These Boots Were Made For Marching....

I've blogged before about the Texas phenomena of rival universities--specifically Univ of Texas (Longhorns) & Texas A&M (Aggies), and how people go a bit overboard with their loyalty to a specific school. It is comical to observe the rituals of the alumni, and we chuckled along with fellow bystanders till our son became an Aggie 3 years ago. I can't speak for the other school, but learning what it means to be an Aggie has been both an education and a pleasure for our family. We definitely have become believers in this university and what it stands for--that is Integrity (with a capital "I")! Although Mike and I don't bleed maroon, we'd be proud of any of our kids who do!

At the end of junior year, cadets in the Corp, as Brian is, earn their boots. They are custom fitted to each cadet starting freshman year. Cadets wear the boots everyday of their senior year and they connote respect and honor of each soldier.

At Final Review each May, the Corp marches as their current unit, passes, then the graduating seniors dress down out of full uniform, and juniors get to don their senior boots for their first official Pass & Review. The Corp then repeats the march with each cadet now sporting their new class uniform, including boots if you are now a senior. Here are some snippets of this exciting day:


New seniors strutting in their boots

Brian (on right) with buddy, Nathan, showing off their boots

Close-up of Brian's. Each cadet chooses different insignias

Andrew & Kaitlyn "play" with the spurs!

First march in senior boots!!

Other Aggie traditions we enjoy--the internationally recognized Aggie Ring. Brian earned his last month.

The "Fighting Aggie Band"

Aggie Calvary:

School mascot, Reveille the dog.

Here she is!!!

Brian's Outfit

Gig 'em, Aggies!!!

In the Garden

Ever since we've had a house, I've enjoyed planting flowers each spring. I don't profess to have a green thumb, but I have had some random successes in past years. I do listen to the "Garden Show" on the radio, read books on proper landscaping, & mostly look at lawns in my neighborhood to copy what works. My biggest problem is that I learn best by watching & imitating others, so the books haven't helped too much and I haven't found anyone who wants to mentor me in my gardening skills!!

Impatiens have always been one of my favorite annual flowers. I planted them every year in NJ. They always did OK. One year they were spectacular---ONE YEAR---out of 15 that I planted them. Why?? Nothing I did--it rained alot that summer. Moving to a new climate has posed some challenges. I've had to learn what will grow best in this area and I'm definitely still experimenting. Three summers ago I planted impatiens and they grew over 3' tall. People walking past our house would stop to admire them. The past two summers, they did nothing!! Again, a deluge of rain that fruitful summer may have been the key. This year, I'm trying out a new variety called "Sunpatiens". We'll see how they do. I love that I can have more tropical flowering plants like the Hibiscus--one of my favs!! Our Texas winter this year was very harsh, so I've had to start over with a few plants. Here are some pictures of the work I did this past weekend pruning and planting.

The Queen Palms looked terrible after the winter and I thought they may have died. I just noticed some green coming back to life so --chop-chop--I know they look silly now, but in a few weeks I think they'll be looking pretty good!



After the "hair cut"

Lantana in full bloom, waiting for the butterflies to swarm around them

Here are the new "Sunpatiens". We'll check back in a month and see how they're doing.

On the back patio, some new flowers I'm trying

I bought a new Hibiscus, then noticed my old one had little green leaves at the bottom. I planted this one near it, hoping they can grow together.

Magnolia tree in full bloom, beautiful & fragrant!!

I've had bad luck in the past with flowers planted at Mary's feet. This year I'm trying Zinnia--it's a very sunny area.

I hope to post pictures later on to show how much everything is thriving. Wish me luck!!!

Sacramental Grace

Oh how I love watching my children receive the sacraments!! Andrew has excitedly prepared for First Communion since receiving Reconciliation in November. Finally, the day was upon us and he was certainly ready.

Before we left for church:

Eager anticipation waiting to line up to process in to Mass. He was lined up with his very good friend, M, next to him.


Next in line!!



The smile says it all.



It appears the Holy Spirit is upon him!!




With Father Pat




Big sis, Michelle



Siblings, except Kyle, who wasn't able to come home from college


Mom & Dad


We were so glad Grandmom & Pop-pop came from NJ. Grandmom had been very ill the week before and we weren't sure she could travel, but she was able to bounce back.

Time to celebrate!!

Andrew, may the joy you felt in your soul as you received Jesus in Holy Eucharist for the first time light a flame and glow for all eternity. May you never forget where Jesus is truly present and seek him always.

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." John 6:51

Ring around the Rosie....

Back in the day, I was a huge Rosie O'Donnell fan. Her TV show to me was comic relief from busy days at home with 4 young children. I loved the way she shared funny everyday events that happened to her, stories about watching TV shows as a child--many which were favorites of my own, & the way she would get star-struck when meeting certain "big name" celebrities on her show like Barbara Streisand & Tom Cruise. She made herself very believable & ordinary.

This was all before her "coming out" as a lesbian, her aggressive dislike of the Catholic church (& other Christians), & the liberal poison she now likes to spew publicly. Once all that stuff happened, the appeal for me was gone, and so was her show. I watched from a distance as she "married" her female lover and attracted controversy after controversy with her big mouth, attacking whatever she felt wasn't on her agenda. Most times I didn't even entertain what was going on in her life, both because I didn't have an interest in reading her books or watching her on TV, but also because I really didn't have the time to follow what she was up to.

So, why talk about her now? I recently caught a commercial saying that she would be a guest on Oprah--another of my former favorite shows. Out of curiosity, I DVR'd the show and finally got a chance to view it. What did I see? Well, while it's the same Rosie that I don't like--the big-mouth lesbian trying to make her lifestyle & choices seem normal and those of us who oppose this alternative portrayed as narrow-minded or holier-than-thou, there was more. Something I'd seen in the past, but was now screaming to be noticed---a very hurt & damaged 10 yr. old little girl.

Y'see, Rosie's mom died of cancer when she was 10 leaving her to be raised by a detached father & grandmother. She often talked about this in the old days of her show, but now it was evident that the wound had never healed--the pain of losing her mom and perhaps feeling somehow abandoned are still as fresh 40 yrs later as they were then. Instead of seeing the funny Rosie or the liberal Rosie, I actually started feeling compassionate about the little girl Rosie who tragically lost her mom--every child's nightmare come true. Yes, it explains alot about her choices & attitudes, but what really rings true for me is how hurt she was and still is! Why had no one helped this little girl heal? Where were the school counselors, the family doctor, the parish priest, the loving extended family, etc. Who was going to help a little girl ever feel loved the way a mother loves a child again?

For those of us with a strong faith, there is the obvious choice--turn your pain to God, join Jesus in His suffering, ask the Blessed Mother to help you feel that nurturing love. How many times have there been hurt children in our lives--whether our own or maybe a niece or nephew, or a neighbor. They don't have to lose a parent to death-- perhaps there's divorce, physical or mental illness, financial difficulties, or abuse. All of these situations can rock a child's world. They need to feel secure, stable, & loved. Perhaps if someone had stepped in her mother's shoes--not just providing a meal, but loving her thru her grief and helped her to heal and move on, Rosie would not be the person we see today, but would be the one that God had created her to be.

Look around, who are the children in your life? Are their needs being met? Do they need some compassion, nurturing, or healing? Let us not allow the busy-ness of our lives to cause us to ignore and push aside the little ones who are lost.

Jesus said "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." Matt 19:14.

To Blog or Not To Blog....

Okay, I've been gone a while.... a loooong while! What can I say except that I hit a dry spell last summer and truly had no interesting thoughts--same old, same old--and figured "why bother?" Looking back, I realize I should've just posted pictures instead of trying to find something witty to write. Oh well... Fall came and I started getting the writing itch, but never seemed to have time and before I knew it the holidays were here and I really wanted to post, but thought it's been so long......Now, winter has come and gone.... I know it's cliche, but really, time flies. I almost don't even keep track of months anymore, they all just seem to mesh together into LIFE, but I've noticed that summers come faster each year, as do birthdays--which I'd rather forget about. So, what's been happening over yonder this way--EVERYTHING!!!



Summer brought a surprise visit for us to NJ for my parents' 50th. Yes, they were shocked to see us!! We spent our family time together at the Jersey shore--a favorite tradition in our family. We took this picture (although the original is in color) of us all.



Another son left the nest for college, leaving just four kids at home. Just when I thought things might slow down, our lone high schooler started giving us rebellion problems. Ahhh, don't I just love teenagers......We're still battling this one! Another year of homeschooling started for the three youngest. It's been good and I am learning so much history that I guess I just didn't pay attention to when I was in school. But I swear, I didn't learn half the things and while I always found history boring, I am seeing it come to life and loving it! We are now experts on early America explorers, the Revolutionary War, & presently heading Westward with the pioneers.

Andrew & Kaitlyn celebrated their October birthdays together with a reptile party. It was the coolest thing and they each got to hold a real live baby alligator!







Here is Andrew doing his thing on the soccer field. He loves playing sports and I love the non-competitive leagues that are offered here.



Couldn't resist sharing Kaitlyn's Halloween costume. I found the Raggedy Ann dress at a second-hand shop for $4. Add some colorful tights and lots of red yarn--she looked so cute!!!




I thought the winter would be relaxing. Ballet for Kaitlyn 1x/week, Andrew playing basketball--no big commitments.





Holiday girls and......




boys!!!




Then, we had a sewer back up in mid-January causing over $20,000 in damage to the house. Hmmmm, a bit stressful!! A little fight with the insurance company and now all is well.




The dry out process



The source of our angst--a root clogging up the main pipe outside.

I hate to say something like that was worth it, but when I look at my new wood




floors in the living room and dining room, the new, upgraded carpet in our bedroom, and the motivation to paint 3 rooms, Me thinks the sewer damage was a blessing in disguise!!!



So, now we're all caught up!!!

May Madness

The much anticipated month of May is over-with. Our calendar was filled with so many end of year happenings, it's been a whirlwind of activity and fun. We only had one unexpected glitch--Mike ended up in the hospital for 3 days starting on Mother's Day. We were told by the paramedics, ER nurses, & cardiologist that he was having a heart attack--not might be--WAS!!! He was rushed up to have a heart catheterization, but thankfully, all was well and it was NOT a heart attack. What he has is pericarditits--inflammation in the lining around the heart-- from a virus he had at the time. It mimics a heart attack from the chest pain to the EKG & blood tests, so the way to rule it out is to go in and take a look. He is recovering nicely and has to take it easy for 3 months. Other than that, I'd like to share pictures of the happy events that took place this month.

Reid's JROTC Banquet

After Final Review, Brian

came home from Texas A&M

(these are from parents weekend)

We had visits from family. Here Pop-Pop

shows Andrew & Kaitlyn how to make

Pizzelles. He also made Biscottis, Irish Soda Bread

and Baked Ziti. We all ate too much!

Reid's Confirmation by Cardinal DiNardo.

Kyle was his sponsor.

Reid's Godparents, Tammy (Mike's sis) & Greg (Mike's bro),

came in for the sacrament. We enjoyed having

them visit us in Texas!

I found this picture of them all from

Reid's First Communion. Reid sure has grown,

what a difference 8 years makes!

I had a birthday...who's counting???




Michelle had her Spring Piano Recital


High School Graduation Day!


Mom, Dad, & Grad


Grandmom & Pop

Some of his friends
Kyle wanted to eat ribs to celebrate.

Can he eat that huge rack??

He did!

Kaitlyn tried to keep up

We're hoping for a relaxing summer!!