First Day Of School

It's the first day of the new school year, and Dad's birthday. It was odd to just watch them drive off, like grownups, instead of driving them myself. The twins last year of high school, I am quite melancholy. Almost every first day of school picture is from this view, the boys squinting into the sun, with backpacks piled all around. Isaac has to figure out how to hide his new, large, tattoo.

Mi Pequeno Hijo Returns

Jack and the St. James Youth Group returned from Nicaragua either late last night or very early this morning, depending on your point of view.  They all looked a tad bedraggled after the long day of traveling, but everyone was in very high spirits, quite full of joy after their trip.  Jack cannot stop talking about the wonderful children at the NPH orphanage, and what a special time he had with them. They even signed his cane.  We are so glad he is home.

The Age Of Consent

The twins turned 18, on the same day that Jack returned from Nicaragua.  The twins celebrated by purchasing and smoking cigars with their friends, eating pizza and playing "fugitive", kind of a big kids version of Hide N Seek, that involves cars too (yikes).  It is rumored that "some" people got sick from the cigars.  I tried two puffs and then couldn't stop tasting it for hours, yuck.  Everyone had a great time, except for the sick ones of course.  And now the adults in the house, out number the children.

Nicaragua

Jack is having a magnificent time in Nicaragua, based on reports on the parish website and from our Skype session.  Apparently the pequenos love his cane, and him too. When we skyped I didn't get in the camera, so I don't think he knows I was there…darn.  In one picture it looks as if he got a monster sunburn on his shoulders, all my advice to take sunscreen went unheeded of course.

Noonday

I went to a jewelry and accessory party that was the coolest thing ever. Every thing is handmade by mostly women artisans from 13 different developing countries.  I don't even wear jewelry and I bought something. It was so cool to hear their stories and to see how their lives have been positively impacted. Some of the stuff is even made from spent ammo that they dig up in their farms, leftover from various conflicts.

On To Nicaragua

Jack left late last night for his mission trip to Nicaragua, with the church youth group.  There was such a kerfuffle at the airport, that I didn't even get a picture of Jack before he just walked off with the group, I barely got a kiss, and I had to give him a kiss from dad too, so I will have to use an old picture of him, (and no he didn't take any grenades in his carry-on.) The group arrived with 17 plastic bins, packed with goodies for the kids at the orphanage, as well as everyone's toiletries, each weighing approximately 50 lbs.  When we arrived at the airport, we were advised that there was a last minute plastic bin embargo, and they could not check them onto the plane.  The few parents there who were not actually going on the trip, were going to have to pack these bins home in our cars!  I, in my usual unhelpful state, just stood back and let the dads offer up their cars first, I couldn't figure out how I was going to get these bins to my car all by myself, so I wimped out.  I did offer to 'guard' them as everyone else was running around, getting cars and rolly carts and whatnot.  They ended up being able to pack the toiletries into some luggage, which made all the panicking girls on the trip calm down.  So, I just had to take the empty bins to my car, but they were heavier than one might think. Thus was "Bin-gate" resolved.

Disaster Strikes

Well disaster is probably too strong of a word, and it didn't really strike, so much as, sneak. Apparently we have had a small, tiny even, leak in our plumbing. We didn't notice this until the paint bubbled up. So we have had the wall ripped out, the plumbing repaired, and now we have these huge dryer/dehumidifiers running constantly. They are so loud you can't even have a conversation, and you have to have the TV on "Gramma Volume." Things like this lie in wait until Ted goes out of town. Two weeks ago he was in England, the car broke down and the garage door spring exploded. Sometimes I wish we were renters.

Searching For A College

Ted and Isaac took a little road trip to California to look at some colleges for Isaac. USC was the hugest and most crowded as they were hosting the world Special Olympics, Columbia College Hollywood was the most promising, and LMU, as evidenced, was the prettiest by far.  I wish that he could somehow go to a great college while also simultaneously NOT moving away, ever.