Room Mom Retirement

Yes, dear friends, it is HERE that, with great sadness, I am officially announcing my retirement from the esteemed position of Room Mom at St. Dominics School....

Actually, I told the school two weeks ago and I am not the least bit sad :) What a ride! It was everything I wanted...and SOOO much more :) I knew that I wanted to stay super involved in Brooke's school...especially since it was her first year. Check. I knew I needed to complete 35 hours of volunteer work for her school, anyway (LOVE that about her school in that it makes parents stay involved). Check ++++. 35 hours? Whaaaat? Try 235! :)

But between the school auction, three class major parties, a casino night event, teacher gifts, field trips, monthly newsletters, preparing a faculty luncheon, PTG meetings.....I am ready to spread the wealth here, people. Luckily, they got a brand new sucker, I mean, LOVELY, COMMITTED MOM to be the Room Mom in 1st grade.

All jokes aside, it really has been an amazing year for both Brookey and I. It was such a blessing to be able to be involved with her school by working on campus 2 days a week and participating in Room Mom activities. I can tell it means so much to Brooke when I am in her classroom--her face just lights up. I know these moments won't last forever so I'm trying to hold on...I can find other ways to "hold on" without being Room Mom, though :)

Irish Dancing

I haven't posted forever! Nothing super exciting has been happening...we are all just busy doing our thing and having fun! Nothing really worth posting!! Come Friday, the last day of school, I am sure I will have plenty to say :)

One wonderful thing that has happened is Brookey's progress with Irish Dancing!! After a Sesame Street episode featuring Irish Dancers last October, she was begging me to take Irish Dancing lessons. It was unbelievable that I actually found an amazing school right in Vallejo! Her school was featured in the local paper on St. Patty's Day this year: McBride School of Dance

Her first lesson was the beginning of November, and even I was completely overwhelmed!! The dancing is SOOO complicated! Brookey was just hopping around like a frog for about 6 months, barely making it through every class. She told me a few times she was "done" with Irish dancing and she wanted to "move on!" I was fine with that, but I (gently) encouraged her to "try one more time" and keep practicing. She hung in there and a few weeks ago I was literally AMAZED at her progress!!! She is REALLY dancing now and at the last class, she was moved to the next level.

It was just so shocking that one day, it just clicked for her. In teaching, I have seen this a lot as well...a kid struggles for 18 months learning to read and you think they will NEVER get it and one day, it just happens. Same with potty training :) It was a proud parenting moment! I felt that I pushed and encouraged just the right amount without being too overbearing ("Stick with it even if you hate it!! Never give up!!") or too sappy ("Ohhhh you're the best dancer!! You're sooo good!"--no, she sucked!! Haha!!).

Anyway, she got a huge confidence boost getting moved up last Friday and told me after class that she's going to do Irish dancing for 10,000 years and until she qualifies for the World Championships like some of girls at her school. I don't know about that, but I'm very happy she's learning that hard work and sticking with something can really pay off :)

Kindergarten Mass

Every May, the Kindergarten class and their 8th grade buddies "perform" at Mass--the Kindergartners do many of the readings and ALL of the songs. It was the CUTEST thing ever. Brookey was chosen to read a line...and it just so happened right before she had to deliver the line, the whole church of 400++ were standing and singing. I know how it feels to stand in front of the church up on the pulpit and it's nothing short of intimidating. But the beauty of kids are that they are clueless. I don't even think she was nervous!!! Scott and I both agreed we would have crumbled doing that at 5 years old.

I'm posting videos from You Tube of her doing her line and also of her singing the final song, "Yes, Lord!" She's in the far left rockin' out!!

Yes, Lord

May Crowning Mass

Easter "Trifecta"

This Easter was definitely the most memorable, moving and awe-inspiring Easters I've ever had. At the Saturday night Easter Vigil, I was baptized, confirmed and received my first communion (what I like to call the Holy "Trifecta!!" ) :)

The entire week was insanely intense...i can't even describe it, really. I never, ever, EVER thought I'd be one of those people crying at church (i always thought those people must have done something REEEAALLY bad to be crying at church!!) but on Thursday, I found myself weeping like a baby, along with my fellow classmates.

Saturday was a lot like my wedding day--it was just a big blur of happiness that went by so fast. Everyone asked me if I was glad that I didn't have to go to class EVERY Tuesday night anymore...frankly, that makes me SO sad! Luckily, Scott is doing the classes starting next week, so I can continue to live vicariously through his experience. This has to be one of the best things I have ever done!

The picture above is the Fr. Michael who baptized me. He also baptized Brooke & Will in January. I got absolutely DRENCHED from head to toe and had less than 10 min. to look normal...that was a challenge :)

My awesome class!


Some of us with Fr. John who guided us through!

Random Antics

Here are some random pics from the month...the antics of the Rooney Kids....

White sunglasses upside down are SUPER cool :)


Just happy!

Playing "horsie" with Sissy (aka: "Issy")

Yes, those are your teeth!!!