Catholic School Guilt

Ah yes, time for the annual one hour of Catholic school guilt. One mass a year the priest really tries to make you feel like a parental failure for not putting your kids (and money) in the Catholic school here. After being informed by many other parents who have pulled their kids out of it, I no longer feel as guilty. Plus, the inconvenience of CCD once a week is far outweighed by the convenience of the public school bus. Seriously, thank God for the school bus, how I love thee. I could write love songs to the school bus and Patrick would chime in.

Obviously the kids would learn more about church history and Jesus in general, but when it comes to teaching morals I continue to be surprised by how much of that is covered in the public schools here. Maybe it is a wholesome Kansas thing, I don't know, but it is far more than I learned in Catholic elementary and high school. We never did the whole pillars of character thing that they do here, I never got any Respectful Rabbit award (which includes a pencil in case you were wondering). The girls are a little too obsessed with the pencils and who is getting them, so at least it isn't social suicide to have good behavior (at least not in 2nd grade).

Anyway, I do find it interesting that with all this talk of sending your kids to Catholic school, the topic of a Catholic university is never mentioned at any point in the year. Having gone to both I think that the university experience had a far greater impact on my life. Not that I regret going to the Catholic high school but looking back I can see the deficiencies in my education there. Of course it was much easier to stand out in a small school academically- and athletically. One year I was the entire girl's cross country team and I assure you, I was the top runner (on the team). All my medals were stolen when we lived in downtown Indy, but tragically, the photos of me in red running tights were not, so I do have proof of this... but you will not find those photos online. Hedlun (the entire boy's cross country team) wouldn't dare reveal those on facebook because I am pretty sure I have photos of him in red running tights too....

Back to my original topic... the guilt is gone for another year and when it comes to making sacrifices for the education of our children like the priest talked about, well, Sean is working two jobs so our kids can go to a Catholic university someday. And I get woken up by those jobs, poor me! (Hey, it is annoying when all the kids manage to sleep through the night, but army wakes me up several times. I realize this is more annoying to Sean....)

Vampire?

In case the pale Irish radiologist skin didn't tip you off, I have discovered that Sean is also a vampire. As anyone who has read or seen Twilight has learned, vampires don't sleep. I found that to be the most fascinating part of the series... oh, the stuff you could accomplish at night if you didn't have to sleep! Well, if Sean isn't up working half the night then he is up playing video games (his 3rd job?) and is none the worse for the wear the next day. My sympathies to his staff on the days when he does sleep in a bit and skips his shower.... ignoring the advice his dad gave him as a teenager: don't use deodorant in lieu of a shower. Hey, whatever keeps the techs out of his reading room...

Back in the day when Sean was deciding what specialty to pursue he debated between OB and radiology. At the time he claimed that he picked radiology because he didn't want to be on call the rest of his life, but now that he is on call for 94 hospitals (95 if you count army) I am skeptical... Based on my personal research, I think Sean just doesn't like whiny pregnant women. Or whiny women in general which is why I am going to try and nap with the little ones now. Patrick took the motorcycle to nap with him and it doesn't sound like either one is sleeping, so this may not work.

My Personal Trainers

The littles are ganging up on me and trying to motivate me to work out more. Patrick keeps asking me if I want to go exercise, which I believe is part of his plan to get to watch a movie and eat popcorn while I use the elliptical in the basement. Then Emily uses what little hand skills she has to pinch my stomach fat as she eats, as if to say, "come on mom, should you really be eating all those cookies while you're feeding me?!" Deal with the crumbs, little one. Working out with only the little ones at home is tricky due to the shower requirement. Someday it will be warm enough to just take them for a walk... someday. Unfortunately someday is a little too close to pool season.

Patrick's New Show

Episode one yesterday, Bulldozer Mania. He is eagerly awaiting more action but nothing today.

Mommy's Little Eater

Emily went for her 2 month appointment yesterday and we found out she has grown 2.5 inches and gained almost 6 pounds. Why yes, 50% for height and 90% for weight. Apparently I am passing on all those dessert calories... or maybe it's because every time she fusses I use it as an excuse to sit down and feed her. Either way it probably explains why she is able to sleep up to 10 hours straight at night (rarely happens but nice that it's a possibility now!).

Are you kidding me?!

UGH, we have been dreading this day for the 3.5 years we have lived in this house... looks like we will have neighbors sooner than we wanted. Don't get me wrong, love our neighbors, surrounded by great people who don't beat each other in the driveway (as compared to our neighbors in Texas), but we don't understand why we have to live so close together. If I wanted to live in a townhouse, I would. And I promise, I would call 911 if our neighbor's house was on fire, you don't have to make it so I am calling because MY house is about to be on fire too.

We were one of the first houses in the neighborhood and when we picked out our lot there was only one house built, so we had no idea the houses would be so close together. I mean no offense to Kansas, but anyone who has driven through it or flown over it, knows that there is PLENTY of open land here, we could spread out a little. As for everyone who cheerily points out that there is less yard work to do... well, ah, good for our lawn boy? At least we don't back up to another house at this point... someday there will be a church there, unless they have to sell off the land.... hmm, may need to up our donations.

Pajamas and Messy Hair

Yeah, this photo wasn't taken in the morning either... they are serious about their pajama days (and bed hair).