Stuff

Let's see, need to catch up on some stuff...

Ben's doing great. No panic attacks since I posted it on the blog. Yeah! Isn't this a cool picture? He and some friends had a great time making monster bubbles.

Maudie is doing okay. She's home from the hospital after being there for a month! She's getting chemo and having good and bad days. Let's hope the tumor it shrinking so they can go in and take it out!

Go see Evan Almighty! Very funny and family friendly. Great message, and Morgan Freeman makes a great God. He smiles a lot. I like to think God does that, too!

That Catholic Show Episode 5 Statues and Icons

Here it is, the long awaited That Catholic Show episode #5 Statues and Icons

Ben's First Catch

On Father's Day we went to Marsh Lake around the corner (literally) and went fishing. It was hot, so I know the fish were hanging in the deep end, but Ben was able to catch his first ever fish, and small bluegill. It's bigger than Colin's first and only catch a few years ago. I have never seen Alan catch a fish, but I am sure he caught his share in his boyhood. I just love the look of sheer joy on his face! Alan was getting a bit frustrated with him because Ben kept reeling in, casting off, reeling in, casting off, etc. So what if the kid wants to cast off and reel in? Apparently sitting there doing nothing wasn't successful, so why not? I am sure Ben and I will spend a few days this summer hanging at Marsh Lake so he can have fun casting and reeling. As long as he doesn't ask me to bait the hook...

Please keep Ben in your prayers. He's having some kind of anxiety/panic "episodes" lately. Not sure what sparked them, but they started last Tuesday on our way home from PA, and he's had a few since then. It's so unlike him to cry to go home or not want to sleep over a friend's house...And as a mother, I keep thinking the worst...was he molested? Did he do something wrong that he's now feeling remorse over? Did someone hurt him? Did he witness something? The questions go on and on. He says no to all of them, but saying "No" is easy to do. Just say a little prayer for him every now and again. Hopefully "this too shall pass."

Summer's HERE!

School is finally out! That's me dancing up at the top of the page on the EMPTY playground after the kids left! Friday was my last day. On Saturday the family packed up the van and traveled east to PA to visit my family. We had a great time! On Sunday we had a huge picnic/graduation party for my niece Katlin, nephew Zack, cousins Deanna, Allison, and Alicia. There was good food, great fun, and most importantly, a lot of LOVE! We have an awesome family! Because all of the grandkids were together in one place (it hasn't happened since this time 4 years ago when Deanna graduated from high school) we tried to get a picture taken. What a fiasco! But I think among the 100 pictures we took there's at least one that everyone is looking at the same camera with eyes open! Even harder was a picture of the WHOLE family (Mom, Dad, all five kids and their spouses and kids). This one isn't the best but you can almost see everyone. And the last picture is one of Alan's campsite on top of my parents' house. They live in an underground house, and you can walk on their roof. In the case of this weekend, you can camp and play bocce on the roof! This is a view of the back of the house. The front is virtually all underground and only the front door is visible.
Anyway, we had a great time visiting family and going to Kennywood, Pittsburgh's own amusement park. Now that we're back home we will keep busy with Ben's social calendar (that kid gets invited to more parties than I ever did!) Oh, and I can't forget to post a picture of the girls: Mom, Jovanna, Madonna, and me.
from l to r: Jovanna, Mom, Madonna, Cyndi

That Catholic Show Episode 4 Charity and Mercy

Sleepover Fun

Ben, David, Joseph, Perry, Tyler (in the front)

Here's the goofy pose!

Here's proof that the boys survived! They stayed up until 2 AM, they said, watching Holes and then Spy Kids. They were up bright and early though. Their departures are staggered this morning, with David leaving at 10. Thanks to Perry for bringing Poptarts for "breakfast."

It's summer!

Well, for the boys, at least. I still have 5 days left, but the boys are done. Colin celebrated with a sleepover. He had several friends over. They stayed up until at least 3 playing the Wii (yep, finally got it this week!). Ben's celebrating tonight with a sleepover. He has invited 4 friends over. They, too, will stay up until the Wii hours (ha ha) playing video games. It's really not too bad. The family room is big enough for all of them to put their sleeping bags and pillows down and pass out when they feel like it. I just go to bed whenever.

Here's the cutest picture of Buckeye. Geez, he's so laid back! Ranger would NEVER let us put glasses on him! We had him to obedience school, and he kept flunking, so we took him to the eye doctor and got his glasses. Now he's at the top of his class! TeeHee

Here's to another school year come and gone. It's hard to believe I have a 9th and 4th grader now!