My big endeavor

After Blake Boleware was diagnosed with leukemia at the end of May, I found myself wishing that I could do something to help out but since I live so far away I was having trouble finding a way to do it. Then in mid-June, I received a brochure from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. LLS helps fund research for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. as well as providing educational programs and support for patients and families. I went to an informational meeting and signed up to run the Marine Corp Marathon (26.2 miles) to raise money for the Leukemia Society's Team in Training. I have a coach, mentor and staff support helping me to train (physically) and raise the $2500 that I committed to raise. I also have honored teammates to help me remember why I am doing this. My team's honored teammate is Matt (top) who is 3 and just began long term maintenance in July. Personally, I'm doing this for Blake (also 3--bottom), my grandfather--Ralph Hindman, and our friend, Sam who passed away from lymphoma last fall.

I set up my own website to help my friends and family follow me through my training and fundraising. Visit my link to see how I'm doing and while you're there, will you consider making a donation to a terrific cause? (FYI --the site is secure and the donation is tax-deductible.)
http://www.active.com/donate/tntmd/tntmdAClause
Thank you to everyone who has already donated! I'm over 1/3 of the way to my goal!

Arrrrr! Mitchell's Seven!

Mitchell's birthday was on a Wednesday--
Kassie had a softball game in the evening and Maggie was visiting while Beth and Tyler were in Italy so we opted to have his party after school the following Friday.

As it turned out, Kassie had a playoff game that night so it was me and eight seven-year-old boys for a pirate birthday party. We played Island Hopping, searched for treasure, smashed a pirate pinata, and ate a pretty awesome looking pirate ship cake. Then, they had a water balloon fight.

Some of the boys seemed kind of confused by an at home, themed birthday party, but I think in the end everyone had fun.

Farewell to Elementary School

As the school year rolls to an end, Glyndon Elementary School had lots planned for the fifth grade class. Kassie had a speaking part in the play. It was based on the old chorus classic "Dry Bones." The traditional swim party was cancelled due to liability issues so the kids opted for a day at the inner harbor--first the science center and then the aquarium. It was a full day of running the entire perimeter of the harbor and then piling three buses worth of people into two buses. (The other bus died.) Finally, the last day rolled around. the ceremony started at 9:00am. The kids marched into the cafetorium by twos graduation style. One of the teachers sang "Sunrise Sunset" as the principal played a powerpoint presentation of the kids starting with their baby picture and then flashing to a summary of facts about them as fifth graders: height, interests, hobbies, etc. After the ceremony, we stopped in for some pictures with Mr. Hennaut and a few friends: Carla, Melia and Tamar (clockwise from the top.) Off to middle school Kassie!

All good things come to an end...

(sorry, I tried something new with my editing. it didn't work very well so find a pair of reading glasses and I won't do that again.) lol

It's all about the cake!

Matt and I returned from his convention in Orlando on Friday and Anna's birthday was Saturday so we spent her second birthday in Brookville with Mimi and Papa. Lucky for her it rained and the younger kids got quite a kick out of jumping in the puddles.

I'm not sure Anna has any idea what a birthday is about except she LOVES the cake! After her nap she came down the steps and said, "Yay! A birthday cake a Anna!" She proceeded to walk around the house singing happy birthday to herself. Papa received the honor of feeding her birthday cake...particularly funny since Little Miss Independence has been feeding herself since before she could hit her mouth!

Spring Softball

Kassie played softball for Sandymount Recreation Council again this year. It was her third year with Sandymount and fourth total. During the season, she played most positions with her favorites coming in as outfield and (surprisingly) catcher. There were eleven girls on her team although as you can see, Anna thought she was number twelve--joining the girls on the bench, chatting with the coach and several times trying to take the field at the start of an inning! Go Blue Angels!

Get ready...

for an incredible amount of updates. April to August...

Spring Break

We've been pretty busy over Spring Break! Here are a few highlights:

Fun with the Clauser cousins

Giggly five-year-olds! Need I say more?

Mitchell gets this look from people a lot. The boys had a great time playing at our house and playing legos at the Lancaster Museum of Art's lego exhibit.

Cold as it was, we took time to admire Thomas the Tank Engine at the Strausburg Railroad with Nana & Pappy and all the cousins.

Exactly how many kiddos can you fit into one seat of a coach car? Today it was seven. Nana and Pappy took us all on a train ride through PA Dutch Country.

2007 White House Easter Egg RollOnly Bugs Bunny received a huge hug from Anna. Too bad Bugs has such large ears--they block the great view of the White House in the background.

While Kassie and I listened to Mary Pope Osborn read excerpts from her books, Lexi, Mitchell and Anna headed off for face painting. Star for Mitchell and flowers for the girls. The poor woman painting was so cold, her hands were shaking as she painted.

For those of you who have never participated in this event, this is what is all about. The kids actually roll eggs with wooden (or plastic) spoons. Thousands of colored eggs! Everybody gets a piece of candy for participating.

How many people get the opportunity to roll down the hill of the White House's South Lawn? Mitchell and Kassie took the opportunity to join about two dozen other kids.

Curious George, Handy Manny, Clifford and Mylie Cyrus (Hannah Montana) were among the friends entertaining us throughout the day.

As much fun as we've had...I'll be glad when school starts Monday at 8:30am.
Back to a routine for us...

It was nothing less than a miracle...

in Philadelphia! (Sometimes Brite Music songs pop into my head...sorry.) This week Kassie and I went on a whirlwind trip to Philly with her elementary school. During the five hour tour we took in: Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross' home, Christ Church Burial Ground and Franklin Square.

Left to right: Jessie, Kassie, and Carla: our field trip group marveling at the Liberty Bell.
Okay, not really.

Here's the whole class at Betsy Ross' home. Doesn't Mr. Hennaut look like he's having the time of his life?

Kassie and Carla are trying to make their way through the class to toss a penny onto Benjamin Franklin's grave site. Apparently, that's how you honor the man known for saying "a penny saved is a penny earned." Too bad for his Quaker friends (who collect all of the pennies) that he didn't say the same thing about a dollar. They'd really be pulling in the cash!

I think that Kassie and most of her friends had a good time; however, I think that there were few upset when we had to evacuate Independence Hall for a fire alarm during the ranger's fifteen minute lecture prior to entering the room. Kids that age can only take so much history in one day before you lose them completely!

Mommy's Little Helper

This morning I decided that it was time to start making the peanut butter Easter eggs that we all love at our house. Little did I know how much Anna was going to enjoy the project! She unwrapped the butter and threw it in the bowl, dumped ingredients in, and helped scoop the PB out of the jar and into the measuring cup. We made three batches of eggs...each time I turned off the mixer, I'd hear a sweet little voice say, "Taste?" Of course, it goes without saying that Anna ate way more peanut butter egg than any 22-month-old ever needs in one day!