Where the Wild Things Were

A while back one of the moms (Mary from Bobbins h.s.) very artfully and creatively put together a Where-the-Wild-Things-Are themed birthday party.





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

          

         

New Translation of the Mass

Started Sunday for us.  We were both ready and eager, as it promised to bring some formality and tradition, to really make it the "holy sacrifice of the Mass."  A couple of the words are a bit weird, admittedly ("roof"?), but it feels right overall.

Some good articles on the changes:
Relatively even-handed report  by NPR which quotes a conspiracy-minded Seattle priest worried about a 'power play' from Rome and a musician happy about the changes.
Changes in the music
How will 'Chr-easter' Catholics be affected?

Underwear Head

        

         

Me and JoJo

With Bobbins and MM away, it was just JoJo and I today.  We had a nice breakfast with the grandparents and great-grandparents at Big Apple, then did some errands and came home.  JoJo had some left-over turkey for lunch, which made her even more tired for a nap.

        

I finally got around to cleaning up my desk and putting up some decorations in my area outside.

       

Also did quite a bit of yardwork on Friday with the invaluable assistance of Bobbins' brother Mark.  Back lawn looked quite nice.

Thanks to my dad for giving us his old camera.  Ours broke last week.

An Extra Reason to Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. MM was ready to help her mom in the kitchen this morning.

          

Sure looks good!



This was a great article in the Wall Street Journal about touch football at Thanksgiving.  My own family has had some experiences like this over the years.  Hope to get out on the 'field' today.






We have extra reason to give thanks this year....

We estimate Bobbins is already 7 weeks and the due date will be in mid-July.

JoJo on the Slide

At the park on Saturday, JoJo braved the big curvy slide, while MM went for the long straight one.

Sun Devils

Saturday night's loss to UofA was a tough one.  As usual, it came down to the last play of the game.  Somehow driving to the UofA 15 yard line with just over a minute and no time outs, the Devils' high-powered offense had two chances to win it but the receivers could not connect in the end zone.  To be honest, I didn't have much confidence in them, although I was hoping against hope they'd pull it out so I could unload on the two very annoying football-illiterate UofA girls two rows behind us.  Alas.

The worst thing is that we were out-played and out-coached -- again.  All three recent losses have been because the other team wanted it more, played with more heart & desire than our guys, and our coaches got out-smarted.  It's tough to watch all these talented guys lose to inferior teams, but in college football will and solid coaching can overcome such deficits.

I'm not out for Head Coach Dennis Erickson's head just yet.  If they fired him at the end of the season, however, I'd be happy.  I'm tired of the Erickson trademark -- lack of discipline, penalties, not playing to potential.  In five years, his best year was his first; it's been downhill since, even with this year's promising start.  He's two lucky plays away (missed PATs last year against UofA) from going 0 for 4 against the Wildcats the last four games (he's 2-3).  That's unacceptable.  If I had a good idea of who they could replace him with, I'd say go for it.  The matter got a little more urgent now that UofA hired Rich Rodriguez.  If there's any good news to that, it's that the Buckeyes owned the Wolverines when Rodriguez coached Michigan.

Our Future ?

This last weekend we watched our friends' children so they could go on a Marriage Encounter weekend.  We stayed up at their house to make it easier.  They sent their son to his friend's house for the weekend, so we only had their three daughters and our two.  Their oldest daughter, age 9, was a huge help.  Bobbins and I both look forward to MM getting older to be a help like that.  We also laughed that the weekend was a preview of our future.

         

        

We went to a park Sat. morning and got a lot of playing around the house in Sunday.  The girls even braved the cold temp's of the pool for foot-dipping.  While Bobbins and MM and Josie napped, I took the three girls to the mall, which was quite an experience.  I sure know what Justice is now.

Bathroom Project

Bobbins' painting project somehow morphed into a bigger renovation of the hall bathroom.  We put wainscoating and new trim on the walls, with a new mirror above the sink.

         

       

        

        
That littlte section underneath the light switch probably turned out the best.  If you see it in person, do it in little light so you miss all the imperfections.  :-)  Thanks Kevin and Mr. M for the help, and my dad for hanging the mirror while we were gone.

Boston - Wedding, Reception

        

        

          

          

        

Kym's mom introduced all of the bridal party, which was a little embarassing.  Bridesmaid Jen (old friend of Kym's, a teacher, had her first son 3 months ago) and I sheepishly stand in front of the audience.

Our old college buddy Mike was the best man, and Kym's cousin Meaghan was the maid of honor.  The bridesmaids wore black.

       

You know Bobbins dragged me onto the floor to be the first dancers after the bride & groom.  I also danced with a recently widowed lady who really cut a rug.

       

I had a little too much wine at the reception and the after-party, but a great time was had by all.

Boston - Sat. Sites

Sat. morning we walked around Boston Common before the big event.  On the way there Bobbins got a lick on the Democratic Donkey outside the Old Boston City Hall.

Paul Revere's and John Hancock's headstones in the Granary Burying Ground on Tremont St.  Sam Adams is also buried here.

         

The 54th Massachusetts and Boston Massacre Monuments