3 In A Row!!!

Thanksgiving week our kids only went to school one day, Monday.  Tuesday was supposed to be a day of school, but our football team was playing in the C-1 State Football Championship Game in Lincoln.  Therefore, school was called off for the day so that students, teachers, and staff could travel to Lincoln to watch the game.  

On Tuesday, the four kids, Grandpa Bob and I left for Lincoln at 10:00 a.m. for the 2:45 kick-off. We left early to allow time to stop for lunch in Seward because their is NO eating allowed in the new car.  Plus, we wanted to get to the game early, find a parking spot, and be able to wander around.  

We cheered our hearts out during the game and the Norfolk Catholic Knights football team won the C-1 State Football Championship with a score of 24-13 over Boone Central/Newman Grove.  This is the 3rd year in a row that they have won the C-1 title.  This year's win makes them the first team in C-1 history to win 3 titles in a row.  Plus, the senior class finished their high school football careers with a 50-2 record.  What an accomplishment for this school and this team!

Now an update on Isaac.  This young man was injured in a tackle during a football game during the state playoffs a few weeks ago and I asked in a post for prayers for Isaac.  These prayers are still needed.  He has been moved to a rehabilitation center in Lincoln to start occupational and physical rehab.  Isaac was able to attend the championship game and watch his teammates win the game.  He has had many good and bad days in his recovery.  Isaac still has no feeling in his legs and his road to recovery is going to be long and hard.  Please continue to pray for Isaac.

I took some great photos of the warm-up, the coin toss, the kids hanging out in Memorial Stadium, the tunnel walk and the victory celebration.  Unfortunately, my camera and the computer had some communication issues and I lost the photos in the upload process.  This made me so mad!

Take care,
Michelle

2012 Black Friday

Sorry I can't show other photos of items purchased, but my kids stalk my blog.

Keith and I hosted Thanksgiving Day dinner at our house this year for the Leader side.  We served ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, oreo fluff salad, and snicker salad.  Grandma Merina brought dessert which included your choice of apple, pumpkin, cherry or coconut cream pie, Aunt Jodee brought the dinner rolls and Aunt Heather brought the finger jello.  We all ate until we were stuffed.

Uncle Cory, Aunt Jodee, Carson and Kamree showed up at our house the night before to chill out and help cook the next morning.  Jodee and I started looking through the ads to scope out the deals and what we needed and wanted.

Uncle David brought Jodee and me a Lincoln paper on Thanksgiving so that we would see in print all of the Black Friday ads.  We were so thankful for his help in our quest for the best deals.  After eating dinner, we continued to scope out the ads while the kids played and the men watched football.  Jodee and I left the party between 3 and 4 o'clock to head back to Lincoln since we needed to form a game plan and get to the first store before 8 o'clock.

First on our list of stores this year was Walmart.  We were in and out of the first store in 50 minutes, which I thought was totally amazing considering the number of shoppers in the store and the lines to check out. Then we continued on to Shopko, Target, Children's Place, Christopher & Banks, Bath & Body Works, Younkers, Aeropostle, and Old Navy.  We both hit the pillows at about 4:30 a.m.  Not a bad night's work and I think this may have been our shortest time to shop. Later we went out to Bed Bath Beyond, Gordmans and back to Walmart.

I must admit that our game plan gets better with practice each year.  Before we leave the house, we have made a master shopping list by store, what time each store opens, and what time the doorbuster sales end.  Then before entering the store, we decide who is getting what items on the list and where to meet after getting those items.  Next we head for the check outs where usually one person stands in line with the cart while the other person goes to find what items we forgot.  While in line, we double check what is in the cart compared to the master list and cross items off.  Last we search through our coupons and determine if we can use any coupons to further reduce our totals at the checkout.  

Take care,
Michelle

Crossfires Volleyball

 Cara is playing volleyball league at the YMCA in the 5th-6th grade division this fall.  This is Cara's 4th year to play volleyball at the YMCA.  She is a member of the Crossfires team.

 The YMCA this fall started using these reversible jerseys instead of colored t-shirts.  Once you buy a jersey you can wear it for any sport at the YMCA.  Good idea instead of all the t-shirts that we have at our house.  

Cara is on a pretty good team.  She is one of the tallest on the team at 5'5" and she continues to improve her skills each week.  Cara is known for having an excellent serve.  She is able to serve from behind the serving line and get the ball over consistently.  She needs to remember to slow down and take a breath between serves because she has a tendency to rush.

Take care,
Michelle

Boomerangs Volleyball

 The two oldest girls, Cara and Erica, are in the midst of volleyball season at the YMCA.  Erica is playing in the 3rd-4th grade division.  She is a member of the Boomerangs team.  This is the first year that Erica has played volleyball at the YMCA because previously she has chosen to play fall soccer.

 The teams had practice twice a week for the first two weeks and now play games three times per week.   We can be found at the YMCA watching volleyball on Tuesday and Thursday nights and Saturday mornings.  There are six teams in the 3rd-4th grade division.

 Erica's team is coached by a husband and wife, Jeff and Cat, and they do a marvelous job with the girls.  They are both very patient and yell out words of encouragement.  They can be found on the court getting the girls back in position and showing the girls how to hold the ball to serve.

Erica's game and skills are improving each time that she plays.  Her team had their first loss last Saturday.  The games last 45 minutes and are a good learning experience for the girls.  Just a few more weeks left of volleyball.

Take care,
Michelle

First Reconciliation

On Sunday, Ashlin made her First Reconciliation during a service at our church.  There were 110 students receiving the sacrament of First Reconciliation.  Ashlin was nervous and wasn't quite sure what to say.  She chose to make her confession to Father Andrews behind a screen.  After her confession, she was all smiles as she prayed her penance.  Although, from the looks of this photo, she was not happy about the whole thing at all (she did not want her picture taken).  This is the first step toward Ashlin receiving her First Communion next April.

Take care,
Michelle

Prayers for Isaac

Today I am asking for "Prayers for Isaac".  On Tuesday night during Norfolk Catholic's football game, this senior linebacker was injured making a tackle.  Isaac was put on a stretcher and taken to the hospital and then later flown to Omaha with a spinal cord injury.  On Wednesday morning, he was taken into surgery to repair his C1 and C6 vertebrates.  He is a very scared young man who does not have feeling in his legs.  The doctors have said that they will know in 72 hours of surgery if Isaac will fully recover from this injury.  The doctors were very optimistic after surgery.  But, Isaac has a long road ahead of him toward recovery and returning home to Norfolk.

I do not know this young man personally, but I do know his parents, Neil and Becky, and his youngest brother, Eli.  Many Norfolk Catholic students, staff and parents could be seen today wearing buttons with the photo above on them.

I ask you to pray for Isaac and his family.  The power of prayer is very powerful and I believe in it!

Take care,
Michelle

Our New 2012 Chevy Traverse LT

 Saturday morning Erica, Ashlin, and Justin headed off to the farm to spend the day with Grandpa and Grandma Korth, Cara decided to stay home by herself and hang out, and Keith and I left in our 2007 Buick Terraza Van to look at new vehicles.  The title for the van was in my purse with the intention of coming home with a different vehicle.  Our first and only stop was at Sid Dillon's in Fremont. 

 We had done no prior looking at vehicles.  I did not want another van and I did not want some large gas-hog vehicle like a Suburban (that is all I knew).  Keith wanted to look at a Tahoe, which could maybe pull the boat, but after one comment by the salesman about the 3rd row seating, that choice was ruled out.  We told the salesman that we needed to seat 6 people and went from there.  He immediately asked if we were buying new or used.  Keith replied that we would only consider used if it had low miles and was one to two years old.  It didn't take long to rule out used as a consideration.

The salesman showed us this Chevrolet Traverse LT and we went for a test drive.  He did ask what color we wanted to drive and our choices were black, charcoal grey or ice grey.  Keith ruled out black and he brought to the front this ice grey one.  Keith and I each test drove this vehicle while they worked up the trade in value of the van.  When we returned to the dealership, they had numbers ready and about an hour later we left with this new 2012 vehicle.

While eating lunch afterwards, I told Keith this is the first new vehicle I have had in my lifetime.  I've always drove used vehicles.  It was a great and exciting feeling to leave the car dealership with a vehicle that only had 22 miles on the odometer.

Take care,
Michelle

My Preschool Class

After Justin's Preschool party was over, it was time for me to clock in for work at school.  After doing a little bit of work, it was time for the afternoon preschool class' party.  I put on my witch hat and wig to go along with my black dress I wore to school that day.  I might only be the para for the afternoon class, but I still consider them my preschool class kids.

This year there are 20 students in the afternoon class.  These students are starting with the front row left to right:  Anthony, Stephanie, Kayden, Mia, Joseph

middle row left to right: Fernanda, Katrina, Oliver, Madison P., Hannah, Mickey, Irmarely

back row left to right: Madison G., Emma, Corbyn, Ty, Adrianna, Gracie, Mallory, Kara

Take care,
Michelle

Justin's Preschool Halloween Party

Justin's Preschool Class of 24 students.

 Halloween was a very busy day at school!  Each classroom had a Halloween party, the Sacred Heart Singers walked and sang at the Meadows, and the Kindergarten classes also walked and sang songs to the residents at the Meadows.  Erica and Ashlin walked to the Meadows with the Sacred Heart Singers.  They were both disappointed that I didn't walk with them, but I was at Justin's Preschool Halloween party at the time.  Therefore, they recruited Grandma Korth to walk with them. 

 Justin was very excited about his Halloween party.  I arrived for the party early to help students put on their costumes.

 Each student completed a small craft pumpkin project and then they got to play a ghost beanbag toss game.  Next, they ate a snack of cookies and juice boxes.  Then their bags were filled with treats.

 Lastly, the students sang some of their Halloween and Fire Safety songs that they learned for the month of October.  Justin loves to sing and do the actions for the songs.  Some of the songs they sang were:  5 Little Pumpkins, Red Fire Engine, Goblins In The House, Pick A Pumpkin, etc.

As the party progressed, Justin kept taking off parts of his costume.  First, his eye patch and then his pirate hat.  After preschool, he went to daycare for the next party of the day and then ended the night with trick-or-treating in our neighborhood.

Take care,
Michelle