Week 9

Monday, Feb. 25th

No picture.

Tuesday, Feb. 26

When your 20 year old son asks if he can take his little 7 year old sister out for a lunch date.  All the heart eyes.

Wednesday, Feb. 27th

Kelly and her mom were going through some old pictures and sent them along to me.

Juliet, Maddy, Kelly

The Snyders, The Wiles, The DiSalvatores

Up in New Hampshire when we vacationed the same week and we'd meet up for a day at Whale's Tale.

I was finishing up Renna's birthday book and had to send this page to Andrea.  What a treasure.  My kids are so blessed to have best friends in their cousins.

Kids' callbacks.

Thursday, Feb. 28th

Having Finn in our house for 11 days taught Bauer that the couch is acceptable.  It's not, but how cute are they?!?!

Decade Day for spirit week at the studio.  She decided 5 minutes before leaving the house that she wanted to participate.

Nathanael had an 8:30p game in Simsbury.  

First round of the CCC tournament and we gave Northwest a run!  We ended up losing in overtime.  Nathanael's only ice time consisted of picking up the pucks during warmups.

Poor Renna got trampled by the 60 Northwest students sitting together in a section.  At the conclusion of the game, they stormed the glass, plowing her over.  She was a bit banged up, but mostly traumatized, poor thing.  Could've been much worse.

Colombo and Colombo went to Mumford and Sons concert in Hartford.

Speaking of C4, I walked into his room to put something on his bed.  I rarely go in there.  I have not cleaned it with/for him in 8 years, and I made the parenting mistake choice long ago to go with the "shut the door" philosophy.  On the "Pick Your Battles" spectrum, for better or for worse, we never picked the Clean Room battle.  And now that he is an adult, it's his choice to live in whatever conditions he chooses.  HOWEVER!!  I was shocked and appalled at what I found.  It had reached the point of unacceptable. We had a chat.

Friday, Mar. 1st

This kid found out that he was accepted into UConn's School of Business for Digital Marketing!  Phew!  Huge relief for him!  The application process, the waiting, the uncertainty was all quite stressful, so we are are so thrilled by the news.  We are continually proud of the work he's putting in and the choices he is making.  

Saturday, Mar. 2nd

Renna and I packed up and headed out to her 2nd competition.  Since it was in Danbury, we chose to stay down there and make it a girls' trip along with her dance friends.

Sunday, Mar. 3rd

James, who now lives 15 minutes from where we were, was there by 7:30a on a SUNDAY, to watch and support.

Renna and Alberto's duet got a special Judge's Award for "Perfect Partners."

Maddy told her to plank to get ready for her solo.  Apparently it's good to "have tight abs for all your tricks."

She makes friends wherever she goes...even if it's backstage with competitor from another studio.

She received a special Judge's Award for "Beautiful Feet" and the judge even had her demonstrate.  Maddy took full credit as she's been stretching Renna's feet since she six months old.  She placed 2nd Overall.

Week 8

Monday, Feb. 18th

My brother threw the sweetest little luncheon for my dear SIL, Elizabeth, who was celebrating a significant birthday.  It was perfect and such an honor to get to know some more of their circle of precious friends.

Callbacks for Jesus...wanted to see him on stage, in costume.

Tuesday, Feb. 19th
I don't have a picture, but I HAVE to document this story:
I got an email about the Bubble offering the A.R.C. Babysitter's Course.  For some reason, I signed Trevor up.  He was in the age window, and for short times when I leave him in charge (I'm talking like 20 minutes) I thought it would be profitable for him to have a sense of safety, first aid, strangers coming to the door, etc.  I had a feeling he would not be thrilled about it, so I waited until about three days before to even tell him about it.  As expected, I listened to him complain, "why do I have to go?", "what are we even gonna do there?", "I'm not even getting babysitting jobs", "what is it...just someone talking the whole time?"....and on and on and on.

Tuesday morning we packed him a lunch and some snacks and for the 20 minute car ride over all I heard was, "I just don't know why you're making me do this.", "I'm probably gonna be the only boy there.", "Is someone just gonna talk for 6 hours?"...and on and on and on.  Just mad at me.  I rebutted with all the classic 'mom' responses, "maybe you'll make a new friend", "look at the bright side- you don't have school today."

I walked him to the front desk to check him in, only to be told that the class happened on Monday!  I had it wrong in my calendar and we had missed it by a day.  Shoot!  She told me I could transfer his registration to the next time they offer it and we were on our way.  Naturally I expected him to be clicking his heels on the way out, so excited about my mistake, but nope.  We got in the car and he was even more mad me!!!  Att-i-tude!  I tried to reason with him and understand why he was so upset.  "Trevor, honey...help me understand why you're so upset; I thought you'd be happy."

And here came the classic Trevor response;
"I'm just really upset I missed out on something I didn't want to do."

And that, my friends, is Trevor in a nutshell!
*   *   *   *   *
Serious business.

Whatever this game was had them out there for hours.

Wednesday, Feb. 20th

This sweet boy, joined our crazy for five days while his family was away.

Thursday, Feb. 21st

She rocked the beanie for a few days.  That phase has since passed, but I loved it while it lasted.

Friday, Feb. 22nd

I had the privilege of take these two yahoos out to dinner.  We laughed so much!  I'm thankful they have each other.  It's quite amazing that my kids' best friends are also their family.

Seven months younger, but clearly Sienna has her!

Saturday, Feb. 23rd
Thank God for FaceTime!

Senior Day...last home game for the seniors.  

Sunday, Feb. 24th
Renna (and Sienna) were invited to Alberto's birthday party at a music lesson place.  They got to try out different instruments, and then put on a 'concert' for the parents at pickup- lights, haze...all of it!  I have no words.

Please click here for their rendition of "Eye of the Tiger".  You won't regret it.

Week 7

Monday, Feb. 11th

So proud of him.  He has earned straight A's and Honors with Distinction for six straight quarters now, since entering high school.  

 Renna had a play date with Yahaira.

Tuesday, Feb. 12th
The only picture of the day.  Somehow my mirror got hit while the van sat on the mechanic's lot waiting for an oil change.  They took full responsibility, but I drove around like this for an entire month before I got it back there to be fixed.

Wednesday, Feb. 13th

Renna got an afternoon with Mrs. Essick which included a visit with Chief and Aunt Florence.

Double-header.  Nathanael played a home game and then C4's quarter-finals was in the upper rink right after.  East was playing South Windsor, so we knew all of the families; it was like a reunion.  C4 even got to catch up with his very first coach as a Mite.  We tied in overtime.

 This girl entertains us all every time the whistle blows and the music comes on.

 Onto the semi-finals!

Thursday, Feb. 14th
I opened my eyes to this beautiful surprise.

I'm not on the ball enough for a Pinterest-worthy Valentine's Day.  I have enough energy to do 'a little something'.  I just write love letters to each kid and try to pick up a few of their favorite treats.  

 Renna made bags for her tap class.

Two things really touched me.  Colombo took me to lunch (which was a nice, understated, mid-day celebration...all I needed) and in the course of the conversation found out he had flowers delivered to Maddy.  So, so thoughtful.  All on his own.

Secondly, Kelly stopped by with treats for Renna.  So, so thoughtful of her and totally something Maddy would've done had she been home.

I introduced the kids to this treasure:

 "You're doing it wrong."

"You have your entire cheddar family."

Friday, Feb. 15th

Saturday, Feb. 16th
Renna, C4 and I got an early start headed to New Hampshire for C4's semi-final game.

 This girl wuurrked the camera!

 I dropped C4 at home and continued down to Nathanael's game.

 A normal Saturday night of pizza and shenanigans.

Sunday, Feb. 17th
One of those days that I desperately wanted to be in two places at once.  I had responsibilities at the Passion and the Cross kickoff meeting AND C4 was playing in the championship game!!!  Ugh.  Had it been the Sunday before or even the Sunday after, I could have made the game, but the kickoff meeting is important for me to be there.  So we are off and running!  My 12th season.

 C3 drove C4 up and kept me updated via text.  CHAMPS!  What a great college memory for C.

We all rendezvoused at dinner- 5 couples- before attending Mark Gungor at church for his marriage workshop.