I've spent way too much time this week fussin' and wrastlin' with my computer, trying to make it behave.  The recent inability it has to recognize any type of picture has me a bit despondent.

Life (and blogs) without pictures?  I don't think so.

This here's a test to determine just who won the wrestling match.

Attempt #1......

Fail.

Attempt #2.....

Well what do you know?! If only you could hear my shrieks of victory! (I got this picture to post in a very round-a bout way, but it's here....for the world to see.....and that's all that matters.)


This is our Priest, Father Alvaro, straightening Luke's tie on the day he made his First Communion.





And this is the two of them....tie straightened.











We now have two boys who have made the sacrament of First Communion. Three more to go. We love our Luke, we love First Communion (it's truly one of my most favorite days), we love our church, and we love Father Alvaro.

Life is good.

(I still can't believe I got a picture to post. I'm hitting 'send' before this computer decides to self-destruct.)

Totally Terrific Mistake

Once upon a time, there was a mom who woke up early enough to see this-

This is more than just a sunrise, she thought.  A sight this beautiful could only mean one thing-

this was going to be a terrific day.

In between refereeing an indoor game of basketball turned rugby,

And after consoling a distraught three year old who couldn't find the right light saber,

the mom went about her morning routine.  She made a hot breakfast for her darling children, and lovingly packed their lunches,

which were complete with personalized PB&J's.

Damn, this mom thought.  I am the bomb.  Could this day be any more perfect?

The mom (who by this point was feeling quite cocky) happily buzzed around the kitchen and placed the finishing touches on her boys' backpacks.

Water bottles?  Check.

Snacks?  Check.

Homework?  Check.

Library books?  Check.

The mom drove her little men to the bus stop, kissed them farewell, and proudly watched as they climbed aboard the bus.

Her morning continued with a second cup of coffee, a card game of 'war' with the little's, and thoughts about what to fill the remainder of the day with.  The perfection was bound to continue.

Until....

The mom received a text message from her son's second grade teacher.

No totally terrific me poster?  It read.

In an instant, the hot dogging mom, the one who hours earlier had patted herself on the back about her perfect morning filled with perfect pancakes, perfectly-packed organic lunches, and her perfect children, was given a reality check.

One that was perfectly-deserved.

For on this very day, her son was due to become the next 'Totally Terrific Me' of his classroom.  A title that comes only once per year.  A title her son had been waiting for.  ALL.  YEAR.  LONG.

Though the mom had been given plenty of notice about the upcoming day in the spotlight for her son, she neglected to commemorate the event.  No Totally Terrific Me poster, no special items brought from home, no estimation jar filled with his choice of candy and trinkets.

Nip

Nada

Zilch

Her totally terrific day had just become totally (and terrifically) shitty.

Lucky for the boy, his teacher graced him with an extra week to complete his Totally Terrific Me assignments and was even kind enough to award him with a new date in which he will be crowned the next Totally Terrific Me.

That's right.  A Totally Terrific Redo.

In BIG, BOLD letters, the mom scrawled the date onto the family calendar.

March 9, 2012 TOTALLY TERRIFIC ME!

The far-from-perfect mom, the one who had just been plucked from her fantasy land of perfection and transported back to brass tacks, had a new mission.  For she and her son (one who has been Totally Terrific and perfect ever since the day he was born) are going to make this project one he, his classmates, and his teacher will never forget.

Like totally.

(stay tuned)