Week 51--A Very Busy Prep Week

Monday, Dec. 18th

I walked the track for an hour while the boys warmed up for their 2nd game.  They played SO much better than the previous week.  Lots of completed passes, many touchdowns, some great D.

Tuesday, Dec. 19th

"A" was in a major pinch and needed me to pick up Harlem and I had lent my carseat out to a friend with out-of-town family visiting, so, it wasn't legal, but it sure was cute.  He didn't budge the 20-min car ride.  As you can see, he was thrilled with the sitch.

Wednesday, Dec. 20th

Harlem, Colombo, and I went to visit with little Miss E and then Maddy and Mason invited us to pop into their youth Christmas party.

Thursday, Dec. 21st

Renna had spent the night with Pop and Kiki (and Wyatt) to decorate cookies, work on gingerbread, and roll buckeyes.  Tradition!  

After I picked up Renna, we headed to church for Renna's rehearsal for Christmas Eve.  I caught a glimpse of C4, also there rehearsing with the band.

Friday, Dec. 22nd

Lots of food trip and my kitchen looked like a tornado for three days.  Thankfully, Colombo comes behind me and keeps up with the dishes.

This is so true!  Colombo asked what we were having for dinner and I was like, "NOT any of the $600 of groceries in the fridge!"

Saturday, Dec. 23rd

Lil Dude slept over!

 

Colombo and Jonathan took five of the kids up to see the Maine Gang.  Sarah and Jay hosted a really large contingency for a Christmas luncheon.  Up and back to Portland in a day.  Sooo much easier than the Bangor years!

"Nana's Nine"

At Renna helped me iron the napkins as I kept working my way down my to-do list.

We stopped by William's to drop some treats and wish him a Happy 105th Birthday.  His son took it from the driveway, as William is no longer up for visits.

My next post will be Christmas, but here's a few favorites from years past.

Week 50--Youth Christmas Party

Monday, Dec. 11th

Trevor organized a group of guys to join a flag football league and this was the much-anticipated (and all the nerves!) first night!

Tuesday, Dec. 12th--no picture

Wednesday, Dec. 13th

I just recently wrote about Rocco making history, earning the first ever DiSalvatore detention.  Just weeks later, I received this in the mail.  He shaved that night and Rocco remarked, "Nice job getting that caterpillar off your lip!"

Thursday, Dec. 14th

Another call, a new doctor, weighty decisions.

Our homeschool co-op had a small Christmas party- some crafts and snacks.  I appreciated that the pastor took the time to dispel some popular/cultural myths about our traditions and insert some historical and Biblical truth around Jesus' arrival.

Colombo was away, so I had soccer and hockeyx2 to cover; one of those nights that I literally left my house at 5:30 and criss-crossed back-and-forth doing drop-offs and pickups until Renna, Rocco, and I got home at 10:15.  Nearly 5 hours in the car and I was never further than 25 minutes from home!

Colombo was in Pottersville, NY (just north of Saratoga) doing a Word of Life "Experience" with Trevor and Amanda.  They were able to tour the campus, sit in on some classes, chat with coaches and students, and sleep in dorms.  Both T and A are unsure what they want to do next year after graduation, so this is being considered as a possible gap year option, or at least the trip served as a viable choice to consider and good exposure.

Friday, Dec. 15th

Bob's been using Phoebe at Houndstown for small dog evaluations.  

The youth had their formal Christmas party- MET Gala theme.  I served soda into fancy glasses and got to see the students all dressed up.  I was so touched to see my sweet Nathanael patiently entertaining and trying to build bridges with the youngest boys of the group.

Lisa was there for the beginning to get all the necessary combos of kids :)

Just a blink ago...

Saturday, Dec. 16th

We snuck in dinner with Bob and Jules.  Blue Back Square was beautiful from our table!

...and after, I had to get a picture of this guy- his passenger a skeleton in a Santa suit, top down, cuz why not??

Pop surprised Kiki with a fancy date to the Boston Pops.  Both were quite excited about it all!

Sunday, Dec. 17th

I met Jon and Annie at 6:30a to pass off Renna for a hockey game in Rhode Island so I could cover the nursery at church.  They stopped in at their Alma Mater.

We spent many, many, MANY hours at this hockey rink with Little C4 and baby Maddy!  The girls got to see the women's team practice for a bit.