2018

Here's a year end update for sweet Veevsy Voo.  Next year she'll be 10, crazy! I actually feel like she has been nine years old for FOREVER.  She did go on her camping trip, Mike went too and she did very well.  She seems to be doing just fine, she doesn't say a lot but, like, she told me the other day she sits with all boys at lunch, they have assigned seats.  And that they are sometimes jerks but mostly they just make up games, jokes, etc.  It sounds fun, she sounds like she is doing just fine. 

She was a Porcelain Doll for Halloween, she thought of her costume and the styling, I drew the cracks on her face.  She loves to play with makeup.  She recently got her haircut into a short bob, it looks really cute.  Her teacher seems to be really happy with her in class, she is obviously really good at math, he told me and math is his favorite subject so he is happy to work with her on it.  She told me she sits at a table with some other kids during Math who are also doing harder stuff. 

All three girls are going to Sunday School now, because they don't go during regular school and it's going fine.  They don't love it, it makes for a long morning, but we are getting by.  We start at 9:00 then they have Mass at 10:30 and so we are basically there for three hours, which can be a lot! Bring snacks, I tell them, ha! 

Here are some pictures of our sweet Veronica. 

Fourth Grade

Good Lord, it's been one year! Every time I think I'm going to be better about posting I'm not.  But life is busy! The girls are all at a new school this year, our public one, and it's going very well.  It's going so much better, in fact, that I can't stand it, almost! Veronica has a male teacher, he's super cute, it's his first year teaching.  He was a student teacher in the gifted and talented classroom last year, I feel like he is a perfect fit for Veronica.  New teachers never bother me, I love them.  I guess maybe a new surgeon I wouldn't be too into but a new teacher is just great, they are young, they are excited, they are up on the freshest ideas, I love them.  And also, he is super cute, have I mentioned? Ha!

She is doing very well in school.  I went and volunteered at her Field Day this week, she doesn't love the cardio, for sure, BUT she did everything.  She has been walking the dog every day, by herself, she doesn't want me to go with her, which is FINE BY ME. 

She has moved on through the Harry Potter series by herself, without us.  Mike has been buying her these cool cover books at Costco, when you line them up against each other they make a whole picture? I feel like I'm not describing it well.  She is ever the reader, we just got her mid term grades (in the second week of September, what the heck?) and she is doing well in everything, her lowest grade is A-, in Science. 

On school starting so early, what the hell? Their first day was August 1, they have a week off for Fall Break in early October, two weeks off for Christmas/Hannukah, a week off for spring break, and get out in late May.  I was just having a discussion on Facebook with some friends, because Georgia is trying to get a law passed so that they can't start until after Labor Day.  Another friend said that in Maryland, where she lives, they never start until after Labor Day because they count on money from tourism and beach business through the SUMMER.  I said I thought that would work out okay because we went 180 days a year when I was in school and it was FINE.  I remember one year that we went until June 30, because we had so many snow days that year (I think it was 1978), and that was really late.  I think we normally went into the second week of June and then SUMMER started, like with the calendar.  One friend said that the department of education should decide when students go to school, it shouldn't be decided by travel and tourism and I ... disagree.  Apparently it is a problem because students have to take exams AFTER Christmas Break and ... I mean ... who cares? I just never understand all this revinventing of the wheel that we do.  Summer is summer and fall is fall, we are not changing the SEASONS now, are we? Anyway it drives me crazy but there is NO use fighting City Hall on it, I'm just going with it and inwardly seething.  And sometimes outwardly, I guess, ha ha!

She has a friend in our neighborhood now, one who is her age, which is so nice.  Her friend lives right down the street, on the same side of the street, it's super convenient and it just feels good, for them to live in the neighborhood where everyone goes to school.  I can't believe how few regrets I have about moving them to a new school. 

She is going on an overnight trip later this month, to a YMCA camp about an hour away.  Mike is going with them, apparently they always need dads to go, because of course as usual, it's moms who do all the volunteering.  She's excited and I am too, I think it will be great. 

Okay, well, you're up to date, I hope to be better about this in future but no promises. 

Third Grade

I think Third Grade can be the hardest - they get real grades for the first time, they have to take iRead and iStep, the first in a long line of standardized tests in Indiana, there are a lot more expectations on them.  I am not appreciative enough of the fact that my kids are pretty smart and capable and I don't have to worry about them (SO FAR) about academic stuff.  Veronica is so good and smart and sweet I never worry and this year is no exception.  Which is GOOD because for the second kid in a row, their teacher is going on maternity leave during their year! I found with Maria and I am hoping with Veronica that I am more tense about it than they are, Maria did just fine and Veronica will too.  

She is playing kickball, she doesn't really like it but I think it's important for her to stick with it.  She does seem to enjoy it while she's there.  Their first game was kind of a hot mess but - I mean, they only had TWO practices before their first game and at the school where I work they have been practicing since the end of summer break and it was clear that the first team we played had practiced a lot more than we had.  It is hard to always lose but then again, there is no pressure.  I just hope she sticks with it.  She never got on base the first game and she was mad but later she told me, I think I just let my nerves get the best of me, which makes me want to CRY but I didn't.  

Anyway, she's fine, she's moving right along in speech and maybe some day we won't have to go anymore.  We've been doing it for two years, we are all getting sick of it!  

Here are some cute pictures.  

First Communion

I consider myself lucky to be Catholic for a variety of reasons, but I especially love being a parent of a Catholic school student.  Veronica has the best teacher, she is really teaching them a lot about their religion and she really walks the walk and I feel incredibly lucky that she is Veronica's teacher when she is making her First Communion.  She made her first communion on April 29 and it was just beautiful.  Anthony went out with his girlfriend so Mike and I both got to go, Mike's mom was in the hospital and couldn't come but her husband came and my sister Laura and it was so nice.  Veronica's godmother Marita and her family were there, and of course Marta and her family, Veronica's godfather Carlos and his son came by later, we had the food catered again and it was perfect, so it was just a nice day.

She was very sweet and completely ready to go, I didn't really have the fears that I had with Maria last year, I was probably a little more easy going about it and Veronica is a person who takes things like this more seriously, so it was a good combination.  Anyway, here are some pictures.

March

How is Veronica doing, in March? This morning she told me she is NOT GOOD.  She is always SO TIRED.  We are going for her well child check up (11 months after her 7th birthday, whatever) next month and I am going to see what is what.  Maybe she has a problem, maybe that's why she is so tired.  But she doesn't seem tired, she doesn't fall asleep all the time or anything.  I don't know.  We are all giving up sweets and dessert for Lent and last night we were talking about it and Veronica said she is really going to try to "eat clean".  Where she hears this, I don't know! She does have several friends at school who are gluten free, so maybe that's it.  I am of two minds on it, on the one hand, I know she'd have more energy and be happier if she wasn't always fretting about her size and clothes, but on the other hand, I want her to be happy with herself exactly as she is.  I don't know.

She is doing very well in school, well in speech therapy, well in Tae Kwon Do, she did get her yellow belt and even though sometimes it's 'hard' because she doesn't always 'keep good form', she is going to finish Tae Kwon Do through the year and we'll see if she does it next year.  Next year she can play kickball and maybe she'll want to but I don't know.  It will be easier if Spring ever comes because then we can at least go for walks with the dog, to the store, etc.

Veronica went to a birthday party last weekend, her friend Lillie.  She bought her a pretty sweater because she has admired her sweaters in the past, and she was thrilled to see her wear it the next day! We were at this Blessing Cup thing that we do for First Communion.  I personally think it is a ridiculous thing but I did it last year with Maria and I did it this year with Veronica and in three years I'll do it with Felicity, so I better get over it.  She makes her First Communion next month, April 29.  My sister bought three dresses on excellent sale and I am hopeful the one she likes will work still, next month.  We are going to get shoes here soon, it's all exciting!

Here are some cute pictures!

November

Jeez, July and November I'm posting, not great! Veronica is doing great.  She is doing very, VERY well in school, she gets pulled out for reading and math, she reads like Evelyn Wood.  Is it Evelyn Wood?  Who advertised the speed reading late at night? Anyway, she is super smart.  She has friends in school, she is no trouble.  Well, she is a little trouble, ha! She is tired so often, she can be a little weepy and sad for no apparent reason, I worry about her.  But mostly, she is fine.

She is making her first confession in a few weeks and then she will make her first communion in the spring. She does not like to go to church and then when she does, she wants to drape herself all over me.  Oy, it's a lot! I am trying to break it up a little, maybe take her with just me on a Saturday night, let Mike take Maria and Felicity on Sunday morning.  Everything is easier when I am not working so much.

She is taking Tae Kwon Do two afternoons a week and next month she'll try to get her yellow belt, so that's exciting!  She and Maria went to a clinic at the gymnastics place near us and she liked it but she doesn't love to exercise.  I mean, who does? But it seems like she should have more energy.

Anyway, all is well, she is as sweet as ever.  Here are some pictures!

Sleepaway Camp

I never went to sleepaway camp, I never even knew it was an option.  I had some friends who went away to camp, up in the Catskills or whatever, but they were all Jewish, and I think I thought only Jewish kids went to sleepaway camp?  Maybe?

Anyway, two years ago, Veronica and Maria went to the day camp version of our CYO camp and today I drove them about 60 miles south of here, registered them, walked them up (and I do mean UP, their cabin is on the top of a giant hill, and left them there, no to return until Tuesday.  They were both wonderful about it, particularly because we found out on Thursday that although they'd be in a cabin together, they were not going to be with any of their requested friends from their school, so that stunk.  I had called to find out if I had a balance due and the girl I spoke with said she was "going to call" to tell me and I just don't know if she would have been able to get to it before I got there today. I was really glad to be able to tell Maria and Veronica in advance, particularly because I, we all, were going on the premise that they were going to be with friends.  Maria was HORRIFIED, but we talked it out and by the time we got there they were being brave about it.  They both knew one girl in there, she is the cousin of one of our neighbors.  I pray that they are going to see some of their friends and maybe make some new friends.  We'll see!

Here's Veronica, sitting on her bunk, the way I left her.  They were getting ready to go swimming.  I miss them but I hope they are having fun.