It’s been a busy day in the RoL house! We got an early morning text announcing that I am an aunt for the first time and Bella and Andrew have their first cousin! Congrats to my sister EL who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Maybe when she gets back on her feet, she’ll write the story of the birth since it was pretty amazing!
Secondly, today was Bella’s first day of first grade. She was thoroughly excited and no butterflies! Congrats, my big girl! (Andrew decided he wanted to have school fun too – let’s just hope that by the time he does go to school, he is bigger than the back pack!)
Category Archives: bella’s world
Congrats All Around!
Bella Moment: Who’s Coming?
Me: Bella, you need to straighten up your room and help Mommy get the house cleaned.
Bella: Who’s coming over?
Me: Just because we’re cleaning the house doesn’t mean that someone is coming over.
Bella: (Keeps looking at me.)
Me: (Thinking to self, “Dang, she is right. If it wasn’t for the steady stream of visitors we’d never dust or vacuum.” So I admit…) Well, actually, Ms. T is coming to visit us but that’s not the point. We’d have to clean the house anyway.
(Note to self: Next time we’re cleaning when someone really isn’t coming over.)
Let’s Pretend: Bella’s Buddies Game
On Sunday, Bella and I shared a mama/daughter afternoon and went out to the movies to watch the new WALL-E movie with free tickets we received from a grocery store promo. Bella doesn’t go to the movies often but when she does, it is a major treat! I really enjoyed the movie and Bella did too, although it was a little slow for her in the middle. But as usual, after the movie she went into “let’s pretend” mode…I had to pretend she was Wall-e and I was Eve, complete with computer-type voices.
This has become a normal ritual, where as we take on the personas of two best friends and act out a little scene. We’ve been characters that range from Pooh and Tigger to Lightning McQueen and Mater (Yeah, I had to do Larry the Cable Guy’s voice) to St. Catherine of Sienna and Jesus. (Yeah, that one was interesting.)
It may be wacky but I don’t mind her innocent pleasures and I’m able to incorporate some of the Christian virtues we’ve been learning into our little scenes. Anyway, I better get going since we’re on our way to her first swimming lesson of the summer. No doubt on the ride over we’ll be playing Little Mermaid & Flounder.
Summer Vacation Arrives Just in Time!
Congrats to Bella – now a first grader!
Well, we finally survived the last week of school but I have to admit that Friday was crazy! I had an early dentist appointment at 7:50 am. The doc checked things out and said I needed a root canal and asked if he should do it right then. I wanted to get it over with so I asked him to take care of it. Thankfully it went fine and afterwards a couple advil took care of the discomfort.
An hour later I was rushing back home so Brian could get to work and I could get to the Carmel Mission for Bella’s last school Mass. I was late, but I got there. After school we drove to the airport to pick up my mom who is visiting for a few days. Then we got ready for my father-in-law’s surprise birthday party this weekend. I never would have survived it all without my mom being here to help me out! (She just finished washing and ironing all my laundry! And then she babysat the kids so Brian and I could go out to eat. How awesome is that? Thanks, Mom!)
All the activity has been fun but I am looking forward to when the dust settles and we can just sit back and relax and enjoy our summer vacation!
10/20/04 – Child-like Faith
Okay, okay, just one more quick post since I’ve got to get packing. (I’m leaving early tomorrow morning to visit my family in So Calif while Brian is away on a men’s retreat for 3 days. Please keep us both in prayer!) Here’s a little story from a homeschooling mom about the simple wisdom of children. She wrote:
My son and I were finishing up our religion time, just the 2 of us, by discussing the Catechism questions. The topic was Sanctifying Grace. I was telling him that although Baptism gives us the Mark of Christ, after removing original sin, and allows us to go to heaven, it’s no “free ticket”. We have to work on knowing, loving and serving God every day.
He looked real serious for a moment. Then he said, “Mom, it’s kinda like playing Chutes and Ladders, isn’t it?” I sat there like one electrified.
“Yes, CJ, it is. Most days we move forward a space or two. Sometimes we even get caught on that spot were you have to roll double to get to move again. BUT, eventually the day will come… when you will slide down a chute or ascend the ladder. And, if you’re REALLY lucky, you’ll get to go up one of the BIG ones and your life will never be the same again.”
Next time you wanna illustrate “getting to heaven” for your little ones, pull out your Chutes and Ladders game. Come to think of it, I CAN’T think of a better analogy. Outta the mouths of babes.
Yeah, the kids will really teach us. I’ve been working with Bella on making the sign of the cross and saying her simple prayers throughout the day. The other day I was in a hurry and gave her her lunch and walked back into the kitchen. She then said to me, “Wait Mama, you forgot da pwayers” (the prayers). I apologized to her and we said our grace. After she made the sign of the cross she smiled and said, “Now Jesus happy.” Yes, I’m sure He is.