Skinny Jeans

Remember skinny jeans? Emily wears a size 00 regular, but the only size we could find was size 0, so she got those instead. She also found these awesome pink and blue shoes. I think I saw a tshirt with the same pattern at Gordman's. I will have to go look.
Val also got stuff, but I will save most of those pictures for homecoming week, which starts next Monday.

Sport Jersey Day

Last day of the week, and the kids got to wear sports jerseys. Emi really had a lot of fun today. The second pic is of Shanae, Emily, Tarah, Diem, and Nhan is standing behind them. He loves to have his picture taken so much! I have a hard time sometimes getting the kids to do it, but he has been willing all week to have his pic taken. Sweet boy! He is a good friend to Emi too. Gram took the picture of them when she went and ate lunch with her today. She always comes on chicken and noodle day. Later, Emily had basketball practice, and she also practiced in the driveway for a while for her free throw competition which is this Sunday.

Dress Like A Saint Day

or, the day to wear religious jewelry, which is what Emily chose to do. She is wearing a cross that Nancy and Gary gave me many years ago that they got on an Indian reservation in Albuquerque. It is made of blue turquoise on one side, and red on the other. The little girl is Maria. She was very proud of her t shirt, so I took her picture.

Golden Eagle Daughters

Such a good picture of Valleri! It was taken last night at the basketball tournament (we lost), at St. Jude's. Her Gram took the picture. I stole it off her blog. This pic reminds me so much, of how I see Valleri. Laughing, smiling, not too serious... beautiful, but doesn't really know it about herself.
If I could have another daughter, and pick who she would be, it would be America. She went to SMM, and was in my nephew Tim's class. She and I spent every morning and every afternoon together in latchkey for 6 years. I also was her lunch lady for 4 of those years. I became attatched to her. She is so bubbly. And sweet.
My favorite memories of her:
Santa Claus is coming to town
Look into my eyes
pop tarts
She and Val have the same lunch this semester, and she is so sweet to talk to her! I sent her a note not too long ago, when Val started dating Chris, and it said how much I miss her, and didn't she think that Val and Chris were so cute together? She did....
Love Her!

Silly Sock Day

Day 3 of Catholic School Week.Silly sock day. I took the picture of a bunch of the girls with their legs in the middle. Then, of course, Emily and Tarah, and the other is a picture of a brother and sister at school, Emily and Nicholas. I just think they are cute.

For The Love Of Pickles...

What did you do last night? I spent the majority of my late afternoon/evening in the ER at Wesley with Valleri.
About 4:00 we got to my mom's to pick up Emily after school, and Val went in to get some pickles (her favorite afternoon snack), and when she came out to the car, she slid, and fell, but kept sliding, and ended up almost under the car, which is what she did to her shin, she banged it on the under side of the van.
So, we took her home, iced it, elevated it, but she couldn't put any weight on it. It looked really gross, so I decided to take her in for an x-ray. We dropped Emi off, for basketball practice, then went in and waited.
And waited.
Got a room.
Waited.
Waited.
It took about 3 1/2 hours to be told that she bruised her tibia and there was really nothing that can be done, because the best thing for that is not to baby it, like crutches or anything, which is good, because she already did crutches this year, and it was a nightmare.
So, they slapped a bandaid on the cut, and away we went.
It looked way worse last night.

Dress In Sweats Day

Today, the kids got to wear their comfy sweats to school. It was Student Appreciation Day, so they got to eat donuts and drink juice this morning, then there was a talent show in the afternoon.
The kids had a lot of fun.

Yesterday was the first day of school during Catholic Schools Week. At St. Margaret Mary the kids get to do a fun activity each day, and yesterday was CRAZY HAT DAY. Most of the kids participated. Emily really wanted a Dr. Seuss hat, so I had to go out last week, and luckily found one at Party City.
She is with her friend Tarah in the picture. In the other one, their friend Nhan was so excited to get his picture taken with them. Emily kept moving though and hitting him in the face with her hat, that is why he is holding on to it. It wasn't heavy though, we stuffed it with Wal Mart sacks so it would stand up straight.
Tonight I will blog about what the kids got to do today. I just got home at like 10 pm from Emi's game last night, becuase the streets were so slick.
No snow day today :(

Champions!!!!

For one night! Emi's basketball team won! They beat All Saints 14-2. Emily had a foul, and made a bunch of assists. She and Shanae made some awesome baskets, but none of them counted, because once, Emily stepped out of bounds, and once Shanae shot and made the basket but it was after the play stopped.
Coach Eric was so proud!!!!

Ice Skating

Today, Val and Chris and Julie and Jack along with Emi and Diem went ice skating today. This is the 1st time Val and Chris went together. They seemed to have a lot of fun. Val came away with a pretty sore looking blister on her foot, but a band aid was enough to do the trick.
Emily absolutely loves to skate. She is so graceful, of course, thanks to her dance training. She wiped out a few times, but that is because she goes full boar in everything she does. She is like, so what, I just hit my face with the wall! She walked away from it though.
All in all, I think the kiddos had a good time, and I just cannot resist these pictures of Val and Chris! I think they are the most adorable couple ever! Inside and out!!!!!

Catholic School Week

Well, I promised you picture of the girls, and I always try to keep my promises!

This weekend is the beginning of Catholic School Week, and Fr Richard decided that the school children should do the liturgy for all masses this weekend. Emily did petitions and sang in the choir. Val was one of only a few high school kids who went today, but she sat in the front with the other children. There was apparently a mixup with the mass schedule tomorrow, so the high school kids parts were given to grade schoolers. Oh well, at least they were at church!

Anyways, all this week, Emily will be doing fun stuff, so I will update daily.

A Little Murder With Your Dinner????

Last night, I took Luke, Kaitlin, Jessica, and Chris, along with Val and Emily to see a play at BC. The high school kids went early, and also ate a dinner that was served by the cast, but Emi and I just went to the play.
Val said her server was a freshman named Gavin, and he requested their table. They had a lot of fun. Luke was a little depressed at first, because his girlfriend, Felicia, who played softball with Val on Red Lightening, was not going to be able to make it, but then, she showed up at the last minute, which really lifted his spirits.
The play was excellent. So funny! It was called MURDER MAKES THE HEADLINES, and it was written by Ms. Boudreau, who is the head of the drama department at school.
We drove all the kids together, and they seemed to enjoy the ride a lot. I got lost going to Chris and Luke's houses, but found them eventually, and got them there on time, and with about 10 minutes to spare.
Emi absolutely loved when we went to see WEST SIDE STORY, and she also really liked this one. Of course, we did not sit with the kids at the play, but Val did have Emily sit with them during the intermission, and I think she thought that was pretty cool!
On our way home, we had to make a donut stop for Emily, because she had a craving, and then got home pretty late. Emily even had to take a nap in the car because she had a basketball game this morning, which they lost 18-25 against Christ the King. They have one more game on Monday night, then they are going to start their tournament, so we will see how that goes.

Today is the beginning of Catholic School Week, and every day at SMM they have different activities, so I will post pics of Emi each day, like I did with Val for her homecoming week.
I know I did not have any pics of the girls from last night, because Val was the one taking pictures, but, come on, it's not like you haven't seen about a billion pictures of them all the time! I promise, I will post pics of them next time!

Val and Chris

OK, you guys have waited all week for this. Was it worth it?
Chris is aces. He is such an adorable guy. We have all met him,and all agree that he and Val are really sweet together.
They really enjoy spending time together. Today, they went to the mall and saw the MALL COP movie. I guess it was funny. They thought so.
Anyway, I was mostly excited to get a picture, so everyone has a face to put with the name.

I Think They Are All Vampires

Val had a great time last night, but no pictures. None of her friends wanted her to take them. I am going to require them next time. Haha! Maybe they don't show up on film.
Mark was pretty easy going with Chris. They talked about track and field and other stuff like that. He went to SEAS, so, since Mark doesn't know anyone from there, they kept it on sports, and treating his daughter right.
I think Chris got his seal of approval.
I think I will send a camera with Mark and Emily tonight. He is treating her to a WSU women's basketball game. Emi usually is sitting on the sidelines while Val is going out, so this is a nice treat for her. I know her time will come, and she knows it too, but it is hard to wait.
So, we are going to fit in as many basketball games as we can today. We are at least going to 8th grade boys and Emily's. Got to get ready!

Two Timer

Gotcha!
Not Really.
Emi is the Free Throw Champion (again) for her age group at school. Next, she will get to compete at the District Competition in February at St. Peter Schulte.
She also got to compete last year. That time, she was in a shoot off for 1st place, but this time, she was the clear winner!

She Shoots, She Scores

I know you are going to kill me, but I don't have any pics to put with this blog about Emi's basketball game. I just can't remember to take pictures while I am concentrating on the game, and this one was such a nail biter!!!!!
They played St Mary's Derby, and they are 6-0. We are 0-6, so I was thinking major blow out all day, but you know, who knows@!
Emi scored the first basket of the game in the first minute. Then she made a foul, the team was playing great. Like, you could tell they were playing basketball. They were doing awesome and the score was tied at the half 10-10.
So, we get back to the game, and the score is very even. We called a timeout and the whistle blew, so Emi and her teammates were back on the court and in position, and they gave the Bobcats a warning, they didn't leave their huddle, they gave them a second warning, they were still ignoring the refs, so they said, throw the ball in, and Allison, passed it off to Emily, who took off, and made a lay up, her 2nd basket of the game. She did get another foul under her belt too, during her time on the court. And, the thing about Emi is , when she does foul, they are very blatant. Like, you know you've been fouled, if it was called on 23 Gold.
It came down to the last minute, and we were winning, 20-16. Lisa Longstaff and I were over confident, and St Mary's stole the ball and made a basket. Then, one of our girls committed a foul, on a girl that Emi used to dance with, she made one basket, then, with like seconds left, they stole our pass in, and scored again, making them ahead by one, with 1 second on the clock.
20-21.
They played great though! THey play again on Saturday, I hope they play like they did today, because it was awesome, and I just know that they will win one. This just wasn't their day.

Happy Happy Birthday Baby

Memories

Valleri was not a planned pregnancy. In fact, I thought I was never going to be able to have children, at all.
So, when I started to wake up and feel sick, I thought flu. I couldn't shake it though after some time, so I kind of got the feeling it was something more, but for some reason, would not admit it to myself.
One early June evening, Mark came home, and had been playing basketball with some friends at Athletic Park. He had really banged up his knee, and for some reason that is what sent me into hysterics. Really!
I asked him if he thought he should go to the Emergency Room, and he said no, he just needed some ice, and I remember crying and telling him, that was good, because we were going to need our money, because I thought I was pregnant. Well, this was the first he had heard of this, and he jumped up, and ran out, and bought a test, and it was (of course) positive.
Looking back, Mark must have thought I was crazy!

It was not an easy pregnancy. I was sick morning, noon and night. Every day. For the whole time. Never a day that I was well. Never.
I had panic attacks, at baby showers, I was in and out of the hospital for dehydration, I was on bed rest for early labor, I had to go in weekly for stress tests. You name it, and it happened to me.
My OB built on to his home the same time I was his patient.
A lot.
Took some vacations too.
Exotic ones.
Expensive ones
You get the picture.
Poor Mark, was driving me to Wichita one morning on his way to work, because I was pretty much an invalid, and I remember, he had just bought our first brand new car, and I just knew I was going to be sick. He jumped a curb and almost hit a mailbox, and that scared me so bad, I didn't have to throw up.
Anyway, as the delivery date approached, I was going to the doctor always, and he decided to induce me. Lovely man. I enjoyed that very much. I didn't have to worry about when or where this would happen,and we had the evening before to plan everything out. I enjoyed it so much, when I found out I was pregnant with Emi I requested to be induced at my first doctor appointment, and I was too.
So, we were in the hospital. They had to break my water, of course, nothing was easy, remember?
Mark's dad bought him Arby's and I remember, I was ready to push, throwing up ice chips, and he was snarfing down 5 roast beef sandwiches. It is a funny memory, but those couple of minutes with his dad are priceless memories now!
I finally had the little darling at 7:18 pm. I remember my anastesiologist name was Charlie, and was a friend of my mom's, and went and got all the grandparents, when I started pushing, and left the door cracked open, so they could hear. I think they went back down to the waiting room, to wait for Mark after that. I was just happy that I had the epidural at that point, so didn't really know what was going on.
Mark, and a procession of well wishers followed Val down to the PICU, because ( nothing was easy), she couldn't breathe, so that left me alone with Charlie, who sat with me, while we waited for everyone to come back down.
The next day, I remember, Gram was visiting, and the nurse came to take her for some hearing tests, and she stood in the hall, to be sure noone absconded with our little bundle of joy. That is another memory I remember.
And, Mark's friends come to see us, Val was the first baby, and one of them, Jon stood at the foot of the bed, for like 3 minutes, and I didn't even notice him, but he said he was grabbing my feet, and I didn't even know it (epidural).
Precious memories of my not a baby anymore, 15 years old tomorrow, Valleri Anne.

A Few Of My Favorite Things....

This is how we spent New Year's. We went to Noah's birthday party. Then, Val and Hunter and some other friends went to the movies. That was it. Mark did come home. We were kept up all night by fireworks, from the neighbors.
I mostly just thought the pics of the girls were so cute, so I thought I would share them.
Tomorrow, EMi, Tarah, and Shanae, invited Chase, Lorenzo and Ky to the movies. That should be interesting! Just ask Val. She has all kinds of opinions on that double trio.
Only time will tell....