A Touching Moment

So Dawn's flipping through the TV guide from the newspaper the other day (OK so we're the last family in the USA who still uses it), and sees that E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial is coming on the Disney channel that night. Now Claire, who is about to turn 8 next month, has never seen this movie, and we're thinking it's about time we expose her to one of Spielberg's better outputs. I mean, she's beyond the baby Drew Barrymore stage by now we're thinking.


It has been years -- probably 15 or more -- since I've seen this movie, and the only thing I'm really concerned about is the appearance of E.T. ... from what I can remember, he's kind of a funky little critter and not all too snuggly I thought...


Well we make it through the whole movie ... it's 9:30 by now, late for a school night ... Claire gives her parents a big hug, brushes her teeth and off to bed. All is right with the world. I go downstairs for something and all of a sudden, what the ....? Uncontrollable sobbing from Claire's room!!! We're in there trying to console her! "Why did E.T. have to go!!!"


Well ... apparently we forgot just how sad that ending really is. Geez, I think I'll wait another couple years before we expose her to Old Yeller. What was I thinking!
(Yep! See that dog? He dies you know.)

End of the Season

Well, as quickly as it arrived, Daniel's first teeball season has ended, with the Dodgers going undefeated in league play. I can still remember spring training and ... oh, wait a minute, it still is spring! Well, you get my drift. I think our own #7 had a lot of fun and he's already looking forward to Fall 'ball. The season was a huge success, with every kid knowing to run to first base after a hit, and some fielding plays actually resembling real-life baseball! Of course, no game was complete without a slide or two to dirty-up the pants. And contrary to popular belief, there is crying in baseball ... err...teeball. Here are a couple more shots from Picture Day, which was a bit earlier on in the season. (Hell yeah I helped coach!)

First Communion

(please click any of the photos to expand)


After months of preparation, Claire had her first Communion this past Saturday, during a special mass for the occaision. She was one of approximately 85 communicants just for that mass alone, and the church was filled to the very brim ... no small feat for our church.

While many of the communicants sat with their families and relatives, Claire spent much of the service singing in the children's choir. She handled it with ease, even if she was perhaps the littlest one up there.

Once the mass was over, it was out to the courtyard for some photo ops with the Monsignor, and a few more with her friends from Bluebonnet Elementary. We had a beautiful day although it started out a bit chilly for here this time of year, but warmed up nicely into the seventies by the afternoon.



It was also really nice to have Aunt Kathy and Aunt Debbie down to share in the special day. We had a great time with them over the weekend.

We couldn't be happier or more proud of Claire. She seems to be growing up so fast (even though she never inherited that height gene)! It is amazing to look back and see how far the kids have come so quickly. Indeed, it was a day that none of us will forget and one that all of us will revisit fondly.