Merry Christmas to Everyone!!!

Of course, I have been reminded that I am one month overdue in writing. But as usual, I have been very busy with work and family.

Nothing interesting usually happens in the Raffa household, until recently...

First, Robin, Jeff and the boys came to visit us (the only Gangwer famiy to ever visit us!) and we had a great time! Chad and Chase have gotten so big, we loved having them visit. I will try to put pictures on later (Famous last words!). After the left, Madison and Luciano became very ill - Madison with her tonsils and Luciano with a high fever and stomach bug. By christmas, they were all feeling well again.

Bad news for Madison though, she is to have her tonsil removed on January 16th......

There was some good news for Luciano this Christmas - His art teacher submitted a picture Luciano drew commemorating Lincoln's 200th birthday, to a statewide contest for the making of a calendar about Abraham Lincoln. Out of 266 finalist, Luciano was picked as one of the 12 artist to be featured in the Lincoln calendar. The calendar will be released after a reception that is being held at the State house on Feb. 12th. Luciano and the other finalist have been invited to attend, they will each receive a calendar, certificate and a check for $200.00. Of course, we are extremely proud of him!!!

Dominic has always been an avid bird fan. I remember when he was younger, he would try to sneak up on birds in our backyard and try to catch them. So, this Christmas he was given some money by Gabe's Aunt Jackie and he was able to finally purchase 2 African ring necked doves- Caspian and Susan (He like the Chronicles of Narnia).

Our house is beginning to look like Noah's ark - we have 1 cat, Isabella (who by the way loves to watch the doves), 1 guinea pig, Jazmine, and we are babysitting our Pastor's puppy, Gracie.

Nothing much is happening for Gabriel, he is doing great in school and plays "air soft guns" with the boys in the neighborhood. So far, Luciano has been hit in the face twice while playing with the older boys - He usually comes into the house crying (Does it sound like someone else, Ron?) and of course I give him the speech if you can't take it, don't play with the big boys!!

Well, that is all that has happened in the last month around the Raffa household. Excuse any misspellings or incorrect grammar, I am writing on Gabe's church computer and all the kids want to go home... So for now, Have a great new year!!!!

Okay, I am officially a month overdue for blogging.... Let me just say I have been extremely busy with working 2 jobs, 4 wonderful children, planning ladies activities and the such. I don't have all this time to make up word search puzzles and poems to songs, like some people (Ron)!!By the way, tell Jaclyn her pictures are gorgeous!

HAPPY THANSGIVING!!!

I always have mixed emotions when the holidays come around. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I don't like living so far from family. I remember Thanksgiving dinner around my mother's table. She is such a great cook! I don't think I have been home for a Vermont Thanksgiving in 5 years. It is now my turn to make those "Indianapolis" Thanksgiving memories for my children. So as I sit down and plan my thanksgiving meal, I want my family to know how much I miss them at this Thanksgiving season!!

I promise to have some pictures to put on the blog very soon.

Dominic's Testimony

At each service we have a time to share what is going on within the different ministries of our church. We call this the Ministry Moment. So this particular Sunday Dominic and Pastor Brian Pierce (our senior Pastor) interviewed Dom for the "Evangelism Moment" Here is a piece of that video where Dom is talking about how he led his fellow classmates to Christ.

Madi running in cross country

Sorry about the quality but the only thing I had with me was my phone. Madi was doing her best to finish strong. This was an extra cirricular activity that she signed up to particpate in for after school. She has been doing it since the beginning of school. This was her first and last race of the season. You can hear the boys (Luciano and Dom) cheering on their sister! GOOOO MADI!

Gabriel Scores a Touchdown!!!

Gabriel is #88 and has scored 2 touchdowns this year. Fortunately, we were at the game last night and he made this 55 yard touchdown. Hope you enjoy it. WARNING!!! Turn down your speakers because Randi's big mouth could possibly blow them up!

Congratulations!!

I just wanted to let everyone know that Dominic is now a newsanchor for the Patriot Press. That is a closed circuit news broadcast that is shown through his elementary school for morning announcements he is very excited.

Luciano is now a member of the afterschool art club...

Dominic will be running for student council at his school. He will need to give a 1 to 2 minute speech and then make up posters to hang in the school hallways. The election will be held soon after the speeches so be praying for him.

Bittersweet Day

Well, I am no longer a stay at home mom. It lasted for almost a month. I started a new job at Dominic and Luciano's elementary school. I am the new secretary/treasurer. It is nice because I only drive 1/2 mile to work, and the boys are there. So that is great. But I do have to say I will miss waking up and watching the kids get on the bus, cleaning,cooking, shopping, etc..... It was nice while it lasted. I know Gabe is excited about the extra income again. I included a picture of the school. It has about 500 students- Kindergarten thru 4th grade, I am the only secretary, but there are alot of people around to help when needed. They are a great group of people and I know it will be enjoyable to work for the school.

Congratulations to Madison/ Civil Servant Sunday

Congratulations to Madison for making it on the Edgewood Intermediate School's Student Council. We are very proud of her for wanting to get involved in her school. I told her she is on her way to being the next Mayor of Indianapolis....
Last Sunday, September 7th our church invited the mayor of Beechgrove, Chief of Police and Chief of Firemen. We had a special service thanking them for their service to our community and then had a picnic on the grounds. We had a wonderful time. Here is a picture of Pastor Brian, Kelly, Gabe and I with Mayor Joe Wright, Chief of Police Wittmer.

Labor Day Weekend Pictures

It has been an exciting week. I have an interview tomorrow with the Department of Natural Resources for a part time postition. Gabriel played a football game on Tuesday night and played great. He tackled a guy, who then lost the ball, and Gabriel recovered it. Then he caught a pass and ran to the end zone. He almost made a touchdown. We were pretty proud of him. Here are pictures from our labor day weekend.

Labor Day Weekend

For labor day weekend we went to Gabe's parents house in Ohio. His dad is turning 60 years old so Tony and Ange came up as well, to celebrate his bday. We played games (Phase 10 and Sequence) all weekend. The boys had fun running and playing football in the backyard. Madison and Alyssa played with Grammy's dolls all weekend. Madison and Alyssa get along great, they always have fun when they are together. Everyone chipped in and bought my father-in-law a Magellan GPS system. Gabe is hinting to me that he would like one too. When he turns 60 yrs. old I will buy him one..Ha! Hope all of our family and friends had a great Labor day weekend...

OUR NEW SPORT-FOOTBALL

Well, finally some pictures. This was Gabriel's first football game. He got to play for a couple minutes in the last quarter. Dominic, Luciano, and Madison (and I) were so excited to see Gabriel on the field. If he could hear us yelling, he would have been very embarrassed. The pictures are not the best quality, but at least you can see the stadium where his home games will be played.

The Franklin Township Football field. Gabriel is the one in the very back. He is free safety. I guess I was wrong he doesn't run and catch the ball from the quarter back.

Gabriel still in the back waiting for the throw. He actually tackled one guy, but the picture was to blurry to show.

The empty field after the game.

End of game team huddle. What do you think they talk about. I know there not praying....

Gabriel coming off the field after the game. He was not too happy with us for taking this picture. I think we were the only parents with a camera. I told him after he got in the car that this is a memory.

Replying to Comments Left

Okay, I am still fairly new at this whole blogging thing. I love that my brothers (who rarely call me on the phone) are reading my blog and leaving comments. But I do not know how to respond to the comments where they can see my reply????? So, for the last comments left... I guess Dominic thinks he is the next Pele.... and I have no idea what position Gabriel is going to play. I think he is 2nd "string" for a position that runs and catches the ball. His first game is tonight. We are going to try and run right after church to see the end of the game. I am hoping he gets to play--- If he does play, I hope the pads he wears keep him from getting hurt. He is so skinny. Well, hopefully someone will write another comment as to how I can reply to the ones left on my blog.. Thanks again Rick and Ron for reading.....

Well, I finally did it... I am no longer employed full-time at Suburban. I have been off work for almost a week and loving it!! I am in the process of planning our church's ladies retreat which will be in August. The kids love me being home when they get off the bus. I usually have cookies or a treat waiting for them. (Just call me June Cleaver!). They are also doing well at school. Madison starts cross country practice today after school, and Gabriel is still enjoying football. His first "game" is this Wednesday. It is a pre-game... He received his jersey and Gabe say's he looks "cool" in it. His position is the one where the run to catch the ball from the quarterback. I don't know what it's called "running back" or "running safety". So hopefully, he will be able to make a couple touchdowns!!! Dominic is looking forward to playing soccer in the spring in the St. Francis league. He likes to call himself "Palo" after the famous soccer player. And then there is Luciano. He is so carefree- He hates school only because he has to do homework and wake up early. He also started wearing reading glasses and he looks pretty good in his glasses. Well, that is all the raffa news for now... Congratulations to my brother Ron who started his own blog. You can access it through mine....

First Day at a new School

Another year, but this one was full of changes for the kids. This was their first year at Public School and riding a school bus. I was a bit emotional, because for years Gabe and I have always driven our children to school... But they all were excited about riding a schoolbus. We didn't get any pictures of Gabriel's first day. Starting 8th grade in a new school, it wouldn't look "cool" for your parents to be snapping pictures at the bus stop and because it was so early I was barely awake. Our morning routine is drastically different from years past. Gabriel's bus picks him up at 6:45 am... Ugh!! Dominic and Luciano get picked up at 8:00am and then Madison is picked up at 8:13am. Then in the afternoon Dom and Lou are dropped off at 3:50pm and Madison at 4:00 pm and then we are off to pick up Gabriel and his friends from football practice. It's our first time in a "carpool"...
Gabriel seems to be enjoying football. I will post pictures of him in his uniform when I get one. They haven't had any games. Their first game is a "jamboree" on a Wednesday night, so he wont be able to play due to church. His coach was very understanding about our committment to church.
Madison has some teachers who are christian, so we are glad about that. Dominic is still praying for a friend. Luciano is in his own little world-he is not bothered by anything or anyone...
Please continue to pray for them.

Luciano (3rd Grade) Dominic (4th Grade) Hannah (6th Grade) Madison (5th Grade)

Madison and Hannah's bus

Well, it has been awhile since I have posted. I still have not figured out how to get pictures loaded to the computer from my digital camera. I like blogs that have pictures. Oh, well... It has been a long week. As you know from my last post, they thought Madison had mono.. well she is fine now - NO MONO... In fact, Luciano the next day came down with a fever of 104 degrees that lasted for 24 hours and then Dominic came down with a fever of 103 degrees that night. Luckily, Gabe, Gabriel, and I have been spared!!!
Alot has happened in the last week. I gave my 2 week notice at my current job (Suburban Christian School). I have enrolled the kids at the public township schools in the area. They seem to be excited about the new opportunities... Gabriel will be playing football at the middle school (At least as long as it doesn't conflict with our church activities) But pray for them as this is a "big" change for them. My prayer is that they will be a "light" in the school. I am also encouraging them to take the opportunity to be involved in clubs and sports. We'll see how that goes. Thank you for your prayers for our family. Hopefully, I will figure out the camera thing soon.

Sickness hits the Raffa household AGAIN.........

Well, another sickness has hit the Raffa household. Now that Gabe is on medication for what his doctor believes was Fifths disease, he is feeling better. (We have no idea how he contracted it, but it goes to show we always get the weird illnesses.) Now Madison is sick. She was stung on her toe by a bee last Monday, we thought we got the stinger out, but on Saturday her toe began to swell. (It actually looks like a finger...) Then yesterday, while picnicking at a friends house, she started feeling "bad". She suddenly developed a 102 fever and her throat glands hurt (she couldn't swallow). Of course, we took her to the doctor, and he thinks she might have mono. He put her on Augmentin and said if she develops a rash that is an indication she has mono???? She is at work with me today, laying on a cot in the back room. She looks pitiful...

NH Vacation without the Raffa

My family recently went to New Hampshire for a family vacation, we had all ready taken our vacation in June so were unable to attend. Here are some of their pictures. I didn't get a picture of the New York Gangwer's. The Massachusett's Gangwer's : Ron,Tammy, Jaclyn, and Elizabeth

I guess the train was a little loud for Chase
The Mitchells from North Carolina: Jeff, Robin, Chad, and Chase

The Beauchemin Clan
Chad and Chase- They look so cute posing

AJ, Jaclyn, Jordan, Lizzy, Justin, Brandon, Chad, Chase, Lauren-all the cousins, but The Raffa
Grammy with the "2nd generation" cousins- I call them that because they are so much younger than the others...

Here are just a few more vacation pictures. I took over a 100 photos. I know I can't put them all on my blog because people will start getting bored. Thanks for letting me "bore" you with my vacation pictures. We had a great time...



The kids spent alot of time in Aunt Rachelle's and Uncle Alan's pool while we were in Vermont. They look like sea creatures with those goggles on...

Uncle Gabe and Justin with Lauren - She was so good, she didn't seem bothered by all 13 of us invading her house. She wasn't shy at all.

Dad looks like he is having a great time with the Raffa and Beauchemin kids fishing

Luciano and Brandon at the creek

Dominic and Luciano looking for fish

My "little" nephew AJ... I remember the early days of Pops and I fighting over who was going to rock him to sleep..... He's grown up so fast.....

Ron, Tammy, Dominic, and Luciano by the camp fire. The boys just couldn't stay out of it...

Brandon and Luciano at the creek

Okay, I totally messed up this entry. I tried to put pictures of our vacation on, but it seems as though you have to write backwards. The beginning of this blog starts at the bottom of the page.... with the picture of shirtless Gabriel.. Sorry, I hope to do better next time. So begin reading from the bottom..
Thanks~



The last leg of trip was in Herkimerr, New York. We all rented cabins at the KOA campground. It was fun 2 days of campfires, cookouts, and fellowship. Ron, Tammy, and the girls drove up from MA to meet us there. The have a "diamond" mine next to the campground, so one day we all went to the mines to find riches. It was extremely hard work, basically we were pounding rocks with hammers hoping a "Herkimerr" diamond (crystal) was inside. Now, I know how prisoners who are sent to the rock quarry feel... We had fun though. As you can see Luciano was very excited to begin. We were able to get a picture of Pops and Grammy with some of the grandkids... Lauren, Chad, and Chase are missing. I also have picture of us with Lauren. I will put them in my next entry. By then maybe I will know who to enter pictures and words...









We also spent some time at the creek. Grammy Gangwer packed us a picnic lunch. We had a great time. We also left just in time. We didn't know it but there was a tornado warning in effect in our area. Only the Raffa's could go to Vermont (where there is never tornados) and spend the afternoon inside with a very freaked out Brandon. After that day, Brandon never wanted to be outside if he saw any clouds in the sky....





While in Vermont my dad bought my kids fishing poles. They have never been fishing before. So, Gabe's one request was to take the kids fishing this year. They had a blast on Lake Champlain. They went with Uncle Allen, the Beauchemin cousins, Pops, and Gabe. Everyone, but Madison, and AJ caught some fish. Gabriel even fell in the lake while trying to reel his fish in.







Here are some pictures from our recent summer vacation to Vermont. We made our first stop in Erie, PA where we spent the night at a Country Inn and Suites. It was a great room and also a great price... We went swimming and ordered pizza delivered to the room. My kids love sleeping in hotels. (Until they see the dateline specials "How clean is your hotel room"). Oh, well I always carry alot of hand sanitizer... We woke up early and traveled the last 10 hours to Vermont. They kids did a great job, they didn't fight too much, but then again when you have a DVD player there is no reason to be bored!

Early Morning Emergency Visit

Well, it never seems to amaze me that with all the technology in medicine- it still takes 5 hours at an emergency room just to have blood work and pain medication dispensed. Most people have never ever been to an emergency room, but Gabe and I seem to visit one on a yearly basis. This time it was Gabe! This week he pressure washed our deck and stained it (with the help of Gabriel and a neighbor friend, Justin). It looks very nice..(as soon as I have a picture of it, I will put it on my blog). But it seems he overdid himself... He pulled some muscles in his lower back and at 3:30 am this morning was in so much pain I had to basically "carry" him to the car because he could not move without being in extreme pain. You may be wondering what I did with our children? Our wonderful friend, Kelly came right over and sacked out on the couch.
The emergency room didn't look that busy, but it was 2 hours before we saw a doctor who was with us for about 10 minutes and said he will be back with pain medicine and a nurse to do blood work. She didn't come in for another 1 1/2 hours. Meanwhile, I am irritated and Gabe is extremely uncomfortable (Have you ever noticed emergency room beds are not made for comfort???) She came in gave Gabe some pain medication and drew some blood work and said she will send it "right" up to the lab and it should be another 30 minutes. 1 1/2 hours later, she still had not returned and I left to go home and relieve Kelly so she could go home to her children. Gabe called me 40 minutes later to tell me he was being discharged. He is now recuperating at home drugged up on muscle relaxers and pain medication.
It's funny, I thought I wouldn't have anything to "blog" about, but I was wrong! I should have used my phone camera to take a picture of him in his cute little hospital gown.....NOT!!!!

Well, I have finally succumbed to the blogging trend. I love to read other people's blogs, even if I do not know them. I think I am "blogged obsessed". It took me a little while to think of a cute name to call my blog. Some of my friends have cute names like the"Dilliard Discoveries", "Haydock Herald", and the "Billington Blab", so of course, I needed to think very hard on what could go with Raffa. I came up with Rhetoric. For those of you who don't know the definition of rhetoric is "the art of using words effectively...".
I have also noticed that most bloggers seem to be young mothers who have cute pictures and stories to share of their young ones. Well, I am a couple years late on the blogging thing- my children are no longer "little ones", but they are still cute and we still have funny stories to share. I also just won a cell phone from our local Disney Radio. It takes pictures and videos, so I am hoping to have some pictures and videos to upload soon.
So check back soon for some "Raffa Rhetoric"