RAINWATER RAMBLING

After experiencing a little technical difficulties with my blog software, things are back up and running. It wasn't the software so much as it was cockpit problems (i.e. the pilot). Another reason why backing up regularly makes sense, my last backup was before I changed the design to 3 columns. It happened last Monday, and given our busy week getting ready for Angela's First Communion, having it fixed within the week is okay.

The day started off well for everybody, the girls were outside for most of the morning enjoying the weather. Here they are relaxing in the sun.

The celebration was at 5:00 mass at St. John of the Cross. Here is Angela in her beautiful dress that Aunt Mary Ann made for her.

Another pose, this time sitting.

Here are the three girls ready to go.

The mass was a little bit longer than usual, there were 27 other children making their First Communion. We managed to get a few pictures with Father Leo afterwards.

A nice picture of all of us with Father Leo.

A traditional photo in front of the St.Richard window in the rotunda.

Unfortunately Angela wasn't feeling well after the mass and slept through most of the party afterwards. A picture of her cake prior to everyone enjoying a slice.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been building a coffee table for the living room. I got the idea from IKEA, they have a coffee table called PILBO. What I liked about it was the dividers under the glass allowing you to display stuff, in my case photos and rocks. What I didn't like about it was the colour and the size, a little too large for our room. It turned out okay and now Susan wants an end table to go with it.

The rain that was forecasted held off and the girls were able to get outside with their new roller blades. Angela wasn't the least bit hesitant, off she went full steam ahead. Not sure how she could see through her hair.

Gillian striking a pose.

Claudia carrying on from her practicing in the basement.

It was one of those weekends where the kids go stir crazy from being inside for so long. They have been talking about buying roller blades for awhile and we told them they could get them if they paid for half. Of course Angela had some birthday money, Claudia had lots of money because she never spends it, and Gillian was figuring out how many A's she would have to get on her report card (hint hint G-pa). So here they are in the basement practicing their styles.

Not sure what the straight arm is suppose to mean.

But it is a common theme and even when they got outside they were still doing it.

Angela working on her Brownie badge for family heritage.

I took this picture of Carla because he was looking kind of formal sitting there with his paws crossed.

Today was the end of an era, the training wheels on the last child's bicycle came off for good. This morning at 9:00 am we were hauling the bikes down from their winter storage. After some minor adjustments and air in the tires, off they went around the block. It was then time for Claudia to give it a shot without the training wheels. She tried once last summer but it didn't last too long. I guess the longer you wait the faster they pick it up. After the first push she was off to the races.

She even got the "starting on her own" part down.

Angela providing words of encouragement.

Angela bribing Claudia with chocolate if she does a good job.

Lately the girls have been into "road hockey", not sure if it is the hockey, or the idea of playing on the road. Here is Angela taking a whack at the ball.

This is Ashley from down the street returning the shot.

They can all ride a bike and they can all skate, I figure I have a few years until the next back breaking phase of their lives, moving them and their possessions to university, to their first apartment, etc.

We had the Swans over for Easter dinner today, about half way through the turkey in the oven process, the oven element decided to bite the dust. Hmmm what to do, fire up the BBQ and put the turkey in there, hmmm "I wonder how much propane we have left?", not quite enough, good thing they have a propane "stop and swap" up at the Esso. In the end the turkey turned out well.

The weather was great so the kids were outside playing, here they are playing soccer in the backyard.

Colin and Patrick against Eric and Gillian.

Claudia giving a cheer.

The boys are going through the long hair phase.

Rachel

Claudia taking in the game.

Yesterday was also report card day. Both Gillian and Angela had very good grades and did an excellent job last term.

It was Opening Day for the Toronto < IMG src="http://tanabe.ca/old/blogs/files/bluejays.gif" align="middle" alt="Blue Jays button">. This was the 4th year that St Richard School purchased group tickets to the game. We all went down and enjoyed a good game. They even won this year 6-3 over the Minnesota Twins. Some of the highlights follow, Blue man Group played the National Anthems.

There were 2 tributes before the game one for Kirby Puckett and the other for Tom Cheek.

The first pitch by Roy Halladay.

Angela enjoying the game.

Claudia managed to hang in there for the entire game.

Gillian eating grapes.

Seeing as one of the major sponsors during the game is David Roberts...the freshest name in nuts, it's not likely that the Rogers Centre will ever go peanut free. Something "Pinball Clemons" is working on is a peanut free section in the Rogers Centre.

The people to the left of me and the ones to the right of Susan were munching away on peanuts the entire game. Our trip to the ball game requires wiping down the railings in front of us with wipes everytime some passes by us. Here are Claudia and Susan coming back from the washroom. "Claudia, don't touch the railing!" You can see the lady holding her bag of peanuts.

No doubt she bought them off of this guy.

Time for the "wave".

More people from St Richard.

Waiting for the last strike.

The new closer BJ Ryan preserved the victory.

The final boxscore.

We watched a good movie tonight, it was Whisper of the Heart, in Japanese it was was called (Mimi wo Sumaseba), it literally means If you Listen Closely. It is from the creators of Spirited Away.