Days with the Dorans

 We did things a bit different for spring break this year. We didn't feel pressure to leave at the crack of dawn because we stopped in West Virginia for the night. We started by dropping Marty off at a new place. The best thing about it was there were cameras so we could see Marty 24/7 which I'll admit, I checked just about 24/7. Gordie was there too but they left after us so Marty was there for a bit without him. After we dropped off Marty, wouldn't you know that our check engine light went off!!! UGH! I didn't really care (or tried not to)- but it was in the back of my mind. My car is old now but we decided to go for it and see how far we could get. We got to WV which was our planned stop and wouldn't you know- one of our rooms was 119!! (Room 119 is my classroom.) We got some beer and watched our brackets get busted but we had fun! My folks got a room too so everyone had a space in the bed which was awesome! I love little adventures like this! We kn...

 Life has been so busy but why not add something else? Joey decided to join the men's choir (called "Boys' Club") which is a boys' singing group that meets after school once (or twice) a week and they sing. It's run by the boys so no adults at all which was pretty cool.  He has made a lot of friends from the group (and the musical) and it's so fun to see him enjoying high school like he is. Nana wasn't able to make the concert but I taped it and I'm glad they did. I think they sounded great! You can click HERE to see (and hear) them.

Ali is standing up on the left.  So we knew there was a possibility that Great-Nan would pass during Ali's trip to DC and I wanted her still to go to DC. We decided to wait to have the funeral until she returned since Al said she wanted to be there. Ali (unlike Joey or any other teenager in the world) is not huge at taking pictures and posting them (or sending them to her mother). Thankfully her friends DO post so I have something for this blog post!  Ali did send me this picture and said the Holocaust museum was the part of the trip that stuck with her the most. Unfortunately some of her classmates were a bit disrespectful there (and other parts of the trip) but sadly that tone seems to be more accepted during the current leadership of the country. I was SOOO proud of her when I heard that she stuck up for a gay friend who was being picked on by some boys. My quiet Ali knows when to make her voice heard. Gosh, I'm proud of her!!!! Here are some other pictures tha...

So I'm not going to lie- I am now playing MAJOR catch-up on my blog. My last post about my Nana I included her funeral which happened AFTER this post. I had five million things on my mind the day she died but I went to work to tie up some loose ends knowing I had to help my mom and... well... I was just really sad. I was kind of walking through a haze all day when a state representative showed up at my work with this nice framed, signed, "special tribute" for helping Sienna. It was super nice and even signed by the governor (and lieutenant governor) which was pretty cool. After this, I decided, you know what? Maybe I will put these things up in my classroom. I think my Nana (and Papa) would be/are pretty proud of me. Still funny now often this comes up or someone says, "Hey! I saw you on the news!" So long after it happened. Still waiting for Ellen though! ;-)

Ugh. I knew this would happen, prayed that it would happen and yet it still absolutely ripped my heart out. My Nana took a turn for the worse and hospice came in. She actually looked a bit better to me in that bed. I told her that I would be there to see her every day until she decided I didn't need to. On one of my visits, a caretaker said that out of the blue one day my Nan (who hadn't really spoken in some time) said, "Thank you so much for taking care of me," to which the care-taker replied, "Myrt, I didn't know you could talk!" It goes to show she was kind until the end. The other thing the care-taker told me was that my mom had the most beautiful voice (it's true). I love that she went and sang to her mom and I also love that we all had time with her. Danny wasn't sure he was going to go but then decided he wanted to but only with me. We went and cried and talked with her. We told her Grandpa was waiting. Steve was waiting. Andrew ...

 There were no traps again this year but to my surprise- though the Bigs COULD have slept in, they opted to go on the scavenger hunt with the Littles. It was a fun morning and they found their treasure!

I love me a good storm! Actually, my Marty doesn't mind it either. We were upstairs chillin' when Seany came up and told us we had to get in the basement right there and then! I believe it actually started with Dad (who is a baby about such things) and told the boys to get their shoes on "just in case" since that's what the news said.  Instead, I told Sean I'd go in the basement with him (Marty followed- cause... well, he's a mama's boy too). All the boys were down there and Z even brought Morty "just in case." I left Norbert upstairs and the birds. I hope I didn't come off as a bad mom. The boys brought down important things like their instruments and of course some food "just in case" we needed to survive- food- books... They even said there was a bucket down there (ewwwww). We got to listen to Joey play his guitar over... and over... and over... until I finally convinced the boys that the storm had passed. It...

Next it was Joey's turn to play! They had this competition concert where they were adjudicated by a panel of judges and then they were also judged on their sight reading. We were thinking you had to pay to go see it so just Dad and I went. I always enjoy listening to the bands play and this was no exception. Since so many bands play and you can go and just watch your child's band- there was plenty of seating which was a welcome change- still we opted to sit back a bit and take it all in. After they played in the auditorium we got to go back to the band room and listen to them. They each got a sealed piece of music and the moment they opened it, they were timed to review the music and once they were ready they played. The whole thing was fascinating to me and the judge was so cute (looked like Santa) and had great feedback for them. They did great and scored all ones (which is the best). So proud of our little music man! Great job, Joe!