Jump Rope for Heart

On Sunday afternoon, Cara and Erica participated in Jump Rope for Heart at their school. Their P.E. teacher, Ms. Freese, does an excellent job of organizing and hosting the event at the school. Ms. Freese gets businesses to donate prizes for the three hours of jumping rope. Each participant received a candy bar, a bottle of water and a bookmark. Erica also won a prize in the drawings that were held every 15 minutes. She received a small stuffed animal. It was a fun afternoon of exercising with friends for a good cause.

Cara and Audrey turning the rope for Emily.

Erica jumping rope.

The team of Cara, Audrey, Erica, Cece and Emily.

Take care,

Michelle

Ashlin's Birthday Party

Ashlin's 5th birthday was on Saturday and she got to have a party to celebrate. There are 24 students in her preschool class, but only six of the 24 are girls. Ashlin invited all of the girls to her party. Two of the little girls could not come, but the other little girls had fun playing games, eating cake and then just playing. We played musical chairs, a balloon relay race, London Bridges and freeze dance. Ashlin picked all of the games. Then after the party she got her present from her family - a brand new princess bike. For supper, we went out to eat at Pizza Hut to conclude the day of birthday celebrating.

Ashlin on her new princess bike.

Ashlin and Saylor.

Ashlin and Josy.

Ashlin and Kiki.

Ready to blow out the candles.

Ashlin's Hannah Montana birthday cake.

Take care,

Michelle

Happy 5th Birthday Ashlin!!!

Five years ago this morning at 5:53 a.m. Ashlin Michelle Leader joined our family. She was born after only an hour of labor and as Dr. Davis said "she was a big little girl". Ashlin weighed 9 lbs. 0 oz. and was 22 inches long. The nurses weren't for sure if the newborn diapers were going to fit her. She was born with red hair and blue eyes.

Ashlin's two big sisters were so proud of her.

Ashlin's first birthday.


Ashlin putting together a puzzle. She is a whiz at putting puzzles together.

Ashlin has always been an independent child. I became a stay-at-home mom when Ashlin was born. Ashlin would sit in her bouncy seat and watch me do housework. I would talk to her and she was content for long spans of time. Ashlin is also a little girl that does not need someone to entertain her. She will go off and play all by herself.

Turning 5 years old today was huge for Ashlin because she knows that you have to be 5 to go to Kindergarten. She wants to go to school every day all day just like her sisters.

The last five years of staying home with her have flown by quickly and I will miss her when she goes to Kindergarten in the fall.

Take care,

Michelle

Shoot Me! Week 9 of 52

Yes, it is that time of the week when I post a photo of myself. Carin over at Forever in Blue Jeans is the host of the Shoot Me Challenge. Head on over to her blog for pictures of other Moms posting a picture of themselves instead of their children.

This week's photo was taken last Friday after I had my hair cut and highlighted. I have blond streaks put in to cover up my grey. I also had my hair cut shorter and stacked higher in the back. I almost had it totally cut off into a pixie cut, but then I chickened out. Maybe next time when I go in for a cut I will get that done.

Take care,

Michelle

MOPS morning

This morning was my monthly MOPS meeting. This month each small group was in charge of decorating their table with a country theme for a contest. There were seven tables all decorated. The countries used were United States, Canada, Holland, Haiti, South Africa and Mexico (two tables used United States). I took a few photos of the tables. The winning table was the Mexican themed table.

Each place setting had a pot with a cactus shaped cookie sticking in it. They had salsa in their margarita glasses and each lady wore a sombrero.

This is Janice standing by the winning table.

I loved this Holland themed table. I think I liked it so much because it reminds me of Spring. I love it when the tulips bloom in the Spring. Vanessa, one of the ladies in this group, was dressed up like the Swiss Miss Cocoa lady. She looked so cute.

This is my small group's table. We decorated using the United States as a theme.

Another photo of our table showing the flag hanging from the ceiling.

Today we had two new ladies join our small group. It is always nice to meet new moms with preschool children like myself. It was my groups turn to also take food this morning to share. I made some scrambled egg muffins that were very easy to make and also really delicious. I will post the recipe later.

Take care,

Michelle

Weekend Recap

Today's post is going to be a recap of last weekend. The weekend started on Friday with the luau at school for Staff Appreciation Week. Ashlin, Justin and I had great time helping with a game and then wondering around the gym taking pictures and watching the kids all have a great time. Ashlin and Justin especially loved getting candy from the pinatas that were broken. Everyone was supposed to get only one piece, but Justin had a few extras stuffed in his pockets.

Then after school, we stayed loaded in the van and headed north to Bloomfield for Grandpa Leader's annual fish fry. Grandpa Leader is a member of the Knights of Columbus and every year during Lent they have a fish fry. Grandpa works very hard all week getting ready for the big fish fry. We picked up Grandma Leader when we got into town and then headed to the community building because we were all just starving. The fish as always was just delicious. You have a choice of either baked or fried fish (all the fish you can eat), baked potato, baked beans, dinner roll and macaroni salad. Then afterwards we all head back to Grandpa and Grandma's house for dessert. Grandma did not disappoint in the dessert department either. Grandma had apple crisp with ice cream or brownies with chocolate frosting. I had to pass on dessert since I gave up sweets for Lent, but Grandma gave me a banana instead.

On Saturday, the kids went to Grandpa and Grandma Korth's house to play and have a tea party. Keith and I had a free afternoon to do whatever. We headed to the Y for a workout, then grocery shopping and out to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. Then Keith and I went next door to visit with the neighbors about their vacation to Cancun that they had just returned home from.

Sunday, we went to Mass and then the Music Boosters sponsored a pancake feed at the school. Who doesn't love pancakes and it meant that we didn't have to cook! Then the afternoon was spent with the kids playing Wii Fit Plus that Keith had just purchased.

Sorry I don't have pictures to share today. My camera battery was running low after the luau on Friday afternoon, so I had to recharge it.

Take care,
Michelle

Teacher Appreciation Week

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week at school. The theme this year was Hawaiian. On Monday all of the students were given leis to wear. On Tuesday and Wednesday there were hula dances hidden throughout the school. The student who found a hula dancer could award the teacher of his choice with a gift of $5. On Thursday all of the staff was given $25 gift cards from the Home & School Association. Then on Friday afternoon, fun and games were held in the gym. There were seven games in the gym for everyone to participate in. The whistle would blow when it was time to move on to the next game. The kids were divided by grade level. First the lower grades were brought to the gym and then the upper grades were brought to the gym. Teachers participated in games of their choosing.

Mrs. Bowder trying to break one of the pinatas. The kids are all seated and anxiously awaiting for the candy to start to fall. Mrs. Bowder is one of the Kindergarten teachers.

Another game was a hula hoop relay race. This is a group of 4th grade girls trying to beat a group of 4th grade boys. Naturally, the prize for winning was a piece of candy.
This game was called "Hot Coconut" which is just like Hot Potato.

The Limbo.

Potato sack races. You can see Cara in the middle ready for the signal to go.

Some of the other games included: a ball toss into big tubs, musical sea shells, and a photo taken by some wood cutouts. The kids had so much fun. It was a Friday afternoon of fun for both the teachers and the students. It was also a great way to end the fun filled week. The girls took homemade brownie treats for all of their homeroom teachers, special teachers and the principal.

Take care,

Michelle