Christmas Festivities

Christmas Eve singing Happy Birthday to Jesus. Luke made this a tradition to always have a Jesus Cake on Christmas Eve.


Mimi reading a Christmas story to Drew, Luke, Elliot, Kyle and Sarah. Which two faces do you think make me laugh?


Julianna all dressed up!


Daddy and his boys! This picture of Kyle and Jake both blinking for the flash cracks me up :)

Christmas Day at the Colchagoff's. Here is the whole cousin line up! Torin and Tobin in the back then Noah, Brenna, Thane, Drew, Julianna, Kyle, Jake, and Grayson holding him.


Mommy and Kyle cuddling and waiting for the unwrapping to begin!


Daddy promised the kids a pancake breakfast, yummy!!

Jakey says, "Where are my pancakes???"

Ready to check out the loot!

The Bumgardner 4. Kyle, Julianna Jake and Drew.

Pierogie Making

OK here we go! I know I have a lot to catch you up on. Let's start with our pre Christmas tradition of pierogie making! My Mom and sisters and I get together a few days before Christmas Eve to make our favorite Polish dish. Store bought frozen ones WILL NOT do! Oh no! We go all out. This is a big deal. We need to set aside an entire day because for as many as we make we need a good 4-5 hours.

Here we all are ready to get started. Stefanie, Mindy, Me, Mom, Meredith. Go Team Pierogie Makers!!!

We start by peeling potatoes to make the cheesy mashed potato filling. We also fry up a batch of sauerkraut (true Polocks need the sauerkraut ones). Mindy is the official dough maker lately... how many batches of dough did you need to make this year, Mindy? A dollop of filling gets placed on the dough, the dough gets folded over and pinched together. Then they are boiled & fried and ready to be served up with sour cream. Mmmmm... mmm... mmm good!

It is always good to have several little fingers on hand for pierogie pinching. Elliot, Kyle, Luke, and Mimi!

Julianna and Britney

Sarah enjoying the finished product!

What a great day! It is loud and hot (because of all the boiling and frying) and crazy trying to get this all done with a dozen kids dancing around us but we LOVE it. I also love that the past several years we have done this at my house. Being the oldest child I love being able to hold this tradition here in my home. As we were starting out my Mom says, "Can you believe that your Grandmothers did this all by themselves? At least we have each other!" My response was, "I just can't believe that they mashed the potatoes by hand at least we have a Kitchen Aid!" I'm not sure but I think she rolled her eyes at me.

Oh yes, I almost forgot to tell you that this is what we eat for dinner on Christmas Eve when we celebrate the holiday with my side of the family!

Running Update

Well, I said I would keep you posted as to how my training for the 1/2 marathon is going. So here it is. Back in November on Thanksgiving I ran in a 5K (3.2 miles) with my sister Meredith and my brother Mike.

Since it was only a 5K I was ok to run it on little training. Since then with the colder weather and rainy weather I have not been all too motivated to get out there and run. However, that changed today.

Today I got my Christmas present a little early!

That's me and my Kyle giving my new treadmill the thumbs up!!

So now I'm officially back in training! 2miles today!!

Sometime in the early spring I want to run a 10K and the first weekend of May I want to run in the Frederick 1/2 marathon with Meredith. I figure then I will be good to run the 1/2 up in Maine in September.

Emily here we come!

I just want to give a shout out to all the boy Mommas out there!!!

Got boys? Then chances are good you've visited the ER for stitches or x-rays recently. Or you've at least visited the nearest Urgent Care facility more times than you care to. Seems like it's just a rite of passage for Mommas of boys. Whew, I think I just felt the wind of all those heads nodding out there!

Why this particular post today? I think I'm feeling a bit of survivors guilt... bear with me... I'll get there.

A few years ago when Drew was 3 Todd and I left him and his brother Kyle with friends (OK our pastor, Jon, and his wife Carol) while we went to Julianna's dance recital. About 20 minutes before Julianna was supposed to go on I get a call from Carol.

Carol: Michelle?

Me: Hi! What's up?

Carol: Um, I'm shaking... I don't know how to tell you this... Drew is ok but he is going to need stitches. He and Davey (her son and Drew's best buddy) were chasing each other and just as I was opening my mouth to tell them to stop Drew slipped and fell into our coffee table.

Me: I'm picturing her perfectly oval non-sharp edged coffee table. Oh Kaaaaaaay... can you take him?

Yes I did! I did ask someone else to take my son with a gaping head wound to get stitches. Why? Um, yeah, so I could watch my daughter's dance performance. What a proud parenting moment that was. Let's return to the conversation and see how that worked out for me...

Carol: Well Jon just went on an errand and I have all the kids by myself (her 4 and my 2... all boys). The bleeding is stopped but it is definitely not going to heal by itself. He will definitely need stitches.

Me: Tears in my eyes... heart is pounding now as reality sinks in. My baby is wounded! My baby is wounded! and I just asked SOMEONE ELSE to get care for him. I'm a horrible, rotten, awful mother. OK, um ok, I'll be right there. I'm not sure what to do. I'm one of the Mom's who is helping out back stage. I need to get my position covered and I'll be right there.... I turn around to see a nervous child throwing up all over the floor. Yeah, Carol? I'll be RIGHT there!

This is how they wrapped Drew up and then had me lay across him to hold him still. Why did I have my camera with me? Because these were supposed to be cute pics of a little girl in a bubblegum pink cutiepie outfit!! I figured I might as well take pics of SOMETHING :)

Seven stitches later. 2 inside and 5 outside.

A year later we adopted a dog. The dog bit Drew. We returned the dog from whence he came! 2 stitches this time!

This past January when I was 38 weeks pregnant. Drew decided to do tricks involving OUR coffee table this time. I was in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner when I hear the cry that I am getting all too familiar with. This time he split his chin open! No fair!! I'm supposed to be the next person getting all the attention in the hospital.

Todd told me that my phone call to him was surprisingly calm.

Me: Todd?

Todd: Hey babe! I'm in the middle of basketball practice. (he coaches)

Me: Yeah, your son Drew just split his chin open. I'm bringing the other 2 over to Jon and Carol's. Why don't you end practice early and meet me at the hospital? Love you!

Todd: oh ka... (realizes I'm no longer on the phone.)

Ahh Jon and Carol. When we moved up your way and started attending your church did you have any idea how bloody our friendship would become?

Seriously, just last year Todd was invited to play basketball with Jon and his brothers. I've heard that these games can get REALLY physical. The Switzer men are known for being aggressive. Todd doesn't back down either. Apparently, during the game, Jon's nose and Todd's elbow had the misfortune of being at the same place at the same time. Todd's elbow won... Jon's nose... um, yeah, my husband broke our pastor's nose. Yikes!!

OK I'm bringing this around full circle. Do you ever, in science class, remember the teacher asking the class, "Class, what do you think would happen if an unstoppable force met up with an unmovable object?" I remember thinking really hard about that one. Is there a true answer? Anyone?

Sunday we found out what happens when two unstoppable forces collide.

Davey and Drew.

again

Those closest said that they could hear the sickening thunk of two heads bouncing off one another. EVERYONE, and I do mean everyone, heard the screams.

The "funny" thing is that Jon, Todd and I all looked up, saw that other parents were stepping in and thought that the scream probably was not in proportion to the amount of harm done. So we kinda just didn't react right away.

Yeah, another stellar parenting moment!

Then some one yelled, "JON!!!"

It was like the seas parted. Really, people cleared the way, and I got a good look at Davey. BLOOD everywhere. Now I know head wounds bleed like crazy but this was unreal!! Blood was just dripping down his face, in his eyes, onto clothing.

My heart started pounding, "Where is Drew?"

He is crying in Todd's arms. Just a little cut over his right eye.

OK then if there is no head wound where you can see it there must be one where you can't. I open his mouth and look in. No, all his teeth are there. Unbelievable. This is what Drew looks like:

(Note the healed scar on Drew's forehead from the first set of stitches!)

and this is Davey after 13 stitches!!!

So I get an e-mail from Carol today asking if I can babysit all her boys tomorrow!!

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

(seriously, anytime I am able to it is my pleasure to watch those young men... I love those kids!!!)

Oh Davey, we love you and hope you are feeling better. Now you and your buddy will have matching scars... that you both gave to each other! Now stop it you two!! Enough is enough!

So, all the boy Mommas out there, I'm praying today that the Lord will keep your young men safe. That He will place a special guardian angel over your little ones. That they will grow up strong and mighty and unashamed and unafraid to serve and bring glory to the One who died that they might forever live!!!

God bless you all!

xo

~Michelle

Catching Up!!

Wow it's been a while since I've posted!! This will be quick!

The kids had a fun Halloween! They decided to go to a harvest party hosted by a nearby church instead of door to door trick or treating. Yea for me!! Fun and games indoors!

A few days later we celebrated Todd's 38th birthday!! I tried my hand at cake decorating and was pleased with the results. Can you guess what his cake was?

What's a Mommy to do??!!

So I'm "working" at my computer this afternoon and look down to see this:

And then this:

And finally this:Two questions:
1- Why can't babies play with/be intrigued by safe things?
and
2- How can I possibly resist eating up every inch of him?


I did!


Eat him up!!


He's so scrumptious!!!

Fun at the tire park!!

Today we took the boys to the tire park. Julianna was away at her cousin Britney's birthday party and we needed something to do to let the man children release their energy. The tire park is part of Catoctin State Park. It is so close to where we live and so beautiful up on the mountain. Remember a few postings ago we hiked up to the falls? This is all part of the same mountain.

The boys had so much fun! They were excited to see that there was a new addition to the playground from the last time we were here just a week ago. That would be the cable sliding thing that you see Kyle on below. We could only get them to do other stuff for a brief moment and then they were back in line for another turn to slide across the cable!

Notice the ground is covered with chopped up bits of tires. It makes the ground so spongy and bouncy. Nice!! No trip to the ER today!!

Gimme the camera!! I wanna eat dat!!!

Pushing off!!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Yep! Time out's no fun!! Perhaps try not talking back to Daddy next time?

Mommy and Jakey-boy :)

Daddy and his double threat!! Soon to be the Bumgardner Triple Threat but for now Jake is my baby!!

Running... my new thing?!

I am turning 40 in June! Aaaaaaaaahhh!! Where has the time gone? I still call myself and my friends "girls". I never could say that I was a lady. That term is used for older more mature women. Much more mature... and I don't necessarily mean age here :)

Anyway, here is a bit of information about me. I love to exercise! Well, I did love to exercise. Something has happened recently to steal the motivation and love I once had. As a child I think my love for exercise came with swimming. My parents signed us kids up every summer for swim team. We were expected to get up every morning in the summer at either 8 or 9am and report for practice. I never really questioned it (my Mom might have a different memory here that involves a lot of whining and complaining) after all weren't all kids getting up every morning of summer break to swim on the swim team?

Then in the 80's there came the aerobics phenomenon. Jane Fonda and the 20 minute workout! Remember those? If you don't please don't tell me. You will make me feel old!
Oh how I loved to exercise with those shows!! My friends would tell me I could remember the aerobics routines so well that I should be an aerobics instructor.

Really?

OK!

Enter the 90's. I DID become an aerobics instructor. Even got certified through ACE (American Council on Exercise) and became a group fitness instructor with Body&Soul Ministries now Body&Soul Fitness. I taught exercise classes up till our second child was born. That would be 2003.

In the last few years I've taught on and off. It's hard to find a location for a class and childcare too. Exercising on my own has been hit or miss. I feel out of shape and unmotivated.

Till Sunday.

Sunday I read Todd's cousin Emilie's blog about how she just ran in her 2nd (I think) half marathon. Hey I know her. And she's a mommy. And she did it!! And look how fabulous she looks!

Back in May I was thinking of my upcoming birthday in June. I was thinking, "Wow in 13 months I'll be 40. I want to be my fittest at 40!" Well now it is September and my birthday is 9 months away. I have gotten NO closer to my goal. That makes me feel like I'm all talk and no action. I needed something to inspire.

Enter Emilie!

I shared with her how inspired I was by her and how cool it would be to run this half marathon in Maine with her next year.

Immediately she responds, "Omigosh!! You totally can do this!! Here are the links to the training schedules that helped me!! Here is a link to an upcoming run in your area!! You CAN totally do this! Yay Michelle!!

I'm thinking, "Waaaaaaiit she doesn't know that I'm a PROCRASTINATOR. I wasn't really going to start till next May. I mean I was going to try to start now but I would probably stop and start 100 times between now and then."

Wait can I get an AMEN to that? Y'all know that you do it too!! OK maybe not my friends Jen and Carol. But the rest of you!!

So then I think, "Well if she doesn't know that I'm a PROCRASTINATOR then maybe I can pretend I'm someone else with her. After all she lives in Maine, I live in Maryland. She'll never know. Maybe for this one thing I won't procrastinate. Maybe I'll just do it!!"

I'm so inspired!! I'm already planning on doing the Way Station Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving morning. I've stayed on my workout schedule since Sunday. Not long I know but I only started this new journey on Sunday.

Part of staying on track is enlisting others to help shove you back on the track when you stop to eat chocolate or ice cream... (thank you, I heard that AMEN!) so Emilie and I asked her cousins and my sister in laws Paige and Tiercy to join us. Tiercy even went so far as to blog about it too. Now there is talk of asking other women we know and love to join our new movement!!

So if you are reading this and are so inclined to join us... don't wait to be asked. Just hit that comment button and shout out, "I'm in!" I'll hear you!

This is the first of many (I hope) postings on my progress working up to running a half marathon. I can't wait to see how I do!!

Oh and if you see Emilie... don't tell her that I'm a procrastinator. It'll be our secret :o)

Family Fun!

This week has been a busy week! On Wednesday we went to the Great Frederick Fair and on Saturday we went for a hike up to Cunningham Falls! So much fun!

Here we are at the top of the Ferris Wheel at the fair. We think that the ride operator was playing games on his computer and lost track of time because we kept going round and round. For 15 minutes!!! We had a blast but the people in line after us were quite tired of the wait.

Here we are starting out on our hike. Thank you whoever you are that stopped to take this picture for us!

Todd and the kids went climbing on the rocks of the falls. Todd is right in the center of the picture and the kids are around him.My turn to carry Jake!

Look closely in this next picture to see a couple of lizards lying on some rocks!!

Did you see them? They were so still and blended in with their surroundings so well Todd and I almost missed them!