School Science Fair

You could say that life has been a bit un-routine lately for us.  Showings nearly every day, more meals out than normal, soccer practices, and on and on.  That being said, we still try to have as much routine as possible for Ellie.  When she came home from school mentioning the School Science Fair last evening, we made sure there was time to attend.

She loves her science!  She participated in experiments around water tasting, energy, light transference and even states of matter.  And when we stayed long enough to hear the awards there was friends in the higher grades that received prizes too!  That made her very happy.

Here's a shot of her as she made goo.  Of course that was an experiment around states of matter!

Religious Education Wrap-up

As Ellie spent this past weekend celebrating her First Holy Communion, we all know that would not have been possible without a great deal of direction, support and guidance.  One of the huge influences on Ellie through the religious education program at St. Patrick's Church was her teacher, Mrs. Anna Wallace.

We couldn't be more appreciative for all the wonderful care she has shown Ellie and her class this year in anticipation of the big event!  And on the very last night of class they celebrated - the end of the year, the big event having just taking place .. and for Ellie - the end of her time at St. Pat's.

Here's the report we received from her participation this year:

"Ellie,

You did a super-awesome job this year!  I am so happy to have been your teacher!  You have a gift for sharing your beautiful spirit with others!  God's blessings always, kiddo!  May you always keep Jesus in your heart.  :-)

love, Mrs. Wallace"

And I can't tell you how excited Ellie was to have received a special treat for having perfect attendance this year!

Mrs. Wallace with Ellie for First Reconciliation in February

First Communion Family Photos

Josh & Ellie

Bill, Lisa, Papa, Mimi and Josh
E L L I E

The siblings - Lisa, Bill & Mimi

Ellie and Grammy

Papa and Ellie

Bill, Jude, Grammy and Papa
E L L I E

First Communion

As the days grew closer for Ellie to celebrate her First Holy Communion, she began to get very excited.  She talked often about how she couldn't wait to be like every one else and be able to go to communion every time ... and I'm sure she was very excited for all the family to join us for the weekend as well.

She was thrilled to put on her white dress, new shoes and the beaded headband that I wore when Bill and I married.  She doesn't normally like to dress up, but for this she was even excited to have me fix her  hair and spend time making sure she looked just right for all the pictures that would be taken.

She patiently stood for all the family photos. Each grouping containing different members, but always her in the middle.  Yet as you can see in the photo above, she smiled most broadly when it was over and we were celebrating with Father Luke and Father Jerry.  She was just glowing in her achievement.

And to know that when it was over she could come home to presents and cake!  That made her even happier!

Beginning to say good-bye

"Sister Mugs"

I have spent the past several weeks making and accepting lunch and coffee invitations with those people in Bloomington that I won't see regularly after we move to Dallas.  It has been a wonderful experience to have all these one-on-one times.  It has given me time to say thank you, and to relive some of the shared experiences we've had over the past several years.

There is one friend in particular who has been there for me, day in and day out.  We meet regularly every other Friday morning for coffee and talk about what's happened in the previous two weeks.  We've mentored each other through work situations, shared mom stories and swapped articles and book suggestions.

I felt it most fitting to paint two mugs in opposite colors that reflect the color in each other.  Which is what she does for me.  She reminds me what is important and supports me in the challenges I share with her.  I will give her one of these "Sister Mugs" on Friday when we meet, and I will keep the other.  This way we will each have one to remind us of the other.

They are blue and green, with two little yellow flowers on each.  Those flowers are us - each of us.  They represent the way we have bloomed during our time over the last couple years.  And they have such promise of continuing to grow - like our friendship, like our careers, like our lives.

I know we will stay in touch.  I will see to that.  And as I pour coffee in the mug that I keep, I'll always think of her and all we've shared!

First Communion anticipation ...

Ellie and I talked this morning about how the family will be arriving to our house this week.  Beginning on Thursday Grammy will arrive on the same flight as Bill from Chicago and then Papa, Mimi, Lisa and Josh arrive on Friday.

When Ellie asked if Grammy would be here when she got home from school I told her, "No, Daddy and Grammy will get here right about dinner time.  But I still don't know what we're having ..."

Ellie promptly said, "Mommy can we just do casual?  Grammy doesn't care what we eat, she just wants us to be together!"

What a perspective!  Ellie recognizes that its not about the meal, or the clothes - its about being able to celebrate together, as a family all the joys of her First Communion this weekend.

And in looking back - here's the photo capturing the time of my First Communion.  There was chaos during that time in my life too.  My father was in the hospital.  And in our family, that means it was the time just before he died.  And on the morning of my First Communion a neighbor and close friend's father was killed in an auto accident.  So it was a rough time to say the least.

Ellie's will not have that kind of trauma.  Hers is filled with plans to see family and to move to Texas.  That's the excitement we'll share as a family as she makes her First Communion this weekend!

Jude's First Communion photo ~ credit: George Bolster
Actual First Communion Day - May 19, 1974

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter~!

Ellie's stash from the Easter Buddy - candy, eggs, gel pens, workbook, bookmarks, etc ...

Breakfast - eggs with hash browns, fruit salad, lemon bread and colored eggs!

Family Time!

As Bill returned from the second full week of travel we greeted him with news of lots of house showings over the weekend and some errands to get done!  So we found lots of fun things to do outside the house ... including lunch at Two Blokes and a Bus and a big walk at Tipton Trails!

Lunch on the bus - Steak Kabobs and sticky rice
but her favorite part was dessert - Sticky Toffee Cake

"Scooter" riding around Tipton Trails in the sunshine

Standing in front of the Constitution Trails sign

...and she's off ....

Spring Flowers

As the house has now been on the market for over a month, and there have been showings almost every day we needed a little cheer at the front door.  With an array of pansies and primrose and some purple ground cover thrown in for good measure, our front door planter looks rather spring-like!

Ellie's Presents

Yesterday as we had another opportunity to leave the house for a showing, we found ourselves at Barnes and Noble.  Ellie brought her birthday gift card from Aunt Mimi with us so she could look around.  And boy, did she find some good stuff!

A couple activity books, a couple chapter books and a nice clip on book light!  She was living large with all her findings.  And to think she only went 29 cents over her gift card - this kid's got talent!

Nothing happier than a girl and her shopping bag from Barnes and Noble!

Happy Birthday Josh!

Josh turns 18 today!  WOW~ it's hard for any of us to believe that is possible .. and only a few months from now he'll head off to start college at Siena.  So proud of the amazing man he has grown into over the years.

Ellie looks forward to seeing him in a few weeks here in Illinois - just a few days before we pack up to move to Dallas!

Ellie (7) and Josh (17) - Summer of 2013

#MCStrong

Ellie and I had to get out of the house this afternoon for a last minute showing .. so we decided to go to Barnes and Noble to see if she could find anything with her birthday gift card from Aunt Mimi.  We suggested to her she might look for some activity books and car trip books ... since that next ride to Texas was only a few weeks away!

We shopped and then still had time to kill so we went into the Starbucks cafe to have a drink.  Ellie ordered a small hot chocolate and I ordered a small coffee.  And when it was time to pay the cashier advised me that the bill was taken care of in the 'Pay It Forward' campaign of #MCStrong!  I was so excited to be part of this campaign that I asked how I could contribute.  She advised if I wanted to donate it would be added to the funds being used to pay for others.

I quickly found cash in my wallet and handed it to her. And we all smiled at how strong this #MCStrong thing really had become.

Now I'll explain #MCStrong.  Michael Collins was a local 22 year old that was killed last weekend by a drunk driver.  He didn't die instantly, he lived for 3 days in the hospital.  His family and friends wanted to honor his memory by creating a way for others to 'pay it forward' in his honor - remembering the generous life he lived.  They are using #MCStrong as an identifier.

So now we're a part of it .. and we'll continue to make efforts to pay it forward in his honor this week.

#MCStrong at Starbucks inside Barnes and Noble - Bloomington IL

Action shots ...

Great face!  She loves being in the middle of the action!

Warm ups - practicing ball control

The moms and I talk about what they must say to each other when they gather like this?  "Where are you going for lunch after the game?" or "I like your shirt, it's cute!" or even "I'm a bit slow today - didn't get my latte this morning!"

She loves her soccer!  She's always smiling - during warm ups, on the bench and when she's on the field!

Painting Pottery

Ellie and I had a full week while Bill was gone this week.  Monday and Wednesday were soccer practice, Tuesday was Religious Ed and Thursday we got a jump on Teacher gifts!  So excited to have painted mugs for her 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Kimmel and her principal, Mrs. Fogal - we'll fill those with goodies for the last week Ellie is at Grove.  And then we found a  beautiful little cross that Ellie painted a deep blue and adorned with tiny green dots along the edges to give to her Religious Ed teacher, Mrs. Wallace.  Second grade is  a big year - lots of milestones!  Who knew that we'd have a move thrown into the mix as well!

What a great message!

Ellie watched this link with me the first time and I couldn't have been happier that she got the message right away.  It is spoken in Thai with subtitles, but it didn't matter - she completely found the meaning in this 3 minute clip! You have to watch until the end .. and it will surprise even the 'non-cryer' in the group!

East Coast Crew

The Moreheads - Phil and Brenda, hosted a pizza party for us on Saturday afternoon to celebrate our moving to Dallas.  It was a great gathering of all the East Coast Crew - The Martin family, The Swan Family and the Moreheads!  with the addition of the Fatzenetz family - including 7-year old daughter, Catherine!  A great new pal for Ellie - they grew so close they hugged good-bye at the end of the night!

Phil made this amazing variety of pizzas! There was a Shrimp and Veggie pizza, BBQ Chicken, Cheeseburger and even a Thai variety!  The kids played outside while the grown-ups told stories and ate the feast~!

Kristin, Laura and me

The Two Bills - Bill Martin and Bill Fricano

Phil making all those awesome pizza for the party!

Ellie played more football, basketball and tag then we can remember!

Group of girls that played all afternoon together!

Soccer Saturday

Although it's the beginning of April, it felt like March as the sun shone but the temperatures were in the 30's!  This didn't stop the girls from running up and down the soccer field in the cold.  They wore many layers under their 'gold shirt', and leggings under their shorts, but they played hard and emerged  flushed and thirsty!

Lily and Ellie in line for the run and kick drill!

Look Mom - no feet on the ground!

That's some big kick!

Ellie, Sydnee and Marissa warming up!

Opening Day 2014

As tradition has it, every year we sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame at dinner as we eat our hot dogs, enjoy our Cracker Jacks while wearing our new Yankee t-shirts!

All this after our first soccer practice of the Spring season ... great day all around!

Wearing our new shirts - holding our Cracker Jacks!