Father's Day, 2010

We spent Father's Day with my dad this year. Jim was away for his cousin's wedding in Michigan... Trenton made him a card at school, which I decided to hide somewhere, and still can't find it.

My mom had bought a new lawn sprinkler thingy for the kids to use. Ollie was scared of it, so Dad was a good sport and ran around with T. Even though it was around 90 degrees, we still hung out a lot outside. Shade helps, you know?

I really, really wanted to get a pic of Len and Tiff here, but when I got home and looked at the camera, I just got the dogs. I think I was picking up my mom's new camera more than my own camera. Short story: we got Dad a new camera for his birthday (three days before Father's Day) so that he could use it at work; the new camera is nicer than their old one; they are now going to put the old one to work and the new one for pleasure. It's a nice Samsung. I'm hoping it aides whomever attempts to take pictures with it.

Below, Len teaches Dad how to send pics from his phone to his computer.
It really is nice to be able to spend time with family on holidays. One of the perks of living close to home.

No Sales Tax! And No Shopping...

So, I had this ingenious idea to drive halfway down to see Cathy and Nora (they live in MD) and she'd drive halfway up... and we'd meet in the middle, at the Christiana Mall in Delaware. The drive was only about an hour and a half for each of us.

The mall opened at 10 and there was a free scavenger hunt at the Disney Store that morning (T earned a Toy Story 3 puzzle). No play place, which was odd... but LOTS of good stores. Forever 21! Anthropologie! H&M! Urban Outfitters! ...And all those stores for kid clothes!

We ended up spending most of the time at the food court (where T spilled his entire chocolate milk on the floor) and at Barnes and Noble (thank God for the train table).

Did we actually buy anything from any of those aforementioned stores? Heck no! You try shopping with three kids and two strollers...

But we did get to play with Nora!
Man, is she big... she's actually 10 months younger than Oliver, but they both weigh 23 pounds.
She's got this crawling-thing going where she moves on all fours, but doesn't let her knees touch the ground. Too cute! Like a little Spiderman.
Trenton loved kissing her toes.
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I caught Ollie in his room singing along with the Wiggles. He got all of these toys out himself, and was putting the little men into the house and on the boat.
I also gave him a haircut, which you can't really see in this picture...

Knoebels, June 2010

I am not exaggerating when I say to you that Trenton has mentioned going back to Knoebels at least once a week for the past year.


When we went with my parents last July, we stayed in their coach RV camper and took the kids to the amusement park for a long weekend of fun. I was quite emotional about the whole thing, as it brought back many vibrant and happy memories from my own childhood. My mom went to Knoebels when she was a kid, Lenny and I went when we were young, and now Trenton and Ollie... it all seems so surreal!


The park is still the same-- heavily wooded, with lots of shade... hundreds of people, but all happy and respectful... free to enter, cheap to buy tickets for the rides and consistently awarded for its awesome food...

This time, we stayed at Lake Glory campground, which is about 6 miles from the park. The boys enjoyed fishing in the morning and campfires in the evenings. Mom and I came back on Saturday to give Oliver a much-needed nap in the camper. The other guys spent time at the water park (admission: $6 for the adults!). I ate two ice cream sundaes. Some flavor called "peanut butter candy cake" that was DELICIOUS and totally worth the calories (thanks, Zumba!) Trenton was giddily happy the entire time. Ollie had a blast, too.

This always happens... there are so many good shots, I HAVE to show you them all... but understand if you just want to browse a few ;) Enjoy!

Slide Album: Knoebels 2010

Sheryl and Trenton on the Whipper from Sheryl Konopack on Vimeo.


T on Train from Sheryl Konopack on Vimeo.

Ollie's First Big Boy Ride

We went to Jenkinson's in Point Pleasant with the Bathgates last week. It was an absolutely beautiful beach night and the kids liked going on the rides together.
Above, you see Oliver on on of the few "kiddie" rides there-- the horsies. He likes to ring the bell. He also goes on the carousel and the boats and the train. Lots of stuff that goes round and round in circles.

Remember Trenton's first Big Boy Ride? Yup, it was the Nemo fish. Oliver was insistent that he go on this ride... I was a little nervous (it goes around and around AND up and down). But he sat in the seat like a champ! That's when I was wishing I'd brought my camera, and glad that Jennifer had brought hers.
See that pic above? He's so short!
The one below is better.
Now that I look back on it, Trenton was nineteen months old as well when he went on the Nemo ride... But he sure looks a lot taller in the fishy!
Brayden and T on the rides. T actually remembered that the croc with the red hat was named Wally...

End of T's First School Year

Ahh...
One year down, fourteen more to go...
Although they billed this as "graduation", most of the kids will be coming back to this school again next year. It was a nice program showcasing the kids' knowledge of colors, directions, numbers, etc., all done through song.

Trenton, Samantha, and Harrison wait to begin.

Ollie kept sneaking into the empty chairs. He can't wait to go to school.

Trenton is totally going to be voted as "Class Clown" someday.

Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance

He will be forever grateful that Daddy caught this one as a blur.

They had all of their materials stored under their chairs.

Trenton's teachers, Mrs. Cross and Mrs. Donzella. He was very proud of the certificate they gave him and has asked me to frame it.

And thus ends the first year of school!

Community Clean Up

Since we moved here, I've had mixed feelings about our neighborhood. On the one hand, I love our house and most of our neighbors on our strip. The area is wooded, with a large backyard for us and the kids, and very close to all that Howell has to offer. On the other hand, this seems to be the hang-out spot for ne'er-do-well teens, a main cut-through for people trying to bypass the highway, and honestly, a community of trash.

It's been milling around in my mind for quite some time... I attended neighborhood meetings in the past, only to have my hopeful suggestions turned down ("We've tried that, and there just wasn't a response...") I got tired of hearing it and over time, Jim and I came to accept the fact that people around here really don't care enough about their neighborhood to make an effort.

Then some neighbors started a Yahoo groups page... over time, we decided we needed to turn our complaints and suggestions into actual events and actions. We've started a community Task Force (ideas include a community garden, blood drive, pool parties, and yard sale). My neighbors Brooke and Craig have long wanted a clean-up day and were eager to get something going.

So, with the end of the semester passing me by, I decided that it would be a good time to take on organizing a clean-up effort. With over 380 homes, I figured we'd have to get SOME sort of clean up response! We printed fliers and posted notices at our clubhouse and the entrances to the development. We talked it up among our neighbors. I spent hours visiting local bagel shops, Lowe's and the grocery store for donations (as well as Dunkin' Donuts ;) The night before, I collected and organized gloves, bags, bagels, bread, sandwiches, etc. I'd also planned events for the kids, prizes for participants, and made up stickers and certificates as rewards.

The day of was stifling hot! By 7:30AM, the kids and I were out with our gloves and bags collecting trash. Trenton had been looking forward to the Clean Up Day so much, that when he woke up that morning, he actually let out a "Whoop!" in excitement ;) Then I drove around with them in the car, acting as the 'roving reporter' and taking pictures. I picked up the donuts and coffee and headed down to the clubhouse to put everything out. We had probably 40 people join in our group effort (that I could see) and definitely had dozens of bags of garbage to show for it. One guy even pulled a lawnmower out of the lake!

The kids kept busy eating donuts (I think Oliver had three) and chilling at the Elmo sprinkler (T is in a tub, below and looks so cute, don't he?)

This is me, my neighbor Craig, and the leader of the Task Force, Stephanie.
We kept telling ourselves that it didn't matter the turn-out, any participation would be success. The people in the group are very positive and very motivated. I can't wait to see where we go with this in the future!

Because, really, isn't this who it is all about?
Don't you want your kids to see how rewarding it can be to care for their own community?
Trenton kept telling me "Mom, the earth is going to be so happy because now it can grow more grass."

Trenton, Christian, and Oliver = Best Neighbor Buddies Ever!

World Cup Connections

For all of you who don't follow football (I'm talking soccer, here), you might not be aware that the World Cup is starting next week. One of the reasons why I know that it begins is because I read like crazy, and recently read something about the problems of prostitution in South Africa, and how the government is trying to prepare itself by handing out millions of condoms (they've had a history of AIDS issues, as well). The other reason is because I am, however vaguely, interested in Team USA's goalie, Tim Howard.

My earliest memory if Tim is from first grade. He was the tallest kid in our class and was one of the first kids I'd ever met whose skin was a different color than mine (his mom is Hungarian and his dad is African American). Also, he teased me like crazy. For these reasons, I was really intimidated by him! It must have gotten bad enough that I told my mother about it. I distinctly remember the spot on the playground where she stood and verbally reprimanded Timmy Howard, in front of all the other kids in Ms. Nicodemus's class. I was embarrassed, but I also don't remember being teased by him anymore!

Flash forward-- he got really, really good at playing soccer, and did so for most of his young life. He finished out the last two years of high school with me at our alma mater, North Brunswick Township High School. We didn't have many classes together (although I sat behind his brother, Chris, in geometry) but I did end up taking his picture for the yearbook-- he won "Most Athletic". He led our basketball team to the state finals, and those were some pretty exciting games to watch.

Tim went on to play for the MetroStars (here in the US), Manchester United, and Everton (both in the UK). He's now married with two kids and a devout Christian. He's afflicted with Tourette's syndrome (something I don't remember knowing during our early years) but doesn't let that stop him from being one of the best goalies out there.

All of this is on my mind because I just finished reading a profile of Tim in The New Yorker. If you don't check out the article, you might be interested to watch the video below.

Good luck to you, Tim, and the rest of the team! I know the world will be watching-- no pressure!