As another year comes to an end, we find ourselves reminiscing about the year called 2012.  Well our year was full of change, endless hard work, plenty of excitement and lots of fun!  But we won't highlight that until the year officially ends at midnight tonight... (Sorry loyal followers, friends and family!). 

Until then, we want to wish everyone a 2013 full of many blessings, good health, happiness, new beginnings and everything else that you wish to obtain or do in the new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Okay... it is hard to believe that the hub-bub of another busy and often chaotic holiday season is already upon us.  WOW!  The year has flown by... :-0 

So, for the November edition of information tidbits to share to our readers... I want to share a couple of blog sites that have great information that can be of use specific for the holiday season.

• Guide for Moms is a very inspirational blog by a working mother who has succeeded at weight loss and has some very helpful holiday healthy eating tips to get through the holidays without a 10-lb weight gain!
• Today's Creative Blog has some shares some great ideas and projects all year round, but especially over holidays. 
• 5Minutes for Mom (one of my all-time favorite blogs) has everything from gift ideas to cookie recipes to tips on how to survive the stresses of the holiday season.

These are just a few of the many great blogs out there with a great bit of information to share to help get everyone through the holiday.  And if that isn't enough... you can always go to SomeECards to get a little humor to help you through the season!

One more month of 2012 left... hope it starts off wonderfully for everyone.

Football season is officially over for the year... well, high school football that is.  After weeks of planning, my fellow moms and I managed to get all the details together and throw the players one heck of a party!  Their annual football banquet was last Thursday.  To make it short, here are the highlights...

A good friend of mine just had a new baby.  She received a great baby gift hand-crafted for her new little bundle... a plate with his name, birthdate and birth stats on it.  It's a simple ro make gift.  (Well, after you look all over to find out how to make one, that is!). 

Simple recipe for design fun... Buy a plate, figre out what you want to put on it, use a sharpie (any color works) to write on the plate, bake it at 150-degrees in the oven for 20-30 minutes and "wha-la"!  You have a gift for anyone.  I've decided to see if this works (the girls will have fun drawing Christmas things on plates!).  Keep checking back for a post with the pictures.

For more fun ideas, check out this website.

We are crazy busy... but managing to cherish every good, memorable moment that comes along.  Here is our month in a nutshell...

Football banquet planning has begun.  First Reconciliation prep has begun.  So... no rest for the weary in this household until Thanksgiving!

Happy Sunday all!

Okay... as promised to all... here it is... an UPDATE POST!!!

In our defense, it has been a rather weird and exciting and time consuming start to the new school year.  We'll try to put it as simply as possible (so this post doesn't drag on... and on!).

• Devin is back to college and changing assistant manager jobs.  He just became an "independent" (aka "single") 20-year-old, though still very good friends with Sabrina.  He has matured so much over the past year and is turning out to be a very level-headed and responsible young man.  We're proud to say he's our son.
• Dalton has started his Sophomore year of high school off with a bang.  A lot of honors classes coupled with German II mean we make a lot of late night trips to the store to get project items.  Dalton is starting on the Varsity football team for his 6A school this year for special teams (first sub for LB) and starts on the JV as middle linebacker.  So... needless to say, we are going to football games twice a week - EVERY WEEK - to watch him play. 
• Emmalie is sitting at the top of her 2nd grade class early in the year.  All of her hard work over the summer paid off, and she's now reading at a 3 year 6 month level (over a year ahead of herself).  And all of her national test scores have come back with her being in the top 5%.  We couldn't be more proud of Em.  Outside of school, she is the same singing, dancing, gymnastic tumbling, 100% princess girl that we've grown to love!  Emma just started the prep for her First Communion this year too. 
• Bethanie, though still upset that she can't go to Kindergarten this year, is doing well in her second year of Pre-K.  It took her teachers a couple of weeks to learn that Bethanie needs a little more challenge.  She has flourished now!  Bethie has learned her beginner site words and can read simple sentences.  But her real ability is with math (the girl has a mathematical brain like her daddy!).  Surprisingly, Bethanie has become an image of her sister... sharing ALL of Emmalie's likes and dislikes (except for salads, that is!). And she never stops smiling~!
• Tony is working hard, every day.  Many last minute business trips and work-from-home nights fill his already hectic schedule.  But the doctor says not to worry because his risk of heart attack is very, very low!  (His lab tests this year were phenomenal... so the kids and I are looking forward to having him around for at least 30 more years!). The first ad for his photography side business was published and is receiving rave reviews as well.  Now, to find him some free time to play (or sleep!).
• Shelia.  Well, I'm busy at work leading my team.  I am in the process of taking more certification trainings to help further my nursing career.  But, being the official mother to four and the unofficial mother to 114 (the MHS football team that I help feed every Thursday night), is my greatest work.  I'm still co-chairing the football backers at the high school and also working with the school district on some other planning items; as well as volunteering with the March of Dimes walk planning as time allows.  So, like Tony, I don't sleep either!

Okay, I know that you're probably bored with all that update. So, on to the funner parts of life... THE PICTURES!!!

Awe... sisterly love!
 

Bethanie loves to hug on a football...
and kicks it well, too!
 

Emmalie in full gear like her brother!
 

Bethie loves the cheer outfit I made her.
 

Dalton... handsome football player,
but boy do those uniforms stink after games!
 

Only our daughter will climb playground

equipment in a skirt (thank GOD it was a sKort).
 

Sweet Emmalie... growing up so fast.
 

Bethanie... happy and full of life.

And we'll close with one of our annual video clusters of Dalton's football athleticism.  Watch out Bill Snyder... he's looking your way for college!   Dalton is now, and forever in high school will be, number 47.

 

October is upon us and the leaves are falling.  We have a birthday party coming up this weekend and the annual pumpkin patch visit... so more posts will be coming your way soon!  (Even complete with pictures of Devin and Tony).  Keep checking back. Happy Monday everyone. 
   

 

Okay, we know we owe all our faithful followers an update post... but you won't be getting it today.  We're still in the process of putting together a good visual show for you all (especially since Dalton made the Varsity football team... as a Sophomore, he even starts!).  In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to do the September random information post as something everyone can enjoy!

I'm sure all of us use a variety of foods and ingredients in a many different ways.  Well, Emmalie's 2nd grade class has been studying Johnny Appleseed.  Today their studies concluded with a special "apple party".  Emmalie came home excitedly asking if we had received the email from her teacher.  I expected it to be a fun picture of their party.  But, instead, was shocked to see an odd recipe attached.  The teacher had made a special treat of apple enchiladas for the kids... and they LOVED them!  So the recipe has been shared.  And I'm in turn sharing it with you all... :-)

I know, it sounded a little off to me too.  We've never put fruit in a tortilla before.  But if it meets the taste test of two dozen 7 & 8 year olds, then I'm all for it.  So, here is the recipe... (rather simple too).


Apple Enchiladas

1 can 21 oz. apple pie fillling
(6) - 8 inch tortillas
1 tsp. cinnamon
1//3 cup margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup br. sugar
1/2 cup water

Spoon fruit filling evenly down center of each tortilla; sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up and place seam side down in a lightly greased 2 qt. baking. dish. Bring butter and next 3 ingredients to a boil in a medium saucepan; reduce heat and simmer, stirring constantly 3 minutes. Pour over enchiladas; let stand 30 min. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes 6. Drizzle with white frosting.


Enjoy everyone... !!!  (And we promise, an update is coming soon...).

Shelia

Okay... the first week of school is over and we are all still around!  It's been a rather long week getting everyone safely to school and back, the dreaded "two-a-days" of high school football practice... the list goes on and on.  Then add in that one parent was away on a business trip, and you'll get the sense of one hectic, busy and very eventful week to start the school year!

With all of the "hub-bub" this past week, a friend and teacher shared a great way to have a family calm down to our days.  We do a lot of sitting together to do homework, eat and share or read stories.  After completing practices and homework and baths for the evenings, I broke out some funny poetry to make everyone laugh and relax before going to bed.  It was a lot of fun for us... so I want to share it with our blog readers, too!

First, a little poetry by Kenn Nesbitt...

Wow... how time flys!  It seems like our lives have been so busy this summer that we didn't even take time to post on any highlights.  Since our last family post we finished a softball season, enjoyed more football summer camps, set up high school football poster shoots, spent the July 4th holiday with special family visitors and celebrated two very important birthdays (Emmalie and Devin).  And tomorrow... well, it's the start of new beginnings as the official "First Day of School" for the 2012-2013 school year arrives bright and early!

So, as a way to kick off the start of the new school year this go 'round, we are going to spotlight the wonderful summer we've had!

Softball... Emmalie learned to hit (sometimes) and have fun (always)!





Then there was the one "monster" of a birthday bash... Emmalie and her friends had a blast cosmic bowling!





And it's been football...football...and more football for Dalton. 




Here's to a quick, but wonderful summer and great start to a new school year. 

Okay, I promise updates are coming.  But with all of the football conditioning and pre-season planning that we've been doing... I had to share this (before I forget).

I have served as a volunteer with the local school district on a number of "behind the scene" planning committees.  It is my way of contributing to my children's education beyond the basics of teaching.  Over the past 10-years, I've been on the high school schedule research and planning, the budget analysis and a variety of other committees.  So when the chance to work with the athletics group came up... of course, I jumped at it!  (All things sports in this house, you know!).

In our review last night of the impact of athletics on overall education of older children/teens, the first thing that came to my mind was Bill Snyder.  ** Okay!  I know what you're thinking!  KU all the way... not those kitty cats, right?! **  Actually, I have a lot of respect for Bill Snyder's focus.  I have had friends who's sons have played football for him at KSU and each say the same thing... their sons came out of college, and football, having turned into "great men".  He teaches them everything about character, moral and being far more than just an athlete.  It is an image that a lot of area high school's have paid attention to and striving for.  (Some of you may remember my post last fall when 90% of Dalton's high school football team made the Honor Roll... and 20% had a perfect 4.0 GPA through the season). 

So.... I want to share with you all the KSU work in progress - Bill Snyder's 16 Goals (aka his "Golden Rules").  It is a great read and something good to keep in mind as the fall youth and high school sports seasons start to get underway.

I guess this is where I'm supposed to say "Go Cats"?!  (Ugh!)  Happy reading all :-)

Wow! The summer is really getting away from us.  I didn't realize how fast the first month of summer break from school could go!  It has been fun and extremely busy... but well worth it.  To think of all the memories our family has already created for "Summer 2012", and the many more yet to come. 

This topic... summer break... brings to light a subject idea for this month's discussion.  Summer Learning Loss.  I know it sounds like a made up phenom; however, it is something that has been referred to in educational research studies since the 1990's. 

What is "summer learning loss"?  Quite generically put... it's the loss of knowledge that a child (or even college student) has while on summer break each year.  A research study done in 1996 proved that children's test scores conducted at the end of the school year (April/May) were at least one month lower upon returning to school in August.  The documented knowledge loss has been noted by researchers as being more prominent in the areas of math and spelling.  It has been largely speculated that a variety of factors (including socioeconomic capabilities) play a role in the severity of summer learning loss for children of all ages.

So, what can parents do to help keep their child from falling into the statistical number of kids who regress a month's worth of learning over the summer? 

1. Read to your child a little every summer night before bed.  Or, if he/she is old enough, have them read to you!
2. Take small trips together that encourage learning.  It doesn't have to cost anything or take a lot of time.  A simple bike ride or walk can be educational if you make it.  Have your child count things on along the path (like trees or birds).  You can even make it a simple addition or subtraction game!
3. Play games!  Playing board games is a great way to keep the youthful mind on track.  Go Fish for the younger kids is great.  And who could go wrong with Yahtzee :)
4. Explain your summer in writing.  Kids of all ages love to create things... so sit down and have your son/daughter write a short letter to someone (grandma, aunt, etc) about what they've done this summer.  It is a great way to keep up penmanship and spelling skills.  (Emmalie and her 1st grade teacher have become quite the pen pals this summer already!).
5. Let your child help out in the kitchen as a math lesson on measurements and simple fractions.  Cookie baking can be fun and educational on so many levels!
6. If you find yourself in the car with your kids a lot of the time (between baseball games or work), have your children read aloud the signs along the way.
7. Visit your local public library with the kids.  In fact, most library's offer some type of summer reading program that offers a small reward to each child that meets their summer reading goal (like free ice-cream certificates YUM!).
8. Most importantly... never let the chance to build upon your child's knowledge pass you by just because it's summer.  It IS possible to have vacations and tons of fun while still learning a few things along the way!

If all else fails, there are a number of educational websites that provide free worksheets on a variety of subjects based on school grade.  Some of my favorites are TLS Books (Pre-K thru 6th grade), Soft Schools (Pre-K thru Middle School), Scholastic Printables (Pre-K thru Middle School) and Education.com (Pre-K thru High School). 

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer thus far.  Stay safe, have plenty of fun... and don't forget to point out the education all around so your children can escape the trend of the dreaded "summer learning loss"!

Until next time...

My cousin Patti gave birth to her triplet boys on May 31st... at 27 weeks, 2 days. The boys are doing well at this point (all showing promise for their micro preemie status). But they are definitely in need of some prayers, as a NICU experience of this nature is like a roller coaster ride.

So please say an extra prayer for Patti, her husband Ryan and the boys (Anderson, Brennan and Reagan).

Shelia

Well, that about sums up our month of May... true Mayhem.  It started and ended with a bang... right up to the beginning of June.  Four kids, four different directions, four sets of activities (many coinciding with another)... to the point of disorder amongst our usually structured lives. 

May around our home started with baseball games and tournaments gallore...


It continued with graduations, school parties and field activities...



Family, friends and the "official" start-up party for the 2012 MHS football season...



Add in a little blunder of an accident ala one teenage boy...



And you pretty much have an understanding of the happenings around these parts for May.  Gosh!  We sure are hoping June is a little more orderly and relaxed.  But with two softball games a week, football camps and busy work schedules... I doubt it :-)

Alright... It's been a little busy around our home the past month (as you'll see with our family post in the coming day or so).  But I wanted to take a moment to reflect on peronal growth in this month's installment of information sharing.

As many of you know, I have taken on coaching a youth softball team this year.  It has been quite the challenge since I am much better versed on baseball rules than softball (and they ARE different!).  I've tried to keep a positive outlook through it all... and have had the gracious help of Tony and a couple of other dads that have really been valuable. 

So, what is the point of my ramblings?  Last night we had our first softball game.  It was such a great experience that I wanted to share with everyone what I've learned.  My hope is that every parent find the time to give of themselves towards helping children learn something... and a team sport is a great way.  Here is what I've learned so far...

1. After working with kids as a pediatric nurse for years, I know that kids are sponges that soak up everything around them.  What I didn't know was how much I could feel like a sponge.  I have felt more energetic just soaking up all of the excitement each of my twelve girls has shared over the past two months!
2. Teamwork starts a very young age!  I never realized how kids that barely knew each other on Day #1 could be the best of friends by the end of the second practice. The older, more experienced girls have shared their softball knowledge with the younger ones... and everyone is better for it.
3. Smiling solves almost everything (well, at least in softball)!  Striking out at the plate... being thrown out at a base... getting hit in the shin with a softball.  All of the frowns and tears go away from these little girls' faces when they see everyone else supporting them with a giant smile. 
4. Trying is as important as succeeding!  For those that know me well, you know how competitive I am always striving for success.  I now know that trying is sometimes the most important part of any challenge.  Every player on the team tried to do their best last night... and that meant more to me than winning any game.
5. Most important of all lessons... grown ups don't have enough true FUN!  Over the past two months I have played fielding games and ran bases and done so many other things I used to love to do, but have simply let life get me away from.  After our game last night, Tony and I asked the girls the most important question "Did you have fun?!"... to which every one of them said an emphatic YES!

I feel like I have been truly blessed to have this opportunity to make an impact on our coming generation of young ladies.  And I'm even more blessed to get the wake-up call... life needs to be so much more than a routine that we all go through every day with work and cooking and cleaning.  For I now have a new excitement in my step every day.  I hope some of you parents will take the coaching challenge. You'll never regret it!

Oh... and for those of you that have read this far and are still curious.  Our game last night ended up in a tie (1-1).  So, I guess you can say everyone won last night :-)

Okay, so this is a different type of educational post... Some education along with some of my "soap box" ranting (sorry!).

So, today I have the girls out eating breakfast at a local restaurant and a family (grandma, grandpa, mom and daughter) sit down at the next table. The girl is a beautiful, thin, tall girl of 8 or 9 years. The mother is a bleached platinum blonde, thin and heavily made up appearing to be in her late 30's. I try not to judge or pay attention to what's going on outside of my table of activity with Em & Bethie... But you couldn't miss the girl crying because she wanted eggs and pancakes like my girls, while he mother insisted that she have only fruit and toast. When the mom said loudly "you can't afford to gain a pound", the girl sat silent. I never saw the girl smile again during our time there. And it broke my heart.

The TRUTH about childhood obesity is this...
* Roughly 17% of children ages 2-19 in the U.S. are considered "obese".
* Of those who are obese, the number is higher for males (18% compared to 15%).
* Though not a direct indicator of body fat, most doctors and nutritionists use the BMI calculation to figure obesity. If the BMI is 85-94%, then they are termed as "overweight". If the BMI is 95% or higher, they are termed "obese".
* The highest rate of obesity is actually in the pubertal and post-pubertal age groups (12-19 years).
* Assuring children have a proper diet AND remain active rather than sedentary is the best way to combat childhood obesity.

Did you know?
* Just over 3% of children being treated in the U.S. for anorexia are pre-pubertal girls.
* Girls of highly weight conscious mothers have been shown to be depressed and eat less than other girls at ages as young as 5-years-old.
* Parents are the single most important shaper of a child's body image and eating habits.
* The best way to address childhood anorexia is by creating a healthy eating environment and keeping an active lifestyle together.

See any similarities between the two? I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the little girl I saw at the restaurant was NOT obese, but is on a path to self-destructive eating habits. What realization for me, as a mother! I will never again talk about my own weight loss needs in front of my daughters!

Until next time....

Shelia

Beginning to think we were never going to post again?!  So were we :-)  (JK)  Honestly, it has been extremely busy around these parts... mainly due to ball games and practices.  Yes!  We LOVE this time of year. 

I'll start with the little ladies:  Bethanie is still too young to play organized T-Ball this year, so she has become my resident helper as I coach a youth softball team this summer. (Yes! You read that right!  Me, a COACH!? I'm concerned too...!).


Lucky for me, it's Emmalie's team I'm coaching.  I now have responsibility to teach twelve 2nd and 3rd graders the fundamentals of softball... via machine pitch (ugh!).  I had no say so in the team outside of Emmalie being on it, and I must say I'm very impressed with all the talent that came my way.  I only have one player on the team that hasn't ever played before.  And three are pretty much skilled enough to move to fastpitch already.  The most important thing is the girls are learning while having fun... as am I!

Getting asked to "play up" and be a part of the MHS Baseball "Cancer Awareness Night" games. (Isn't he pretty in pink?!).  It was priceless to hear Bethanie ask why all the "sporty boys" were dressed in "girls clothes"... guessing the pink through her off as being only for girls!


Getting stronger behind the plate... so much that he made a diving catch to close a winning game against a tough Kappaun team!  (Do you notice Dalton's mitt flying by in this picture as he threw it to the side at game's end?!).


Probably the biggest highlight for Dalton came in the final game of today's baseball tournament.  It started with a strong base hit just past the infield.  He quickly stole second base, making it to third with the next hit.  (Seen here running to third).



The minute we saw the smile on Dalton's face, I knew what coach had just told him to do!



And Dalton listened with ease to his coach.  He took a commanding lead off, then he ran.  It threw the pitcher off so bad he over lobbed his throw to the catcher (see the ball in the picture below)!



The catcher couldn't even get up and start moving to the ball before Dalton showed up... successfully STEALING home and scoring the go-ahead run!



I don't know about you all, but I think this picture says it all about how Dalton felt about this highlight moment!  After he got to the dugout, Dalton's coach turned to Tony, Dad and I with the biggest smile of satisfaction we've seen in him all year.  It was a great time for Dalton... after a l-o-n-g day of baseball at the fields.



Devin is also doing well.  But, unfortunately, I don't have any new pictures of him... he's always working these days.  We're proud of his good work ethic and dedication though.

That's all of the updates we have from our wonderful wonderland of life.  Hope everyone has a great end to April... and wonderful start to May!

Shelia, Tony and the Gang