Monday, May 8, 2023

Mary's First Communion, Jacob's Piano Recital and Laurie's Birthday


Sat. & Sun., May 6 & 7, 2023

An extremely busy weekend started at Camarillo's St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church for . . . 

. . . Mary's First Communion

A really big day for our sweet little angel of a granddaughter.

Vanessa, Michael and Jacob were
all spruced up in support of Mary

Laurie and I were all in
on supporting Mary as well

Mary's First Communion Class

The ceremony was well organized and moved along quickly and efficiently.

Mary with the priest who
celebrated the Mass

The Perez and Contreras families
were all at the church for
Mary's big day

Some days these two get along
REALLY well!

Thankfully, this was one of those days.

Six Cousins
Nathan, Jacob, Mary, Nicholas,
Max and Leo

Of course, every First Communion deserves a celebration party.

On to Mary's home for some more good times. 

Just one of many tables
full of delicious treats

My sister Marilyn with Mary

ALL of the ladies in attendance
were having a simply SMASHING time!

My sister Linda with Mary

Some of the best people
that I know

Seated next to me from left to right, my sister Marilyn, Koreen FitzGerald, Loren Brucker, Sandy Brucker, Laurie and Brian FitzGerald.

Our niece Lauren with Mary

I love my granddaughter Mary

Mary opening her presents

With Marilyn

Mary had small succulent plants
as gifts for all of us who came to
celebrate her special day

It truly was a wonderful day for family and friends to come together to support Mary on the day she first received the Sacrament of Communion.

Sunday would be another action packed day as it was Laurie's 25th birthday for the third time.

We would celebrate her big day by going to the Lure Fish House in Camarillo for a fine dining experience. It included a mini-hot fudge sundae with one burning candle in honor of Laurie's birthday.

Our feast came after a great afternoon event that Laurie and I were really looking forward to attending.

A music recital in Newbury Park

Jacob was part of this recital
in his role as a budding pianist

Jacob was one of nine Eleos Music
School students performing on either
the piano, the cello and/or the violin

Jacob performing one of the
Nursery Rhyme Suite Folk Songs

It was the first time that I had ever heard him play and I was pleased and proud of him in yet another area of his life.

The three of us were on a
post recital high

What an AMAZING weekend
for the Contreras family!

While we were having so many wondrous family moments this weekend, they were still playing American football in Europe.

The Italian Football League
was in its Ninth Week of games
with one goal in mind . . .

. . . which two clubs would be in
Toledo, Ohio on July 1st competing
for the 2023 IFL Championship

On Saturday, our beloved
Varese Skorpions (3-2) were playing
the Legnano Frogs (2-3)

This game had lots of playoff implications as the top six teams at the end of the regular season will be in the playoffs. Entering the game, the Skorpions were in fifth place in the standings while the Frogs were in sixth.

INDEED!

"Get Back" Coach Nency Petrillo
trying to rein in an incensed Varese Head
Coach Nick Holt during the Frogs game

Uh-oh, this might not be a good sign.

DAMN!

If it comes down to it at the end of the regular season, the Frogs now own the tie-breaker between the two clubs.

With only two tough games left on the Skorpions 2023 regular season slate vs. the Ancona Dolphins (4-2) next Sunday and at the Milano Rhinos (4-2) on May 28th, the mighty men from Varese have some tough sledding ahead if we are to make a playoff run this year.

Italian Football League
Week #9 Results
Frogs (3-3) 21 - Skorpions (3-3) 14
Panthers (5-1) 28 - Dolphins (4-2) 13
Guelfi (6-1) 53 - Mastini (0-6) 10
Byes: Rhinos (4-2), Ducks (2-4) and
Stainless Steel Warriors (0-5)

Italian Football League
Standings
1. Firenze Guelfi 6-1
2. Parma Panthers 5-1
3t. Ancona Dolphins 4-2
3t. Milano Rhinos 4-2
5t. Legnano Frogs 3-3
5t. Varese Skorpions 3-3
7. Lazio Ducks 2-4
8. Emilia Stainless Steel Warriors 0-5
9. Verona Mastini 0-6

Italian Football League
Week #10 Schedule
Sunday, May 14, 2023
Dolphins (4-2) at Skorpions (3-3)
Frogs (3-3) at Stainless Steel Warriors (0-5) 

Byes: Guelfi (6-1), Panthers (5-1), Rhinos (4-2),
Ducks (2-4) and Mastini (0-6)

Good news from our old club in Switzerland . . .

The Thun Tigers improved to 5-0
atop the toughest Swiss league!

About American football bit closer to home . . .

Jacob and Michael are going to join me at
this College Showcase at Pacifica H.S.
in Oxnard on Tuesday

Athletes from Newbury Park H.S., Notre Dame H.S., Pacifica H.S. and Westlake H.S. will be put through paces in front of many college football coaches who are scouring the area for 2024 recruiting purposes.

It should be great fun for everyone involved in this event on Tuesday evening.

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