Finally!

She is able to push herself on the swing. No small feat I suppose, for any child. I can't remember when I was able to do it, I just remember being able to. I have been trying to teach Caitlyn to do it....for at least a couple of years now. And just the other day while Matt and I were sitting on the deck, she was on the swing and swinging. Out of nowhere. Just like that!





Apparently all of that swinging made her quite tired. This is how I found her in bed when I went in to check on her before heading to bed myself. I am almost certain that she will hate me for these when she is older.





Note....if you enlarge the second pic of her, you will have a clear view of Bunny right next to her....He is never far from her when she is sleeping.

I was a little scared that the flash might wake her up. But there was no way that I could pass up the opportunity of this picture. I figured if she did wake up, then I would deal with the wrath, cause these pics are certainly worth it!

Here's the picture I mentioned

The girls wore white caps and gowns. The boys wore blue caps and gowns. Nice and uniform. The only thing different on each girl, besides the obvious of honors sashes, were the shoes that they were wearing. And many girls were wearing some shocking shoes. And I don't mean shocking as though they were outrageous. I mean shocking like the were bright colors. Which was fun to look at as they walked across the stage.

Nice and uniform....until they took off the gowns and I witnessed this little get up



Now, I know that I am by no means a fashionista. Hell, I might even still be rolling the bottoms of my pant legs if people would let me. But we are talking about a child who's parent's have just spent close to $30,000 on an education for her (after books, fees, and uniforms). And this is what she wears to what is supposed to be a respectful event????

She Did It!!!

Tutti finally graduated :) Last night was the ceremony. She graduated from Guerin Prep, formerly Mother Guerin. Same school that I graduated from, so it was nice to ssit through another graduation ceremony there.

Besides it's name, a whole lot has changed at Mother Guerin since I graduated in 1992. For starters, there are the boys from Holy Cross there now. There are no more plaid uniform skirts with neatly collared shirts. The graduating class of both genders was less than the number of girls that I graduated with some 15 (yikes!) years ago. And most importantly, the tuition is much higher, upwards of $4000.00 higher!

There were also River Grove policemen on the scene. And not just in the parking lots to control the unruly graduates or on the street to direct the floods of traffic. They were in the auditorium. Every single time people hooted and hollered a bit too loud for their liking, they were escorted out of the graduation. One parent was a lunatic because she thought she should be allowed to celebrate loudly that her daughter graduated....and she and her husband are now near $24,000 poorer. I have to say I agree with her a little bit.

But all in all it was a fantastic event. Tutti did not have an easy time with high school. Those years that people always say are some of the best of their lives, well let's just say that wasn't the case for Tutti. So to see her forge ahead through all of the shit storms that followed her the past 4 years is truly wonderful. Not to mention the fact that she is the first in a long (long) line of children in that part of my family to actually graduate.

Her and Mom, who has raised her pretty much since infancy and has managed to put her through Geurin pretty much all on her own.


Tutti and Bobby, who thinks of her as another little sister.


Tutti and Matt, who has never resented her for monopolizing so much of our dating life.


Me and Tutti, who I love as if she were my own child. (side note...notice the straight hair and no bangs)


Tutti and Mike, the boyfriend, who we all have very different feeling about.


The entire family


And there is a special picture...but it certainly deserves a post all on it's own. I will get to that this weekend...it is priceless.

Mother's Day

I know I am a little (or a lot) late posting about Mother's Day. Sue me.

It was a wonderful day! And Caitlyn is really in to holidays and special occasions now. So she was all geared up and ready to give me my gifts the minute my eyes popped open.

She had breakfast with me, which Daddy went to get. I refuse to go out for breakfast on this day. It is way too crowded, and by the time I wake up, the wait for a table is way too long for my growling belly.

After eating, Caitlyn presented me with all of my goodies. And goodies they were.

The first was a card that she made. The picture is of her and I on her first day of school. That hair of mine....gone.



The second was also a card. Which I find just too damned cute!




The third was a plate that was made at school. Although I love the plate, it certainly doesn't make me like the teacher anymore.


And of course, a Shrek baby. I am not exactly sure why, but she insisted that Tutti take her to Build A Bear for this little guy. And she decided that even though he is a boy, he should be dressed in a $15.00 Tinkerbell costume. I think she wanted one, and my day was just a good excuse for her to get one.


And this my friends is the one that brought tears to my eyes. It is certainly the keeper of the group. I love that my daughter knows so much about me. I will translate some of them as a few aren't as obvious to people outside of the Walsh household.


1. My Mom's name is Nace (Nancy)
2. My Mom's eyes are green.
3. My Mom's hair is red.
4. My Mom is 18 years old. (I have a new reason to love this kid)
5. My Mom's favorite color is green.
6. My Mom likes to eat salid (salad).
7. My Mom likes to wear shoos (shoes). (Who doesn't really?)
8. My Mom likes to play on the kompdr (computer). (Thinking I spend too much time here)
9. My Mom likes to cook ham
10. My Mom's favorite store is Targit (Target).
11. My Mom's favorite restaurant is Fakis Fil (Franksville). (Hot dog joint near the house)
12. My Mom drives a van.
13. My Mom doessn't like ??? (She tells me it's weeds???? I so don't garden.)
14. I love my Mom because (no answer...should I be concerned????)

Tutti's Prom

I forgot to post some of these.

Tutti had her prom on the 27th. And I think I can officially say that she was absolutely stunning. STUNNING!! She had her hair and make up done professionally and it came out beautiful. And her dress! Purely Cinderella fashion. I loved how all of the girls that she went with had on such brightly colored dresses.

Tutti and Mike


The entire group


Tutti in her true form


And of course Cate had to get in some of the pictures (thank you Auntie Mary or my cool Watermelon raincoat!)

Why Do You Love Me So Much?

This was the question I posed to Caitlyn this afternoon when we were lounging on the couch together.

C: Cause you take me to the park.

C: Cause you buy me ice cream.

C: Cause we are snuggle bunnies sometimes.

C: That's all I can think of.

At this point I had to giggle to myself at her reasons for loving a person. That is, until she said this...

C: And I have a gazillion more in my heart Mommy!

*sniff sniff*

She sure knows how to warm my heart when she wants to.

Sick Sick Sick

Of what??? Sick of being sick!! Not me. The girl. Once again she has a cold. I am convinced that her hellish teacher has plagued her with cooties. She wasn't this sick last year in school. She wasn't this sick the year before that in daycare/preschool. So why is it that she has the kindergarten teacher from hell and she is sick nonstop from November until the present time?? Really, the only logical answer is that teacher has plagued her. Right? I have to be right, cause then I am allowed to hate her more.

So the cough that landed us in the emergency room approximately a month ago has returned. Though it isn't anywhere near as violent this go round as it was then. Of course the minute she starts coughing now, she tells me this...

"Mommy I think I need to go to the emergency room."

Now if she were a kid that was there on a regular basis I would accept this statement as run of the mill. But since her escape from the NICU, she has only ever been to the ER twice. TWICE!!! Which in preemie land is a fantastic record. Of course, both times were for the same ridiculous cough. So I need to deprogram her and change her thinking that a cough lands you in the ER every time.

Despite the cough and snot dripping from her nose constantly, she is way excited that spring seems to have decided to make it's grand entrance. And it's been a long time since we have had a "real" spring here in Chicago. Thus, I have forgotten how much I hate spring. Makes getting dressed in the morning when it's 40 out very difficult. Because by mid afternoon, it's usually somewhere around 60. Clothes for 60 degrees and 40 degrees really are very different clothes. But the nice weather has allowed for the girl to be out of the house from the moment she exits school until it is time for dinner and bed. Which makes for a much neater house and happier mom ;)

New job news....I have agreed to work summer school. Not only is it a hefty sum of $32.00 an hour, but I think it looks good that I am willing to meet some of the students and staff. Nothing like a little brown nosing before I even get there right? And it's only 2 days a week, of which I can decide which 2 days I want to do, for 5 weeks. And it is smack dab in the middle of the summer, so I still have a nice break at the beginning and the end. And I've said before, I can't complain about my vacation time as most people (who aren't teachers) don't get nearly the amount of vacation that I get. I still have to work 5 days over the summer for my current job according to my contract, but those are picked by me as well. And I have agreed to do those days in a summer school program for a kid on my caseload. Not because I believe that he needs my assistance over the summer, but because his Mom is so very frustrated and her anxiety levels are rising to the point of a nervous breakdown. And she has pretty much found a confidant in me, she trusts me. And I don't want her to feel insecure about someone taking my place. Just give me a little pat on the back for going above and beyond the call of duty *wink wink*

I've not yet counted down the number of days until summer break. Which surprises me, as I usually do that sometime around the return after spring break. But things have been too busy to do that these days. But rest assured, the count is coming soon. Especially since things are now starting to wind down and I no longer have appointments from the time I leave the house until the time I return home. Maybe Monday I will do that.