Cecile Calabrese and Family!

Hi! I’m Cecile Foley Calabrese, 35, oldest child of Mickey, Alison’s second to oldest brother. I live with my family in Washington (state) about 40 miles from Mt. St. Helens. Sometimes on a clear day we can see her steam just over the ridge.

I have been married for 17 yrs to Perry, currently Band Director at La Center Middle School. He’s been a music teacher for 18 years now- I think.

I was working the last three years at a local elementary school as an after school computer instructor which was a really fun job. That position ended last June when the grant funding ran out. That’s okay though, I really like being here when the kids get home from school every day.

I have five children: Tristan, 16, a junior at Kelso High School. Cassie, 13, 8th grade, Huntington MS. Cary, 11, 6th gr also at HMS. Willow, 5, Kindergarten at Beacon Hill Elementary. Tim, 2, at home with me every day! I would like to say something about each one of my kids, so I apologize in advance, this will probably be long.

Tristan is an amazing musician, way better than Perry or I ever was at his age. He toured the country with the Oregon Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps last summer, is currently in the marching, jazz, and concert bands at KHS, performs with two Southwest Washington Youth Symphonies, and plays in the Lower Columbia Community College band. Tuba is his main instrument but he he has also performed on baritone, trombone, and bassoon.
Cassie plays clarinet, but her real dream these days is to become a massage therapist, travel abroad (the Foley gene?) and open up her own health spa in Italy. She was also researching becoming a foreign exchange student, but became discouraged when she realized speaking no other languages would be somewhat of a problem.
Cary is wonderful at home, such a huge help with the little ones. She just started playing cornet and is doing really well. She is on the Performing Team in the local gymnastics program - it’s really neat, kids of all different ages and ability levels compete together as a team.
Willow is in Kindergarten this year and enjoys school quite a bit, mainly because they have bars there and she can practice her gymnastics moves during recess! She has been doing gymnastics for a year & a half and is on the pre-team. Most likely she’ll compete next year as a level 4 gymnast. I do the gym’s webpage in return for classes, you can keep up with the girls’ team here: gymnastics4u.com.
Tim is in the midst of the talking explosion, learning new words every day. He repeats everything too, which is just wonderful (sarcastic), since he’s totally into bathroom humor.
Our kids are so lucky, they have the opportunity to participate in many different activities. Our town is just the right size to have a lot to offer but not so big that classes are overpriced or overcrowded.
It’s interesting having five kids spaced so far apart. After Tristan’s concert last Thursday night, I was reminded again how different they are - I was cleaning up Tim’s mess of mentholatum smeared on his dresser right after reminding Tristan to hang up his tux. Most of the time it’s fun but they sure can drive each other nuts.

Tue Nov 08, 10:30:02 AM EST