Lunches are a constant problem, because there is only so much that can be packed and with the long days that the kids have at school they are often very hungry when they get home. Assorted granola bars, packing more, and what not has not seem to alleviate the problem. They insist that they should receive money for snacks after school, but that is just chips and soda out of the machine. The search for the perfect lunch continues.
Christmas this year was truly a fantastic holiday event. Michelle was able to join us all on Sunday and stay until Christmas evening, so all three of the children were here for Christmas morning to unwrap their presents. The holiday kicked off with attending midnight mass at St. Bernards on Christmas Eve. Cookies were baked and breaking from some holiday traditions the children were actually not allowed to open a single present upon returning home from midnight mass.
One of the great things about having children that have grown up is that they are prepared for Christmas morning. They get dressed appropriately for pictures to be taken while they open their gifts and almost as importantly they start the coffee. Christmas morning was fantastic with a lit tree and snow outside. They awoke to more candy than they could readily consume in a day in their stockings and plenty of presents under the tree for all of them.
They all got what they wanted and then some and spent Christmas day playing card games, watching Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, and playing Connect 4. Grandma made a fantastic ham for dinner. It really was one of the best Christmas days ever. As always all the pictures can be found on the pictures page.
The Winter Festival at Archbishop Hoban is a two day event where they showcase the musical and artistic talent of the students. Patty plays violin in the orchestra and so she performed on the same day as the choir and the guitar group. Patty also had art that was displayed for a clay piece that she did.
Fortunately for Patty her mother was able to attend the event in the absense of any other family members. Her mother also graciously provided all the pictures. This was the second Winter Festival that Patty performed in and just as last time it was fun and went well. Buying strings when they break and practice in her room is apparently paying off as she is becoming quite accomplished at playing the violin.
The football season is officially over. This was James’ first year playing football and he had a great time. The coaches said he worked very hard and made a great deal of progress throughout the year. I was able to attend every game, his sister, Patty, was able to attend most of the games, and his Grandmother and Mother managed to make it out to one game each. The Archbishop Hoban Freshman football team went 10-0 and with that record became the first undefeated football team in the school’s long history. All the pictures that were taken throughout the year can be found on the pictures page.
James’ 14th birthday cookout was held at Becky and Andrew’s this year. They offered to host it, because they had a scheduling conflict and could not make it on Saturday, and so they did a huge favor to us all by hosting it at their house and buying the food. The birthday was held on Monday, which was Labor Day, and it was great. Grandma, Becky and Andrew, Zach, Abby, Patty, James, and I were all there.
Dinner was hamburgers, but they were not just normal hamburgers. These were specialty hamburgers that they prepare at Giant Eagle. The burgers included blue cheese, bacon and cheddar, jalapenos, and a turkey burger for Becky. Andrew did the grilling for the hamburgers and hotdogs. It all turned out great. Chips and watermelon slices made it all even more enjoyable and we all ate to our fill.
Becky and Andrew bought a very decorative chocolate cake and we finished the evening by having cake, ice cream, and James opened his cards and birthday presents. He actually received quite a few more presents than there are pictures of, because there were items that he wanted that had to be ordered from the internet. It was an awesome birthday. As always all the pictures are on the pictures page.
These are a collection of pictures taken on the three separate days that each of my children went off to start their first day of school for this year. For Eddy this is his first day of high school, for Patty this is her Sophomore year, and for Michelle this is her last year of high school.
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We took a nearly 25 mile bike ride going south from our house on the Towpath. That is us at nearly the bottom of the map. Patty and Eddy are pointing to the “You Are Here”. We have never traveled that south on the Towpath before and if we were to continue we would probably see a new map. Seeing a new map is definitely a new goal for us. It will have to be some time when we get a better meal before our trip though, since we were all getting rather hungry and had to turn around and go back home.
I called my Grandmother before we got home and asked her to put the potatoes in the sink so start soaking. Patty is still going faster than Eddy and I, so I asked her if she beat us home, which she did, to take the grill out and start it if she could. It all came together perfectly. There were hamburgers, steak, baked potatoes, and a salad. It was all very good and we ate to our fill. We ended the night by watching a few movies. Here are all the pictures from the trip.
Eddy had his first scrimmage with the Archbishop Hoban Freshman football team. It was an unseasonably cold morning in August. There was a fairly steady rain and the temperatures did not get out of the 60’s. He is pictured here lined up as a wide receiver. He is learning a lot and will get more time in to play once he gets a better grasp on the game. This is his first year playing and he is doing a great job showing up for all the practices and following directions.
It was decided that sitting around on a beautiful Sunday would be a complete and utter waste. Patty and Eddy were asked what they would like to do today and Patty said that she would like to go to the Akron Art Museum. We all agreed that it would be a fine idea. I asked her to go to the website and see what the pricing and hours would be and away we went.
We took our bikes and sadly that has been a bit of a rarity this summer. Now that both of them are in high school they have so many commitments. Eddy has football practice and Patty had lacrosse practice. The days when a bike ride would have been feasible it was too hot. There have been far too many days in the 90’s this year, which is exactly the opposite of last year when it rained almost every weekend.
The bike ride and the museum were fantastic. We stopped for dinner while we were in downtown Akron and then we rode home.
Patty’s birthday was delayed this year, so that everyone could show up and the 26th this year was bad for several reasons. We had a cookout this year, which is something of an on again/off again tradition that was started several years ago. This birthday was attended by myself, Patty, Eddy, her Mom, her Great Grandma, Aunt Becky, Uncle Andrew, and their children Abby and Zach. It was fantastic that they could all make it out.
The cookout, which is done on a coal burning grill featured chicken, hotdogs, and hamburgers. The sides were potato salad and pork and beans. Something for everyone. It all came out good this year. The weather was perfect for a cookout reaching the mid to low 80’s and not a drop of rain all day. It has been something of a drought this year, so it did not seem likely that rain would be ruining this cookout. Everyone ate to their fill and Patty opened her gifts.
The only gift Patty really wanted this year was a cell phone. This has been a request for the last couple years. That wish has finally became a reality on her 15th birthday. Now she can stop borrowing Grandma’s phone and use her own for all of her Facebook and texting needs, which will inevitably consume a great amount of her time from now on. Just not at school where they are likely to confiscate the phone. As always all the pictures can be found on the pictures page.