Analise's First Communion

It was a rainy, drab day but it was a beautiful, spirit-filled day!

I have to say that I am very glad that we were allowed to have her First Communion celebration with the parish school kids. I had done Trina's and Matty's with the RE kids and there was a MARKED difference in the demeanor of the kids and the organization of the adults. Everything ran VERY smoothly (considering there were probably more than 50 kids receiving!).

This will be Fr. Michael's last First Communion group in our parish so it was nice that one more of my kids could celebrate with him. He announced last Sunday that he'd be leaving to teach at the seminary (St. John Vianney) this summer. I hope we get another great priest in his place.

The funniest thing that happened was this:
As the other kids in front of us were in line, Analise had a clear shot of the people receiving the Precious Blood so I pointed it out that she could really see how it's done this way. She was practically bouncing out of the pew, she was SO excited! She asked me, "Mom, will I be AHEAD of you?". I told her that yes, we would both be behind her in line and she would get to go first.
When it came time for us to stand (it was just me and Butch in the pew with her...the other kids were by the uncles, aunts, and Grandma and Grandpa)she stood up, grabbed Butch by the middle and SHOVED her way past him in a very rude, hurried manner. He raised his eyebrows and looked at me funny but let her pass him. When we got back to the pew, he muttered under his breath about how she shoved past him like that and I told him how I had told her she could be in front of us and that she must have took it to mean that she HAD to be in front of us and GOD FORBID we stand before her and her Jesus!

I should have gotten that on video. It would have been GOLD!

She received on the tongue and went back to the pew with her face all aglow. I was a little shocked at the fact that I almost started to cry. Seeing her so happy and innocent like that reminded me of how I should ALWAYS be when receiving Our Lord that way!

It was drizzling all day so we had to stay indoors with all those kids but we sure had a lovely afternoon anyway. I was glad to have everyone over because we missed them so bad on Easter when everyone was sick here.

We started challenging everyone to the conveyor belt on Wii Outdoor Challenge and Trine beat Trinabina's old record of 1 minute, 17 seconds. We'll have to work on that one because bragging rights rule in this family and we can't just let that one go down without a good fight.



Later, after everyone had gone except Anna and her FIANCE (!), Matt...me and Ann went for a 6 mile run in the pouring rain. It was a GREAT run. Especially since I had missed so many days of running because of my dang swine flu episode. I'm just now today feeling like a normal person again.


When Matt and Anna left, the kids all made the sound "Awwwww!". They were so sad to see Matt go. He is their new, favorite person.

I honestly can't really remember what it was like around here without him. That's how well he fits in in this family. I caught myself referring to him as "Uncle Matt" to the kids. Even though we already have one, good "Uncle Matt" around here, one more will be very welcome. We'll just have to think of some creative kind of nickname for him. I'm sure the kids will think of something. He made them all laugh so hard, they are STILL laughing at some of the things that went on here when Anna and I left for our run. Goofballs. All of them.

Trina got some good pics too here.

BRB

I promise I'll be right back with some great First Communion pictures...


WHAT????!!!! You don't trust THIS FACE?

Put Off 'Til Today

We have a very busy day today. Today is Analise's First Holy Communion. I will post pictures later.

Suuuure I will. I still have a monster post of the pictures I took outside the farmhouse. They are so nice, I can't wait to post them. Yes, I can.

I think I have Swine Flu. I have had a runny nose and aching everything for four days. It's slightly better today but it hurts when my eyeballs look sideways.

I am going to try to get Trina over to St. Paul later this afternoon to visit with an author who will be visiting a bookstore there. I would hate for her to miss that.

It's going to be tricky.

I was supposed to go for a long run today but the running has been on hold, due to complications of swine flu, of course.

I haven't run since the 8+ miles on Tuesday, or whatever day that was.

Oink.

Duh her her her her

Funnyfunnyfunny.

In a sardonic, we-are-up-sh**-creek sort of way.

Mmmmm...Cave Snot

"Hey, wouldn't it be fun to take the kids to this?"
Says Paula, The Wonder Red, my bff, and partner in adventure.

Uh, yeah.

Except for one teeny little problemo...

See, I don't have very many fears. I can scale high heights and not even flinch. I can hop up on a horse and ride the ridges. I love roller coasters and upside down rides. I don't LIKE icky bugs but they don't scare me. Water isn't my favorite but I can conquer it...it's...it's

closed in spaces, fear of being locked in, fear of getting lost, fear of getting buried or stuck in a closet, elevator, ummmmm...oh, I don't know...something like...A CAVE!!!!








Actually, it was pretty fun and interesting. The bats were hibernating and they were kinda cute.

Here's a little something for my outta state bff:

Weird Day

We woke up to still-coughy kids yesterday so I knew we'd have a difficult day of cleaning, no school, un-cooperation...so Trine called and said she was going to the Como Zoo. I bagged it all and headed for the zoo! The weather was GREAT. The zoo? So-so but it was so lovely outside, we could have been looking at an inner city slum or something and we wouldn't have minded.

When we got home, I took the stroller out of the van and it opened then closed on my middle finger tip. I swore, ran in the house, ran it under cold water, swore some more (it REALLY hurt!), felt like puking, then PASSED OUT! I haven't done that since right after I had Trina. Weazy said she was really scared and that my eyes were wide open. Gross. When I came to, Butch was asking me if I needed anything and I was wondering what the heck I was doing on the floor. He said my electrolytes must be off or something from running. I don't think so, I think I was just so grossed out by the skin peeling away from my fingernail that I thought my fingertip could fall off and the thought of it was too overwhelming for me. I spent the rest of the night fighting that nausea and the pain of my finger.

Butch spent the overnight shivering and sweating with a fever, woke up with a very sore throat, and stayed home from work today. On a good note, Matty finally says he feels much better. He and Bocker are sounding more like boys than seals at the zoo. I fought going to the doctor, knowing they would probably just say "It's a virus...nothing we can do, give me 50 bucks.". I was worried about strep but the infection seemed to be way deep in their throats not like strep usually presents itself. They all fought it off themselves, so that's good. We are at about 60 percent now. I'm heading out to do my 9 miler that I missed yesterday because of my fainting adventure. It's going to be SEVENTY DEGREES TODAY WOOHOOOOOOO!

"I Feel Glad That He Chose To Be With Jesus."

I'm headed over to Coborn's to buy some cards.

Click here to read/watch the story on WCCO

Happy Easter?

Everyone is down for the count. We have a version of the flu from hell. Mari and Bocker were the worst victims last night and everyone else has been flirting with it, on and off, since three days ago. Matty can barely talk. Weazy had a headache and fever and threw up yesterday. Trina spent pretty much all of Thursday in bed. Mari had "cweatuahs" in her "fwoat" (creatures in her throat) for the past three days and today (right now as I type!) she is burning up with fever. Tommy's regular boogers are now a pretty, Easter egg green.

I have a congested chest and a tired brain. I was up pretty much all of last night with varying stages of sick children who just didn't want to be sick anymore. It's been a very long time since we've ALL gotten sick at the same time!

We were supposed to have Easter celebrations here at our house. So much for that. Trine is having it at her house by default (thank goodness at least it won't be ruined for EVERYONE) and the only good thing I've got going for me is that my house is clean (except for the puke on the bed upstairs that I haven't gotten to yet) because we expected everyone to be here today.

Trina and Weazy felt good enough to go over there but the rest of us are here, lamely trying to salvage what should be a day of celebration by taking medicine, sleeping on the couch, doing laundry (eventually), and sweating out the fever and sore throats.

I DID boil some eggs and we are attempting to color them but I'm not getting a very enthusiastic reaction from the "bunnies" around here.

Hope YOU are having a terrific Easter...or at least one slightly better than ours!

Good Friday

Matty told me that when he was praying the rosary at the abortion clinic this morning, some dude shouted out his car window "You are all going to HELL!".

It's a sacrifice for me to pray for that person instead of wish that he get his hippie hair stuck in his window when he rolled it back up.

On a lighter note, here is a picture someone took of Butch at work:


He's down there, in the right hand corner in the orange sweatshirt. He's so manly and attractive at work. I love how studly he looks when he's large and in charge on the work site. He makes construction COOL.

Also, who else could do safety harnesses with this much style?

Rabbit Stew

Oh, now I've gone and done it. I've killed the Easter Bunny. Analise came over to me and told me, "Mama, I just found out that the Easter Bunny doesn't hide the eggs over at Grandma's...THEY hide them!?".

I told her, "Wait a minute, I have to talk to you about that." and waited until there were no little ears around. I hugged her close and whispered that I needed her help to BE the Easter Bunny. Her eyes got HUGE(er than normal) as the pieces started clicking into place and she kept repeating,

"You mean...there's no such thing as the Easter Bunny?" over and over.

I kept putting my hand over her mouth and whispering, "YES! There IS such a thing, but it doesn't have actual ears or fur and now, it has brownish-red, curly hair!". She hovered on the cusp of belief/disbelief with a look of stricken panic. I comforted her by saying, "NOW, you get to HELP me pick out stuff at the store, fill the Easter baskets, hide all the eggs for the kids on Sunday, and BEST OF ALL, you get to go over to Grandma's the day before Easter and make ALL the colored eggs (the Easter Bunnies in our family are VERY busy bunnies. We do dozens and dozens of eggs. It's quite a process, like a factory with all kinds of experimentation, color combos, etc.. The nice thing about all of these years of this tradition is: even the 'mistakes' are beautiful)!". She thought about it for a minute then looked a teeny bit relieved.

The wheels clicked along for another minute and she giggled nervously but then the light bulb went on and she said, "HA! NOW, I can TELL you what to put in there!".

Just for good measure, in a dazed voice, she said again, "There's no such thing as the..." then I clamped her mouth again (little ones running around) and whispered...

"The thing about Easter Bunny Secret Club is: You don't talk out loud about Easter Bunny Secret!!!! Not in front of the little ones! You don't even give HINTS! This is a HUGE responsibility, handed down from the ages. It's for big kids and grown ups ONLY!".

I am relieved that it's done because she's soon to get her First Communion and I thought it would be a good time for her to know. I always doubt my decision until the fun stuff kicks in and then I'm glad. She's getting so grown up but I'd really like my baby Weazy back again. I'm not sure what to think of this beautiful young lady that's taking her place.

Were You There

Here is an update from the Michael Talley website for today. It really got me thinking about what I've done/not done for Lent. I don't think I'll ever look at it the same way again:

"Well, it's Tuesday. Some of my fears are being realized. I woke up this morning and I feel awe full. I'm constantly cold, to the point I put on my thermal underwear I use for hunting!! My stomach is very upset, to the point it's best not to be to far from the bathroom!! This was expected, just not welcomed. My spirits are good and I will continue to fight. Death is just not an option!! I go through cycles, being down, then up, but one thing seems to remain constant. My will to live. With God's help I expect to beat this. Others before me have gone through worse than me. That is something I need to try to remember on a daily basis! You know I complain about never eating again. Yet I am reminded that Jesus didn't eat or drink for 40 days. That's 40 days people. Who am I to complain about not eating solid food. He voluntarilygave up all of that for me. So... not to be to preachy, I am not feeling well, but I am fighting. If it be God's will I will overcome this disease and if I do I promise to God and all who read this I will be a better father, husband, christian. I look forward to paying forward all the wonderful things that have been done for me. It's the right thing to do. So.. thank you to everyone that hasn't given up on me. It means more than you know. Thank you to the people who write that don't even know me, from different states and what not. My love and thank yous to all of you. May God bless everyone of you that takes time out of their day just to think of me and my family. We love you all. God bless you all. Love Mike , Nicole, and the kids."


This is the husband of my friend from jr and high school who is suffering from a VERY aggressive form of throat cancer and going through a second round of high dose chemo. They have 4, beautiful, young children and could use your prayers and encouragement. They really do appreciate comments from everyone so please take the time to note something to them, no matter how small. I think it gives them strength to know they have so many people who care.

Music To My Eyes

I've always found musical instruments to be somewhat mysterious and beautiful. I've never played any, so I think they have double mystery for me. I am trying to learn how to play the guitar, but it's like some kind of secret code that I can't figure out. It's like my brain only has a certain capacity for such information. I'd have to "empty out some files" to make room for the new info, or something.

I found that old, broken violin in the attic at the farmhouse. I thought it might make a nice spring decoration up above the front door. I'll take a picture of it when I'm finished with the display later today. I had it for almost a month before my dad came over and asked me if it had any labels on it to tell how old it was. I hadn't looked before then! I peeked inside and here's what I saw (plus some other close shots of it):


















About the only thing I can find on the internet about him is found here.

It's very interesting, but I doubt it has any real value. Since the date on the label is 1699 and Jacobus Stainer died in 1683, it is probably some sort of copy. It sure would be nice to know HOW old it REALLY is. I will keep it as a decoration and maybe bring it into a restorer to see what they recommend someday. I'd love to have an actual, working instrument for the kids or to figure out how to actually play it someday...but that will have to wait until after I can figure out how to play the dang guitar!