Sam's sports activities

Sam played basketball for the Kennedy Cougars this past season. As a second grader, he played "up" with a third grade team for the Kennedy High feeder club. An amazing experience, we watched his skills grow and advance from October through March. Sam had two awesome coaches, Coach Koester and Coach Irvin, who value teaching the basic fundamentals in a fun filled, team valued atmosphere.

As a parent, Sam's positive attitude and ability to work hard while being a role model and a great team member make me most proud. Sam's care, concern and cheering for his fellow team mates is evident at every practice and game, both on the court and off the court.

This spring brings us to baseball, flag football, gymnastics and church, throw in some cub scout meetings as well as school and it has been a horribly busy time for Sam. He excels in all of these environments and I'm happy we are able to provide him with so many opportunities. In his downtime, Sam has his own baseball team on MLB 2008 or whatever it is he is videogaming at the current time. He loves to play video games and romp and run around outside with his sister. We are always on the go and I wouldn't choose to overschedule like this again, but it has been a fabulous spring.

Dance, dance, dance - Miss Kate is 5 1/2 years old.

After nine months, Kate is approaching her end of the year dance recital. She performed at Hiawatha Care Center in a preperformance on Thursday night. The girls were absolutely adorable. Nine months of dance has been really long and there have been many weeks where Kate doesn't even want to attend. At the rate of $35 per month - more often than not - she is in the van and on her way. We will take a summer break from dance and see if she is excited again in the fall to attend. Her teacher said it is possible to begin in September to shave some of the weeks off and still pass to the next class. Kate is absolutely beautiful in her costume - trying to decide what to do with her hair was agonizing, but after Chris secured some bobby pins - it was quite easy - just took about an hour to wash, braid and pin up. I marvel at my little Kate because she is so like me, but so not like me - her personality fits mine to a tee which at times can be extremely frustrating, but she is a runner, a dancer and an artist - her creativity outshines mine and is one of her strongest attributes - I remember a time long ago when I enjoyed theatre, perhaps it's just something I've lost along the way.

This is the year Kate is growing right before our eyes. Up until five she maintained the "little girl" look and actions, but during the past five months she has just blossomed into a big girl. She still has a million ponies and plays with them and loves them. She began playing with her barbie dollies too. She can sit and play and act out entire scenarios for up to an hour! It's so entertaining to listen to an watch her play. Her other love is art and art supplies. She loves to make crafts and presents for everyone in her family - especially me - I have a difficult time finding place to hang and store all of her masterpieces. Kate's ability to make friends on the fly is uncanny. Whether it's a trip to the park, attending Sam's baseball practice or going into any type of environment, she makes friends and plays with them like she's known them forever. Kate loves school, her school mates, especially the girls and her teachers! Attending preschool at Pierce has prepared her for kindergarten and she's very excited about the next school year. Kate is very caring and sweet, talented and athletic. Love my little pookie pie to pieces!

Happy Easter

January, brrr.
Sam and Kate January 2010 We are having lots of fun playing Wii Star Wars, air hockey and board games. The kids also enjoy reading books, making crafts and wrestling around. Sam continues to play basketball with the Kennedy Junior Cougars twice per week. This month, he also joined the Chess Club at school. Kate loves preschool. Her favorite activity when she is not eating is playing with her ponies. She still doesn't play with babies per se, but her ponies receive all of the same attention as a bundle of joy would receive. Shooting Stars, Love, Curley, Blackey, Pinkie Pie, Sylvie, Brownie are just a few of the 40 I am able to name off the top of my head. Kate's nickname these days is "hungry." "I'm hungry." comes out of her mouth about ten times per day - we've been working hard at trying to make her eat all of her food at meal times, but she is "a growing girl." Sam and Kate play and learn very well together without too many fights. I'm so happy they are the best of friends and thankful for their relationship.

Snow

I was out shoveling snow off the driveway again this afternoon. Despite the snowstorm was two days ago - Chris shoveled the snow off the roof yesterday - thus the snow fell but it didn't snow. End result - Erica cleans it up. Anyways, listening to MJ on the ipod hauling the huge junks of ice and snow to the side of the driveway. I decide I want to run. Me? Run? Yeah, I know funny, but when the mood strikes, you go with it. So I ran, for 15 minutes in the snow (more people need to shovel their sidewalks) in the cold. I think it might be 0 outside, but it felt good, great! Running in the snow is just like running on the beach - nice, soft and squishy.

It's a new year.

Happy New Year. This is the scene in our home on New Year's Eve. Crazy husband and three sleeping people - my photo is not included! I've never been a huge fan of New Year's. Each day is an opportunity for a new beginning, a new resolution.

The new year signifies to me a time to financially reassess. To rebalance our 401k's and IRA's - to create and review our budget and to project where we want to be one year from now.

December 31 also always signifies a purging throughout the household to hurry scurry donated items to Goodwill for a last minute tax deduction.

Happy New Year, with each day, I will try to be a better friend, a better wife, a better mom, a better worker, a better mentor. I'll try to be healthier and I'll try not to eat chocolate.

Happy New Year

Merry Christmas

The Earl's had a very happy Christmas. Chris' mom Rosemary and her friend Ken joined us for the weekend. We had a great Christmas dinner and went to Christmas eve services. Sam and Kate made quite a haul, complete with an air hockey table, the Star Wars force trainer and a guitar and microphone.