Crazy Weekend

We just had a completely crazy weekend.  It started with waking up to this on Saturday morning.

Definitely the best (or worst depending how you look at it) ever.  This tree, my favorite tree, just screams "TP me"!  Diego was not even home to help clean it up.  I had to dash out early for an all day workshop at the diocese and went straight from there to the Night of Hope dinner to honor Sr. Raphael who has been pricipal for about 40 years.  After that we stopped by Chris and Moe's Halloween party only to return home to another TP job.  Seriously?  Then Sunday we were off to Mass and then the Fall Festival.  Throw in Elise having a fever and the whole weekend was exhausting.  We could never do all that we do without the amazing support of our family.  So now I have gone from running a marathon to doing hurdles. 

Diego bday - check.  Fall Festival - check.  Halloween..... here goes.

Happy 13th Birthday Digs!

I could not resist putting a sweet baby picture in my blog celebrating Diego's 13th birthday.  This picture was taken when he was about 6 months old.  As I was flipping through the photo album I was struck by how often and how early on we were graced with this bewitching smile.  Diego is one of the happiest, friendliest, most magnetizing kids I have ever known.  I know I am his Mom and I have to say things like that, but it is all true.  He is so much like his Dad in that people just want to be around him.  He has always been filled with energy and enthusiasm for life and he is a natural entertainer.  And now he looks like this....

We celebrated on the 23rd with family and friends.  You fell for the cake trick - again!

Chris started it but Nana got you good!!  We are so happy the Sanford's are back in town and they were there to celebrate with you.

Of course there was after lunch entertainment.

It was a beautiful, fun day.  The next morning we had birthday pancakes and you were off to school, on to your football tournament, and home for about 30 minutes to eat tacos and put on your costume for the junior high dance.

Frightening :)  Although I did not get to see you much, I thought a lot about you on your birthday.  I was actually pretty emotional.  Everyone tells you how fast time will go and it is absolutely true.  I can not believe how old you are and how close we are to things like high school, dating and driving.  There is a part of me that feels very insecure about my ability to be the parent of a teenager.  I can do the baby thing.  I love the baby thing.  I can handle the terrible two's, the "why" phase, the mess making, the diapers.  All that seems easy in the face of texting and internet and downloading music and (not yet!) - phones.  I know the field you are about to cross is full of land mines and traps and I want to tell you to just hang back with me and avoid it all.  But I can't.  And deep down that is not what I truly want.  Because somewhere on the other side is a life all your own that you must go to.  I love you Diego and I will always be here for you to help you navigate and get back up when you fall.  Happy 13th birthday babe.  May God bless you with many, many more birthdays!!!!



Cows, Clams, and Camping

I have a little catching up to do with this one.  Last weekend, the kids had a few days off and with Mark's temporary academy schedule he has weekends off.  Sooo, we went to the cabin!  October is a great time to go because it is cold but not freezing, you might see a little splash of fall colors and sometimes you may even catch a few snow flurries.  We got up on Friday afternoon (we missed the snow flurries that day - bummer) and had yummy albondigas soup and made a fire.  The next day we went on a walk to see Joe and Michele and Jeff and Sandy's new place.

It is so exciting to have another set of family members with a place up there.  They are just a short stroll away.  I won't go on and on again about how much I love taking the kids up there and how good it is for them to run around and be kids.  I will just show some pictures of why I think so.

Yes, that is a homemade bow and arrow.  Love it.

Diego is not quite as fond of the camera as he used to be.  This is what I look down to dozens of times a day.

Hold me mommy - pleeease.  How can you say no to that face?  We came back to the cabin and had grilled cheese and tomato soup and Paolo says, "How can you beat that?" 

Enter in the cows.  We have seen cows roaming the hood before, but I have never seen eight cows munching away in the front yard.

It really is impressive how large they are. 

The girls played games by the fire.  They did not even know I was taking the picture - real smiles.

Sunday rolled around and it was time for the clambake.  It was different having it on a cold day up north but I am thankful that my Mom was so determined to make it happen.  J & M and Sandy came over and Leslie drove up with Brit. Oh yes, the Jay Bowers clan came too. Small group of us but just as delicious as ever.

                                  





And of course, good times with cousins.

The whole next week was spent preparing for our girl scout camping trip.  It was a stressful week.  I do not like having huge commitments that take time away from everything I have to do to keep the house running smoothly.  Gradually, the house goes downhill, I feel like a mess too.  I do not like waking up and feeling like I am in a marathon with every second occupied and my brain spinning.  But sometimes it just has to happen and I have to ride it out knowing that eventually order will return, laundry will get caught up and I can step back into a (somewhat) peaceful rhythym of life.  My sweet little buddy gets worn out too.

When it was all said and done - camp was wonderful.  We had 20 girls and 5 awesome moms.  The camp was BEAUTIFUL and it gives me solace knowing that if it weren't for Mary and I making the sacrifices and putting forth the effort we do, these girls might not be having these experiences.





Elise went with her troop and got to spend the night with us.  Wish I had a better picture but here we are.

On to the next marathon!















The Boys of Fall

I wanted to be sure to get some photos in of Diego and his school football team.  They have had a bit of a rough season and I can't figure out why this group of boys has not quite clicked on the field.  It is fun AND frustrating to watch their games.  Hopefully they will get a few more W's before the season ends.  Go Irish!!

Presidential Preferences

Last night Paolo asked us who we like better. 

George Washington

Or

Abra Lincolnham

Everyone keeps asking him who the 16th president is just so they can hear him say Abra Lincolnham.  It is so cute.  I will correct him.......someday :)

Props

We are so proud of our Daddy.  This guy got hired with the Phoenix Fire Department the first time he tested.  He promoted to Engineer - the first time he tested.  And, he promoted to Captain - the first time he tested!  Well, his latest accomplishment is being hand picked to be a Recruit Training Officer at the Fire Academy for the new class going through.  Basically, they did away with seniority on this one and the chiefs picked the guys (and girl!) they wanted and yes, they picked Mark.  We are so proud of you honey and we know you are going to be the best RTO out there!