Reily's Busy Life

As you already know, Reily is playing lacrosse. He loves it and it's proving to be a great sport for him. Sports are a HUGE deal in Texas! They play hard and practice even harder. The official lacrosse season doesn't start until the beginning of next year, but practices started over the summer. Once school started, it all intensified with practices three times a week for two to two and a half hours each time. The boys are also "encouraged" to practice at a sports training center every Thursday night for two plus hours. We've also started scrimmage games (which last three to four hours) and after the holidays, practices will be four to five times a week.

Reily also had his first Homecoming. I found myself startled now and then as we prepared for it all. I'm still not use to having a child in high school and now he was going to Homecoming...crazy! What was even more startling and way crazier is the "Texas Homecoming Mums". This is a tradition here in Texas and like sports, it's a huge deal. The mums need to be big and fancy and they are bought or made by the mother of the boy. The girls wear the mums pinned to their shirts all day at school and then that night at the football game. Some pin them to their dresses the next night for the dance. Luckily, the girls in Reily's group didn't want them. If the girl Reily takes next year wants one, I'll know what to do now. I'd never seen or heard of such a thing. Anyway, these mums taught me that everything really is bigger in Texas!

Reily has also continued with choir and was chosen to sing in the Honors Choir for the Texas Music Educator's Region 26 Concert. This is an audition choir made up of students from all the high schools in our region. Last year, I believe I counted 25-30 schools in our region. The kids and directors practice all day together for the first time and then perform that same night. At the practice, Reily was chosen to sing in the Mixed Men's Choir as well. This was exciting because the director of that choir has incredible credentials. He's worked with artists from the Metropolitan Opera and Tony award winners. Also, his Conservatory Chamber Choir performed a concert tour of China as part of the opening celebration of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This was a wonderful opportunity and experience for Reily! Here's a picture of Reily and his friend Amanda after the concert--

Happy Birthday Reily!

Last night Reily had a party with his good friend Andie who turns fifteen tomorrow. Months ago, when they realized they were only a day apart, they planned to have their birthday parties together. We hosted the party at our house and had about 25 teenagers here along with Andie's parents. Because their birthdays are in October, they decided to have a costume party. They ate tons of food, sang karaoke (all but five of the kids sing in the choir) and played games. It was so much fun!

I can't believe it's been fifteen years! Reily is such a wonderful son and I am blessed to be his mother. I love you Reily!!!

Playing catch up and apologizing...again.

So again, I'm a bad blogger because I've broken the first and most important rule of blogging....NOT BLOGGING. Saying I've been busy isn't really an excuse, because it gives you lots to blog about, especially when your blog is your journal/scrapbook. So, here are some of the things we've been busy with. I'm hoping that including photos will buy me some forgiveness.

First, we got a fish tank...yeah!? As most of you know, we're not a cat or dog family. We love them, but we love breathing more. For me, it's an occasional runny nose and itchy eyes. Reily does great with both cats and dogs. Ron and Jacklyn however don't do so well. So, after Jacklyn came to us very distraught because she doesn't have a pet "like everyone else", we went and bought this. It's not a very good picture (you can't even see the fish), but you get the idea.

Jacklyn had her first school dance. They originally had a sixth grade only dance planned, but with hurricane Ike (something I should have blogged about), it was cancelled. This was an all school dance which meant sixth, seventh and eighth graders. We were just a little anxious;). Jacklyn went to the dance with her good friends Ally and Karly. She had a great time and when an eighth grade boy asked her to dance she did the right thing...she said "sorry, I've got to go" smiled, waved goodbye and ran away. Good girl!

Reily started lacrosse this summer. I'm still learning about the sport, but what I do know about it is that it's really rough. There's a lot of plowing into each other and hitting with the sticks. Things that I think should be illegal aren't and it makes me nervous to watch. Anyway, you can imagine my fear watching Reily's high school team scrimmage against South Western University's team. They were all so big! I was convinced that they were thinking how much fun it was going to be to beat up on a high school team. Our boys did come home with their fair share of bumps and bruises, but the college boys really took the time to teach and have fun with them. I thought I'd include a photo of Reily and the guy he was positioned against. This kid/man had to have been 6'3".

This past Saturday, my girlfriend called to ask if I wanted to go with her to Austin City Limits. Of course I did! We took the kids and went the first year we were here and it was fantastic. If you love live music it's for you. If you hate large crowds more than you love live music, it's best to stay home. For those of you who don't know about Austin City Limits, it's a three day concert at Zilker Park with eight stages and 130 bands. Everyone brings chairs and blankets and crashes in front of the different stages to see the musicians they want to see. In between all the stages there are activity centers for the little kids, food and drink stands and lots of merchandise for sale. Reily went with a friend and his family, so while I was dancing to Robert Plant at the AMD (Advanced Micros Devices) stage, Reily was rocking out to Beck at the AT&T stage. We both had a great time and we'll for sure go again as a family next year.

In Honor of the 2008 Olympics

First Day Of School

Okay, I first have to apologize for taking a LONG break from blogging. I have many excuses that would just bore you to read, so I'll give you only the biggest one....we've had to have our air conditioning repaired five times in the last six and a half weeks. I know Lisa will understand when I say that you cannot function without air conditioning in Texas during the summer! It's just too hot and humid here. So again, I apologize.

Now what's really important.... Reily started high school today and Jacklyn started middle school. Already! I opened an email from the school district titled "What will LISD look like in ten years?" After I read the first couple of sentences I realized that it didn't matter to me, both Reily and Jacklyn will have long graduated by then. From that thought came the next - only four more years with Reily before he will venture out into this crazy world mostly on his own. I'm nowhere near ready for that! And Jacklyn is going to be going to school dances...with boys! It doesn't help that she's in sixth grade, but looks like she's in eighth. Where has the time gone and was I really present for all of it because too much has happened too quickly for my brain to catch up. My mom always says she wishes she could put her grandchildren in a shrinking machine. I wish for that also, or to be able to have one more day with seven year old Reily or three year old Jacklyn and don't even get me started on both of them as babies. This transition has been hard on me, but I have a few more hours before they get home to get it together and just be happy for them.

There is good to this new beginning in our lives. Henry was a great middle school for Reily and will be just as good for Jacklyn. The campus is really nice and the teachers are wonderful. Jacklyn is in the choir program there and it is the best around. I've been told by many that Vista Ridge is a great high school. I went on a tour a couple of weeks ago and got lost, but it's really nice and there is so much opportunity there for Reily. I've said this many times.... the schools here are great. I am so grateful for that, even if I am sad today.