasn't been up to much lately...I have not forgotten her though. It seems to always go this way, one kid has a bunch going on, then the other....

Funny Story

OK, stop here and read the next blog 719 to go first...


Are you done?

Here goes....
My cousin Allie graduated last year from BC. She was in all the religious clubs-like the God Squad. Val may join, depends on her schedule.
Anyway, some of the kids and Fr Jerrod, took a bus to Washington DC for the March for Life.
The whole way there, he made the kids keep chanting his cell number in case they got lost or hurt, so then as their group was walking through the crowds, all the kids were yelling-CALL FR JERROD 304-****.Except, they said the numbers too. Danelle told me I shouldn't post the whole number because strangers may see it and call. Good idea! I hadn't thought of that!!!!
Val has respectfully requested that noone use this phone number in any jokes, or tomfoolery, as it may come back to haunt her. He did tell them they could use it if they needed an emergency confession, so if you are in need of that, I guess you could call, but it may be awkward.

Anyways, I just thought it was a funny story.

719 to go....

That is how many days left Val has in high school.
Fr. Jerrod had a Mass for the class this morning, and then at the end of the day gave them an inspirational talk, and told all of them how many days left they had.He also gave the kids his cell number, and invited them to call him at any time for any reason that they may ever need him.
He told them that BC is their home and family. I thought it was very sweet.

Val got to stay in the same classes, but 3 of them are at different times, so now she has a couple of teachers that she did not get a chance to meet and greet.

Other highlights:
Cute boys
English homework- can you believe it?
A bird got into the school while they were in the auditorium.



BC football field was vandalized last night. The press box glass was broken and dry wall was destroyed, along with an outlet and some sport equipment. Do you think someone from Newton did it? Tim, do you have a vendetta??????
I kid!

Val's 1st Day...

Today is Val's first day of High School. She goes to an all class Mass, then about 15 minutes in each class. She still has not got her schedule worked out, so she will have to go to the Counselor Office during her 7th hour, to see if it is done yet. If it is not, we will stay until it is.
Last night was the mandatory sport meeting, we did not get home until like 9:30. Mark was feeling a little overwhelmed, but I think he will be fine, once he gets into the swing of things. Cross Country practice starts at 7:00 Monday morning.
No school tomorrow, but I will post more about her day later.

Shocking

When Val got her schedule of classes last week, she had to go on a list, because there was a mistake made on it. She was placed in a Sophomore year class.
The shock is that Catholics made the mistake.
Val is supposed to take 2 semesters of religion each year, and in 2nd semester she was placed in Liturgy, but in 1st semester, she was put into Morality, when she should be in Old Testament.
I am hoping her new schedule comes tomorrow, since she has to be there on Thursday, if not, she will have to report to the office, for the change. If it is not in the mail, I think I will call tomorrow and see what's what.
Catholics make mistakes? Whatever!

Everything Ends and Everything Begins.....

Today is Val's last day to run with her running club the Pavement Pounders. She had an excellent time with them over the summer, and I hope she gets to run with them next year too! She will start running with BC on Monday.
Emily had her last morning dance class last week, she will finish her summer session with evening classes every Tuesday until September, when she will start her Junior Jazz classes.
Mark will start school next Wednesday, he will go every other Wednesday all year long for 4 years, except he will always get a break in the month of August.
Tomorrow is the last pool party of the summer. The girls had a really good time at these, and Emi has made a new "best" friend in Tarah, and Diem for the school year.
My cousin Aaron is moving in with my mom and dad. He is one of the Kingman Red Heads, and he is going to go to a tech school that is out of East High.
Val has her first 1/2 day on Thursday, and goes back Monday, which is also my and Emi's first day. Friday is a Holy Day, which means No School for us.
On Friday, August 29 is Val's first official Friday Night Sport. It is a fall sport scrimmage, and then she will have her first dance right afterward.
See, it's all new stuff to get used to now....

NBC Tournament

Mark, Val and Emily went to the NBC tournament today, because it sounded like fun.
Here are their top 3 faves.
Val-1.Emi kicked the Minute Maid 2. there is a hole in an a 3. watching the games.
Emi-1.drunk on salt. 2.when it rained 3. watching the games
Daddy 1. just going.

There were other things they said that they thought were funny, but they did not want these things memorialized forever in Blogland, so maybe what they did allow written will remind them of a fun day they got to spend together.

RACE CORRECTION!!!!!!

We have just received the results from the race director and Valleri was 3RD in her age group (14-15yr).

Clearwater Summer Scorcher

Today was the Summer Scorcher Race in Clearwater. It was no scorcher, that's for sure! It drizzled at the beginning of the race, and was a total downpour by the time Val crossed the finish line. This was a 5k, and she completed it in the rain, in just over 28 minutes, finishing 5th in her age division.
I stayed in the car, with Emily, who slept the entire time. She did not want to get up this morning! She did wake up, but it was because the rain was pounding on the roof of the car, so that is where we stayed. We could hear the announcer though, and I saw Val cross the 1 3/4 mile marker.
Mark stayed out for most of the race. He woke up in the night with a terrible pain in his eye, but you know him, he refused to go to the Dr or emergency room, he just wants to wait it out. I think he probably scratched it in his sleep, since there is nothing in there, but we are keeping an eye on it. HAHA! Keeping an eye on his eye. Get it? Do you people get my jokes????!!!!!!

Popcorn anyone?

These are called Popcorn Shirts. Gram-Cracker found them in the hospital gift shop and got these for the girls.
I remember these about 8-10 years ago. In fact, Val had one way back then, but at that time, I don't think she even had to stretch it at all, she was so small.
These are neat shirts. The kids can put them on,and when they take them off, the shirts go back to the small size.
Last night, Gram picked the girls up and took them for a Sonic treat and gave them the shirts. They had a really good time with her!

I think Tim WILL wear the green and gold....

I'm just saying, Christmas is coming, and I know you would hate to disappoint your niece.....It's on!

Dance

Emily went to her Jazz B Training dance class today, like she does every Thursday morning this summer. But today, she got very exciting news.
Raeann, who owns the studio, has been watching Emily's class all summer, she said she has been hoping to have a Jazz B class next year. The order is Beginner Jazz, Jazz, Jazz A, Jazz B, Junior Jazz, then Senior Jazz. She has been in a Jazz A/ B class since last year, kind of on the cusp of both.
She has decided that Emily, 2 other girls from her class, and some girls from the other class, are all good enough to skip Jazz B and go to Junior Jazz. She will have to go to 2 classes a week in the school year, one is for her recital dance, and the other will be for technique. She is so excited! Of course, we are going to do everything we can to let her have this opportunity. It may not seem like a big deal, but it is. I didn't think she would be in Junior Jazz until she was a freshman and sophomore.
Now, she is dancing with the "big dogs". HAHAHAHA!!!!!

Val's New Digs

This is Val at her new locker. I have said before that she is really lucky to have a full size locker, and I do believe she is. She has seen all of her other friends (except Jordan) who are all in short lockers, and she knows she has got it made.
This is a pic that her dear old dad took of her. We went to the school so that she could show him where all her classes are located.

She'll have the time of her life

Today was Val's high school registration.
We started at 7 this morning. I thought this would be good, because it opened at 730, so if we arrived at 7, we should get a good place in line. HA!
We were maybe 150 people back.
When we finally made it inside, it was a 1 1/2 hour wait to the first station. I stupidly bought a shelf system that was very heavy while we waited, so we had to lug those around too.
The book line was next. We had an excellent place in that line, but weren't moving. Come to find out the computer system went down. We waited.
Finally, we got to the locker. Val is extremely lucky. She got a locker that goes from floor to ceiling, not like top or bottom. It is because her name is at the end of the alphabet, and that is where the big lockers are.
She decked it out with a mirror, dry erase board, sticky notes, magnets, oh she put her books in there too.
Once she was confident with the locker, she walked her schedule a few times, to get a feeling for where her classes are. Then, she showed some of her friends where their classes were too. She could get a part time job as a BCCHS tour guide.
Finally we left, after helping Karlee and another boy, Jeremy, (I'm told he is cute by the way) figure out how to open their lockers too.
Then, I saw my sister, when I went to pick up Emily and Lauren at my mom's. We had stopped on our way over to pick them up, and bought an English/Spanish dictionary and some more magnets.
Anyway, Suzy wanted to see the school and Val was willing to go back and put the other stuff in her locker, so we went back, so she could see how it has changed.
Val is going to resist the urge to go this evening before running. I think she would go back if I would take her though!
Oh, I forgot, we also had to have her fingerprint scanned, because that is how her lunch account is handled. Out there, if you don't have money on your account you don't eat. I think it is a shame, but I understand too. At SMM we feed them even if they don't have money, and then send home a notice, but noone goes hungry on my watch.
Val was made for high school, and seeing her run around today just confirmed that for me. SHe is growing up, and it is a good thing!

KOOSH

I was cleaning out my dresser yesterday, and back in the farthest corner, was a Disneyworld bag. I had forgotten all about it, so was curious as to what was inside.
This is Lays the Koosh. Insert joke of choice here.

When we went to Disneyworld last summer, some of us drove and the rest flew. My mom, dad, brother, and all of this family drove. We got to Arkansas and decided to stop for lunch. My dad's favorite restaurant of all time is Cracker Barrel, and they are easy enough to find so we stopped for lunch.
Anyone who has ever been to Cracker Barrel knows that there is a huge store attached to the restaurnat that you can walk through before or after eating.
We had given the girls money for spending on anything they wanted, and Emily saw this koosh, and she fell in love with it, so she bought it.
Well, we get back into the van, and are preparing for an 18 hours left drive, and my brother Marc, asks Emily if she is going to name her koosh ball.
She looks at it, and looks at him, and says she is going to name it Lays.( As in chips you perverts!). Well, he almost peed his pants laughing so hard, and she said what's wrong with Lays the Koosh, don't you like Lays the Koosh, etc. etc.
On and on, for hours!
I think she caught on that it was something perverted, but I can't be sure, because she never admitted it.
Anyway, this is Lays the Koosh. It needs minor surgery,as it was punctured all that time ago, but I will find some glue or something and see what I can do.
If you are ever eating at Cracker Barrel and find another one, pick it up for me, would you?
I am keeping the original, but would love to give one to my brother!