"Did you ever notice . . .

that they make bread in the exact same shape as the toaster?"

Molly noticed that yesterday.

I'm 36 and can't say I ever noticed it.

Kids are just so amazingly aware of themselves and the things around them.

If only they'd eat the crust. . .

Nobody did anything funny today . . .

After a glorious weekend, today was back to school, back to homework, back to dance classes, etc. I was at school today teaching Brenna's class an art lesson on Georgia O'Keeffe which was really neat. Then I cruised by the gym and got some yearbook photos of Molly's class playing floor hockey. I'm back in tomorrow for Library with Molly's class and Brownies with Brenna. Off on Weds but back on Thurs. for Hot Lunch crew and another art class with Gr. 4. Does it matter that I don't have a child in Gr. 4? - of course not! It just adds to the fun. I'm just glad that I'm able to do all this (and enjoy it too!) while the girls are young and still like having me at school with them. We have a day off Friday though - I think we'll all need it!

Ummmm . . .

It was 73 degrees today.

We had all the windows open and played outside all afternoon. My daffodils are several inches high and my potted plants are still green. I even managed to get a mosquito bite!

My calendar says it's January but it sure feels like spring to me!!

Here we go again . . . Your Molly Moment of the Day

Brenna came home all abuzz today because her school's "Pennies from Heaven" charity campaign kicked off a new project today. For the next few weeks they'll raise money for poor schools overseas. Miss "I'm-Making-My-First-Communion-And-Earning-A-Religious-Medal-So-I-Simply-Can't-Get-Any-Holier" raided her piggy bank and was marching all over the house soliciting additional donations from everyone (namely me since I was the only one here!)

Actually Molly was also home and, after listening to Brenna 's pitch, she agreed to donate. Up she went to her room and came down with one of her many, many (many, many, many) purses and started digging through it for change. It soon became clear she didn't have any. Then comes the Molly Moment - she pulls out one of those sample credit cards (the plastic ones that come attached to all the junk mail applications), holds it up and says

"We're in luck! Bren, do you take credit cards?"

Deepest Thanks

I'm coordinating a program for the Girl Scouts at Brenna's school which has them working towards a nice religious medal that they will receive on Scout Sunday. The girls are great and the project is fun but it's been really time-consuming for me. Today I held an afterschool session for them and had one of our priests come to help us work through some material. He's very dynamic and although he did a great job with the girls, he did get them all jazzed up. Then we did a lot of activities and had to get the school hall all cleaned up . . . Anyway, it was after 5pm when we finished and I was so tired that I just took the girls to McDonald's for dinner.

(None of that first paragraph is relevant to the story but as you can see, it's just all that's been running through my mind for the past 48 hrs.!)

So the girls are chattering away to me and Molly launches into a story. She said something about "trains" but I thought she said "planes." When I questioned, "Planes?" she looked at me, sighed and with an expression that she's merely tolerating me said in her best adult voice, "Well . . . no . . . that's not what we're discussing right now . . . (leans back as if to resume the story and then quickly puts her hand on my arm) but I would like to thank you for mentioning it." and just continued on with her story.

How can I not laugh at this kid? My best guess is that it must be something her teacher has said when the kids interupt her with the bizarrely random comments that they're famous for. It's just that Molly uses these comments at exactly the right time, with all the right expressions, pauses and gestures and most of all with such sincerity that it's unbelieveably comical. It was as if she was really trying to make sure my feelings weren't hurt! Oh and the sighs - she's forever sighing at me. But at least she tolerates me. Then again, that's not what we're discussing right now . . .

The love of a sister cannot be estimated . . .

Driving home from church on Sunday I made a comment to Brenna about her upcoming First Communion in May. She replied something about having to make her First Penance first. Before I could say anything, Molly asked "Is that the thing where you tell the priest your sins?" I don't think she knows what a sin is but she must hear Brenna talking about it and absorbs far more than we give her credit for. Brenna said yes and Molly asked again, "Do you need to tell him about all the times you're bad to your sister?" I was ready and waiting for her to lay into her big sis about all of the transgressions that Brenna has inflicted but that was not to be. Molly instead says, "Because if you do, when my turn comes I'm not gonna do that part. I'll just wait for the other thing when you get to taste the bread and do that part instead."

I can see it now, in 3 years at her First Penance as Molly stands up and says, "I'm going to pass on this activity for now. I'll see you all in a few months for First Communion. Later dudes!"

Of course we have to survive 3+ years of Catholic school with her first. Managing that will be a miracle in and of itself!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! !

Look who lasted until midnight and welcomed the new year! I think it helped that Molly slept from 8:30 last night to 9:50 this morning so she was well-rested for the task. Miss Brenna just runs on adreneline! Although she slept until 9:15 herself. All the fun of Christmas vacation has caught up with them. Needless to say we went to a late Mass today.

We'll no doubt pay for this when we have to get them up for school on Tuesday but they really, really, REALLY wanted to try to stay up. And you know what, why the heck not?!

Happy 2007 everyone!!

Coming up for air!

We survived Christmas 2006 in grand style. The girls received more presents than 2 children should ever be allowed! Santa was very good - as were 4 very doting grandparents and 2 aunts and an uncle. Unbelieveable. Brenna was thrilled with her Polly Pocket Cruise ship (and a gazillion more Pollys), several board games, a pair of Heelys, an Irish step tote bag and personalized shirt, and a ton of new clothes. Molly was more than pleased with her Rescue Pet Wake Up dog, Moon Sand, board games, Littlest Pet Shop playsets and a new CD/karaoke radio for her room. And that was the tip of the iceberg. We also got a keyboard which has turned into a fun family gift as we've all had fun playing with the demo songs. Now if only someone could actually play!

My parents were here for nearly a week and we were all sad to see them go. Hopefully they'll use the JetBlue giftcards we gave them to come back again soon! In the meantime, I'm still finding shreds of wrapping paper under furniture and trying to put things away and eat my way from under all of the food in the house. All in all - it's exactly how a holiday should be!!

We hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas as well!

Christmas Eve

Off to bed before Santa gets here! Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas!

Gingerbread Houses

Lots of candy, lots of icing, lots of mess but lots of fun!

Fa La La La La !

Last night Brenna and I went caroling with 4 of the Girl Scout troops at her school. Picture more than 70 girls and families trooping through the neighborhood behind the school! After all of the gorgeous days we've had, we of course got the first chilly night in a long time. First stops were the convent and the rectory (that's Brenna in the Brownie vest right in the middle of the group) but the best part was that the faculty of the school was having their Christmas Party in the neighborhood we were caroling in. The girls really enjoyed performing, but the hot chocolate and cookies afterwards were even better. This was the first time we've been caroling and it really helped to put us in the Christmas spirit!

Ready for School!

Don't bother rubbing the sleep out of your own eyes because you are seeing correctly - Brenna and Molly wore their pajamas to school today! No they didn't dawdle too long or just simply forget to get dressed - it was Pajama Spirit Day. Let's just say that there was a level of excitement in that school that I've never seen. Even the teachers got in the spirit and wore jammies and robes. It was a cute sight - especially at morning arrival!

In the afternoon they were having an event in the gym to culminate in a huge team pillow fight. The Reds vs. Whites (school colors) tossing dozens and dozens of pillows back and forth across the gym and when the timer stops, the team with the fewest number of pillows on their side wins. I'm sure it was hilarious to see all these kids - big and little together, having fun. No matter what, these two girls were excited to go in today!

Christmas in Killarney . . .

well, it was actually Arlington, VA but it felt a bit like good ol' Ireland at least! Brenna's Irish dance school held their Christmas Pageant tonight and she was wonderful. It was their first time performing and only 8 of the girls were able to attend. Not to mention that they haven't had class in 2 weeks so they weren't exactly well-rehearsed. Nevertheless, they did a great job and we couldn't be prouder. Baby, take a bow!

Hair

Molly did my hair for me last night. Putting all of those clips away reminded me that I needed to pick up some hair accessories for stocking stuffers.

Or do I? The girls do have quite a few hair things already . . .

A big basket of headbands . . .

Not one but TWO racks of hair bows and ribbons . . .

Many baggies of clips and barrettes sorted by color (there's more -I notice you can't see the orange, black or white bags!) and don't forget the bigger bags of scrunchies and one devoted to navy and plaid hair things that match their school uniform . . .

But believe it or not Brenna still needs some brown things to match her scout uniform. Boy, do I love being the mom of hair-obsessed girls!

Tough Day Evidently

Molly's unflappable teacher bring the kids out to the main school door every day at dismissal as the parents wait outside. She'll go to the bottom of the steps and one by one she'll say "I see Cathy's mom, you may go." and she helps the kid down the steps before she dismisses the next person. Today was different though. The poor woman stood at the top of the steps and said "If you see your mom, your babysitter, your carpool driver or anyone who looks even remotely familiar to you, just go with them!"

Molly didn't have any comments but clearly it was not a good day.

Unlucky Coincidence?

The girls have a older nun, Sr. Jeanne, for music class at school. She's not particularly patient with the fidgety little ones and thus some of them don't really enjoy her class as much as they should because she spends so much time correcting them. Molly's best little friend has been crying about going to school on music days. Finally last Thursday her father went in and talked to the PreK teacher about it. Nothing the teacher said or did was reassuring to the poor kid so the teacher finally said they didn't have to go. Since PreK doesn't perform in the Christmas Concert (this Friday) and the rest of the school was having extra rehearsals in preparation, the teacher decided to take a break. So she cancelled their music class that day and said she would talk to the kids and to Sr. Jeanne the next day (Friday) about how to make things better.

Didn't they announce in church today that Sr. Jeanne died yesterday! YIKES! Yes, she was older but she seemed in decent enough health. After all, she taught all last week and took part in the Immaculate Conception holy day Mass with the kids on Friday. What a shock to everyone. Now this poor kid's mother calls me feeling guilty. Lesson to all: Stay on this kid's good side! Dean said to make sure we get her a really nice Christmas present so she doesn't decide to dislike us! I hate to joke about it, but it really is an unfortunate coincidence. Brenna was sad but mentioned that many kids didn't like Sr. I really didn't want to leave her with the idea that she was always irritable so I explained that perhaps Sr. hadn't been feeling well for a long time and that's why she may have seemed so grouchy. Brenna seemed to feel better about that so I'm glad. I feel peaceful about her passing also because Friday was a major feast day for our Sisters at school. At Mass that day all 10 of them (can you believe we have 10 nuns!?!) renewed their vows andsang a beautiful song in Latin. It was very touching and powerful to see them all together in such a prayerful way. It's nice to know she passed just after making such a profession. It will be a big loss to the school and naturally the concert this week is cancelled. School will be closed Thursday for the funeral. Brenna wants to go but Molly (who I wasn't planning to bring anyway) says she will only go if her friend is going. Uhhhh . . . I doubt that.

Last practice

Brenna's Irish Dance class had their last practice this week. Next Sunday they will be dancing in her teacher's Irish Christmas pageant. She is so excited! This is the first time these kids will have performed. The teacher has a studio in Virginia so most of the dancers come from there. Since this is just an afterschool class, Brenna won't need a school costume for this so that helps. We did finally get her official Irish dance shoes (ghillies) though. She's convinced she dances much better wearing them!

So now she's just counting the days until the pageant and begging me to curl her hair for it. Oh Lord!

Christmas Tree Assembly

Despite our regular trips to the farm and other such nature excursions (did I ever tell you about that Girl Scout hike? You know, the one where I volunteered to be the one who drove the snack to the end spot? Let me just tell you how broken up I am that our Scout Unit's big Encampment is on First Communion weekend!) anyway, despite our family's love of the great outdoors, we have generally resorted to having a fake tree each Christmas. This is due in large part to A) the fact that Dean and I had a real tree our first Christmas together but the stupid thing leaked and ruined the hardwood floor underneath and then fell over on Christmas morning breaking what few ornaments we had and B) the fact that Dean likes to leave the tree up until . . . February practically and a real tree gets pretty darn spindley by then.

So the assembly of our Christmas tree is a big tradition here. Here you see Brenna lending a hand and Molly lending an opinion as she (and the festively-attired elephant again) watches while snuggled under the Christmas tree skirt. Clearly manual labor isn't her thing.

Elephant

Molly and Elephant 2003

If you've met Molly, then you've met her elephant. The once soft, pink critter is now far more floppy and worn (despite being one of 2 that rotate through the wash. There were 3 but one went missing long ago - exactly why I bought 2 spares when it became clear she loved this little thing!) but it far and away the favorite of all her "friends" (that's what we call her gazillion stuffed animals - she's an addict! Brenna always had a doll and Molly always has an animal friend)

Anyway, she was helping me unpack some more Christmas decorations today when she suddenly scooted off to her room and that was the end of her help. I didn't think any more of it until later when I saw Elephant on the coffeetable. Clearly, as part of the family, he too must get decked out for the holidays. She must have found the little hat in the decorations and claimed it for her best buddy. She's just as pleased as punch with it. I particularly like that it's big ears are stuffed up inside that teeny hat!

December?

Where is the time going? It seems like I just flipped a calendar page, and then here it goes again.

We've had a busy week with school and scouts and dance and everything in between. Dean was away the whole week (nothing like coming in Sunday evening and heading out again Monday morning!) so the girls are happy to have him back now. They are getting antsy to put up all the Christmas decorations so I guess it's time to face the facts and get everything put up. With temperatures in the 70's last week it was impossible to think about then! Of course once the decorations are up all I'll think about is all the shopping I still have left to do!