Music Playlist

As you readers will find out; that I will change my music playlist quite often.  Being an occasional DJ for parties for over 15 years made me that way.  I love all kinds of music as you will see in my choices.  It's not that I absolutely love a certain song but it maybe a song I have not heard in a while and it's got a good beat.  Playing and listening to music has always been a part of my life.  It always seems that whatever is going on in your life that there is a song being played on the radio that relates to that issue.  Songs can turn your frown upside down or remind you of someone who has passed on.  Music has help mold me into the person I am.  Teaching my kids about different kinds of music is important to me also.  I am blown away when Colin can pick out a Queen song on the radio without me telling him, Caden can sing "Sexy and I Know It" word for word, and Kendra wants to listen to Ray Stevens' songs.  Brenda and I are always turning up the radio in the van for the kids to hear (they are tired of listening to the parents talk??).  I think teaching the kids to have an open mind to music is important.    

Hope you enjoy the playlists that I pick!!!

Card Shark

Friday evening, we went to our neighbors,the Belcher's, for some socializing time.  The kids got to play the Wii and do what kids do best, whatever they wanted to do.  The rest of us, who are too old to keep up with the kids, played cards.  Now since Brenda and I only know how to play rummy; that's what we played.  The surprise was that Kendra,being still new to the game, wanted to play with us also.  So we dealt her in and she played like she has been doing it all month long(we taught her how to play new year's eve).  She has played a few times before and has even played the game by herself taking on three hands.  You could tell she was excited, getting to play with the adults, and cautious not wanting to lay down a card to be rummyed.  She did very well keeping track of her own points and she even went out first a couple of round.  Not bad for an amateur card shark. This was also the first time she was in a game where we kept score.  I think she still ended up in last place but I don't think that will stop her from playing the next time.  I think with a few more games under her belt; she will be ready to beat Grandpa Kocher or maybe even Great-Grandma Klingler. They better get ready!

BK Romp

Tonight, my little man, Caden, wanted to skate, but didn't get to.  Kidzone set up a skating party for the kids and the owners of the rink forgot to show up.  Caden was upset because he waited all day to go to HIS party.  The other two and I were looking forward to skating also.  After rushing at home to get there on time and waiting around for 20 minutes for the owners to not show up; we were all pretty bummed out.  Brenda said let's take the party elsewhere.  BK had the playroom and the ice cream; so it was an easy decision.  We talk to a couple of other disappointed families and told them of our plan.  Soon enough we had a group going .  BK or Bust!!  We got there and ordered ice cream and kids started utilizing the playroom.  I think some kids didn't want to stop to eat ice cream.  It is quite a site to watch pre-k kids struggle to climb up to the top of the slide and come down the slide like it the best thing ever and then do it again.  All the kids played together well and no parents had to pull any kids aside to TALK to them.  Kudos to Kidzone for working with and teaching my son and his classmates.  Even though the evening did not start out like we may have planned; it still ended like we wanted it to.  There's nothing like going to the BK playroom!!!

Confirmation sponsor

This year my nephew, Blayne, will go through Confirmation and he has chosen me as his sponsor!  My role is to help guide and teach him the Catholic faith and prepare him for the sacrament.  I feel that my Catholic upbringing would qualify me to help him in his journey but I know I am not a very good teacher of anything.  Tonight he came over to work on his worksheets with me (part of my job).  I tried to explain answers with my life experiances and what my past teachers has taught me.  I just prayed that the spirit allowed me to give answers that he understood and that he develop a sense of what being a Catholic is all about.  He is a smart young man and he gets more of it than it seems.
  This experiance has brought back memories of the people that has shaped and still shaping my faith.  From a priest or two giving me the confidence to read in church, a couple who taught high school religion, a future wife who asked so many question when she converted to the Catholic faith, and a set of parents who taught me practices that I would teach my kids.  Maybe this sponsorship is just another way to shape my faith while I try and shape his.  I know deep down that I won't lead him astray. Thank you, God, for everything you have given me!!!

Tree Down

Yes, the Christmas tree is officially put away along with the ornaments.  We are maybe the last ones to get the tree down.  I hate taking the tree down worse than putting the tree together.  A least there is a sense of accomplishment when you get the tree up and decorated.  There is nothing except an empty room when it is removed.  Also getting the tree into the box it came out of is an impossibility unless you are lucky.  I love Christmas and the time with the family decorating but taking down the tree is the worst!!! Just can't wait for next year!

Goddaughter's Birthday Party

Last night we attended Mallory and her sisters' birthday parties.  Mallory is Brenda and I's godchild and we know she would miss us if we didn't attend!!  After the supper, the girls were allowed to open their gifts and they had plenty of gifts.

                                           Waiting patiently!!
Mallory, being the youngest at 2 years old, started opening gifts first.

                                           So Cute!!!

After all the girl's opened all the gifts, then the cakes were brought out.

                                           Looks like a group of troublemakers.

Backpack, Backpack!!



After all the swapping around of cakes and kids for the pictures and singing happy birthday to each of them; everybody got cake and ice cream to eat.  All three girls were happy with all their gifts and probably ready for the next party!  Happy 2nd birthday Mallory!  Happy 4th birthday, Kylie! Happy 6th birthday, Josie!

On a side note, during cleanup of the party, I guess the birthday girl was still hungry.

Sneaking a piece of cake!

Kids Health Update

   Starting out with Caden, he's been keeping us on our toes.  He is been complaining about his stomach hurting almost everyday but not all day long.  We think it is the Gluten in his body because we have not been really watching that part of the diet.  We have since been detoxing gluten out of his body which means not feeding any gluten to him.  If you don't think it's hard just look up the foods you can't have with that diet.  He has been doing good with it and it seems to have helped.  Hopefully in a month or so we can slowly introduce gluten back into his diet.
   Colin just had tubes put in his ears as I wrote about before.  He seems to have no issues with it so far and his checkup is tomorrow with Dr. Dejti.  Fingers crossed.
   Kendra and Bren went to Evansville to Dr. Kalayla for her asthma checkup.  He said she was doing very well and he wants her to stay that way.  He didn't change much with her meds and would see her again in April.  I think they did a little shopping and ate at the Olive Garden.  The two boys got Angry Birds shirts and the girl got and OmNom doll(Don't feel bad; I don't know what it is either).  Nothing like happy kids!!!