Mary's Night Off Broadway

Mary recently got all dressed up for her Night Off Broadway school musical (which was VERY entertaining - kudos to the music department at Arcanum!) and we of course took advantage of the opportunity to snap a few photos. She looked really cute. But more importantly, she felt cute...and it showed. She carried herself with a confidence that impressed us all and it was WONDERFUL to witness her in action. We really jazzed things up by going with this snappy "up do." Even the cutest boy in the 3rd grade told Mary she looked pretty that night (which immediately turned her into a big pile of goobiness) but what girl doesn't want to get noticed for all the right reasons now and then. Go Mary!

PLAY BALL!!

Beth & John are both playing ball this year...well at least they are when the games aren't rained out. Beth's team is currently 3-0; and they even run-ruled the last team 17-1 in 3.5 innings (yowza). Poor John had to wait an extra two weeks to get his first game in. He was an unfortunate subject of our recent soggy weather pattern. Both kids have several games to make up due to rain.

But, alas, he had his big moment this Saturday when he had his very first baseball game. EVER. I was a bit surprised to see that they don't use the "tee" for t-ball anymore. The coaches pitch to them right away and will only bring out the tee if they are struggling. Well, John had 3 at-bats and 3 hits! Heaven forbid they ever want to bring that tee out for him. He told us that he will have none of that crap! Here's a video short of our little stud in action.

What Mary's been up to...

Mary started aquatic therapy a couple months ago and loves her "swim class." The Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development in Piqua has the Mac Daddy of all adaptive swimming pools. It's a huge pool, heated to 90 degrees, fully equipped with a ramp (rather than steps) to get in the water...they even have a wheelchair that they can roll clients right in if needed.

Once Mary's in the water, she does activities to build strength and endurance. In the picture below, she's actually walking on an underwater treadmill. I didn't even know such devices existed!

Below, she's walking (unassisted) with styrofoam free weights to her "pleasant on the eyes" instructor, Jason. Perk for Mary! In just a few short sessions (1/2 hr, once a week), Jason already has Mary able to float on her back (no small feat to get the muscles of her body to relax enough to do this) and she's working on swimming. Real swimming. Mary comes home excited about her class, but exhausted from working so hard. It's a very cool thing and I thank Grandma & Grandpa Trittschuh for finding this place and even taking her to her classes every week. This is big stuff!

News in Photos

Houston, we have a cheerleader!

And she's just a little psyched. And then we had Easter. It was lovely and Beth even made her first communion (which we have NO pictures of thanks to my forgetfulness. Boo!). What a special day. There's lots of changes going on with the family. I should have plenty to blog about over the next few months. :-) Until then.......

Nope, we're not dead

...just wasn't much to talk about.

Snow, boredom, work, sickness, more snow, level 3's, winter blahs, YUCK! Pair that with a jacked up computer that would freeze up any time I tried to upload a picture and wah la - no updates.

FINALLY we have something newsworthy! Beth had her annual spring band concert tonight, and it's the first one as an Arcanum Trojan.

Of course, I had to take her picture.

Boy she sure has changed since last year's band concert. Beyond looking more grown up, I was impressed by the increased difficulty of the music played. Tonight's show was very enjoyable. Bravo Beth! Bravo!!

New Years Pictures

For the first time in several years, Matt did not have a gig booked for New Years Eve so we decided a night home with kids sounded good. We made up several munchies and spent the entire night goofing off in our jammies. We snapped a couple of pictures in between riveting games of Yahtzee. Here ya go.

Our Scary Monster

The dining room table fort.

They had so much fun in their fort that this was not a forced picture! No joke!

This was just a cute picture we snapped of Gavin on New Years Day. Gavin came to play at our house because Mommy (Corinne) decided to ring in her wild 'n crazy NYE celebration by spraining her ankle and needed to go to the ER for x-rays. She really knows how to party!

A Post Christmas Prose

Twas the day after Christmas,
The holiday went well.
Presents all over,
Now my house looks like hell.
I shall get OFF the computer
And don cleaning gear.
In hopes that my carpet,
Soon shall appear.

The children are playing
with toys that are new
There's another beep from the cell phone
of our oldest Trittschuh.

We've eaten all things
That are fattening and good.
I've not had the will power
That a girl really should.

My jeans, they will not button.
My blouses do not fit.
So sweats is the answer,
Until I get rid of this shit.

These holidays are great.
And oh so much fun,
But after it's over,
You see the damage it's done!

But would I trade all these woes
For a perfect house or waistline?
The answer is no,
For these memories are divine.

In January I'll work out,
Eat less, or at least try it,
Now I say Happy New Year to all,
And to all a good diet!