Student of Promise

CONGRATS MERRICK!!!!

We just recieved a letter today (Nov. 28th) letting us know that Merrick was accepted into a program thru Mid Michigan Community College called Student of Promise. Merrick was 1 of 25 students chosen out of the many students nominated within 5 school districts.

The program follows them from 7th grade to graduation. Each year of the program deals with a different goal. The first couple of years (7th & 8th grade) deal with showing the kids what they can be/do when they grow up and how to give back to their community. They bring in guest speakers, or travel to a museum or a zoo, and many other places.

This program is only in its 2nd year, so Merrick is starting out at ground level. This program will give Merrick a wonderful opportunity to experience the world, set and achieve personal & educational goals, create a peer support group, and when its time to think about collage it will help with applications & looking for scholarships and grants and financial aid. There is also the possibility of a 2 year scholarship to MMCC. Which would offer Merrick time to get his basics, save some extra money, and decide upon a university.

This program will also help keep Merrick focused on his school performance. One of the nice things about this program is that it also goes thru the summer, keeping them in touch with their peers as well as their goals.

Tim and I are very proud of Merrick, he worked hard to obtain this honor. He had to fill out an application for them to review and he spent several days working on the questions and it must have paid off.

The activities that the kids attend are parent free, so unfortunately I won't have tons of cool photos to post. But that is a small price to pay for Merrick's future :) Needless to say, Merrick is excited about being accepted and is looking forward to his induction ceremony (I'll have photos of that) on Dec. 13th. His first activity will be the 15th.

Gobble, Gobble

Today was Thanksgiving. Tim, Ethan, Sophie, and I spent the day with my parents. Merrick was with his dad this year. We missed having him this year. But because he was gone, mom bought a smaller tub of CoolWhip. Merrick likes a little pie with his CoolWhip.

Mom really outdid herself with a wonderful dinner. We are so glad she is a wonderful cook (I'm not much of a cook or truth be told, I just don't like to cook).

MMmmmmmm yummy!!

My contribution this year was the table, as it is most years. The centerpiece and setting it. I did do a little cleaning, but dad & Tim took care of most of the after dinner clean-up (wish I had a photo of that). Maybe next year I'll cook the dinner at my house. Mom still has to make the pies! And mom Betty can make her wonderful cheesy potatoes. Yeah, that could work. Now about the turkey......

We had a good dinner and enjoyed the day. Sophie even sat contently in her seat while I ate.

This being Ethan's 2nd Thanksgiving, he was only 9 months old last year & couldn't eat much of the table food. He tired a little bit of everything and ended up not really eating much. It was too close to nap time and he was really tired. He did end up eating 2 pieces of pumpkin pie, with coolwhip, after his nap. His grandma Pauline would have been so proud, another grandson who loves her pumpkin pies!

We all stuffed ourselves. Me, I stuffed myself on stuffing (I love my mom's stuffing - a billion times better than stove top). All the food was wonderful. I even enjoyed the turkey (hope your sitting down mom). I normally don't like turkey, it's tooooo drrryyyyyy (desert dry). But this turkey was nice and juicy. I might even have leftovers.

It was a good time of food and fun. Here's a shot of Tim enjoying the wonderful food that he got to help with. He has a mouth full, and it's the only shot I've got. And yes, the white shirt stayed white.

Mom just wanted to eat and the camara put away. So I took a shot, the look says it all.

And dad, well he didn't care about the camara. His focus was on his meal.

Dedicated to...

This posting is dedicated to my Auntie Steph & Uncle John. Mommy finally got around to taking a photo of me in my crib, in the outfit you got me. Just wanted to say thanks & show off a bit!

Here I am practicing the Can-Can. And kick one, two, three.....

Giraffe, elephant, and my bunny keep me company when I'm in bed.

What's going on over there?

Sharing

I always hoped that my kids would share their stuff with each other....but I didn't want them to share their colds! Oh well, they've shared with me also. In their defense though, I gave it to them first and they are just returning the favor. How sweet of them.

Well Sophia is now 3 weeks old, and doing just fine. She doesn't like to sleep in her carseat when she is sick, but has no problem crashing in bed. Hope her sinus don't mind too much.

Ethan has gone from a very "whatever" kinda baby to a whiny toddler (but he's also got a cold and is cutting more teeth). And mommy, is suffering another head cold on top of little to no sleep, so I'm in a complaining mood. I should be sleeping, everyone else is, except Merrick he is getting pumpkin seeds outta some pumpkins so they can be baked.

Sophie, the queen of the 10 - 15 min. power nap, is now awake. Ethan, who once he falls asleep sleeps, is snoozing through his 3rd hour & headed into hour #4. Oh to be young again! Forget being young again, I would just enjoy some sleep again. However, I know that as Sophie get's older, I'll get more sleep. At least until she start's dating :)

This Thursday is Thanksgiving, the ultimate day of sharing. I'd like to take this moment to share what I'm thankful for. I'm thankful for my wonderful husband who calls me mid morning just to see how I'm doing and to tell me he loves me, and who comes home to ciaos after a long day at work to find me still in pj's (in pretty much the same spot he left me in) and calls me beautiful and tell's me he loves me & then jumps in the middle of ciaos with the kids.

I'm thankful for my wonderful, oldest son Merrick. He's been thru a lot with me over the years and hasn't flaked out (not to much anyway) on me yet! He welcomed Tim into our lives and then has been a terrific big brother to Ethan and now to Sophie. He's also taught me a lot about parenting.

I'm thankful for Ethan, who is still teaching me a new language. He is my snuggly reader and likes to curl up with and nap with mommy. He keeps me on my toes (as do most toddlers) and he keeps a smile on my face.

I'm thankful for Sophia, who's delivery was quick & easy (compaired to the other 2). She came on time and didn't cause much trouble, but she's making up for it. Her daddy calls her "little miss temper tantrum". I wonder where she get's it from......

I'm also very thankful for the rest of my family! Without whom (and you know who you are) I would have joined the looney bin long ago!

So as you are at the dinner table this Thanksgiving, look around your table and think about who & what your thankful for.

Cowboys

You know when your kids are little and they like to play 'Cowboys & Indians'? Sometimes those little kids grow up and still like to play cowboys. My husband is one of those cowboys (blue shirt & brown vest).

Tim is with a group, called The Christian Cowboys (http://christiancowboys.wolfsdencomputing.com/), that preform reinactments. They also do comedic routines that the group, or members of the group writes. One of their biggest reinactments is the Gunfight at the OK Corral. Most of their skits have a christain based theme and a scripture is read at the end.

Tim's been with this group for two years now and they've been in parade's, at a fair, they've been part of the Bay City River of Time, and they were at Uncle John's Cider Mill this year.

This is a group that mainly preforms about 6 or 8 weekends (or a full fair week) in the summer/early fall. You'll have to check out their web site (http://christiancowboys.wolfsdencomputing.com/) and see what their schedule looks like for next year. If you're ever in the area when they are preforming, you really should check them out.

Here are some more photos of the Christian Cowboys:

Welcome to the Bean Brothers skit. Here you have Pork'N, Chilli, and String Bean (Refried is still hiding in the root celler of the Outhouse.). In this photo, the Bean Brothers have found their long lost brother (a kid in the audience), Pinto. After viewing this skit, you will never think about beans the same way again.

This is a new skit that the group added this year. It's about Wild Bill (the one in the dark hat, with a mustache & long hair). I know that Caleb's friends on the Bay City Police Force will enjoy this picture of him.

Here's a shot of Tim and some of the guys in the OK Corral. Tim plays Ike Clanton, one of the cowboys, an enemy of Wyatt Earp and the Earp Gang.

Here's our ruff and tumble cowboy with one of his biggest fan's. Ethan likes to watch daddy shoot'em up and then likes to run around shooting us and acting out all the people getting shot and dying.

Rocket Football 2007

"Green & White we're all for you. Clare's the school we cheer for..."

Well he finally made it! After a few years of me saying, "Not 'till 7th grade.", he made it. Merrick was able to play football this year. He was able to play a varity of positions (such as middle linebacker, outside linebacker, fullback, and tightend). They had an undefeated season! Only 2 teams made any touchdowns against them, and even then they never got the extra points. Our guys kept their scores in the 30's. They had an awsome season!

I promised Merrick that I wouldn't have Sophie during any of his games. Sure enough, she waited 'till they were all done. Although, Tim was teasing that I could have her the day of his dance/award celebration. I did. He was only a little late for that and not only got a little sister but a really cool trophy. He also recieved a t-shirt with all there numbers, games, and scores on it. That was a really big day for him.

Here are some more Wonderful Rocket Football photos. Hope you enjoy!

Merrick's trophy

Waiting to play

Homecoming Parade

WE'RE

NUMBER

ONE!

Halloween

Halloween came and went here, but everyone went out.

It came as no suprise that the boys dressed up as cowboys, with daddy being a member of the Christain Cowboys. Even Sophie made her trick-or-treating debut (not really in costume, but in fun).

Merrick enjoyed his freedom this year. Going out with a few friends (all girls). He's getting to be quite the young man. It's very hard for me to believe he will be 13 in May!

We took Ethan and Sophie to 4 places this year. We would have had a couple more stops, but a few weren't home. This was Ethan's first year of really trick-or-treating. He was able to say trick, but didn't quite get the treat out. He thought it was great fun. Sophie didn't really care as long as the van was moving and she could sleep.

Anyway here are a few shots of the kids:

Grandparents

Grandparents are wonderful! They are supportive and there when you need them. They are even there when you don't think you need them (but mostly it turns out you do need them). My grandparents are all gone and Tim has one left, but we are trully blessed to know that our kids have wonderful grandparents!

Here we have grandma Sarah Catharine Mann. Who will sing her grandbabies to sleep, play the piano & sing with them, and teach them about birds. Her biggest thrill so far is having Ethan actually say Gammah (it happened yesterday 11/04/07). Not only does she pass on her love, but she passes on her love of music. Merrick is in band (he plays the trumpet) and he sings in the church choir.

This is grandma Betty Ann McKinney. She was the first to get Sophie to actually lay in her crib asleep! Grandma Betty & Grandpa John always has a snack or juice for the kids when we pop over or she's watching them for a bit. Grandma Betty was also the first grandma to hold Sophie in the hospital. Her grandbabies sure do love her!

And last, but certainly not least, is papa Gary Blaine Mann. He likes to buy cookies for "the kids", so that's usually one of the first places Ethan goes. The first thing that Ethan likes to find at grandma & papa's house is papa! Papa is the "Go to Mann". When we are there, Ethan will want papa to hold him and then he points where he wants to go. I'm sure that as sister get's older, she will do the same.

Great things come in little packages...

A welcome edition joined our family on Friday, October 26, 2007. Sophia Catharine McKinney arrived at 3:14 pm, after a very short labor for Christy. Sophia was 8 lbs. 5oz. and 19 3/4 in. long. Sophia came with a full head of dark hair and both her and Mommy were given a clean bill of health. Mom and Sophia stayed in the hospital only 28 hours or so before going home.

Big brothers Merrick and Ethan really enjoy having a new little sister in the family. Merrick wanted a little sister from the beginning. When he first got to the hospital we couldn't keep him out of the nursery. Sophia had to be under oxygen for a little bit, and big brother was checking to make sure she was okay. The nurses & doctor commented on what a wonderful big brother he is.

Ethan was not so easily taken with little sister. In fact he was not at all impressed.

Now, however, Ethan likes to run into the nursury when Sophia is crying in her crib and climb up on the rail to check on her. If we are not quick enough, he will come and find us to let us know she needs us. He is very taken with her now, and loves to give her kisses. Ethan is also a wonderfull big brother!

Merrick is finding out that holding a sleeping baby makes one sleepy.

Welcome to our family

Welcome to blog. We created this just to show off some photos of our family. Hopefully, we will be able to add more photos and adventures as we go.