Elena 
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1. Gabe is going to the prom this year with his girlfriend who attends a local public high school. We debated whether or not to go with a tux or a suit. Gabe made the decision to actually go with a suit. The problem of course was that about six months ago, when I begged him to buy some dress shoes, he would only buy brown shoes – and I found a wonderful pair of size 13, Italian leather, men’s dress shoes on e-bay for $25! It was a really good deal – but what goes with brown shoes? So Wednesday night we go to the suit store and the nice saleslady named Cynthia put him in a charcoal suit with a brown belt and a blue with brown tie (blue for his date’s dress and brown to tie in the shoes). I think it will work nicely!
2. Rosie made her first communion today. But because I knew the weather was going to be wet and rainy, I manged to take her and her sister out to the park on Friday to get some pictures in her first communion dress!
2. I managed to get some fun ones too!
3. Saturday we spent all morning at the soccer field. Rosie played her heart out. At 11, I heard the peel of the church bells and I knew her classmates were making their first communion – but no one else seemed to notice. And I knew that Rosie only had 24 hours to wait before she could finally make hers too.
4. And while it was Rosie’s weekend, the boys actually won their game. Did I ever mention how much I love to watch Gabe’s hair when he runs?
5. During the second half of Gabe’s game, Rosie and I sneaked away to pick up his suit after alterations. The alterations were free and I got 1/2 off on the shirt and the tie. Although this suit was not cheap, I think it is a nice starter suit and will serve him well for years to come.
6. On Saturday afternoon, Noah, Gabe and I performed with the bell choir for the evening mass. Sunday morning, Noah, Gabe and Izzy had to sing with the parish choir because the choir is singing in a competition in a few weeks and they need the practice. Then of course, Rosie’s first communion was at the later morning mass on Sunday – so if you’re keeping track- Noah and Gabe attended three masses this weekend! Noah took it in stride – Gabe – not so much.
The rest of Saturday afternoon was spent cleaning the house and making all of the food for Sunday’s party after Rosie’s first communion.
7. We are reading The Grapes of Wrath in our homeschool high school. Considering everything that has happened this weekend and in the upcoming weeks, this passage about Mrs. Joad really struck a cord with me.
Tom Stood looking in. Ma was heavy, but not fat; thick with childbearing and work. She wore a loose Mother Hubbard of gray cloth in which there had once been colored flowers, but the color was washed out now, so that the small flowered pattern was only a little lighter gray than the background. The dress came down to her ankles , and her strong, broad, bare feet moved quickly and deftly over the floor. Her think steel-gray hair was gathered in a sparse wispy knot at the back of her head. Strong, freckled arms were bare to the elbow, and her hands were chubby and delicate, like those of a plump little girl. She looked out into the sunshine. Her full face was not soft; it was controlled, kindly. Her hazel eyes seemed to have experienced all possible tragedy and to have mounted pain and suffering like steps into a high calm and a superhuman understanding. She seemed to know, to accept, to welcome her position, the citadel of the family, the strong place that could not be taken. And since old Tom and the children could not know hurt or fear unless she acknowledged hurt an fear, she had practiced denying them in herself. And since, when a joyful thing happened , they looked to see whether joy was on her, it was her habit to build up laughter out of inadequate materials. But better than joy was calm. Imperturbability could be depended upon. And from her great and humble position in the family she had taken dignity and a clean calm beauty. From her position as healer, her hands had grown sure and cool and quiet; from her position as arbiter she had become as remote and faultless in judgment as a goodness. She seemed to know that if she swayed the family shook , and if she ever really deeply wavered or despaired the family would fall, the family will to function would be gone.