Homecoming Week Day 2

Would You Still Be My Friend, If I Dressed Like.....
Otherwise known as Wacky/Tacky Day. The kids were challenged to find the ugliest clothes they could. Val was able to borrow 4 t shirts from some friends, so that she and her friends could dress like they went to Kapaun. The ugliest thing they could find! Actually, quite a few kids will probably wear Kapaun shirts. I think the hair and dork socks complete her outfit nicely.

Homecoming Week Day 1

Today was Pajama Day at Bishop Carroll. They have things planned for everyday this week, leading up to the Homecoming Game on Friday night, against East.
Val said there were a lot of kids who wore their pj's to school. I tried to get her to wear her glasses, and no make up, but there was no way, she was going to go that natural. She really doesn't get up looking like this. There is some maintenance required.
Tomorrow is Would You Still Be My Friend, Even If I Wore This day. She has something quite special planned. Tim, for one, will get a big kick out of it, I am sure. Stay tuned, for a complete update.

The Thrill Of Victory....

...And, the agony of defeat today. They finally won! The Tigers won against St Mary's Derby, but lost to St Anne's. It was a very close game though. Emi had a great run. She had the most serves over of anyone on the court. She had saves and played awesome! She is the team's rock!!!!! I am so proud of her, and all of them!!!!!!!

So close!!!!!

Volleyball.
We almost got there.
We went to tie break in both games tonight, and lost the 2nd game to Blessed Sacrament by just 2 points.
Heartbreak!!!!
They really played well. Like a team. Of course, Emi was most entertaining. She slides and glides, and at one point hit the floor with her face! We weren't sure for a minute, but she was A-OK and went on to finish the games.
I hope they can pull it together on Saturday!

It's A Small World....

..SO, Emily and I were at her Jazz class on Monday. You know, her teacher is moving to Hawaii, in October, so they are having to find someone to take over the class.
I was sitting there for the better part of the hour watching this new teacher, thinking she looked familiar, but not really believing it, because Raeann pretty much hires exclusively from Derby High students, since that is mostly who goes to her studio.
Emi was wearing her Bishop Carroll basketball shirt, and first, she was in the group that goes and practices leaps, with her teacher that is moving, since her class has SO many kids in it, like 20, they split into groups for some training.
Anyways, she came back in, to do her spins, and her teacher was like, HEY,DO YOU GO TO BC? and Emi told her her sister did, and she said she did too, just graduated.
Well, so then,I think I must have seen her at sport events last year, but, after Emi and I left, we pieced it together. She is sisters with our old PE teacher, Jessica.
She left last year, when she had a baby, but while she was at SMM, she had her sister come and teach some dance lessons, and now she has winded up at the same studio, and as Emi's teacher too.
Maybe I will see Jessica at football to tell her. If not, we are going to tell her teacher on Monday. She can't go tonight because of volleyball.
I just think it is interesting, how so many times, paths cross, and you see or meet people that you have connections like that through...

I Know If You Keep Up With My Blog...

...then you must know me very well, so this should come as no surprise.
Val got a different homecoming dress. It didn't start out that way. She got a lovely dress this summer, that was on clearance, and it is beautiful, so I bought it. Knowing that she would someday wear it. I still believe she will. Sometime. Just not the week after next.
We went to the mall for the finishing touches of her homecoming outfit. We went to Dillard's, and there it was. The most gorgeous dress Val had ever seen. Her eyes lit up when she saw it. I told her to try it on, for fun. She looked like a princess. So, she got it. I know, I know, but a young lady can never have too many party dresses. I am going to wait to put a pic of it here, until the dance. She also got all her accessories, after many calls to her friend Kaitlyn to compare what she was getting at Town West, while we were at Town East. I think she has it covered. Her grandma is going to do her nails that day for her, and I am taking her for a hair appt.
Not to be outdone, Emi got to go to Aeropostale, her fave store, and pick out a sweater and a couple of tank tops. She is adorable, and I will take her pic when she wears her new clothes.
Other highlights of the weekend, include:
BC beat South on Friday. Jake got hurt, but his dad, Andy said he would be ok.
You know, how you want to say one thing, but say something else? It happens to me a lot. Here is the latest example. Lauren and Emi wanted to play in the field next to the bleachers with Shanae, so I told them to come to the bleachers when the bell rang. I meant to say when the buzzer went off, but it just didn't come out that way.
Mark just shook his head, as Carol laughed, and laughed.
Emily learned the cutest dance combination in dance class last week. Ask her when you see her. Maybe she will give you a little of it. She is a little sad, because her teacher is moving to Hawaii next month. She'll get a new one though.
Family bbq was small but fun. Willy and Carla are so sweet to have us out each year! Allysa's pix are so adorable! I can't wait for the invite to go and visit, so we can see her, and cuddle her, and kiss her and hug her.
We watched MADE OF HONOR yesterday and MARTIAN CHILD. Both were very good. I liked MARTIAN CHILD more, but I also really like John Cusack. I am going to watch FINDING AMANDA today.
I need to get the girl's breakfast ready, so they can start homework now.

It's Like Christmas Came Early

I lost my voice. Like, completely. I have even made it worse, because I have tried to talk all day. Now, all I can do is whisper.
Val and Emily love it. They say it is great. Do you feel sorry for me yet?
Mark likes it too. I think people think I talk too much. I don't know. I probably do. It was awfully quiet at school today.
I hope they enjoy it while it lasts, because I will have a lot to say, when I am able to again!
Tarah Todd, thought it was a shame I lost my voice though. She said my laugh gives her energy.
And Brian Nguyen, he is a 4th grader, asked me what we were serving at lunch, I whispered Weiner Wraps. He asked me why I was keeping it on the down-low. I told him I lost my voice, then asked if he felt sorry for me. He said Not Really.
SAD!!!!

Happy Birthday Tim!!!

Today, my oldest nephew is 17! I can't find my picture I was saving of him to put with this blog, but maybe Mark can later. He is the one who cleaned out all my files last weekend.
Tim is 17. Do I feel old? No. I remember sitting at the hospital waiting for him to be born. He was a c-section baby. So cute!
He used to love Lion King. Now he is into drawing, computer games, he has an architect class, and his teacher thinks he is good enough to get into a summer internship job, he can recommend him for.
I remember when I was on bed rest, waiting for Val. I would spend my days at my mom's cause Mark worked in Wichita, so I would come to town with him. Tim used to bring my Chee-tos and a Pepper Dr. He got his words mixed up. Well, he drank most and ate most of the snack, but he was only 2. He would also crawl into the bed with me and watch WINGS. The best show ever.
He was at SMM from pre'k to 8th grade year. I think he was the 1st 3rd generation graduate of the school. Now he is at Derby High. He really likes it there. He has made a lot of friends, and is doing pretty well at school too. It just seems I never see him now though.
He'll always be Timon to me though. That is what I called him when he was small. Like the animal on the Lion King.
Maybe I'll get him a bag of Cheetos today!
Love you Tim!!

Fat Factory

OK, you all know of Mark Vasquez, I think, but in case you don't, I will give you a little about him.
Mark is Shanae's dad, who is in Emi's class, and also was the person who got Val really interested in running. He was her distance coach in track, and her cross country coach, and also was in charge of the Pavement Pounders this summer.

Now, the story,
Val has been losing weight. Like a lot, for her.
Her jean shorts just won't stay up anymore without a belt, and I have talked to Carol and Mark V. about it. Carol said it was maybe because of everything being new, and racing around all the time, but Mark has a different theory.
He said it is lunch.
He believes we are running a fat factory at school. We don't really. We are responsible to report to the state, a certain amount of all the food groups, calories, but school lunch is heavy on carbs.
I guess that is the reason.
I just wanted to remember Fat Factory.
I think it is funny. I think Mark is funny, and he's a good guy too!
Maybe I should try to find Val some suspenders. That's a fashion statement!!!!

Val Got Inked

This is what a real tattoo should look like. OK, Tim? I will get you one!

Homecoming

She got the dress.
She got the shoes.
She got the guy.
This is Hunter. Val's boyfriend. Really! He asked her to go out with him over the weekend, and last night invited her to Homecoming Dance.
We had already bought the dress and ordered the shoes, before the invitation, because it is a perfect dress for her. We couldn't pass it up.
I have been told by no less than 6 girls that he is hot. I think he is a nice kid. We spent a lot of yesterday together.
Val was dreading Chuck E Cheese for Connor's birthday, because she wouldn't have anyone to hang with, and was joking around about it, and he offered to go. This is when they liked each other but were not saying yet. You know, Friday.
So, I made arrangements on Saturday to pick him up,and take him with us. I met his mom, she seems sweet. We chit chatted on the way to the pizza place. It was just Val, Emi and I because Mark had to work yesterday.
He was a good sport, never been there before, but they had fun hanging out. He is from St Francis Parish.
Next, we had cake and presents, then I took them to the mall, because Val wanted him to meet Julie Nguyen, who was shopping for a dress for Kapaun's Homecoming, which she is going to with Jack, from the 8th grade boys basketball team last year.
Anyway, then I took him home, we went home to get ready for the game. I took Val, Emi, and Lauren to pick Hunter up again ( or gather him, as it were-get it? Hunter,Gatherer??? ) and Mark rode with his friend Sam and his son Cole.
I guess he was nervous to meet Mark, but you know Mark is a softie at heart, and didn't torture him too much, so they scooted off, and sometime during the game, he asked her to Homecoming, which is October 4, and the same day she has a hair appointment with Sarah for a cut, so that was really good planning!!!!
So, that is my story, and I am sticking to it.

Where A Kid Can Be A Kid

Connor is 5 today!
We are going to celebrate at Chuck E Cheese. I would say restaurant, but really, is it?
Connor loves Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Wall-E, sprinkle tookies (cookies, but he cannot pronounce starting with c's), cartoons, and pirates.Each day that I see him, he runs to get one of those packages of fruit gummy snacks, and we share it, but he usually takes the good flavors. Sometimes, he takes all of them.
Typical 5 year old. His best friend is his brother Noah, and Emily is 2nd place. He also loves Val. He likes to wrestle with Mark.
We got him an Indiana Jones whip for his birthday. Made of plastic and cloth. It's harmless, but does make noise, so Joe and Suzy may not think it is, after a few weeks, or days!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CON-MAN, AUNT MIMI LOVES YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Bubble Boy

This is Greg. He is in 8th grade. The middle school kids (6-8) take turns serving lunch at school. This is 8th grade week, and Greg's turn. For years now, he has been "amazing" us with his skills at blowing bubbles with the handsoap in the kitchen. He is really pretty good at it too.
He can also turn his eyelids inside out. But, that was too gross to take a picture of, so I just decided to keep it clean. Get it, soap. Soap is clean.....HAHAHAHA!!!!

Car Stuff

You know I hate car stuff. I will pump gas, but that is just about where my knowledge of maintenance begins and ends, so I don't like it when something goes wrong.
We need new tires. At least 2 of them, the front ones. There is the front passenger tire, that I have to air up all the time, because it has a slow leak.
Today, I am going to Shamrock Tires on my break, and they are going to change them for us. Mark called yesterday, and set it up,so I just have to go at 1:30, and they said last night, it should take 30 minutes.
I hope it does. It makes me nervous though! My friend Kristi Hallacy, had her tire changed at Wal Mart 2 weeks ago, and when they put the car on the lift, they forgot to engage the emergency brake, and the car fell off.
How does a car fall off?
They fixed it, but still.....

September

Everyone I know says December is busy. Or May. I think it is because of the holidays, or sports or ending school, but I think September is very busy.
First of all, school is in full swing, which means the sports teams (spectator and participated) are in game time, homework every night, we have 3 birthdays to celebrate each year, family bbq's, volunteering at parish,and on and on.
I don't know if September is busier than December or May. It could be that I don't think May is as busy, because I am looking at 12 weeks of vacation time, and in December everyone knows how much I love Christmas shopping, so I guess the hustle and bustle of that time of year, doesn't make everything feel as urgent as it does, as everything is starting over again this month.
One thing that starts over though, are my paychecks, which I get next week, and haven't gotten since May, so I am pretty happy about that!
And, it's not like I don't like September, it's just that every single day, we have something to do, somewhere.

CHRISTMAS UPDATE: I bought something last night for Christmas for the tallest person in Mark's family. That is my hint....

VOLLEYBALL UPDATE: Still no win. Emily got the most serves over the net of anyone else on her team though. She made some spectacular dives, and really saved some of the points. They did a good job. If you ever want to be entertained, more than seeing a serious game played, then this is the team for you! Love them though!!!!

Yesterday morning, I bent down to pick up my shoes, and hit my head on the seat of the chair, Emily was sitting on at the computer. It still hurts!! Dumb, huh????

Rain

I love the rain. I know that most people dread the weather we are having right now, but I think it is absolutely fantastic!!!!
You can go outside and not have to squint, to see, because the sun is too bright. I like sunshine too, but my favorite days are overcast. I heard we have at least 5 days of this weather coming to us, in a row. My friend Carol is depressed about this fact, but I love it, and she got a lot of sunny hot weather, the last few months, so I think it is fair,and not so bad, to have overcast and rainy.
Val is wanting to go to the BC freshman game today. It starts at 4:15 so I am going to call her after school, and see if she would rather not stay (yeah right), since it is so damp outside. She has had a touch of a cold, but is pretty well clear of it.
The thing is, we have to be all the way out to that side of town this evening because Emi has volleyball. Of course if she wants to come home, I will pick her up, but I doubt she will.
What was I talking about? Oh yeah, I love the rain.
I feel a little scattered today.

Here's To Shelbie!!!!!

Shelbie, you are my favorite soccer lovin',Emily best friendin', honey and peanut butter sandwich eatin', Club Penguin playin',choir singin', math understanin', cutest, most charming, hilarious, creative,loving, caring, number one niece. Seriously! You are and will always be my very favorite niece!!!!
I love you!
Auntie Cheese-ilicious

Living Life

I know I have not posted in a few days, but there has not been a lot going on. We are falling into the school pattern. Just living life.
Mark has homework every night, it seems. He is working hard, and it is paying off. He is top of his class in the ranking. Val is fully into being a high school student. When she is not doing homework she is staying after with her friends, going to the freshman and jv level games, because they play in the evenings. She is going to one tomorrow before volleyball.
Emi has been practicing volleyball or playing games, every day. She is trying to take it easy on her arm though. She has pulled a tendon and is wearing a brace. Getting ready for another game tomorrow.
Me? Still cooking, driving, helping with homework, and cheering them on.

If Mark can get away from being line judge, he is going to video some volleyball. I will post it, if he can.

Mark posted the video....

...before I could write about the games.
The girls played great. They were up against St Mary's Newton and Holy Savior. They lost both matches, but did win one game against Holy Savior, and only lost the tie breaker by 2 points. The smallest margin possible in volleyball.
Emily is playing on an 11 person 8th grade level team. There are 4 total from her class that are "playing up", so they basically skipped the whole 7th grade season.
The diocese requested that all 8th grade level players serve overhand, which our team is doing, but some of the girls are not as comfortable doing this as others, which is where our game lacks. With time,though, that will come. The other teams we played allowed their girls to serve whichever way the wanted, so their serves were more consistent. Although, Allison, from our team, had a run of 7 in a row, and Emily had 3 runs, 2 of them of 4 and 1 of them of 3 in a row. She only did not make her first serve of the day over, and she was the only player on the team to play the entire 5 games they played. She never subbed out.
Now, so you don't think our coaches are mean, because they are not, they did ask the girls after their first match if they wanted to serve underhand, and all of them agreed they wanted to serve overhand. So, it was basically their choice, when they saw other teams doing it underhand, but the Tigers, decided to keep trying overhand. So, any parents reading this, it was the kids decision for the 2nd game.
They have 4 games this week. Monday, Thursday, and 2 on Saturday.

Get Your Game On

Future Eagle

Yesterday Was A Blur!

Do you ever have a day, where it is so packed that you can't even remember what you did?
I got up yesterday at 4:45 to help Mark study for his first tests. He got a 96% and 100% by the way. He also got his Journeyman Reports back, so all of that averaged together gave him a 99%, and the highest in the class.
Then I made lunches for him and Val. Got Emily up. Got Valleri up.
Took Val to school. Got Tarah. Took Emi and Tarah to school. Went to work. Went right to the grocery store. Took the groceries home. Put them away, checked the email, got in the car to pick up Val and deliver brownies to Karlee Fraizer.
Val and her friend Adrian wanted to go to the freshman football game. It is 3:30 and the game is at 5.
Went to volleball, to turn in some uniforms, went and picked up Adrian- do you really think I would tell them no- had to take Val home to get her ID card. Took them to the game. Froze.
At 6:45 the game was over, and Jessi was there, frozen with no ride. What am I to do?
I offered her a ride. Took her home, took Adrian home, went to the store for soup, because by that time, Mark was sick, Val was frozen, and Emily just loves soup. Got all of them their favorites.
Got home, noone wanted soup. Helped Emily with homework, Mark was consious for about 6 minutes, talked to him, fell asleep on the couch. I don't stay where sick people are!
Woke up now, and recorded it to read on a day that I am bored, and thinking there is never anything to do.
Have a great day!

The Verizon Glide

For her 8th grade promotion, Valleri wanted her phone upgraded. Unfortunately, her plan was not eligible until yesterday.
My mom and dad took her yesterday, and let her pick out a new phone and this is what she chose.
Apparently, she was already texting on it before they left the Verizon store.
She is very happy with it, and is going to take it to school tomorrow, to take some pix before and after of her friends, but has to leave it turned off inside her locker during school hours.
Anyway, it is a pretty cool phone. It has a touch pad screen, and a keyboard, because texting is way cooler than talking.

Food Fight

It is very important to play with your food!

On Saturday night, after church, we got home, and usually Mark has made dinner, but he was still rolling out the pizza dough, so we started helping him. I said, that I needed some flour, so he got it out for me, and threw it on my face. I returned the favor, and then, Emily got into it with us.
Flour was everywhere. Val was hiding, because she was wearing a new BCCHS t shirt that she got on Friday, and didn't want it to get dirty.
We will get her next time!