Catherines' Softball season begins

The other three came to see the opening game for Catherine for the 2013 season.  Her first at-bat she turned on the ball and popped it into left field.  She played like an old pro.  When I got home from work today I was getting dinner ready and Jim took her out to the batting cage.  It must have worked because she went 4 for 4 and her defense was stellar....and of course with a great smile.

      She was on the pitchers mound for an inning and had to wear this head gear

      and then she caught.  She looks so cute behind the plate.

      Jack found his friend Cooper at the softball field.  They played the whole time at the second field, along with Jimmy and Laura.  Thankfully, I was able to relax and just watch my little angel play.  I must add that I love that name Cooper.  I have used that name several times when someone I dont like asks me my name..or if we are at a restaurant and they ask me for my first name...so immature arent I.......

A Cold, April Baseball night-game in Boston

     Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah what a wonderful cold time at Fenway park.  We have two birthdays in April and I got to combine both in one night of baseball.  The weather was beautiful when we left for the game but thankfully we prepared for the cold, which it was.  I gave Jimmy the option of doing a one on one or having Cat come along with us.  Those two have this special bond so Jimmy wanted to go with her.....

     I gave Cat the option of driving right into Fenway or taking the T....she loves taking the train so off we went on the green line.  it was effortless.  I took this phone photo of her as the train was passing by.

    

     We have this tradition when we go to Fenway Park that we eat some ice cream in sixth inning.  Usually, its about 37 degrees though.  They still wanted their ice cream though.

One of her favorite things is to do the wave at Fenway park. Here, she is starting her own wave prior to the start of the game.

     All those years of going to Fenway all i had to show for it was a skinned two middle fingers one time on a foul ball.  I have been tons and tons of times but never caught a ball.  Last night in one inning, we got two balls.  Mike Napoli threw a foul ball at us and then there was a fly ball to center which Jacoby Ellsbury caught to end the game.  That ball was thrown at us and we caught that one too......How exciting to have both of them leave with balls.

Catherine's First communion

                                              She was so darn cute!!!  My precious little angel was waiting so long to recieve her first communion and it almost didnt happen.  Here, she is standing in front of the First Communion tree.  Its in the side yard of Joanne's house and we took it over when Jimmy had his first communion and its continued until now with Catherine.

She is so adorable

Goofy Gals

She didnt only look frightened....she was petrified

     She was petrified.  All through the rehearsal and the days leading up to the event she kept saying she was nervous about eating the host and drinking the wine.  Catherine allows herself to get all uptight about these things and there really is nothing you can say to her to make it better......but she always ends up doing it and glad she did.

Another tradition on the first communion bench

     The time for eating the host (cookie) finally came and she was just a mess.  I walked up with her up to the pastor.  She just started crying and crying that she didnt want to do it.  Of course the pastor looked at me and said she doesnt have to do it today, we can always come back next week or the week after that....yeah, i dont think so.  The food was ready, desserts all set and there were people over the house.  soooo, we went back and sat in the pew and I had to think....and fast.  There were alot of people at that mass so we waited just a bit and I whispered over to Catherine and asked her if she'd go over to the other priest and do it for Daddy.  I gave her a hug and she wheepingly said Okay Daddy.  Like a pro she went up to the other priest with the pastor giving us dagger eyes.  so there goes her hands with the right one underneath and the left palm accepting it.  Right inside her mouth it went....welllllllll....she went back to the seat with the pastor's eyes following us the whole time.  Out of her mouth it came, a crowd of people still in line hopefully blocking the view to the altar.  She had taken a very tiny piece and had injested that much....she had made her first communion.  I ate the rest of it.  Whew....she returned to church the next week for her friend Catherine's first communion and went up with no drama at all.....Depending on a ruling from the vatican that may have been her actual first communioin.

Auntie Paula was very proud

Cat with Nana and Doe

Cat with Baby Erin

Amazing how difficult it is to get all four of them in a picture together

Our First Communion tree in front of Joanne's house

     Except for the non-eating of the host incident, she smiled the whole day.  She is so darn cute and adorable.

We love our Rings!!!

Baseball season for Jimmy

There are going to many more pictures during the course of the baseball season.  One of the things I just cannot believe is how big Jimmy got, just from last year.  He's is growing at an amazing clip.  He came in in relief the other night in the town league and I was shocked at his fastball.  I have been catching him in the cage and I only see the pitches from my swollen hands.  Seeing it from the sidelines really amazes me.....whoa....here was go again.

A sleepover....OH BOY

Last year for Jimmy's 11th birthday we had a sleepover.  There was an attempted escape at around 3:15am but it was harmless really.  Ever since then, Jimmy has asked over and over about doing the same thing for his 12th birthday.  I guess it was a big hit.  10 boys, 12 years old.....OHHH BOYYY.  Well, we all survived it.  They played hockey, basketball, football, flashlight tag, manhunt, xbox.  We had some pizza, french fries and eventually pancakes in the morning.  I forgot that kids that age can stay up all night....and stay up all night they did.  A couple of them wanted to go to sleep and did finally go to sleep.  I remember the whole night...I "slept" on the couch just listening to the goofy boys. 
    One of the good things about Jimmy is that he has, for the most part, picked out really good friends.  They had some innocent fun running through the neighbors yards playing manhunt and flashlight tag.  At some point they all walked about a half mile to get ice cream.  At first I hesitated but then I realized that they are in the sixth grade and i have loosen the noose eventually.  I still drove ahead and believe me, i watched and listened for them.  I dont knonw if they knew I did that..they probably did, but didnt say anything.  On the way back they all climbed inside the minivan.  Reminded me of the old days in the hood. 
     Overall, it was a good night.  I just wish I didnt have to go to work the next morning....

Happy 8th Birthday Catherine

      Happy Birthday to my sweet little angel Catherine.  She turned eight years old today and had a great day.  From the moment she woke up this morning until her almost ten o'clock bed time, she had a constant smile on her face.  She must have been sang to about a hundred times.  She is such a sweet appreciative girl....so so sweet.

      Umple Eddie, Auntie Paula and umple bobby came and joined us too.  Auntie paula went on a walk with the girls and the dogs too.  The kids love their aunty and umples very much.Nana, Doe and Auntie Joe were also with us for the celebration. 

     Catherine had an extra long pause to make her wish.  I was going to ask her what she was wishing for but thats a personal matter so i didnt dare ask. 

     Catherine is one of those people that actually read the cards...so sweet

     And of course there is some hello kitty and purple outfits

     Catherine had her annual trip out with uncle patrick on her birthday.  They went to the burlinton mall to the build a bear workshop.  This bear sings happy birthday to her in a parody and she absolutely loves it.  She wants to bring her everywhere.  I say her because she has named her Catherine jr. 

All about Jackie

It was all about Jackie day today at kindergarten.  Each kid gets a chance to be the star of the week and to explain to the class all about themselves.  Jackie got in the front of the class and explained to the other students all about him.  Its a pretty neat idea and makes the kiddos feel special.  Catherine had asked her teacher if she could come down to the classroom and watch as Jack did his presentation.  He did such a good job.  As I watched him work the room i couldnt help but think back to his first day of pre-school when he stood frozen at the back of the room and wouldnt leave our side.  He is turning into a very confident little buggah
During his presentation the teacher asked if anyone had any questions.  Alot of the kids were asking specifics about different pictures.  I raised my hand and asked him about one of the pictures where he was sitting on the train, i asked him what the words on the train were right behind where he was sitting....he got that grin on his face and said "keep off" and chuckled.