When You Haven't Posted Anything in Eons...

                  

Hello, 2.5 followers!  My "apologies".  Life happens, you turn into your kids' taxi and then you let your blog go.  Hoping to get all caught up before Christmas.  We'll see.  Hope everyone is fine.  We're fine.  Just busy.

To Become A Knight

Lydia has for the past school year referred to her pre-k class as 'Pre-K at Cade's school.'  Not sure why she never really owned up to it and called it her own?  Anyway, as you may not be aware, the Mater Dei mascot is the Knight.  As pre-k students, the kids are called squires, as they are not knights just yet.  And how cute is that?  Squires are actually defined as knights in training.  That is so clever!  Anyway, she finished up waaaaay back in May and along with a graduation, they also had a Knighting ceremony.  Check it out:

The graduates parading onto the stage.

Sheesh!

Summer break was when I was supposed to take advantage of those lazy days of summer and keep up with the blog.  But as all two of you can tell, I've been blog neglecting instead.  Weddings, camps, baseball games, softball games, Pinterest are all pulling at me, taking up all my precious blogging time.

*sigh*

First up, we've got some 'live action' shots from some of Cade's baseball games.  He's having a pretty good season so far.

 Such focus!

So apparently I can't be trusted to keep up with my own blog.  Cade's track season is over.  We're on to baseball.  And Lydia has started softball.

First up track.  It was cold and/or rainy for most of the meets except for the last one which was rained out originally.  

Catch up

Yes, it's already the middle of April.  Tax day to be exact.  Did you get yours done?  Ours are done.  Thanks, Rusty!  Sooo...we've had St. Patrick's Day, track season has started and baseball season starts tonight.  Pictures of all that and maybe more coming up:

 It was a dark and stormy night...

No. Wait.  That's from a Peanuts cartoon. 
Our church put on a 5K for the first time to coincide with our Irish Fest celebration for St. Patrick's Day.  The weather didn't quite cooperate, but it didn't stop more than 200 people from showing up for the race. 

 I don't know how he could stand being this cold and wet already.

                Me?  I looked like the Leprechaun Trash Lady ran into a green muppet.

Lydia's First Pom Routine

I remember being this young and performing routines during half-times, at nursing homes or in parades.  It really doesn't seem that long ago.  Especially when I see her doing it now.

My Little Cheerleader

 OK, so tomorrow is the last game Lydia will be cheering.  The season has quickly come to an end and I can't believe I haven't posted a single photo yet.  She's done a really good job and seems to enjoy it.  I've especially enjoyed coaching these little girls.  It's been extraordinary, really, to see some of these girls who were painfully shy blossom into self-assured little cheerleaders.  I get weepy every time I think about it!  I'm going to miss all those little sweeties and all their different personalities.

Isn't she cute????  I've made and/or purchased her cheer outfits before, but when she put on this uniform for the first time?  I'm not ashamed to say I wept just a little bit.

Fun slideshow with all the girlies from my two squads.

I'm so proud of the them all and I'm looking forward to next year!

We went back to our secret sledding spot again and had a blast.  While we were there, some international students from Japan joined some students from Washburn to go sledding for the first time.  It was pretty comical to watch.  The girls screamed like they were getting chased by a serial killer.  When we were at Washburn, Rusty's fraternity and my sorority both hosted students from the same Japanese university and it was fun to see the tradition continue.  I only got one video that had some of the screaming.  Pretty funny to hear it in this setting.

Here is Rusty trying to relive his youth.  You can see me staring in stunned horror silence, just waiting for the inevitable:

 

I've been redeemed:

Lydia has perfected the art of the photobomb.

The first part is of the Japanese girls screaming bloody murder while they enjoy a ride downhill.  Followed up by Cade's not so successful run to the ramp.

By far the most odd creature to join us.  Random.

Snowbod

It took us all afternoon, but we like how it turned out!

Go Bods!

We're in for another round of snow tonight.  Might have to make a Lady Blue to go with this guy.

Bring it,  Blizzard of Oz!

Snowdays

Storm Q did her best and we took all she could give and had a blast!

The kids were out of school for two days and we got to hang out and play in the snow.  After I got everyone all bundled up, I finally made it outside planning on spending a good amount of time shoveling our driveway.  We got over 9 inches of accumulation at our house and with our double wide, extra long driveway, I knew Rusty and I would have our work cut out for us.  But our neighbor, Susan, bless her, came over with her snow blower and blew most of it off our driveway.  I had a killer back ache later that night.  I can't even begin to imagine what kind of pain I'd still be in if we had to do it all by ourselves.  Thank you, Susan!!! She even did a portion of our side walk, our neighbors to the east and across the street. What a woman!

 Cade busied himself getting our sledding hill ready for launch.

Post Basketball Season

So we made it through our first season of basketball season through Cade's school.  The sixth grade division is touted as more of an 'instructional' division in the Topeka Parochial League. While this may be true in theory, it hardly seemed the case on the actual court. Our sixth grade has only 9 boys in it.  Total.  Of those 9, only 6 went out for the team.  Doesn't make for a very deep bench.  Of those 6, only 2 boys who had any previous basketball experience.  So.  Two boys on his team knew how to play basketball.  Ordinarily, since it's an 'instructional' division, that shouldn't matter.  You might expect that a few other teams would have a few less experienced players as well.  Well, you'd be wrong.  The teams we played were actually pretty good.  I mean, really, really good.  That's great for Hayden in a few years.  It means that the basketball program will have quite a few outstanding players gunning for them and it will be amazing to watch once all those boys are playing for the same team.  But for us, it was a difficult pill to swallow.  Although frustrated by our lack of numbers, we did our best to support our boys and sit through each and every game where they were out-played, out-scored and just plain out-numbered.  When the other teams are running set plays and defenses and running up the score and 3 of our 5 guys are still working on dribbling without traveling or catching a pass without turning it over, it makes for a really long game. To be fair, Cade seemed to really enjoy being a part of his school team and getting to hang out with his friends more.  He didn't really enjoy getting beat mercilessly every game, though.  And that's tough for a parent.  When you try to get them involved in sports at a young age to instill a certain respect and interest for physical activity and a sport that you enjoy, only to have them have a season like this one really stinks.  Makes you feel if you had known how things would turn out, you would have definitely done things differently.  Oh well.  We survived and we really aren't too worse for the wear.  Pretty tired, but we'll make it.  Cade also got to play a few games with the 7th grade when a few of their players were unable to play.  Completely different experience all together.  Despite the few minutes he got to play those few times, you could just tell he appreciated having a winning chance.  It was also good for us as well.  Just a few shots from some of the games:

Remember waaaaay back during the last week in December when we FINALLY got some snow?  Well, just the week before our neighbor told me about this secret sledding spot just around the corner in our neighborhood. Why hadn't we heard of this before!!!  This is the perfect spot to take the kids.  Only a handful of people there, not too steep and a minute away from our house.  Now, granted, it's a bit of a trek to get to once you park, but it's worth it.

This is the view from the top.  Lydia couldn't believe 'HOW BIG IT IS!'

 

OK.  Look.  I'll admit that wasn't my finest performance.  But I made you laugh, right?

Of course the ONLY video they got of me that day would be the one where I made myself dizzy.

The photos below prove my skillz on the hillz.

That.  Was fun.

 We tired Lydia out.  Those treks back up the hill in the freezing cold can make a 5 year old cranky.

 She looks so little in Daddy's arms!

Her poor attempt at a thumbs up.  I know it looks like she's not happy, but she, as well as the rest of us, had a blast.  And now that we've discovered this little gem, it's just our luck that we haven't had any snow since.

December Recap

It's been a long time since we've last met.

Long time.  Been a bit busy.  Tues/Thurs basketball practice, Mon/Wed/Sat basketball games, Wed night dance practice, Thurs night cheer practice, Sat morning cheering.  Christmas seems like it was a lifetime ago.

So here we are at the famous (more like infamous, really) Boleski Christmas gathering.

While this one was maybe a little more classy than previous years, it was still pretty sassy and very smart @$$y!

I give you Nine Ladies Dancing:

And somebody* taught mini-me senior the Bob and Doug McKenzie brothers' Twelve Days of Christmas. Cade had the honor of being the first day of Christmas, so he went with what he knows.

Notice the blush?  Like he was embarrassed.  Please.  He loved it.

The Coolest Band Nerds

No, we're not Buckeye fans.  Far from it.  The Big 10?  Please.  But you've got to see the OSU band's half-time show.  It's nothing short of amazing.  Enjoy.

No Business Like Show Business

In September, Cade landed a roll in Helen Hocker's production of The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley.  He got the part of Arthur Lambchop, Stanley's six year old younger brother. Practices began in earnest at the end of September with us carting him to and from rehearsal 4 days a week.  Then in November, they upped the rehearsal times to include Saturdays.  Finally December rolled around and it was curtains the first two weekends in December.

 The cast "Flat Stanley-ed".

 The opening scene props.  Cameras and video were prohibited, so I couldn't get any during the performance.  We're getting a DVD of the show and was hoping to be able to post Cade's solo, but we're still waiting on it.

Cade photobombing a cast pic.
You could tell how much work these kids put into this musical.  They all were terrific and so brave!

I know I'm totally biased, but you guys.  He. Was. Spectacular.  He was so confident and prepared and his performance blew us away.  Looking forward to many more of his performances.

While we wait for our regularly scheduled December recap post...

...please enjoy this video that is a favorite around here.

Lydia is now 5.  How is this happening??? 

*sigh*

Well, you know how we do this.  First celebration took place in Salina.  She originally wanted a Washburn themed party.  I had Ichabod all lined up to make an appearance, but about 3 weeks before the big day, she freaks out and refuses to go along with her previous request.

*sigh*

So, she tells me she wants a pretty pink party.  

*eye roll*

Most everyone out there knows that I'm not a fan of the pink shades Pepto Bismol or lighter.  
That's not to say I don't like pink at all.
Hot pink?
Love it.
Magenta?
Bring it on.
Fuchsia?
Give it to me.
Baby pink?
Pass. 
 And that is exactly what Lydia had in mind.  The kids get to pick whatever theme they want, so pink it was.  Thankfully, Grandma E was OK with turning her basement into something between a baby shower and birthday party for a little girl.

*giggle*

Check it out:

Date Night in the Phog

 

 My annual date night with Cade turned out to be a family affair a few Mondays ago!

How are these three related?

Happy Halloween!

TOO many pictures from earlier today.  Once I sort them, maybe I'll post them.  For now, here is an annual fave.

Oops, I Did It Again!

Yeah, I know I'm slacking.  

Anyway, a couple of weekends ago, I, along with Rusty and my little brother (hardly!) Jaime, ran in the Color Run in Lawrence.  It's called the happiest 5K on the planet, and boy, after the game that day, Lawrence needed all the happy they could get!

But anyway.

Which one of these is not like the others?

Which one of these just isn't the same?

(psst!  You have to click on the 'read more' icon to the left over there to see the rest of the photos.)

TOGA! TOGA!

Last Saturday was Mater Dei's annual Trivia Night.  And as usual, my friends came through for me.  This year's theme was TOGA! TOGA!  Really, the pictures speak for themselves:

While this year we walked away empty handed, we walked out with our heads held high, knowing we were brave enough to be the least clothed people in the place.

 

 Woo-hoo!  Washburn football is baaaaaaaack!

 Lydia is in Pre-K.  She's been in Pre-K for about 2 1/2 weeks now.  I've been prolonging this post because it's just so hard to accept.  Tough year for ol' mom.  First, my first baby goes off to middle school, now my baby is on her way to elementary school.  

*sob*

Back to School

Cade has started middle school. I'm still trying to process that.  I have a kid in middle school.  My oldest child is a middle schooler.  There's really not any way to say that that lessens the shock or deadens the heart ache.  
More after the jump.

Birthday(s) Recap

Well.  Cade is 11 now.  If that's not enough to knock your socks right off, I don't know what will. Who thought me being the mother of someone that old was a good idea anyway?  Crazy.  Anyway.

We can't just have a simple birthday party.  We have to draw it out for weeks on end.  That's just how we do.  Here's how we did it this year.

We started off the partying in Salina with a trip to Kenwood Cove, dinner at Cade's favorite restaurant, La Hacienda and then an ice cream cake party.

Lydia's a blur because she is photobombing this one.

*sigh*

That's my girl.

Back in Topeka, we celebrated some more with lunch at Chili's, complete with singing waiters, brownie a la mode and endless chips and salsa.

To see the awesome Wipeout birthday party bash, complete with our very own Wipeout Zone, just click on the little 'read more' icon.  There are waaaay too many photos to have them all on here without a jump!