Days with the Dorans

I was working on my school blog (while the Bigs made cards for their Nana's birthday-with markers-) when the Goose joined me. He was asking me if I wanted to see his "Tats" and I have to admit, I thought at first that this was just one of those times when I had no idea what he was trying to say... (For years Z's language sounded like a garbled mess to me- understandable only to his bigger sibs). He repeated himself again, "No mom, do you want a tat? Do you want to see my tats? I could give you one..." And seeing the marker in his hand I suddenly had a flashback to a Sunday long ago when my little darling became a tattoo artist in church. Upon further investigation, I learned that I was understanding my little Z perfectly well and that he was just talking slang for the word, "Tattoo". I can't wait to see what he looks like when he's 18. Until then, all his 'Tat's will be washable markers (I'm off to hide the Sharpies r...

Joe has been a fan of America's Game since he was little (funny I'm talking about when my first grader was 'little'). I remember when he fell asleep with his new ba t , or when he dreamed of being the Great Ernie Harwell and practiced calling pretend games with a headset he made for the players he adored. While he has a natural swing and can catch and throw he lacks something that all great ball players need... DESIRE! Joe's easy going, sensitive, laid back nature is not one that gets you far in a ball game. Though he is just a first grader he keeps his head in the game and as the season has gone on he plays with one of his best qualities- one that I underestimated until yesterday- he plays with heart. Joe feels deeply and though not as competitive as his sis (thank God) he has a heart for the game he loves and I feel like I may have missed that before yesterday. Joe's team is good. They are in first place and at this point I don't see them losing any ...

Having Tigers' Season Tickets is awesome- but it feels like we miss a lot of games in May because of work and our busy schedules. We had a game tonight and Jeff decided to take the Bigs after his meeting (This was a pretty last minute decision). I knew they would have a lot of fun and so I decided that the Littles and I would have an adventure of our own. We had to go get meds for Pele' (our million dollar mutt) so I figured we could go grab a bite to eat first. I was actually excited for it to be just me and the Littles . Usually I have the Bigs with me. I learned tonight that having four kids can be easier than having two- that is when they are two LITTLES! We decided to go to Honey Tree. Z wanted CJ's (which is a brewery/ restaurant we frequent weekly) but I talked him into something closer to Costco (where Pele's hundred dollar meds were). He wanted Wed Wobin (aka Red Robin) but when he heard that Honey Tree had pancakes, he was sold! I figured Honey ...

Jeff and I are counting down the days- not just until school lets out but until the end of baseball, dance and everything else that has every day in our week (literally) with us on the go (Ah- to be a family just hanging out again...). Today we had a little taste of what June will be like. We had wonderful weather and so after working around our house, we went over to my folks' to push in the boats. The lake is really high right now (higher than I've ever seen it) and though it was a hot day, I thought the water was a bit chilly. Apparently, I was the only one that thought that way (well, maybe Jeff and my dad felt that way too). Sean LOVED the water and would go in and out, feel the sand and splash around. I was so happy that he kept this hat on his head! Maybe we won't need to lube up his head with sunscreen (though we probably will anyway!). Z and Joe grabbed some fishing poles and played a lot with buckets and such (I wasn't expecting to take pics but had the camera...

Yesterday the Bigs had Field Day at their school. Jeff and I of course couldn't be there because we are teachers and it is May. There is no crazier month than May when you are a teacher and if there weren't a June, I think that most teaching careers would end in May. Thankfully my parents are retired and though I told my mom not to go and take pictures for me (My Nan had a second heart attack earlier in the week and a MAJOR memory issue that morning). She told me that Nan was doing better at noon and this was ( afterall ) Ali Jane's first Field Day and I NEEDED pictures to document it! She spent some time with Joe- but after doing this once already, he was an old pro. My mom was excited that Ali Jane acknowledged her. Ali Jane has a few personalities... Ila (who I have mentioned in the past is horrible) sweet Ali Jane, and painfully shy Ali Jane who will not make eye contact with someone and hides behind (usually) my leg (grrrrrr). Sweet Ali Jane was at Field Day an...

Late last night (a bit before 11pm), I got a call from my mom. Her mom (my Nan, known to the kids as "Great-Nan) had called her out of breath and was complaining because she couldn't breathe. My mom was on her way to my Nan's and she had already called over to where she lives (in a retirement community) and asked someone to go to her apartment quickly, check on her and call 911 if needed. I hung up with my mom, ran to my car and sped down my street to my Nan's (which is literally at the end of my street). I could hear the sirens on the way and I knew that it must be bad and 911 had been called. I sprinted up two flights of stairs and saw the fire department there and she was already getting oxygen. Her levels were in the 80s and they were starting to go back up (they wanted them near 100). She looked a little scared when I first got there but seemed to get her color (and sense of humor) back a bit when she saw me and I finally was able to catch my breath. My mom accomp...

Last year we took the training wheels off of the Bigs' bikes and in order to get Joe to 'try' riding, I tried bribing him with little things. Nothing was working and so I blurted out the only thing he talked about after his kindergarten year... a DS! It was quite foolish since I didn't really know what one was. Joe hopped on his bike and was riding without training wheels (and with one hand- waving at us) in about 5 minutes! Clearly that extra bit of external motivation paid off (for him)! Ali Jane rode a bit last year, but not like Joe who would rarely get off his bike once he mastered it (we were glad in the end he spent more time on his bike than with his DS). Last week I noticed Ali Jane riding (really well) on two wheels using her OLD little bike. I told her to ride the new bike she got last year. She pouted a bit but then got on and took off. She really liked it! After a night of fun on her bike, she said to me, "And just think mom, four more days of ridin...

Yesterday was "Bring a Friend to Dance Day" at Ali Jane's studio. I was so happy that her friend Natalie was able to come (on short notice) and Ali Jane was thrilled! We picked Natalie up and the entire way to dance I heard nothing but giggling. Sure- there were a few words in between giggles but listening to them just made me smile. With Ali Jane surrounded by her brothers so often, I sometimes forget how cute little girls can be! When we got to the studio I grabbed my work bag (to grade some papers during dance). I was glad I had my bag because the girls immediately held hands and it was the sweetest thing to me. I grabbed my little point and shoot camera I use for my school blog from my bag and snapped some pictures. I didn't get any papers graded at dance because the 'window' to Ali's class was open which meant I could watch. It is open every other week but because last week was a video day, I wasn't sure it would be open. Pictures taken with a che...

This year on Mother's Day I got to sing in church which was a special treat! Now that Jeff is one of the worship leaders at our church, I don't get to sing and (more importantly) play tambourine as much AND I am often getting the kids ready and to Sunday School solo (which can be an adventure in itself). Me singing meant that I got to go to church early to practice and Jeff was on kid duty! An added bonus is that my dad- who is a C, E and M Christian after years of Catholic School (*the M is for Mother's Day) was at church as was my brother and his family. My dad got all us mothers a flower (which is a tradition I remember him doing for my mom and Nan long before I became a mother). He used to get one flower for me (and Steph ), two for my mom (since she is a mom and a grand) and three for my Nan (who is a mom, a grand and a great). This year we all got similar flowers and I loved that we wore them on our wrist because they have gotten quite abused by kids the last few year...