Thursday, December 31, 2009
New Year's Eve Eve
Meggar hosted her 2nd annual New Year's Eve Eve party yesterday. The moms like it better when their teens are on the road one night early. Plus Dorito is in high school now so I encouraged him to invite some freshmen. There ended up being 32 guests, so I was glad we had enough food (10 pizzas) plus pop and snacks. Good fun with Guitar Heroes, Bubble Hockey, a new Ninja game, and "The Star of Bethlehem" which I have previously reviewed as a favorite movie of ours.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Feet in the Photo
In case you're wondering, my idea for our family Christmas photo came from Meggar--or really from Domitille. The first French phrase Domi taught her was "Feet on the Beach" when we arrived at the lake in Minnesota. "Pied sur la Plage" was easy to say and easy to remember. Then Meggar took lots of pictures of toes in the sand at the beach house in the south of France. Her own toes, Domi's, and the little cousin's. The photos were cute and a bit artsy. So I started brainstorming from there. It's been a year of Highs and Lows. The kind of year where you trudge on after mistakes with as much mercy as you can show. It's the kind of New Year when I should say "We're going to put our best foot forward." Happy New Year, everyone!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Trans-Siberian Orchestra & Science Project


Monday, December 28, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
My Brother's Engagement
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Pope's Sentiments on Christmas Day
Our pastor quoted Pope Benedict's Christmas message saying, "We can conquer the world only through the innocence of a Child." I am not sure if it's meant to be a Capital C or small c in child-- but I like the sentiment either way.
Playing with Cousins
Friday, December 25, 2009
Mass on Christmas Day
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Snowboarding
Monday, December 21, 2009
Picking Out the Tree
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Christmas Shoes
Friday, December 18, 2009
Ethnic Christmas
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Only One More Week...until
Until the 12 Days of Christmas! One of the reasons, I love being Catholic is we don't start celebrating Christmas until Christmas. So I can procrastinate the Christmas List until about now. I ignored the first Christmas offers which started appearing in the mail after Halloween because I was busy finishing Meggar's transcript with Kolbe Academy (everything just so). And I tried not to spy the Christmas Decor popping up around Thanksgiving because I was helping Meggar complete the multiple essays for college applications. Then we crammed in a few scholarship forms, and now I need a breather from the paperwork shuffle! Pardon me while I brake for Christmas.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Jane Austen's Birthday

"The month's delay in her arrival inspired her father to make a small joke about how he and his wife had 'in old age grown such bad reckoners;' he was forty-four. The child came in the evening, he said, without much warning. There was no need for a doctor; it was rare to call one for something as routine as childbirth, and the nearest, in Basingstoke, was seven miles away over bad roads. In any case, 'everything was soon happily over.' They were pleased to have a second daughter, 'a present plaything for her sister Cassy and a future companion. She is to be Jenny'..."
Last night, our book club met and voted on 11 selections for the coming year. Read on and celebrate responsibly, Janeites! Go easy on the claret and Colin Firth.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Post Thanksgiving Blessings
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Hockey Championship Trophy

Saturday, December 12, 2009
New Referee Pants
Jingle Bells on the Desktop
Friday, December 11, 2009
A Christmas Quiz
You know about these emails... pass it along!
A Christmas Quiz
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? BOTH
2. Real tree or artificial? Real tree that we get at the last possible minute
3. When do you put up the tree? Dec. 23 or 24
4. When do you take the tree down? After Jan 6 (Epiphany) when the 3 Wise Men arrive
5. Do you like eggnog? I have to fight the kids to get any myself. Dale and I like to spike it with Fra Angelico (Hazelnut liqueur).
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Fancy new coat each year from my godmother.
7. Hardest person to buy for? The ones we mail overseas so they will be light-weight yet meaningful.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Megan, who likes girly things.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, it has wooden figurines handmade in Bethlehem which are only varnished (not painted) so little hands can touch them as much as they want.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail with photo, usually last possible minute
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Holly Hobby Doll when I was “too old.”
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle at Moreaux (children during WWII)
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I keep an idea folder all year long; try to create homemade gifts.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? To another hockey player.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom’s Skillet Cookies and my Cranberry Cake.
16. Lights on the tree? Yes, and candle lights in each window.
17. Favorite Christmas song? "O Holy Night" played by my own “Fiddlers Three”
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel, and Captain is usually travelling with us.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes, it's required for school teachers.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Pi Phi Angel.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve after Mass, then Santa's gifts on Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Anti-Christian holiday wishes
23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? Jane Austen mini book
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Sarah Palin's book, and jobs for my unemployed friends
25. Who is most likely to respond? email friends
A Christmas Quiz
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? BOTH
2. Real tree or artificial? Real tree that we get at the last possible minute
3. When do you put up the tree? Dec. 23 or 24
4. When do you take the tree down? After Jan 6 (Epiphany) when the 3 Wise Men arrive
5. Do you like eggnog? I have to fight the kids to get any myself. Dale and I like to spike it with Fra Angelico (Hazelnut liqueur).
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Fancy new coat each year from my godmother.
7. Hardest person to buy for? The ones we mail overseas so they will be light-weight yet meaningful.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Megan, who likes girly things.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, it has wooden figurines handmade in Bethlehem which are only varnished (not painted) so little hands can touch them as much as they want.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail with photo, usually last possible minute
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Holly Hobby Doll when I was “too old.”
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle at Moreaux (children during WWII)
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I keep an idea folder all year long; try to create homemade gifts.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? To another hockey player.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom’s Skillet Cookies and my Cranberry Cake.
16. Lights on the tree? Yes, and candle lights in each window.
17. Favorite Christmas song? "O Holy Night" played by my own “Fiddlers Three”
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel, and Captain is usually travelling with us.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes, it's required for school teachers.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Pi Phi Angel.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve after Mass, then Santa's gifts on Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Anti-Christian holiday wishes
23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? Jane Austen mini book
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Sarah Palin's book, and jobs for my unemployed friends
25. Who is most likely to respond? email friends
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Violin Concert and Gift Exchange

Don't you love to get the perfect gift?
Tonight's Suzuki violin Christmas concert was lovely, and followed by a FUN gift exchange. Both teen-age girls liked the Starbucks gift-cards-on-a-keychain we gave them. And my boys loved the airsoft BBs they received! Large quart size... 3 of them for a total of 23,00. Should last through several wars. Ammo for Christmas?! of course.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Magazine Interview with Mavericks
Dorito finished his hockey article, and it finally appeared in the iTeen magazine!! We drove to Independence and got extra copies of the December issue. You can view it on page 10-11 at this link http://www.iteenkc.com/online_digital_magazine/index.php to see the photos on the ice and in the stands with his twin brothers and Bantam teammates.
Mavericks Move into Independence
by Reid Schmidling
I interviewed Andrew Davis, #27, on Thursday, after their first practice at the new rink. Davis has played hockey since he was four years old. He said his best hockey memory is of his dad coaching him during his younger years. I met his parents, Richard and Jane Davis, before the game. Jane’s father played for the Boston Bruins farm team before World War II.
Davis has played professional hockey for two years. The last team he played for was the Wichita Thunder.P rior to that, he played in East Germany and Norway. When he played in Germany, Davis said there were no seats in the stands, so everybody stood up and they could fit more spectators in. There was no music either. Davis said he liked it how the fans in Germany would just sing between periods and time-outs. Before that Davis played Juniors and also had a scholarship to play four years of college hockey in Canada. He tried out for the Missouri Mavericks team because he had played with Coach Hillman in
prior years.
The Mavericks practice for 2 hours every day, plus 1 hour of practice on game days. Besides practice, Davis said the players work-out at the gym, do yoga, and try to eat healthy food. The team is sponsored by Sherwood so players get all their sticks provided. Today, Davis broke two of his sticks during practice. They also get to pick out their skates, helmet, and other pads. The players do not tell their salary, and they are also paid for their room, cable TV, and meals when travelling.
I got to visit the locker room, where each player has a place to put their gear. They have one person who sharpens skates for the whole team. Davis showed us the bag where they carry all the sticks when they have to travel. The bag holds 200 sticks. There is also an iPod stereo system, flat screen TVs, and a dental chair in the locker room.
Davis said his worst memory was three years ago when he got a puck to the mouth, and all his bottom teeth were knocked out. He had them wired back in and said he could only have soup and not much food at all for six months.
Davis still dreams about playing in the NHL, and he likes when he can travel out of the country to play hockey. He hopes the Mavericks keep winning!
by Reid Schmidling
I interviewed Andrew Davis, #27, on Thursday, after their first practice at the new rink. Davis has played hockey since he was four years old. He said his best hockey memory is of his dad coaching him during his younger years. I met his parents, Richard and Jane Davis, before the game. Jane’s father played for the Boston Bruins farm team before World War II.
Davis has played professional hockey for two years. The last team he played for was the Wichita Thunder.P rior to that, he played in East Germany and Norway. When he played in Germany, Davis said there were no seats in the stands, so everybody stood up and they could fit more spectators in. There was no music either. Davis said he liked it how the fans in Germany would just sing between periods and time-outs. Before that Davis played Juniors and also had a scholarship to play four years of college hockey in Canada. He tried out for the Missouri Mavericks team because he had played with Coach Hillman in
prior years.
The Mavericks practice for 2 hours every day, plus 1 hour of practice on game days. Besides practice, Davis said the players work-out at the gym, do yoga, and try to eat healthy food. The team is sponsored by Sherwood so players get all their sticks provided. Today, Davis broke two of his sticks during practice. They also get to pick out their skates, helmet, and other pads. The players do not tell their salary, and they are also paid for their room, cable TV, and meals when travelling.
I got to visit the locker room, where each player has a place to put their gear. They have one person who sharpens skates for the whole team. Davis showed us the bag where they carry all the sticks when they have to travel. The bag holds 200 sticks. There is also an iPod stereo system, flat screen TVs, and a dental chair in the locker room.
Davis said his worst memory was three years ago when he got a puck to the mouth, and all his bottom teeth were knocked out. He had them wired back in and said he could only have soup and not much food at all for six months.
Davis still dreams about playing in the NHL, and he likes when he can travel out of the country to play hockey. He hopes the Mavericks keep winning!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
French Final
Meggar's French grade is 89 percent so she has to take the final. There are two additional requirements: write a brochure in French for a student coming to college and have a French conversation with the professor. She went for her appointment today, but it was changed by the instructor! Rescheduled for Friday afternoon...
White Snow on Our Lady's Feast Day

Monday, December 7, 2009
Scouting is Challenging Everywhere
Sunday, December 6, 2009
NCYC Give-aways
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Holiday Music
K-6 Chess Tournament
Friday, December 4, 2009
End of the Era for "Monk"

Thursday, December 3, 2009
MVP earned his award
I forgot to mention that Ben won the MVP award in the semi-final game at the last tournament. He would have had a hat trick, except two shots hit the crossbar! His two goals helped put the team up by one point, which allowed them to advance to the Championship game. Hope this doesn't go to his head because Winger has been playing center on a different line and trying his hardest, too. It's not just the goals that count in our family.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Campus Visit
Meggar is flying to Dallas today for an interview with the French Department at U.D. She is hoping to be selected for a Special Award Scholarship. Please pray for her.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Duplicity quote
"I mean, who writes with a fountain pen anymore?!" says the CEO in Duplicity while reading a handwritten memo from a rival company. For myself, I have always loved fountain pens! My eighth grade English teacher used one so elegantly. My parents gave me a Waterman for college graduation, and I still use it. Maybe even for signing the Christmas letter this year...
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