A Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Yes, we're talking back-to-school time.

Please, please, hold your applause and cheers, you know that you will be missing them in a few days, weeks, months.

Anyway, with this being such a special day, I thought I would share a few pictures, if that's okay with you.

First up we have Maggie, who is going to school for the first time - she has been home-schooled for the past two years...

Jessie is next and looking more and more grown up as she is entering that fun year, seventh grade.

Katie is looking forward to hanging out with her friends, oh and going to class of course. She really enjoys going to school.

Andy is actually getting ready for his last day of summer work - he leaves for his sophomore year at Loras College tomorrow.

Benjy always knows where the camera is, so he doesn't have to show his face. Notice how dark it is outside? That's because it is 5:30am. He was waiting for his grandfather (the Deacon) to take him to morning mass.

We have been blessed with seven wonderful children and now have five of them in schools ranging from second grade to college sophomore. I think Danny is even getting excited about going to school next year. Maybe. He wants to go to Disney World first, then we'll talk.

He is so ours.

How did your first days go? Were the kids excited about getting back into the school game? Or did they fuss and fight waking up?

Have a great school year kids, we love you!!

Evening Ritual

I am the father of seven children.

At one point in each and every day, I tend to tell the children to go to bed, then tuck them in and the house gets really quiet.

It's nice.

Now, I should mention that technically, I only do this for four of my children. The oldest two, are beyond Daddy tucking them in, and are responsible for their own bed times. I still wake them up though, so it's not all paradise. Okay, I really only have to wake them up on an occasional Sunday morning, after I have dragged my tired butt out of bed. Happy?

That being said, the remaining four do have certain rituals that we go through. Maggie and Katie share a room, so they both HAVE to go to bed at the same time, otherwise the other will get mad and start whining, etc. In September, you can bet that Katie will remind me of my "you're not ten yet" rule, as she turns ten then. Anyway, we get them into bed and either Jenni or myself will lead them through our evening prayers. Then they get thirsty, or have to go to the bathroom, or have a headache, or can't find a stuffed animal, etc.

Good times.

Jessica is easy, and unfortunately, the one I tend to "forget." Actually, it's more like I am preoccupied by the evil computer, or some television show. Either way, she will patiently await my arrival downstairs to wish her a good night. With a kiss, a few good nights, a few I love you's, and a few sleep goods. Almost like clockwork, she will be off to the bathroom within half an hour. I usually don't notice, since I am upstairs while she is down, and there is a bathroom down there.

So sweet.

Which leads me to Danny. To give you an example of our routine, I present the following:

Me: Okay buddy, time for bed.

Danny: Dad, dad, dad, where's my fuzzy blanket?

M: I don't know.

D: I need it!

M: Okay, let me see if I can find it.

(three minutes later)

M: Here's your blanket.

D: Not that one. This one.

M: You had it the whole time?

D: No, what?

M: Okay, let's pray. In the name of the...

D: Dad wait! Where's Buzz?

M: Wha? Oh, he's right here and here (pointing to pictures on the wall)

D: Why isn't he here, Dad?

M: Those are just planets and space ships buddy.

D: Okay, kiss.

M: In the name of the...

D: Wait!

M: now what Danny?

D: There's Thomas and James and Percy, lots of them

M: Yes Danny, there are, it's your border.

D: Oh. Thomas James and Percy. Kiss now.

M: In the name of...

D: WAIT! I Start it.

M: Okay, go.

D: In the name of the Father

We do the following with Danny:

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

May angels watch me through the night,

And keep me in their blesssed sight.

After that, he's pretty much ready to go to sleep. One more kiss, and I am free!

Now don't go thinking that I am complaining, because I'm not. I mean before I know it, none of them will "need" me to tuck them in and give them a kiss goodnight - then I'll start complaining.

Good night and God Bless!

I'll Have a Shot of Illuminati

 Recently, At a Hollywood Starbucks . . .

Today is the Day

Andy, his mother and grandparents are in Dubuque, Iowa today for Andy's interview for the Brietbach Catholic Thinkers and Leaders Program, which will greatly help out with paying for Andy's college education, AND make him a part of a great program.

He had to write an essay, and then wait to be chosen for an interview.

We waited.

And waited.

The deadline said Dec 23, 2008, and here it was January already. Andy contacted his admission counselor, and was told that they hadn't selected the thirty applicants for an interview yet. This is thirty out of a couple of hundred essays, I imagine especially since this is such a great program to get into. A very competitive, that if chosen will do tons towards helping Andy, not only in college, but also in life itself. Just going through the whole interview process itself will be a great help for him, when he's interviewing for those all-important jobs of the future.

Anyway, a few days ago - forgive me for I cannot remember the exact date, I'm no good at that. Andy received a text message from his counselor at Loras, as we were about to start our family Rosary (a good habit that we are getting back into - thanks Jenni!), telling him that sorry, Andy was not going to be invited for an interview.

Andy took it very well, and we discussed other options, like community college and FAFSA, for his future plans. Then we prayed and asked God to help us with dealing with the disappointment of not getting an interview, and for guidance regarding the future. It was a nice evening of prayer, aside from a giggling eleven year old, and we went back to our normal activities; the girls and Danny get settled in to bed, while the older boys do what older boys do, Facebook, Youtube, The Office, the Wii, whatever it was.

*** I think I remember that this was on Sunday now. Jenni will correct me if I'm wrong. :)

The next day, I was in various meetings and missed Jenni's phone calls, she left a message on my work phone and cell (I know, I should be carrying with me all the time, but...) with a message to call her back as soon as possible. Uh oh, my first thoughts were that something bad happened. So I call home and no one answers, yet it doesn't go to the machine, which means Jenni or one of the kids are on the phone. Hopefully that's a good sign, because at least they are still home.

I try again a couple of times before Jenni picks up and says that since I didn't answer, she had to tell somebody.

"Loras called and he has an interview, on Saturday."

"This Saturday? I thought that they were scheduled for next week?"

"They are, but he gets one on Saturday."

This was good news, because Andy has a Winter Retreat scheduled for next weekend and didn't want to miss that, but would have if it came down to it. Now he gets to do both.

Anyway, in exactly one hour from now, 2:15PM CST, Andy will be meeting with members of the Breitbach Catholic Leaders and Thinkers committee, and God willing, he will be accepted to join this program, which will be a life changing event, in my opinion, and will start to show the world (one step at a time) what a great person Andy is, and how he will be able to change the world with his knowledge and skills.

It's my blog and he's my son, so I am allowed to brag, thankyouverymuch!

Anyway, Andy I am very proud of you and know that you will do well and regardless of the outcome, this has been a great opportunity for you.

Now go get 'em!

Trying to Clean Up My Act

Yesterday, actually last night, I posted three time-wasters - also known as blogthings.

You will notice that there are only two now.

Why is that Roger? Did you steal something? kill something? offend someone?

Well, it was a blogthing asking what kind of finger I was. Yep. Apparently I am the middle finger, and of course it had a picture of, well the middle finger in the saluting position, saying I was number one, flipping the bird, etc...

I thought it was funny and stupid, but I posted it anyway. Even had a disclaimer.

Then I read this, over at my friend Laura's blog... and then this at her daughter's.

Catholic Guilt set in. Big Time. After all I violated at least three commandments (1, 3 and 7, I believe).

So in an effort to 'clean up my act' I am linking you to the original here, and giving you what I am talking about below...


1. You shall not put your blog before your integrity.

2. You shall not make an idol of your blog.

3. You shall not misuse your screen name by using your anonymity to sin.

4. Remember the Sabbath day by taking one day off a week from your blog.

5. Honour your fellow-bloggers above yourselves and do not give undue significance to their mistakes.

6. You shall not murder someone else’s honour, reputation or feelings.

7. You shall not use the web to commit or permit adultery in your mind.

8. You shall not steal another person’s content.

9. You shall not give false testimony against your fellow-blogger.

10. You shall not covet your neighbour’s blog ranking. Be content with your own content.



Enjoy, and play nice. :)