Words of Wisdom on Wednesday

A week ago today I had to attend a religious in-service for all the teachers and staff at school.  Every January on the day before the kids go back to school from Christmas break, we have a Foundations of Faith in-service.  Past themes have been about the 10 plagues, the Nicene Creed, and the Trinity.  I generally do not want to attend because some of the information is boring or about something I don't understand.

This year the one thing that I took away from the 3-hour session was the following:

"What is the most important thing that you can do for your children?  The most important thing that mothers can do for their children is to love their fathers.  And vice versa, the most important thing that fathers can do for their children is to love their mothers."

In our society today, we do not take the time to reflect or think about the damage that divorce has on our children.  Too many marriages end in divorce and it is very hurtful to the children involved. 

Just a thought ---

Take care,
Michelle

Family Fun Night at the YMCA

Friday night the YMCA hosted its first family fun night.  They are going to try hosting family fun nights the first Friday of every month this winter.  The theme for the first night was swimming.  The event was held from 5:30 to 7:30 last Friday night.

The staff planned many fun events for the evening.  Cara and Ashlin are playing water volleyball on the far side in this photo.  Cara went to the event with some friends and Keith took Ashlin down to enjoy the fun.  Erica was off at a friend's house for the night and Justin and I stayed home because I was having some asthma issues that day.

Cara is leaning on the wall to the far right in this photo.  Some of the events included boat races, swimming races, diving contest, smallest and biggest splash contest, coin dive, etc.  The girls had a lot of fun that night.  Ashlin won the smallest splash off the board contest.  She earned a YMCA t-shirt for her effort.  But the coin dive may have been their favorite.  Between Cara, Ashlin, Charli and Reilly they got $20 in coins out of the water.  Therefore, each girl earned $5 for their efforts.  Good job girls!!!

They are all excited to go next month again.  Cara told me the theme for next month is games in the gym.

Take care,

Michelle

Christmas Concert

The PreK-6th Grade Christmas concert was a few weeks before Christmas on a Sunday afternoon.  The kids practice for weeks learning songs and actions to perform to a packed gym of parents, grandparents and siblings.

The Pre-Kindergarten classes always perform first and then we sit in the front row to watch the "big kids" perform.  My girls know that I am sitting in the front row and that I have my camera ready to snap away.  They tend to make faces and not smile on purpose when they see my camera go up to snap a photo.

This is a good example of Ashlin knowing not to look at me because I am ready to snap a photo before someone stands in front of her.

The First Grade sang "Go Tell It On The Mountain", "I Saw Three Ships" and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas".

Erica and her 3rd Grade classmates sang "Here We Come A-Wassailing", Amen, The First Noel, and "Joy To The World" with audience participation.

The 5th Grade sang "Glad Tidings of Joy" and "Who Is This Tiny King?".

All of the students did a wonderful job performing.  Now they can have a break before the Spring Concert in May.

Take care,

Michelle

Bowling Over Break

The prize that Ashlin won for her last coloring contest was two free games of bowling and free shoe rental.  Her two certificates were going to expire at the end of 2011 so on Friday we headed to the bowling alley for some fun.

I have no idea the last time that we have gone bowling.  It is not an activity that we think about doing when we get bored.  Justin and I just watched the other four bowl.  Ashlin and Erica got to use the bumpers.

Ashlin bowled the best out of the three girls.  She started the first game swinging the ball, but after a while she switched to granny style bowling.

Erica attempted to use good form, but it needs some work.

Erica and Ashlin were glad that they got to use the bumpers or their scores would have been a lot less.

Cara struggled with form, but it got better in the second game.

Dad wasn't very excited about his scores, but it was a fun activity.  When they were finished, we picked up supper through the McDonald's drive-thru.  I found $20 worth of McDonald's gift cards that I forgot to wrap up for the kids.  Good conclusion to a fun activity!

Take care,

Michelle

Leader Christmas

On Christmas Day after playing with some of our new toys and enjoying biscuits and gravy for breakfast, it was time to get ready to head to Grandpa and Grandma Leader's house.  Late afternoon we got on the road for the next phase of the Christmas celebration.
Grandma decided that we would have a simple supper meal of soup, taverns and various other goodies.  There were four kinds of soup to choose from and so many goodies.

After eating and cleaning up, we all headed for the basement to start the unwrapping of gifts.  The younger cousins all draw names and exchange gifts.  You have to wait for your name to be drawn to guess who has your name before you can open.

The adults do a men's and women's gift exchange involving a game.  Grandpa and Grandma gave each grandchild an ornament, Relay for Life t-shirt, and books.

Grandma made each adult a fleece blanket for Christmas to keep us warm on those cold Nebraska days.

Ashlin received an initial "A" necklace in the exchange.  This item was on her Christmas list.

Uncle David picked out this Nebraska volleyball t-shirt for Cara.  He knows how much she loves volleyball.

Erica received items that were "blingy".  She received a hot pink purse, glittered "E" journal and hot pink headband in the exchange.

Justin received a John Deere tool belt with tools and this hat.  The hat needs to be reshaped, but Justin wore it the rest of the night.  These tools will get lots of use.  He loves using his tools to help Dad.

Needless to say the flu bug was not done at our house.  On the way home, Erica got sick and shortly after getting home Justin also got sick.  It was a long night for all with the washing machine running two loads over night.  The next day Dad didn't feel well either.  Then on Wednesday night the flu bug hit me.  Hopefully we are all done with that nasty business for the year.

Take care,

Michelle

Christmas Day

When Christmas morning dawned at our house, we weren't really sure what to expect.  The stomach flu bug had hit our house off-and-on for a few days so we didn't know how anyone would be feeling.  Cara had been sick on Thursday and Friday with it.  Then right when it was time to leave for Mass on Christmas Eve, Ashlin said that she didn't feel well.  The flu hit her while Cara, Erica, Justin and I were at Mass.  But, everyone was feeling okay that morning.

The oldest two were up shortly after 7 a.m. While the younger two woke up around 8 a.m.  The kids have never been really early risers on Christmas morning.  This is great because with all of the excitement and activities we all need our sleep to get us through the day.

This monster truck pulling a boat was waiting for Justin by his pile of loot.  He loves that he now has a truck with a hitch for pulling a boat just like his dad's real truck.

Justin opening the gift that he wanted most of all - a Leapster Explorer.  He has been talking about this toy for months.  Good thing that Santa was listening.

Ashlin didn't make a list out for Santa this year.  She said that she would be happy with whatever Santa brought her.  Although later on she did admit that she really wanted a make-up kit.  She was so happy when there was one by her stocking

Cara holding up a new package of socks.  All three of the girls received new socks.  Cara got lots of new clothes.  Santa must have known that there wasn't much in her closet that fit anymore.

This package may have been the highlight of the present opening.  The three girls have all wanted a DS for the last 2-3 years and Santa has not delivered one.  This year there were 3 gifts marked "All Girls" on them.  The one Erica opened contained a DS and it got a great reaction from all the girls.  The one Ashlin opened contained a DS game and the one Cara opened contained a Wii remote charger.

More about Christmas in the next post.

Take care,

Michelle

Dance Camp

A week ago, the three girls all attended Dance Camp at school.  The weather outside was dreadful with snow coming down in big flakes and we ended up getting about 4-5 inches of the white stuff, but dance camp was still held.  They reported to the gym at 1:30 to learn a dance and have fun.

During halftime of the boys varsity game, all of the dancers got to perform the dance they learned.  It was an afternoon game which worked out perfect because of the weather.

The girls had so much fun hanging out with the high school girls and learning a dance.  Considering none of them are in dance this year, it gave them a chance to see if they still liked dancing.

The girls participating in dance camp ranged from preschool through 6th grade.

There were so many girls dancing that I couldn't get a photo of the whole group.

The boys ended up winning the game.  Justin enjoyed watching the game while waiting for the girls to perform.  He clapped and naturally made a trip to the concession stand for a snack.



Take care,

Michelle