Sometimes there is simply so much going on, that I don’t have time to tell my blog what’s going on. And when that happens for too long, sometimes what was going on gets lost under the pile of things that happened next. I hope I can remember some of it for the record!
FRIDAY and SATURDAY:
Laurent had class in the morning, and the rest of the kids spent their morning packing for their first trip of the winter season to Sun Lakes for an overnighter with Ma and Pa Heidmann. The fact that I was able to wave goodbye to them and send them confidently on their way with Laurent as their chauffeur was a pleasant development, although I have become so used to the drives to meet the Grands and drop off the kids with them over these many years that it was slightly odd. But I got over it. 😀
Next, I ….. ((goes to facebook to figure out what she did … decides to save time and cut/paste)):
* Mixed and baked 10 dozen Olé Corn Muffins
* Edited a batch of photos
* Organized Pantry (hint: this is a big big job and I usually pawn it off on a daughter…)
* Whittled away at the kitchen cleaning, 3rd load of dishes is now washing
* Had lunch with sweetie at El Pollo Loco
* Watched some Fringe with sweetie
* Wrote a very long email reply to an interesting question posed by a friend
* Just put 3 hams in the roasters to cook for Thanksgiving
* Took lots of Facebook breaks
Yes. I did all that. I was awesome! And tired.
The kiddos came home on Saturday afternoon just in time to get their Sunday things ready before jumping in the Jezek van and running off to a home-school youth group event — making Christmas ornaments for the Missionaries of Charity. Since Jacob will be 13 next month, he was invited to come along (as was Peter) and they all came home glowing with the joy of new friends (and quite a bit of sugar in their veins).
SUNDAY:
EARLY departure for everyone – Paul left the house at 6:38! He had to get his Gonzales crew on the road because 3 of them, Desiree, Katrina and Ernestt, are in the RCIA Class of 2013 as candidates for membership, and they (along with their sponsors, Megan, Laurent, and I) needed to arrive by 8am to receive instructions and go over to the church to sit together. Of course, Laurent and I were double booked as we were in choir rehearsal from 8-9, so Paul was kind enough to gather the needed information at the class meeting next door to the choir room, then bop over, pull us out for a quick rundown.
It all worked out splendidly, and Paul was even drafted at literally the last minute to stand in for a sponsor who did not show up. What a blessing it was to stand before the church with these young people, pledging to guide and encourage them in their journey, and hearing them pledge to seek after the truth with all their hearts. God is so good!!!
After church, and doughnuts, we traded Jacob to the Jezeks, and took Faith and Annie to ride with us, and it was off home to change clothes for the Knights of Columbus picnic at noon, for which I also needed to pick up my camera; but when we pulled up to the house we were greeted at the gate by the most lovely and precious and adoring and sweet natured Red Nose Pit Bull puppy. She was dirty and thin, and seemed to have an injury on her ear, had no collar, and just like with Bella a few years ago, she adopted us.
After giving her some water and food, we decided to put Bella’s collar on her and keep her in the cage until we could figure out if we were going to keep her or not.
Next we had to run to Fry’s to pick up some side dishes to bring to the picnic — and on our way, Paul called and asked if we had any shoes we could bring along for Katrina, as she didn’t want to mess her Sunday shoes up at the park – so we ran back home quick after the grocery store, brought mother a sandwich since she had decided to take it easy for the afternoon, picked up the shoes, and then FINALLY we were on our way to the park – and we didn’t even get there late, although it sure seemed like we should have for all that running around.
The picnic was a smashing success – so many friends were there, and the games included: ring toss, horseshoes, three-legged race, sack race, pie contest, and an egg-throw. That last one started after I took our kids to go home so they could get ready for evening mass – and apparently, although Paul had been planning to leave at the same time, they got pulled into the fun, and he and Cisco ended up winning first prize! In fact, there were several other ribbon winners among the Gonzales family, and I was so sorry I missed getting pictures of them all! 🙂
Here are the ones I did manage to get. I was so happy with this batch of pics. It’s hard to mess up a photo with such beautiful subjects!
They look best on full screen, which option appears when you hover over “thumbnail” in the bottom left corner of the gallery.
