Happy New Year

We wish you health and happiness throughout 2009!

TJ is banging pots and pans at midnight.

Astroids

Well....Doc is going to zap my kidney stones on the 8th. The procedure was scheduled for the 22nd but I called and politely asked to be moved up on the calendar. I have stones in both kidneys but the ones on the right seem to be gypsies and on the move. I have one that is on a one way trip out and I have to say it is a painful journey. It seems to stop and rest along the way - I just wish it would get to it's destination. I will not miss it. Vicadin is my friend. Anyway, they will smash the ones on my right side into little pebbles with sonic waves or something like that to make their trips easier then they will go after the ones on my left in a few months before they decide to become nomads as well. Bon Voyage! Hef

Colts Win!

Todd and his friend, Aaron along with TJ and his friend, Will attended the Colts game today while I searched for 75% off holiday wrapping paper and decorations. I spent $18.87 and restocked my tubs. I love sales and plastic tubs.

Christmas Celebration Continues

Today we enjoyed Christmas with the Bruces. My Mom has been very ill the past several weeks so it was nice to have everyone together. TJ once again was spoiled by all. He even received an electric guitar. So those of you that have enjoyed his piano Christmas CD this year - watch out - there may be a guitar solo included next year! Hef

P.S. Happy Birthday to our friend - J'Sto.

Merry Christmas

Mann/Mokrzecki Family Christmas 2008

We are in the midst of our Christmas celebrations. Todd and TJ spent Christmas Eve in Columbus visiting with Todd's uncle and cousin visiting from Massachusettes.

TJ allowed us to sleep in Christmas morning until 7 a.m. I hope this is a trend that continues into his teen years! We enjoyed opening presents. TJ did a great job shopping for Todd and I at the school's secret santa shop. It is obvious that he put a lot of thought into each gift. Santa delivered TJ's precious Ipod Touch. He is now completely tuned out listening (and singing) to tunes while he plays his video games! Santa and I are going to have a talk before Trevor sits on his lap next year!

After cooking our annual breakfast we ventured to Columbus to share the day with Todd's family at his brother and sister-in-law's home. It is wonderful that they host family events! It was a very nice day!

Each of the kids received gifts that lit up their faces. The youngest, our nephew, Ethan recieved a batman cave toy that was "the best gift ever", Tyler and TJ both were in video game heaven and Todd, TJ and I surprised the oldest, Devin with a combo birthday (February)/Christmas gift - an Ipod Touch. Something he also really wanted!


Just check out the looks of surprise on their faces!

Today we plan to spend the afternoon with my brother, his girlfriend, Jennifer, my grandmother and my parents in Martinsville to celebrate the holiday! My cousin, Jaime is also here visiting before she relocates to San Francisco. It has been nice having her close (Chicago) so she can join us for family gatherings but now we will have an easy excuse to go west!

We hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas!

Love, The Mann Family

AHHH....The Annual School Christmas Program

TJ's school does it right. The annual Christmas Program is partitioned into two segments. The first is kindergarten through fourth grade with the fourth graders starring in the speaking parts. Then after a quick 45 minutes (which is fantastic because it is standing room only in the gym) we are out of there and the fifth grade through eigth grade take center stage for singing and band performances. TJ and his 3rd grade class did a fanstastic job. TJ was still singing the songs in the shower before bed. Next year we will have to arrive 45 minutes early to get a front row seat so we can have a photo where he is not a dot in the cast. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Cookies & Milk 2008

Ethan

Marcus & Ashley

Alex

Sarah & Blake

TJ and his school pet "Jeffrey"

The above are just a few photos of the friends that were able to attend Cookies & Milk with Santa. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Mike & Mitch McGuire

Before Melissa and I ventured to George's Neighborhood Grill for a beer to watch the Colts win game #9, we volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club with our friend, Mike and his brother Mitch who host a Christmas Party annually (15th year, we believe) for 30 to 40 school age children in need. A group goes shopping purchasing 4 gifts for each child (3 for the party and one to open at home Christmas morning) and another group gets together to wrap them - hoping everything is in nice square boxes :) I have learned to take bags just in case. It is a nice way to kick off the holiday season. Mitch finances the event and Mike has a personal connection with Santa who makes an annual appearance. They have hearts the size of Indiana! Happy Holidays! Hef

Giving

We spent Friday night at Wal-mart shopping for a family in need. This year, we sponsored a family through the United Christmas Service. We asked to be matched with a family with a 9 year old boy. We gave TJ $100 to spend on the young man. He did a great job selecting a wide range of toys and some clothes. We finished off the shopping with a few items for the boy's mom and appliances for their home. It feels good to give to others this time of year. Happy Holidays to you! Hef

Camping 3rd Grade Style

The entire third grade class went camping this week. There were two cabins of boys and several "DADS" went along as chaperones. I thought it was a little insane to take 40+ 8 & 9 year olds camping in 29 degree weather but whatever. So, I packed his bag....long johns, sweatshirts, long warm socks, several pair of pants, long sleeve shirts, undershirt, scarf, gloves, and hat. I packed his toothbrush and paste along with a washcloth. The washcloth came back unused as did the toothbrush. My son informed me he froze....because he did not wear any of the above mentioned "warm" clothes. I completely blame this on the "dad" factor. If moms had chaperoned the boys teeth would have been brushed, their faces washed and they would have been complaining that they were sweating under the layers and layers of clothing we would have made them wear. But.........they had a GREAT time.

Thankful for Life Long Friends

Traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio to visit my best friend from high school and her family yesterday. Although the time together was short, it was great to see Anita, Houston and their son, Garrett. Anita's parents, Frank & Carol Wocher were also there! They live in NC so we did not mind driving 2 hours versus the 14 hours it would normally take us to get to their home.

Thanksgiving in Florida

Every year, I try to escpape the holiday "Thanksgiving". It is not because I am not thankful for many things...it is because the meal itself is nothing I like. I am not fond of turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie and the like. I do not cook (I can - I just choose not to) and if there were a pill I could pop that would nurish my body and keep my tummy from a growling, I would choose that option. I am not a food lover. I do not get worked up about flavors and aromas. I take the easy way out when it comes to food. The simplier and faster the better.

This year, TJ and I spent the week in Florida. (Todd stayed home to hunt - his preferred way to spend the Thanksgiving Holiday). We had a fabulous time. TJ & I stayed up late, slept in, spent hours in the pool, looked for shells on the beach, spent a day at Busch Gardens and played more than a lifetime of minature golf. Did you know there are 9 putt putt courses in southern Florida?

Hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving! Love, Hef

Helmsin Family

Emma

Evan & April

Had the pleasure today to meet my soon-to-be Godson, Evan. TJ's Godmother, April and her family arrived in Indy today for a quick visit before they continued down to Columbus for the Holiday. Little Emma is beautiful and Evan is a future linebacker (for the Colts of course).

One Hundred Years of Progress

The year is 1908. One hundred years ago. What a difference a century makes!
Here are some statistics for the Year 1908:

The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
The average wage in 1908 was 22 cents per hour.
The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME .
Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard. '
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.
Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza 2. Tuberculosis 3. Diarrhea 4. Heart disease 5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn't been invented yet.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write.
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'
There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE ! U.S.A. !
Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.

Proud to be an American

One of my favorites. I photographed this flag on our trip to Hawaii while visiting Pearl Harbor.

COLTS WIN COLTS WIN

Another on the edge of your seat win. They make me nervous. TJ and I attended the game. I tried a new parking spot today. It was a hike but only $10. Still searching for that perfect location. Following the game, we attended the CKS chess club pizza party. TJ received a nice medal and certificate of participation. Hope everyone has a great week. Hef

Hunting Season

It has officially started. Todd has spent the past several weekends scouting the woods, checking the photos and video on his field cameras and has spent every evening this past week gathering up his hunting equipment and clothes (washing them in detergent so they smell like dirt). I sit back every year and wonder how on earth someone can get so excited about dressing in such drab colors to sit in a tree for hour upon hour with nothing to do but wait. Secretly, I know this is when he catches up on all the sleep he has missed the past 11 months. Anyway, Todd and Aaron are "hunting deer" this weekend. Aaron was in charge of food and cleaning supplies for the camper. Todd was in charge of mice traps and the entertainment. Which I hope does not involve the traps! I heard Todd leave about 4 a.m. as the rain was pouring down. Some women are golf widows.........

Quote for the Week

The happiest people do not necessarily have the best
of everything. They just make the best of everything!

Best Buds

TJ & Lea

Sand and Stone

Two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey, they had an argument; and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "Today my best friend slapped me in the face".They kept on walking, until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath the one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "Today my best friend saved my life ". The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?" The friend replied, “when someone hurts us we should write it down in sand, where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it." Have a great Day! Hef

Chess Team CYO Tournament

Per Coach Parker: "What a way to end the season!!!!! CKS won two trophies this year!!!!!! I am so proud of the team, they played great and performed well under pressure!!!!! The kids played five rounds and the winner was determined based on points! The following is a list of schools that participated: Central Catholic, Christ the King, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Christopher, St. Malachy, St. Pius X, St. Rose of Lima and St. Simon

6th Grade and Under ~ Queen Division
1st Place ~ Christ the King (Jonathan, Thomas, Nick, Trevor)

3rd Grade and Under ~ Bishop Division
1st Place ~ St. Christopher

2nd Place ~ Christ the King1 (TJ, Zachary, Lindy, Elliana)

TJ played very well. He won three matches and finished the other two in a stalemate. Following his chess tourney, he took a power nap before his IBA basketball game. They won 36-30! TJ was on his game with rebound after rebound and 4 points. Yep - he inherited his athletic ability from me as well as his smarts :) Hef

Fall

I love Fall. However, my allergies have a mind of their own. I am home today with a headache and upset stomach which I have been fighting all week. This morning my head hurt so badly that I crawled back into bed with wet hair. Now 4 hours later, I am a scary sight! It is the weather. 70 degrees mid-day and 40 at night. My sinuses rebel. But the sun is shining, the leaves are turning colors and falling from the sky. The air smells crisp and as clean as it can for the city! I love Fall. Hef

COLTS WIN

It was a great day yesterday. The October weather was fabulous! I spent the day with some of the BFFBs (Best Friends Forever B*tches) shopping then we all met (five of us) for dinner at Binkleys to celebrate Melissa's birthday. Then she and I attended the Colts game to watch them outplay the Patriots. It was a nail bite'r til the end. GO COLTS!

Trick-R-Treat

Ninja Sam, Clone Trooper Alex Demon of War TJ, and Will the Skeleton

Todd, Mark and Chris

TJ and three friends went door to door this year in their costumes followed by thier dads dragging a wagon full of beer to keep themselves hydrated for the miles (blocks) ahead. The boys waited til dark passing the time with a game of basketball in the backyard while I built a fire so the moms could keep warm and they could roast marsh mellows upon their return. After what seemed like 10 minutes, they returned with bags of candy and an empty cooler with bottles they "collected" along the way for the recycling tub. It was a beautiful night with a sighting or two of shooting stars.... The parents finally called it a night around 11 p.m. with hopes that the sugar buzz had worn off those under 10 years old. The next day, TJ sorted his loot and ended up keeping only 6 items - with his dislike for candy and especially chocolate, I truely wonder if I overdosed him with Milky Ways and M&Ms while I was pregnant. Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween. Hef

The Beaver Family

The Birthday Boy: Jacob

Our dear friends, Kim & Jamie Beaver have four boys that are very special to us with the youngest being our Godson (Jonathan). Todd met Jamie while in the National Guard and I had the pleasure to meet them when thier oldest was just 18 months old. We have watched the boys grow up and Kim babysat TJ from the time he was an infant until he went to school! He still loves to spend some time each summer at "Camp Beaver"!

But oh how we look forward to their high school graduations! Once they are all out of the house, we have a date to get together with Kim & Jamie for a night out since plans to do so before then have been impossible to schedule!

Today, Jacob (their 3rd oldest son) celebrated his 8th birthday. Over the years, we have attended most of the Beaver Boys' birthday celebrations. TJ loves them like siblings!

Columbus, Indiana

Here is a nice article about my hometown. Of course, my dear friend, Dee from Seattle sent it to me. She is more on top of what is going on in Indiana from thousands of miles away than I am.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/24/AR2008102402983.html?sub=new

Conference

I am in Desert Springs, California. It is very hot and sunny. A big contrast to the weather in Indy. Cold with flurries. Good thing I packed my winter coat to wear home. I am here attending the CCH conference. Not only are the educational sessions very good, CCH knows how to capture the attention of thier guests. The food and entertainment has been fantastic. The keynote speaker this morning was very motivating. Jason Jennings. The after dinner comedy/singing group was very approproate for the audience. Looking forward to tomorrow. But missing my son and hubby. Hef

Facebook

Where has the week gone? Well for me, I discovered Facebook and immediately became an addict. I love reading about "old" friends and where there are now. Some have surprised me. Some have not. Friends from high school and college are scattered from one side of the planet to the other. I especially did not appreciate the talents of my high school friends then. Some have accomplished great things and those that have kids - they are beautiful! If you do not have an account on facebook, I encourage you to log on. Hef

Pumpkin Creation

Created October 2008 by Trevor J. Mann

Fishing and Smore's

TJ invited two buddies to his Bad Grandma & Papa's house to do a little fishing yesterday. Each caught a fish and managed to not fall in the lake. (I took a change of clothes for each of them just in case!) We cooked our hotdogs over the fire in Papa's new fire pit. The boys roasted marshmellows for smore's as well as just for the fun of watching them burn! I do believe they had a good time!

IBA 3rd Grade Champions!

TJ and his teammates won the 3rd grade tourney. Back in August, one of TJ's prior coaches from another league asked if TJ could participate in this league in addition to playing football. We were hesitant but TJ really wanted to play with his old teammate, Roderick. Surprisingly, for not practicing together, the team played like they had been matched together for several years. Some of the team will go on to play in the next session together as well, TJ included. Hopefully they will continue to improve their skills and win or lose - have fun and make new friends in the process. Most of these teammates attend another Catholic Elementary School so they may be classmates in High School!

Demon of War

We have been to every costume store in Indy looking for this costume. I finally gave up and ordered it from the internet......at what age do they stop wearing costumes?

Go Bulldogs

TJ will be a Butler Bulldog for the upcoming basketball session. So of course we had to go shopping for coordinating shorts and new basketball shoes. We also were on a mission to find jeans and running pants that will decrease the chance of frostbite on TJ's ankles this winter. Yes, he has grown 2 inches since August 15th. Just imagine how tall he would be if he ate fruits & vegetables! Hope you are enjoying this Great Fall Day! October may be my favorite month of the year. Hef

'MAYA ANGELOUS' Best Poem Ever

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ….a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE… a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE a feeling of control over her destiny..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to fall in love without losing herself..

Happy Boss' Day

I am not fond of the term "boss" and although I supervise 20 +/- employees (depends on the time of the year), I view them as co-workers. Today, they treated me to a very nice card and chocolate/banana cake. Later in the day I received flowers from the team. They are gorgeous salmon colored roses and daisies! Good to know they still like me!

For my boss, I presented him with the same card I have given him every year since 2001. Yes, the exact same card. I just cross out my signature from the year before, sign it and he checks off the year on the envelope. Let me explain........ back in the year 2000, I purchased a Boss' Day Card for Pat. The following year, I went to the store and selected a Boss' Day Card. I was surprised when he pointed out that it was the exact same card as the year before. So....I decided to save the $1.50 each year and just re-use it. We get a good laugh out of it every October!

I hope you have a great boss and/or awesome co-workers like me. Hef

Chess Club

From football to chess club. As long as it is a competition TJ is 100% committed. This is his 2nd year participating in the CKS Chess Club and 2nd year as Team Captain. The team's first tourney was this afternoon at Central Catholic. I have no idea how they score the matches or how they decide who competes against who. I am sure there is a very strategic process similar to the NCAA tourney brackets with rankings, etc. Anywho, TJ's first match was a stalemate, his second was a bye (opponent missing in action) and he won his third match. They have another tourney in two weeks. No cheerleaders for football or chess club. Hmmm. Happy Wednesday. Hef

A Surprise Anniversary Party!

This evening, my brother-in-law, Gary hosted a surprise Anniversary Party for his wife of five years, Todd's sister, Danelle. She was super surprised as were we with Gary's attention to detail. He organized the invite list, sent the emails, purchased the food and beverages and delivered them to his brother-in-law's home (Bill & Diana's house) where the party was held. Then he ordered the same wedding cake they had at their wedding. It was yummy. I love wedding cake. He had wine and even a bottle for the hostess (Diana). I think he is a keeper but he is an in-law and we all know we walk on egg shells. Goodnight. Hef

The Beginning

Welcome to our blog. I have been accessing friend's blog pages for a couple years and always thought "what a great idea, I should put one together" and so here I am with our first posting.

I still need to figure out how to manage the site and make our blog page interesting. Please be patient. In the meantime...........

Today was TJ's final football game for the season. The Tigers played tough but just could not hold #24 on the opposing team from crossing into the endzone more than, well I just stopped keeping track! I know the coaches are already strategizing for next year.

Now, as I develop this site, we have 3 of TJ's teammates here, reliving the game play by play in our living room. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that all the photos on the walls do not come crashing down. Update - I just sent them to the basement!

Hopefully, I will make posting a habit. They say if you do something 7 days in a row, it becomes a habit. Have a great day. Hef