Thursday night madness!!!

We had a free night. Conlan and Ray watched football while, Colleen taught D how to dance. Their musical ability is why they do sports!!!

Thursday

It has been a quite uneventful week so far. Colleen and I did some girl bonding over shopping on Tuesday night. She is a character, she talked nonstop for 3 hours and stopped long enough to ask what can we talk about now. I am glad that she shares what is on her mind. She also showed more Aunt Annie and Grandpa tendencies. When it was time to eat she picked the place with the less cars in the parking lot. She definitely doesn't like crowds! The boys of been getting some Daddy time.
I have been doing well working out. I have been trying to go step or kickboxing class at least twice a week and I ran a whole mile without stopping this morning! Slow baby steps but at least I am off my butt.
Ray and I did some Christmas shopping today. Actually got somethings accomplished. First time Ray had been in the mall since last Christmas.

Hunting in MD

Nice quiet weekend

Ray went off with Conlan to MD for some male bonding hunting time, leaving me home with Colleen and Donavan. We did a little shopping on Friday, my kids have that Farine gene that keeps one out of stores that have more than 5 people. We were looking for Colleen a pair of shoes, since she only has one pair of tennis shoes that fit her. We had no luck. After a few hours we came home and started watching the RAZORBACK game. It was half time when it was time to go swimming. I asked the Y to switch one of the TVs to the game. By the end of the game there were a whole group of us watching the game, not working out just leaning on treadmills and sitting on bikes. What a great game! GO HOGS!
We did stop at Marshall's on the way home and found not one but two pair of shoes for Colleen, which made her much happier. Saturday morning Colleen got guilt ed into going to swim practice. Her coach "forced" her to go since she didn't go to Friday morning practice. (Morning practice is much longer and harder than night during holiday times) It wasn't nearly as bad as she thought it was going to be, but I have to admire the girl for swimming 4 to 5 miles everyday during a school break. Donavan had a soccer game. His team won 10-4. The other team only had three players show up so D's team gave them two of their players. It was a fun game to watch. The kids and I went and saw the movie AUGUST RUSH. That is a good movie. We were all in bed by 8:30 and didn't wake up until 8 this morning.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

We had a nice Thanksgiving! The kids and I went hiking, saw Ray at work and then went to Uncle Ken's for dinner. Aunt Sandy did a terrific job feeding all of us.

A nice family day

Today was a nice quiet day. The kids didn't have school and Ray was home. Colleen swam this morning, but the boys and I just hung out. I did those exciting things like laundry and cleaning bathrooms!
This afternoon we went and saw the movie Enchanted. A great family movie. Very sweet and lots of fun....Since Ray works tomorrow we had a nice family dinner tonight.
I not only talked to Sarah and Ann today, but also had a nice conversation with Jane, even chatted with Jenny. It is nice to talk with the people you don't get to talk to on a regular basis.
Not too much is been going on the last few days.
Tuesday...I had lunch with my dear friend Darlene. Since she has moved and gotten a full time job we don't time as much time together, so it was nice to spend a couple of hours with her. We also had a Thanksgiving celebration for D-mans class. He has a wonderful teacher and that is something I am very thankful for this year.
Sunday...Colleen and Conlan both did best times for swimming. In a couple of weeks they will be swimming in Annapolis against teams all up and down the East coast. Conlan and I made a stop at Potomac Mills on the way home. He is too funny to shop with, he has definite ideas about what he likes and dislikes. It was nice to spend quality time with just him.

CHAMPIONS!!!!!

Conlan's football team won 19-12! It was a great 2nd half game. The first half was filled with penalties and the other team scoring. The half time score was 0-12. Conlan said the coaches yelled at them so loud that the coaches lost their voices and couldn't breathe. Apparently it worked b/c they came out the 2nd half playing great. Conlan did a wonderful job. In the last couple of games Conlan was tight end and linebacker. Today during the 2nd quarter they moved him from linebacker to noseguard! WOW! By the 3rd quarter he had it down and was the tackle machine. It was great hearing "#77 Beaver with the tackle" over the PA. Conlan also continued to play tight end and almost caught the ball for a pass. We are so proud of all the boys and so appreciative of having such great coaches.
Conlan continued his winning ways and scored a goal in his soccer game. His team also won. D-man's team wasn't so fortunate.
Tomorrow is swimming. It will be a long day.

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Trying new things

Yesterday was an eventful day. First Ray and I took this exercise class at the Y called DRUMMING. (Yes I am still in the quest of a more toned less body) Drumming consist of a large exercise ball , drum sticks and a very enthusiastic instructor. It was a blast. Ray's shirt was soaked with sweat so it did the job for him.
After that I had my first substitute job, 7th grade Spanish. I luck out and knew the "cool" girl from swimming so it set the tone I was a human, not a thing to be tested by the wilds of 13 year olds.
Then Ray and I finally had a conference with Conlan's teacher. I have been trying to get the ladies attention for 2 weeks finally after a visit with the asst. principal I got acknowledge. Conlan's teacher is a year from retirement and is very stuck in her ways. I knew I wasn't going to change her, but I was hoping for a little tiny budge. NO CAN DO! I am going to try the back door approach to get what I want ,go thru the speech therapist, and not waste my time trying to move a mountain.
Last night Colleen went to swimming and I did my regular Wednesday step class. My thighs are still screaming. My body was yelling at me that we only exercise two or three times a week ,not twice in one day!
This morning the kids went to morning practice. AS hard as it is to get up that early all three seem to enjoy it, plus today Conlan's best buddy was swimming so life was great. Tonight is the last night of football practice, since it is raining they called to say it was going to be in a gym for only an hour. YIPEE!! Life will be a bit easier once football is over. Once less place to be three days a week.

Laundry, Wal-mart and a Nap

Ray and I were living the high life today while the kids where at school. I folded laundry while he paid bills and then off to Wal-mart to buy food. We did get to have a nice lunch together downtown. Tonight the kids only have swimming, and with Ray home, the boys can come home early and not wait for Colleen to finish.
Indoor soccer results.....Donavan's team won 6-1. He scored a goal. Conlan's team lost 11-5. Colleen's team won 11-1. Colleen was the only girl on the field. She held her own against the MONSTER boy. He was 6ft and at least 180, and Colleen collided with him more than once. She said she was scared but she wasn't about to let him get pass her.

Conlan Tackling

Super Bowl Bound- Peewee Style

LINEBACKER!

Ray is in the chain gang!

Waiting to play

Conlan's football team won 12-6. It was a very close game. With 2 minutes left the other team was 4th with 35 to go, low and behold they run it to the 10 yard line. Longest two minutes of football! Conlan played linebacker mostly, but was on the field the majority of the game playing both ways. He did an excellent job. He did get confused about when he needed to be playing since he isn't use to playing so much defense. It was funny watching him, one time the team had to call a time out to get him out on the field. His dad said he was reliving his own football memories! Next week they play in the Championship Game.

BRAGGING ALERT!

The end of the first nine weeks......


Colleen not only made all A's, except for the B in science, but she was picked by her team of teachers for earning the RESPONSIBILITY award for the nine weeks. Only 3 sixth graders out of more than 275 got the award.
Conlan did well on his report card also. We saw lots of A's and B's and of course he is so well behaved and courteous. He is still working on his reading skills, but we are seeing progress.
Donavan is fooling his teacher and making her think he is wonder boy. He had lots of E's and a few S's on his report card. Most impressive with Donavan is he is reading and math seems to be a natural thing to him.

Tomorrow Conlan has the semifinals playoff game for football in the morning and a soccer game in the afternoon. Donavan has a soccer game in the morning. Colleen got a new queen size bed this week so she has to clean her room after Ray and I destroyed the whole upstairs trying to make room for the bed.

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SHE IS PREGNANT!

Ann is 31 weeks prego! Looking great! My internet service is being screwy so you will have to check back tomorrow for the slide show from NYC.

We're Back!

We had a great time in NJ. The Devos family is doing great. Ann is beautiful with her BABY BELLY. I hope to get the pics up tomorrow. Ray and I took the five kids to NYC for the day so we have lots of pics of the day. I manged to get a couple of pics of Ann and the belly.
Also Conlan won his football playoff game, so he plays again on Saturday.

Busy Day

We are going to NJ today to see the Devos family. but first we have football and soccer games to attend. I need to finish packing instead of playing on the computer. Hopefully we will have lots of pics and lots of stories to share in the next few days.

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