Christmas Eve

We had a good ol' traditional Chrsitmas Eve this year, gathering around my grandmother and full of aunts, uncles, and cousins. My aunts do a fabulous job organizing Christmas Eve - from the decorations, to the games, to the food. (Yum, the food.)

The second generations - 9 (of 12) grandchildren.

For a few years we were just a bunch of 20-somethings and high-schoolers, and Christmas just wasn't the same as when we were children. But then a bunch of us had children. And now Christmas is definitely "for the kids" again. The oldest great-grandchild is 21 and the youngest is a few months old, so we've got some years ahead to celebrate.

Here is Merr (my grandmother) with 10 of her 17 great-grandchildren, (14 living).

Merry Christmas to All.

I hope you are with family and friends who love you today!

Going...going... gone!

Saturday, Dec 23 was such a beautiful afternoon and it was a treat to have Daddy home after a hectic week of working late into the night. It was one of those days where we get outside and just play as a family. A little soccer, a little tag, swings, slides, and of course - baseball!

Bryan discovered Cameron is a slugger! She whacked that ball all over the backyard, rarely missing. One time she hit it into the playhouse at the top of the slide. I yelled, "Into the stands, homerun!" Cameron jumped up and down gleefully, then settled down and called out to Brenna, "Hang onto it, and after the game I'll autograph it." It was said with such a serious jest... I think someone has been watching too much baseball with Dad.

Of course, it might be that he encourages it quite a bit also.

Mary, Sweet Mary

Each year the Little Children's Church at St. Bernadette presents a Christmas Pageant with their preschoolers. Last year Brenna was a shepherd, who refused to participate. She ended up sitting in my lap instead of with the flocks of (stuffed) lambs.

Lo and behold, we arrive after Mass this year to see Brenna dressed all in blue.

She did a fabulous job acting out Mary's role. She slept, was surprised by the angel's visit, rode a horse with Joseph to Bethlehem, and laid her baby Jesus in the manger. We all sang several Christmas carols in the appropriate places of the story. (O Little Town of Bethlehem, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Away in a Manger)

Our sweet Mary.

Our mouse in the house

No, not a real mouse - but a CameronMouse. Cameron decided this fall to return to Ballet at the local dance studio. This year she had the option to audition for their bi-annual Nutcracker production and she landed the role of Mouse. (This is ironic because the previous two time she has seen the Nutcracker, she's always been afraid of the Fight Scene, particulary the mice and Rat King.

The dress rehearsal was last Friday night. They have a total of four performances. Three were for an Assisted Living Communities, a foster children house, and an assisted living mental retardation house. The last one on Sunday is for the Studio Christmas Party where family and friends can view the performance.

On right, Cameron is first mouse (with ears sticking out). Below, Cameron is second from right.

Cameron has really enjoyed the performances and will be sad that they will be over. I've been really impressed with the studio and how well organized this has been. I was really proud of her at the very first performance, when Ms. Amy asked the students to go out among the residents (elderly, assisted living facility) and wish them Merry Christmas. Cameron was right in front and showed no hesitation walking up to the residents and chatting with them briefly.

A gift for Santa

I know you're thinking: But wait? Santa is supposed to bring the gifts, not receive them. This year we planned a little surprise for Santa, for you see we have had the REAL SANTA at our mall for the past six years. We decided to show him some appreciation for his long hours.

The girls, so full of excitement, helped Santa opened the gift. I believe he was truly touched. He caught my eye, winked, nodded, and wiped away a little tear from the corner of eye.

If anyone reading this lives in the Colorado Springs area and uses an independant insurance broker, you might recognize Santa during his off-season job when he is incognito. The local paper printed a story about him a few years ago and I sure wish I had kept it. UPDATE: I found it in the Houston Chronicle Archives (duh). He lives in Florissant, and I have his psuedonym. :-)

What did the girls give to Santa?

A framed 8x10 print of this photo.

Absolution

Tonight Cameron celebrated her First Reconciliation. If you've been following our familial stories then you'll recall my negative experience with the mandatory workshop. I'm pleased to report that the overall experience this evening was very pleasant. There were four priests, all from the Carmelite Order. Two are our regular priests and two were "borrowed" for tonight. The priests shared stories of their own first Reconcilation. There was a song, a Gospel reading, singing the Alleluia and we said the Act of Contrition as a large group. (To prevent the priests from having to listen to 50 students stumble through it on their own!)

Cameron confessed to Father Brian, one of the borrowed priests (I love it when he gives the homily!) and she giggles to say that she confessed in the ladies bathroom! Yep. Father JJ was at the front of the main church. Father someone-whose-name-I-didn't-catch was in the Confessional. Father Adrian was in the Bride's room. And Father Brian was in the foyer/nursing/mother area of the ladies bathroom.

We had a short wait as there were about six people ahead of us. Father Brian greeted Cameron with a big smile and her smile matched his when she emerged as an absolved sinless person.

Well, sinless until tomorrow I'm sure....

Addendum...

While writing the "Giving Thanks" post below last night, Blogger wouldn't let add these last two photos. Perhaps there's a size limit (I'm at the home computer, without software to decrease the overall size of the photos...) but it would not let me add these two. So here they are as an Addendum.

..the true reason we were there - to see Shamu's "Believe" show. No novice this time around, Cameron insisted on sitting the "Splash Zone."
For those of you unfamiliar, there's a little part of the show where the trainers get the whole audience to make the sign for "use-your-tail-like-a-big-scoop-and-soak-the-audience" and we all chant "Sham-OO! Sham-OO!" I tried to position us where Cameron might get a little wet, but we wouldn't be deluged.

We returned Saturday early evening in time to burn the trash, and the vestiges of the days labor.

Giving Thanks

A quick recap of the Holiday weekend events....

Wednesday, Brenna portrayed an Indian at the PreK Pilgrims & Indians Thanksgiving feast. (After all, she is Citizen Potawatomi.)

Thursday we gave thanks together at my sister's house. It was a small group this year, but the food was delicious. It's interesting how good something tastes that we only have one time each year. There is just something truly special about that Henley secret recipe cornbread dressing. Note to self: shadow Dad next year and learn the recipe!

Of course I brought pies. I always make my grandmother's Pecan Pie for Thanksgiving. This year I brought a Banana Cream (something new) and at the last minute Dad requested that I fix his mother's Chocolate Pie. Not to be left out, my sister fixed two Pumpkin Pies also.

I don't think I have to tell you who wanted the pies all to herself!

Friday we headed west to Silver Belle Ranch. We had a few days of weather that makes you wish it would be like this every day forever. I love that Cameron is old enough to open and close the gates. It makes her feel important.

We popped over to San Antonio for Saturday to visit SeaWorld. On this trip we explored other areas of the park and Cameron discovered a few more "grown-up" rides that she could experience. She & Bryan took the plunge on the Texas Splashdown (think "log ride") and the Rio Loco. She loved it! And of course, the true reason we were there - to see Shamu's "Believe" show. No novice this time around, Cameron insisted on sitting the "Splash Zone." For those of you unfamiliar, there's a little part of the show where the trainers get the whole audience to make the sign for "use-your-tail-like-a-big-scoop-and-soak-the-audience" and we all chant "Sham-OO! Sham-OO!" I tried to position us where Cameron might get a little wet, but we wouldn't be deluged.

We returned Saturday early evening in time to burn the trash, and the vestiges of the days labor. While we were gone, Dad and Lisa's Brian trimmed some trees. We also saw a brand-new calf being brought out of the woods for the first time... and promptly returned to the woods.

And now I need a weekend from my weekend. I arrived back in the office this morning, after a five-day absence, and could not remember what I needed to do that was important. Never fear, this momentary lapse in awareness lasted only until I opened my email, calendar, and picked up the ringing phone.

I hope everyone reading this had a thoughtful and thankful weekend.

Sad Loss

It is with heavy hearts that we bring the sad news of another loss in our family. What should be a Thankful time has turned into unspeakable grief. My cousin, Desmond & his wife, Tempa, lost their infant twin sons in utero. Torren Henley & Kinden Nicholi were delivered still born on Sunday, November 19. Torren was 5 lbs 4 oz and 18 1/2 inches and his identical brother was 5 lbs 2 oz and 18 1/2 inches. A happier delivery was expected in just a few short weeks, but something has gone terribly wrong and I cannot imagine, do not want to imagine, this sorrow and pain that Desi & Tempa now have in their lives.

There will be a Memorial Service on Wed. Nov. 22 in Cedar Park, Texas and the boys will be buried at Liberty Hill Cemetery in Liberty Hill, Texas. They are survived by their parents, an older brother - Xaden (almost 3), Aunt Nichole, Uncle Larry, cousins Kayleigh & Lawrence, and their GiGi. A large family of aunts, uncles and cousins extend their love and support to them.

When we lose an elderly relative, we take comfort in that they lived a long life, lived a good life, shared the love of family and friends, and passed on their wisdom to others. When we lose infants.... there are no words, only tears. An emptiness. We have no understanding why God choses this path for some people. Tonight we pray for the souls of Kinden & Torren, such beautiful little angels in heaven, and we pray for Desmond & Tempa.

School Photos

Say "HI" to my knee...

"Hi Knee"
(lots of laughing) You said "Hiney" (get it? You're supposed to laugh.)

The girls have discovered "jokes". I should say Cameron has discovered them, likely at school, and has been introducing them to Brenna. Here's another.

Hey Mom, look under there!
"Under where?"
(hysterical laughing) You said underwear!

What's a button you can't unbutton?
Your bellybutton!

And who can ignore the never-ending Knock Knock jokes. Specifically this one that Brenna loves to say ad naseum.

Knock Knock.
Who's There?
Banana.
Banana who?

Knock Knock
Who's There?
Banana.
Banana who?
(repeat two more times, and then say)

Knock Knock
Who's There?
Orange.
Orange who?
ORANGE YOU GLAD I DIDN'T SAY BANANA?

(and yes, we really are glad, because it means the joke is over. At least for the next 20 seconds.)

At Last....

At Last by Etta James is "our song" that we danced to at our wedding, ten years ago. In this post it has another meaning. We're celebrating the official engagement of Bryan's brother, Brad, and his long-time girlfriend, Amanda.

They started dating at Baylor University, five years ago, and she has been a steady and constant part of his life ever since. (That I know of!) She's been through a lot with the Kelly family, losing Donna, and most recently Wanda. She is an incredibly talented artist, who works with children at the Art Institute of McKinney.

Cameron & Brenna are thrilled that Amanda is now "Almost-Aunt Amanda." They can't wait to drop the Almost. With the formal addition of Amanda, our family is filled. We have no more unmarried siblings. (Though we look forward to the addition of little Kelly cousins to join our other cousins.)

Welcome to the Kelly family, Amanda!

Try, try again

'Tis a lesson you should heed,
Try, try again.
If at first you don't succeed,
Try, try again.

We use this little saying in our house quite often to remind the girls that you don't always succeed immediately. Sometimes you have to persevere. So it went on Satuday, when we replaced the floating and flushed Gold Pumpkin with a new male Betta named "Midnight." Bringing home Betta was a little anti-climactic after last weekend. Poor Midnight has had no lengthy serious talks with Brenna, and there is no "Midnight" song from our industrious songwriter.

But he's still alive. And that's what counts.

And he's a darn pretty fish. He's a deep midnight blue (hence the name) with a touch of red. Sometime I'll get a photo and post it. A few times yesterday I found myself just sitting on the floor in front of the tank watching him swim around. It's been two whole nights and he's still with us. The girls really enjoy turning on the aquarium light in the morning. It's fun to hear them in the morning call out, "He's still alive, Mom!" like it's a big surprise.

Happy Halloween!!

Our newest addition

Sunday the girls went to the Church Halloween Festival. It was organized and run by the Jr. High CCE and was actually pretty darn cute. Cameron went as a cowgirl/rancher and Brenna as a little angel. They tossed bean bags, rings, played musical chairs, got hand tattoos, the normal things. At the end, Brenna won a goldfish.

The girls were giddy with excitement. They carefully held the plastic cup in their hands on the drive home, talking very seriously about their new "pet" and how they had to take care of it. Cameron said, "I've wanted a pet my whole entire life!" They both went on and on with each other about feeding and changing the water and being responsible pet owners - with Mommy & Daddy's help of course.

Once Bryan got over the shock, he took them both to Petco and bought a little tank kit with pump, gravel, etc. They conditioned the water and, a few hours later, transferred the fish into the tank.

The fish has been named Gold Pumpkin.

Brenna got to feed the fish first with the little floating Goldfish pellets. The fish didn't eat a thing. Brenna sat next to the tank looking at Gold Pumpkin while Cameron wrote a fish song.

Gold Pumpkin, Gold Pumpkin, your skin shines very bright.
Gold Pumpkin, Gold Pumpkin, it shines in the light.
Gold Pumpkin, Gold Pumpkin, you look very bright.

Brenna became very excited looking up and saying "Mom! He made a fishy face at me!" and she proceeded to make fishy faces back at the fish. She also had some sort of very serious and solemn conversation with the fish and kissed the tank. Surprisingly, the fish was still alive this morning. I scooped up the leftover food from last night before the girls came into the living room, so Brenna could turn on the tank light and Cameron could put new food in the tank.

We'll see how long this lasts.

UPDATE: At 2 p.m. Monday I came home to meet the plumbers (another post someday, not today) and poor Gold Pumpkin is a floater. Don't know how the girls will react to planning a flushy fishy funeral. It's been less than 24 hours since Brenna brought him home.

Pumpkins

The Methodist church in our area hosts a pumpkin patch each year and we take the girls to pick out their pumpkins. Holy pumpkins are pricey, so we picked out one each. The only rule was that the girls had to be able to carry their own pumpkin themselves.

(I've had positive comments about the circles, so here they are again. )

Cool Slideshows

We've been to this pumpkin patch often. In fact I have a photo available from last year and this year - let's compare!

Oops - Brenna has on the exact same clothes as last year!! The shirt was a little big last year - and is a little short this year! She also has more hair (finally!) You don't often think about how much both girls have changed during the past year until you compare photos side by side.

Last year we carved our pumpkins two days before Halloween - and boy were they scary for Halloween night. They had grown fuzzy beards and hair and fell inwards into a completely melted mess. Guess there was too much humidity and mold spores in the air. We've learned our lesson (sort of) this year. We'll have to carve one or both, because the girls are asking for roasted pumpkin seeds.

Cameron's school is having a pumpkin decorating contest today, Friday. Here is her creation - entirely her own design. (Can you see the tissue paper hair?)

We dropped it off at the cafeteria stage this morning. Wouldn't you know that 2nd grade has the most entries. And if two of those pumpkins were done entirely by the student without parental help, we need to get them into an accelerated art program! They were extremely creative. Cameron is very pleased with her creation. I don't even think she realized it's a contest!

UPDATE: She didn't win, or even place, but she was okay with it. She did get a cute certificate from the CL Garden Club. The girls and Bryan are watching, "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" right now - 40th anniversary. We love this show!

Religion

The theme this weekend was religion with two major events taking place.

Saturday:
Cameron had a mandatory Reconciliation workshop in preparation for her First Confession (which they now call Reconciliation) this fall. Unfortunately, the 3-hour workshop conflicted with her Nutcracker practice. So we were forced to make that difficult decision - Confession (and thereby First Communion in May) or Nutcracker practice. We went to the workshop.

I was completely disappointed with this mandatory workshop. We met in the huge Parish Life Center and were given a packet, with a workbook, and an agenda. The agenda consisted of rotating between three stations - make a Colors of Faith cross, make a stole to wear at Confession, and watch a video of a priest talking with children about Confession.

The video was the most substantive part, and it was extremely infantile. The priest, in a very patronizing "boys and girls" voice, introduced his puppets (a sheep and a shepherd) and told the children that sheep are not very smart - they need a shepherd. Then he said that WE are like the sheep and our shepherd is Jesus. Cameron turns to me and whispers in that voice, "Mom, did he just tell us that we're not smart?" Years worth of self-esteem building undermined by a priest.

After our arts & crafts and video we met again as a group in the PLC. There the leader chose a boy from the group and they read from a piece of paper about what to say in the confessional (or choir room, or nursery, or whereever they put all the visiting priests coming to handle First Confession.) Then parents were told that we must go through all six lessons in the workbook with our children before First Confession - which is in five weeks. They even included a Teachers Guidebook to help us! Help us? Isn't that what CCE is for? Couldn't that have been the purpose of this Mandatory Workshop? Instead of Arts & Crafts, couldn't we have worked in a smaller, more intimate room on the lessons in the workbook? Couldn't we have at least seen what the confessional looks like?

So much potential to treat this sacrament with the seriousness that it deserves - wasted.
If these 7-8 year olds are old enough to receive this Sacrament as individuals, then they are old enough to learn it respectfully and not have it treated as another "fun" activity as if they were four years old.

Sunday
Lisa & Brian had their new daughter, Laurie Elizabeth, baptized on Sunday. Our father served as the Godfather and I stood in as the Godmother. I am also Godmother to Laurie's older sister, Ashley. The Baptism was a competely different experience than the workshop. It is Faith in Action: from saying the vows, baptizing with the water, anointing with chrism, and lighting the baptism candle from the Easter candle, to being surrounded by loving members of family and friends. All looking on with the same wishes and intentions - to love that child and see her raised in the church with spiritual guidance.
Deacon Bob at St. Lawrence (pictured above) has been an integral part of the Jones family. He married Lisa & Brian, and performed the Baptism for all three of their children.

Lisa, Brian, Laurie with three of her four great-grandmothers.

And I would be remiss if I didn't post this great photo of all four granddaughters being just as cute as can be!

Seaworld and Questions....

Questions

Brenna has been asking questions - so many that I can hardly keep count. You never know where you'll be when her little voice pops up:

"Mommy? How do they make the sidewalk?"

"Mommy, how do they make Kleenex?"

"Daddy, how are houses built?"

"Where does the water come from?"

You get the idea? I suppose she's just becoming more and more aware of the outside world. Now, if we could just help her more get her temper under control. She can be such an agressive child, especially with her sister. And yet, everyone wants to be Brenna's friend at preschool. I am constantly reminding her to be nice.


Seaworld
We had never been to Seaworld, so we tried it....and loved it. The girls are at just the right age to enjoy everything and we had a blast. Naturally we tried to do too much in our one-day visit, so we took advantage of their offer and upgraded our day pass to a 2007 season pass.

Cameron was especially impressed with Believe, the Shamu show. She had this huge grin stuck on her face through the whole show and when it was over, she turns to me and in an awed voice says, "Mom. I don't want to be a teacher anymore. I want to be a KILLER WHALE TRAINER!" Both girls rode the kiddie rides and fed the dolphins. Cameron and I held a snake! VIVA, the dophin/beluga whale show was incredible, but I think we most enjoyed the Cannery Row Caper - Sea Lion show.

Before the show, one of the "actors" came out and did a little pantomime, pratfall, type entertainment. She pulled people out of the audience and did different things with them. In the middle, she pulled Bryan out and brought him and another fellow down and she gushed all over them. At one point she put Bryan down on one knee and on cue the Wedding March music played she mimed being all surprised over her proposal. Later we realized (from the photos) that she had one eye squarely on me during that time, but I was too busy laughing and taking pictures to notice. Brenna and Cameron however were NOT amused. Brenna pouted and was very insistent that Daddy should be back up in the stands with us and not with that lady. Five days later and she still talks about that lady taking Daddy.

Enjoy the photos!!

In Their Honor

A friend of mine in Hendersonville, North Carolina sent me a link to a CBS news story about a local businessman who is raising money to send every WWII veteran in the country to see the WWII Memorial in Washington DC. My friend has signed up to be a volunteer/guardian on a future trip. This moving story brought to mind our own visit to the WWII Memorial when Bryan & I went to DC for the SAA meeting.

It was our first time to see the memorial; I haven't been in DC since 1990 and this was Bryan's first visit. The memorial opened in 2004. As we approached it from the Washington Memorial, I noticed it was much larger than I expected. The Memorial is oval-shaped with each long end representing the two fronts - Pacific and Atlantic. Each state has a granite column topped with a bronze wreath - they stand tall and strong. I was overwhelmed by an intense, indescribable feeling standing in this Memorial. There is an energy, a strength, a solidity residing there that I have not felt at any other memorial in Washington DC.

Entering the Memorial, I noticed the beautiful bronze artwork, bas-relief sculpture panels set into the balustrades of the north and south ceremonial entrance walls. As I walked along looking at the 12 representing the Pacific, I found tears in my eyes.

If you have had the chance to visit, I know you will support the efforts of Hendersonville, NC in sending the veterans to see it in person. If you haven't seen it, you really should.

WE ARE DETERMINED THAT BEFORE THE SUN SETS ON THIS TERRIBLE STRUGGLE OUR FLAG WILL BE RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AS A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM ON THE ONE HAND AND OF OVERWHELMING FORCE ON THE OTHER.

- General George C. Marshall

Skunks

Long ago, about five years, we bought a house that backed up to a beautiful public golf course. Assured that the golf course carried deed restrictions, requiring it to be a golf course, we fell victim to the classic blunder - don't trust anything anyone says. Six months after we bought the house, the golf course was sold to another management company, who drove away all their major clients and became lazy on the overall maintenance. What a surprise that nine months later the company asked to be let out of the deed restrictions on the basis that the golf course wasn't economically viable and they wanted to develop the 72 acres of formerly pristine land into luxury single-family townhomes and houses.

Our core neighborhoods united, and with the help of the deed restriction owner, Exxon (thank you) blocked the development. However, the owner closed the course and has left it to be barely maintained (it desperately needs to be mowed as I type!) At present, neighbors ignore the no-trespassing signs and use the old golf cart paths as running, walking, biking paths.

Residents aren't the only ones ignoring the "no trespassing" signs. An increased number of "critters" have moved in. Unusual animals that I have personally seen either in our home or by the back patio door include very large raccoons, snakes, and a skunk. We have seen dead possums in the street, and a neighbor reports she has seen a coyote wandering the course at night.

A week ago Saturday night, we were awakened by scritching and clawing (and squealing) in the wall next to our bathtub. After the first sleepless night we reasoned it might be a possum, and purchased a live trap. It took a week of trial and error - where to set the trap, what bait to use, etc. before we finally captured our possum on Friday night, only to discover it wasn't a possum.

It was a skunk.

While a very pretty little skunk (who knew they were so cute!) we were more than a little apprehensive about moving the cage without getting ah... stinky. As we tried to fill the hole that night our little captive grew agitated and let us know by turning and lifting his or her tail. We left it alone and went to bed anticipating a quiet night.

About 2:45 a.m. the clawing noises were back. We thought perhaps a second skunk was still there (we had seen a second skunk slinking around), but discovered the next morning that our captive had escaped. Darn thing managed to tip over the trap, which released the door just enough to slip out. (Who knew they were smart?)

After several phone calls we learned the following:
1) It is illegal to transport wildlife in the state of Texas.
2) It is illegal to dump any live animal on public or private property, without the permission of the land owner.
3) Skunks carry rabies!
4) Houston animal control says they will pick up a trapped skunk, even on Sunday.
5) A professional company will charge you $250 to come out and set a trap, plus $60 for each additional animal they remove. They will also fill the hole and set up barriers.

It was suggested that we try to run them out of their burrow (under and inside our house) by one of several methods: flooding them out, smoking them out, or out-stinking them out. We tried the latter.

Sat. night, one week after this began, we poured an entire box of mothballs into an old sock, knotted it, and stuffed it up the hole as far as possible. Fortunately for us, it was after 10 p.m. and our little friends must have been out foraging for the night.

It's now been three nights - very restful, quiet nights. I think it might be safe to bring out the QuickCrete.

Cameron is SEVEN!

It has been brought to my attention that I have a whole post to Brenna being four, but not one for Cameron being seven. I didn't blog on Cameron's birthday because we were spending Labor Day Weekend at SBR and we just don't "do" computers at the Ranch. It's supposed to be a relaxing place.

By the way, Cameron doesn't like this picture, but I love it!

Here is a new trick I picked up from Brenna & Molly. The pictures were taken at SBR over the holiday weekend.

Five years ago....

Five years ago I was driving to my new job listening to a classical music station. Just before the top of the hour news, the DJ said they had reports from New York City that smoke was coming from one of the World Trade Center towers. Apparently there was some fire there - and they would bring us more information when it became available.

I parked, walked into the Bayou Building, where a cluster of staff, students and faculty were gathered in the Atrium under the suspended television. All stood in shocked silence. I wasn't sure what was happening; both of the World Trade Center towers were burning. It wasn't until much later that I realized they had just witnessed the second plane strike the tower live. The person next to me said a plane flew into the building. My mind raced - thinking how does a private pilot miss the tower? When I voiced this, the person next to me shook her head and said, they didn't miss. It was deliberate. It looked like a big commercial jet.

This being a new job, I reported to my office, where I worked alone without a radio or television. My husband called. My mother called. Both told me what was going on, but I did not witness the towers falling or the Pentagon burning. News websites were either too busy or crashed. My Sept99 moms online group filled me in from time to time. Shayna's husband, David, worked in the Pentagon. She hadn't heard from him.

Five years later. The classical station has been sold. I have a full-time assistant. I know now that I didn't have to stay in my office - many library staff were gathered in the conference room watching the television. I listen to more talk radio. I don't enjoy flying anymore. I'm not afraid of it, but I don't enjoy it. I find myself thinking about the people on those planes.

Shayna's husband survived the attack. He is now a freshman state legislator in Virginia representing Arlington.

On my lunch hour five years ago I went home, full of anger and did the one thing I could do. I put our flag outside as if to say you shall not weaken us. We can and will fight back. You do not know what you have awakened.

Today, we remember.

Brenna is FOUR!

My baby is four years old today!

Birthday Party Blowout

This past Saturday we hosted two birthday parties in one day. Looking back I don't know what possessed me to do this and I think we may be done with extravangant birthday parties in the future.

Mom came over Friday night and helped me get things ready. She was a GODSEND and I could not have done everything by myself. THANK YOU MOM!!! She has this uncanny knack for knowing just what to do and when to do it during parties. And during the prep work the night before it was so wonderful to just visit and talk and catch up one on one. We don't do that often enough.


Brenna celebrated her fourth birthday (which isn't until Wednesday) with a Princess Party. We had ten children, decorated crowns, played "Kiss the Frog" and generally just played in almost every room of the house. All of the kids, except cousin Ashley, attend all-day preschool together, so they get along nicely.

After the last guest left, we did a two-hour quick-change of decorations and had Cameron's much-smaller-than-expected "Arts & Crafts" party in the afternoon. Only four girls showed up, but they had a nice time glueing crafts and playing outside. The ice cream cake melted (see photo - the white border on top fell to the bottom!), but it was delicious! (Baskin Robbins, World Class Chocolate)

Sunday we took the girls bike riding, per their consistent and non-stop pleading. Cameron actually rode a two-wheeler, without training wheels. She needs some more practice, especially handling turns, but for the most part, she's got it! Bryan worked with her on starting herself - meaning no dad running behind. She was getting the hang of it before we called it quits for the night.

I also want to mention that Bryan completed his first official Bay Area Fit five-mile run on Saturday morning, before the parties. We're so proud of him for training for the Houston half-marathon. It's not easy work. Way to go, Bryan!

The difference between boys and girls

This morning Bryan was commenting that he didn't always know how to play with the girls as much anymore, because they play differently than boys. For example, last week he bought them some Hot Wheels, and immediately the girls named the cars: White Stripes, Blue Boy, and other girly names. They were playing "family" with the cars - having a mother, father, and baby cars. So I asked him if he had spent any time with the girls showing them how to play with Hot Wheels, in the manner he was expecting.
After breakfast, he sat down with them and told them all the names of the cars. Lotus, Hummer, Chrysler 300, Camaro, Mustang. He demonstrated how how he would play with cars when he was their age. I don't know how long this male bonding lasted, because when I finished snapping some photos, I heard Brenna tell Cameron that two of the cars were getting married and then she had them kissing.

Bryan showed true grace under surrender. He commented "Maybe we should spend more time with the kids..." And off we went to Putt-Putt golf, where we played 18 holes (and he soundly beat us all). Amazingly every one of us had a true hole-in-one (even Brenna). Bryan took Brenna on the bumper boats - and Cameron drove her own. I forget she is over 44" and can do these things by herself. She approached being on her own boat, alone, with some hesitancy, but once she got in the groove, she thoroughly enjoyed herself. (Mom hung back to snap the photos.)