Notre Dame

We took the girls to Notre Dame to visit the campus for Michael's Glee Club Reunion weekend. We enjoyed gorgeous weather, although we were overdressed (having expected colder). Ever since we've returned, the girls (especially Bella) love to point out "the Dome" whenever we pass the AR state capitol or Capitol Bank.


Happy Bella at the airport on our way to ND


These are our girls:
Gabi tends to pout, but Bella loves to smile!


Riding in an airport sleigh


Girls on the new Irish Green


Tying a ribbon on the new "cancer tree"


Gabi near ND Ave.


Bella, with a view down God Quad


Gabi and Mommy on God Quad


Glee Clubers singing at ND in Revue on the Irish Green


The girls with Daddy after ND in Revue
Much thanks to our hosts, Tom and Kirstin, for watching the girls during the game! Bella needed a nap, and although Gabi was disappointed that she didn't get to watch the game, I think she probably preferred picking green tomatoes while Kirstin worked in the garden.


Girls walking on South Quad


Daddy and Gabi with the Basilica in the background


Looking at the ducks on St. Mary's Lake


Praying at the Grotto


Bella in front of the Dome


Gabi in front of the Dome


Gabi and Bella wearing new Notre Dame dresses

Autumn Travels

We've been out-of-town often this Fall. I spent Labor Day in Houston before our family trip to Disney World. We all traveled to Texas in October so Michael could take an exam for work, and then Gramma Jane watched the girls so I could accompany Michael to DC for a work convention. We watched an Irish victory in San Antonio on Halloween while the girls trick-or-treated with cousins in Dallas, and finally we took a family trip to see the Notre Dame campus. During my recent travels, I was able to meet up with many old friends, some of whom I hadn't seen in many years.

Houston, TX

Melissa and George in the Orion mock-up in the NASA high-bay
Arlington, TX

Grampa reading the girls a bedtime story


Gabi says, "Hey! Grampa, you're being silly!"


Gramma Jane helped Gabi find caterpillars in the garden


Uncle Brian and Bella check out a caterpillar


Bella being shy


Uncle Brian with his nieces


Allison, my friend since we both moved to Arlington at age 3 (almost 4)
Washington, DC

Jenny, Melissa, and Lisa


Michael and Stephen, old college roommates


Amy, my friend from junior high


Abbey, my best friend and neighbor from elementary school
San Antonio, TX

Melissa, Christina, and Evan


Christina and Evan


Cousin Leah's family


Leah, Melissa, and little Patrick


Little Patrick and Melissa


Old friends from fifth and sixth grades


At Stephanie's house


Hugo, a fellow computer science major from Notre Dame


Notre Dame friends: Cynthia (and Jacob), George, Michael, and Cathy


The ND band made a space shuttle blast across the field to land on the moon


Deep in the heart of Texas


Old college roommate pose


Visiting before heading back home
Dallas, TX

My cousin Mark and one of his twin girls (Lily, I think)


The other twin (Hannah, I think) with Uncle Patrick and Aunt Ashley


My cousins (and Hannah and Lily's two godmothers), Anda and Ashley


Ashley's son Joseph peeking at his cousin
Notre Dame, IN
The following weekend, Michael and I took the girls up to Notre Dame. I'll save those pictures for the next post.

Notre Dame in the Fall

The weather was beautiful and the memories sweet as we wandered the ND campus this past weekend. We were able to see a number of old friends, although we didn't have as much time to hang out as we would have liked. We saw Father Jim briefly when he said a prayer for the band after marching rehearsal, but he didn't have time to chat because he had to run off to a baptism. Never-the-less, we had a wonderful visit and returned home refreshed.

George and Lissa in the Bookstore


New women's dorm by the Bookstore

We were amused by the "front window" already completed in front of this dorm. We wanted to peek through the window for a picture, but it's in a construction area. Michael says I appear to be trying to put George in a full nelson, but at least I'm smiling, so I'm happy about it. :)


Two roommates at Main Circle (with the Dome in the background)

Friday afternoon we watched a Quidditch game on South Quad. The Golden Snitch was dressed head-to-toe in bright yellow (with a small yellow ball tied to his head), and he ran off before the game began. I suppose the Seekers were essentially playing hide-and-seek and chasing him all over campus, so they weren't around much to watch. Wearing colored capes to designate their team, the rest of the players ran around with brooms between their legs. If you got hit with a bludger, you had to drop the quaffle.


Notre Dame Quidditch game


Keeper defending the goals


The Golden Snitch

This guy must have replaced the original snitch. They traded shirts, but not the yellow shorts and hat. He jogged past the Quidditch game; soon another guy appeared and started chasing him, so Mr. Snitch took off and disappeared into a crowd of football fans. I wonder if they use cell phone or something to alert the other players when the Snitch is caught so they'll stop scoring goals...

And now for a few other sites around campus:


Michael in front of Notre Dame Stadium


Hesburgh Library with Touchdown Jesus


A new ducky bridge in the reflecting pool
(a gift from the library staff)


Michael with my saxophone, and a great shot of
The Basilica, Washington Hall, Stonehenge, and the Dome


One of my favorite picture-spots on campus


The Golden Dome


Lissa on God Quad


Kimba and her boyfriend, John


"The Pose" on South Quad
Patrick's friend, Patrick, George, Michael, and Kimba


Michael, Lissa, George, and Kimba


Kirstin, Tom, and Lissa

Thanks to Tom and Kirstin for being wonderful hosts! Too bad you won't be around South Bend for us to crash at your place again next fall.


Michael alongside ND Ave


Lissa at Main Circle


Michael (and the Dome from Main Circle)


Lissa on ND Ave in front of the Morris Inn

Our visit to campus was much too short. Oh, how I wish I could be an undergrad and live at ND again! Those were the best days of my life.