a milestone b-day

Had a full day on Saturday.  We attended a brunch at church in the morning for the 2nd graders who'll be making their 1st communion soon, then it was off to Iowa to celebrate Duane's birthday with all the family.  He'll be 70 on the 19th.  Happy birthday to my fantastic father-in-law, whose youngest son I was lucky enough to lay eyes on 15 years ago this month.

Happy Easter 2012

We went to the 2.5 hour Easter vigil Saturday night, and the kids did pretty well.  Michael slopped some candle wax on his new shirt, though.

the teenager

Kyrie Eleison

Lord have mercy.  It's official.  Michael is a teenager today.  He's been morphing into one for several months, though.  To go along with his changing appearance, he frequently cops a teenager 'tude.  This is our conversation when he comes home from school:

"Hi Michael."  Silence.  "How was your day?"  "(unintelligible grunt)."  "How was jazz band (or the math test, etc.)?"  "Fiiiine."

Every single day.  No exaggeration.  Buuut, we signed up for this.  He was such a cute little bologna loaf in the hospital bassinet.  Maybe I'm nuts, but I've always looked forward to the kids' teenage years - to watch them mature and discover their individuality and talents.  What a cool gift.

Happy 13th birthday Monkey!  We love you!

Cyclone Rake!

Nate and I just cracked up when an infomercial for this thing came on last night.  I think they accidentally hired the SNL commercial guys to write it.  It's as easy as falling off a log!

something old, something new(er)

On Saturday we traded in our really old Windstar for a slightly less old Grand Caravan.  Oh, the excitement.  The Windstar wasn't on it's last legs just yet, but we got six years out of it, and figured we'd ditch it before it fizzled & croaked. 

berserk birds

Still waiting for the darn poinsettia to die.  We're more than halfway through Lent, for Pete's sake.  I'm tired of (barely) nurturing it.  Figures, 'cuz if I actually try to keep a plant alive?  Yep, deadsville...via drowning or crispy crinkledom.

So spring sprung.  Birds are chirping madly.  70's and even some 80's in March?  Yes please.  It's nice to be pleasantly surprised when you open the gas bill.  And unless we get a big freak snowfall soon, we've escaped the winter of 2011/12 without a single Big Snow Event in the metro.  The kids have spring break this week, ergo it's rainy and cooler than last week, but we'll take it.  The ducks are back on the pond, the grass is greening up, and it's fun to watch Felix catch and eat the pesky boxelder bugs scampering around the house.

Nicky the 8 year old

Nicky's eighth b-day was Monday.  That's enough candles to light up the room pretty well!

musical kids

Adrienne played in the Jubilee Band concert on Sunday.  All 5th graders, 8th, and the FHS Wind Ensemble took part.  She's coming along on the clarinet pretty nicely.  Not going through reeds so quickly any more.

She's in the front left w/her hair pulled back.  Notice the director's arms waving magically.  Meanwhile Michael is making some interesting music of his own with his voice, which has been cracking Peter Brady style for a month or so.  "When it's time to change, you've got to re-ar-aaange!"

Why are Catholics cranky and weird now?

Because it's Lent.  Explanation here.