Val and Jacob

This is Val and her boyfriend Jacob Campbell. They have been "an item" for almost 2 weeks now, so it was about time that I got a picture of them.LOL! Aren't they just so adorable together!!!! Love it!
I am not sure how long they have known each other, and Val is with Jacob right now at SEAS Youth Group, so I can't ask her, but I know it has been at least this semester-ish.
Jacob plays the bass (?) guitar in the Jazz Band at BC and soccer in the fall, and plays Club Baseball, so he is really sporty which is good, because so is Val.
So, Monica, I know you know of him, because you mentioned it around Homecoming time, so let me know.... you know!
I also have met his family, and think they are really sweet! His little brothers and sister are so cute, and his big brother and parents were so nice to talk to.
Now, I can tell you about their adventures, and you will have a face to put with the stories.

Track Meet With Video

Mark made this awesome track meet video. It is also posted on the SMM sport website.We got pics of everyone on the team, except Ideiah who was not there, and Shanae, who had soccer games I think or a Confirmation or something. Hopefully we will get some of them at least at practice, and will either insert them, or do a new one next time. We had a lot of good races! 7th grade girls relay got 6th place, which was Emily, Olivia, Elizabeth, and Theresa, Gage got 1st in his mile and his 800, he got a PR in his mile-5 minutes and 2 seconds! I know it is not my training, but I can take credit for his lunch! Oscar got 2nd in his 400 and 1st in his 800, and Brendan took 3rd in discus!!!!! Practically all of them placed in the top 10, at least once, and that is out of 762 total athletes, and something like almost 200 heats. I know we are awesome, and we have the cutest uniforms too! Be sure to turn up your sound on your computer, and f.y.i. Emily is the first hurdler on the video!

On The Eve...

... of the next track meet, I give you pix of the first track meet, last weekend. I totally have been too busy to update, and then, I liked Emi's birthday post so much, I guess I didn't want to let it go.
Oh well!
We had a couple of 1st places, a 2nd place, a 3rd place, some 5th places, and a 6th place. Not bad for 22 kids, who have to suffer through with a coach, (me) who doesn't have a clue....lol!
Enjoy!!!!!

From "Tween" to Teen....

"A birthday is just a day, you say. But it's a special day. It's the day you first changed the world." Happy 13th Birthday Emi! Hope it's your luckiest year ever!

Happy Day!

I say Happy Day, because we celebrated Easter, Emily's birthday and my dad's birthday, all in one day. My dad's was on Friday, and Emi's is on Saturday, but she has a track meet, and it is just easier to get everyone together only once.
We had nice parties at my brother's house, and at Gram's house. Emi really scored on gifts, and had a great time with her cousins!
A few times a year, we measure the 4 kids at Gram's house, and Shelbie, who is 12 is now taller than Val. I think she will end up shortest!

Easter Eggs

You are never to old to dye easter eggs. There is just a little more fighting involved! No, only because Emily lost the egg dipper thing, and couldn't find it for like 10 minutes. The whole time it was in the green dye cup. Emily even named all of hers.

Track Practice

Val was getting some one on one practice with Luke Arnold, he is a Junior at BC, and Luke was helping her place her hands on the pole (keep your minds out of the gutter), and he looked up, and saw this.All the kids dropped their poles all at once, and were watching when Coach Swords, one of the head coaches, noticed that they were not doing anything, then he looked up and saw the tornado too,and made them all go inside, the boys went to the locker room,and the girls to the commons, because there was a rumor of a flooding issue in their locker room,and I guess, the girls weren't allowed to see the boys locker room. This is Catholic School after all! Apparently, they could have kept practicing,technically, because none of them were using a carbon pole, but Coach Swords made all the kids go in. All the other field events and runners had to seek shelter too. Dang safety issues!

Atomic Veterans

I don't usually do "political posts". In fact, I am not political at all, but this topic has touched my heart, and so, I will ask for the help of the people who read my blog.
My sweet father in law, Gary, died 10 years ago, minutes after midnight on Dec. 26, right before his sweet Valleri's 5th birthday. At the time of his passing, he had 4 grandchildren, ranging in age from 5 months to almost 5 years. He loved these children. They were his life.
Gary had a long battle with Pancreatic Cancer. It is now believed that he contracted this disease, because he was exposed to radiation from an explosion when he was in the Navy.
I support this organization, in their attempts to have these servicemen honored by our Government. Please check out the website at www.atomicveterans.org
If you find it in your heart, to send a letter to anyone from your congressman to the President, it would be appreciated. It would just take $8 each for our government to make a medal to be given to the veterans or their families to honor the experiences they endured so many years ago.
I chose this sweet picture of Papa and his dear Valleri, she was about 9 months old at the time. Her Gram made her the sweatshirt she is wearing.
To know Gary Young was to love him.
I love him to this day, and miss him always....

Track Meet At Goddard

OK, so I have video, but I don't know how to load it, so you will have to envision Val vaulting over the bar- yes she did make it at 6 feet, and then knocking it down with her elbow. So, that was it, for her at Goddard, but Denis, her Coach, considered that she PR'd, which is Personal Record, so all in all, it turned out OK, but she was disappointed. A little. OK, a lot, but she pepped up by the time I picked her up at 9:45. Like I have said before, the social aspect of a track meet, is very inviting to her.

Hoping she can keep her elbows tucked in next time!
I am really proud of her!!! She is working hard!

Track Meet at Andale

You know, Val is brand new at Pole Vault, and is still learning, but she got to compete, and she almost made it over the bar on her second attempt. She knocked it with her elbow. I think this is a sport that once you get your groove then, you have it. Until then, it is a lot of practice. She also needs to bend her pole, but that comes with practice and weight training too.
Anyways, she had SO MUCH FUN! She loved riding on the bus with the team. She loved hanging out with her friends. She loves being part of the team.
I am confident that next year or so, she will be vaulting like it is no big deal! She is really dedicated!

No Good Deed Is Left Unpunished....

So, the Parish Nurses asked me to make cinnamon rolls today for them to sell for medical equipment they need.
Easy enough, right? I mean I make them ALL the time. No problem.
I gave one of them a list of what I would need, and told her I would get there early to start, because there really only needs to be one person there.
I got there at 5:30, and there was no sugar, oil or salt. So, instead of waiting, I went to Wal Mart and got it. I turned on the ovens before I left, so it would be warm in the kitchen,so the dough would rise faster. When I got back, there were 2 police cars in the parking lot. I am used to seeing police in the parking lot, and have never understood why, they were there, but I figured they were just hanging out, because I saw them just sitting there, although it did occur to me later, that maybe someone thought I was breaking in to the school. SO, I got my stuff and went in, and I heard the window go down, and it turned out to be a guy that goes to church at SMM, and he said, hey, is it cinnamon rolls today???? He was pretty happy to know that it would be.
So, I go in,and get started, and then the other woman helping me comes, and tells me she has to leave within the hour to take her son to a Choir Regional Competition. I made 3 batches of rolls by myself. I did call Val, and she and Mark came up and helped, for a while, which was nice. I hate wrapping the rolls, but Mark did a fantastic work of it, and we just got home at 10:30 ish, so it all worked out. Just not the way I planned.

Val and "Her Guys"

These are all pics of Val and her "guy friends" from years and years past to present. They are all like her brothers and protectors. Very good friends! And of course, one picture with the most awesomest coach ever! Even if they both look psycho in it!

Confirmation Pictures

Emily and Company

Here are some pics of Emi and her friends. Of course, she looked gorgeous tonight, as usual!

Valleri Anne Agnes

Here is a short video of Valleri receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Margaret Mary from Bishop Jackels.
Val and her class of 47 have studied anywhere from 2 to 4 Sundays a month since school year started. They offer the class every 2 years.
Valleri chose Agnes as her patron saint. She is the patron of virtue and purity, and also Agnes is the name of my maternal Grandma. SO,it was a double bonus that she chose her. My mom was her sponsor.
I have like 60 pictures to go through and choose from to post, I will try not to bore you with all of them, and only post my top 57 or so choices. HAHA! I will do that later, since you have the video to enjoy for now.
It was a lovely service. It was part English/Spanish/Vietnamese, which represented all the different nationalities of the candidates. There were 9 kids from Val's class from last year, that received the sacrament. Bishop Jackels gave a lovely sermon about Power. He is an awesome man!
I am so proud of my beautiful Valleri. She is quite an exquisite young lady!

Conficker Worm

Mr. Jones told the 7th grade today that the school computers had been infected with the Conficker Worm. I guess some of them were not believing, so he pulled up the story, because it is actually a real thing happening right now, really, Google it.
They were like OK, but then he said that they would have to retake 3 days worth of State Assessments, because all of their scores were deleted.
Chaos ensued! Kids were having fits, Diem hit her desk.
Then, he pulled up a blank power point, and typed Happy April Fool's Day!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Funny!

April Fool's Day

Each year, we hide in the kitchen when the kindergarten class comes for lunch, and pretend like noone is there, and noone made lunch. Of course, they only fall for this once, but just the same they think it is funny!
This year, we also decided to play a prank on Sr. Mary Margaret. She is Emi's religion and social studies teacher, and 8th grade homeroom. There is another Sr. that teaches at SMM, as well. Her name is Sr. John Marie, and she is 1st grade teacher. A while ago, Sr. Mary Margaret told Carol that if a 1st grader misbehaves, Sr. John Marie rings the phone in the 8th grade room, one time, and the student is sent down to the hall. So, Carol and I went and sat outside her room, like we were in trouble, and Claudia rang her room once. Nothing happened. Claudia peeked around the corner, and we told her to do it again. She rang again. Nothing happened. Then, 3 5th graders come down the hall, so we are motioning them to be quiet, so they don't give us away. Finally, Sr. comes out, and we are almost laying down laughing. We told her we got in trouble, she thought it was pretty funny, and promised to get us back in the future.
After lunch, we decided to do it one more time, with Claudia being the one in trouble. So, we sent her down the hall, and ring her room, then run down the hall so we can watch what happened. As Claudia is getting to the door, Sr. Comes out of the office. Of course, Carol and I bust out laughing. Sr. doesn't get it, Claudia thought we had set her up, there was 1/2 the 7th grade in the hall, we could not stop laughing! Finally, we get it all explained. It was way funnier than if Sr. had been in the room again!!!!
Guess you had to be there..... if you were, it was awesome!