Rzepkowski Family Happenings

Great weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:51:00 +0000

We all had a great weekend...

Kris went camping with a bunch, 30 I think, guys in Old Forge, NY on Friday through Sunday.

Anna and I went to the American Girl Fashion Show at Eagle Vale to benefit TWIGS at Rochester General Hospital with a good friend, "Miss Jean!" Thank you!!!

Then Anna went to Nana's house for a sleepover and hangout with her cousins Grace & Aaron.

While Anna was busy, Mason went for the longest play-date ever... 9:30-2 at he best buddy Nolan's house, then back to our house with Nolan from 2pm -7:30pm! Both boys had a great time and played so well it was GREAT!

Sunday Mason and I met up with Anna and the crew at Nana & Poppy's house for Sunday dinner, Kris even made it back to town to join in the fun for a while!

No More Tent Camping! Woo Hoo!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:13:00 +0000

YEAH - We have a Camper!

If you can not find us next Spring, Summer, or Fall - we went camping!

Today we took the kids out to Camping World to see the new rig - They LOVED it!
Here are a few shots of the outside, including the Rear Slide - that is our Queen size bed.

Now for the inside...

Mason & Anna totally LOVE their bunks - "Total privacy!"

And the bathroom - Kris can even stand in the shower - it has a bubble in the roof!

Thank You to all who helped Kris and I shop for our camper - your advice was so helpful!
Don't think you are off the hook yet...we have NO IDEA what we are doing and when we are "stuck" we will be calling you for help!
No, seriously Thank you so much!!!

Fall Family Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:58:00 +0000

This weekend we had a lot of Fall family fun

Saturday, Kris the kids and I headed out to Stoke Farms with lots of friends from Church for fun, food and fellowship...

The kids also went Apple picking with Nana & Poppy on Sunday!

Growing up!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:55:00 +0000

All the kids are getting SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BIG!

Lilyan is 2!
Lily is getting a new baby in March 2010!
So Happy for Mike & Lindsey, CONGRATS!

Grace & Aaron ...holy cow they are 7 months old already!

Matt & Alison are loving these 2 dolls to pieces!
Well, we all are really.

Soccer Saturdays!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:35:00 +0000

Mason and Anna are in Fall Soccer this year...
and LOVING IT!

They also loving having "fans"

Thank you Mom, Dad, Nana & Poppy
for coming to watch us play!

Nana's Low Country Boil!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:08:00 +0000

Happy Birthday Nana!

Here is Nana & Poppy with all 4 grand kids!

In honor of Nana's Birthday we celebrated with a "Low Country Boil"

The rule of thumb here is the bigger the crowd, the bigger the pot.

We had 2 pots and tons of FUN!

A Birthday Wish for Nana

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:53:00 +0000

Happy Birthday Nana!

WE LOVE YOU!
Love Mason & Anna
Mom and Dad too!

First Day of School 2009-2010!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:10:00 +0000

Wow after watching home movies of the first day of school from last year,
now we are here yet again...
The First Day of School!

Mason in 2nd Grade

Anna in 1st Grade

Mason & Anna are ready for the bus with new backpacks and all!

kids at the bus stop...
Anna, Gage, Mason,
Isabella(not going on the bus this year), and Vanessa

Easy Bakin' with Anna & Adeline

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:11:00 +0000

Today is the last day before the kids go back to school! Mason headed off to a friend's house for a little end of summer water fun and Anna invited Adeline
over to do a little baking with the Easy Bake Oven.

While the cookies were in the oven they even played
2 games of Strawberry Shortcake's Tea Party game.

The cookies were baked and topped with chocolate drizzle
and then devoured by 2 darling little girls!

So Sweet!

Sleepover with Nana & Poppy!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:10:00 +0000

Mason & Anna had a GREAT time with Nana and Poppy on their sleepover this weekend.
I bet Nana and Poppy did too!

Some of the highlights included... trip to McDonald's - one with a play place even, playing at the playground, swimming in "Poppy's pool" - hot tub, picking tomatoes and raspberries, helping the neighbors Mr. & Mrs. O plant ferns in their beautiful flower garden, practice backyard golfing, eating chocolate fondue, and going to the Zoo!

While the kids were having fun Kris and I enjoyed a bit of quiet time as well. We bought a snow blower, went for a great bike ride, driving range, dinner at Brio, coffee at Spot Coffee, a movie at the Little Theater, a little car shopping, some yard work, and a bit of house work.
THANK YOU Mom & Dad!!

Meet the teachers for 2009-2010

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:56:00 +0000

We are now THRILLED to get back to school!
Today Mason and Anna both had a chance to meet their teachers and see their new classrooms for the 2009-2010 school year.
We would like to introduce you to...

Mason's Second Grade teacher, Mrs. Amy Hoctor

and
Anna's First Grade Teacher, Mrs. Michelle Walters

Anna's NEW Hairdo

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:00:00 +0000

After watching the Chrissa Stands Strong movie, Anna finally decided to get a new haircut.
Take a look at the BEFORE

the during, hoping for NO tears

AND the AFTER

We ALL love her new look!

Happy 6th Birthday Anna

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:00:00 +0000

I can NOT believe she is 6!

Anna has celebrated her birthday for a few days this year...
Starting with the Tea Party,
then Grandma & Grandpa came over for an early celebration
Then on Saturday 29th - the BIG day... We started the morning with her gifts
She got some new clothes, a jewelry box, new earrings, a High School Musical barbie from Mason, and... an American Girl doll, the doll of 2009 Chrissa. We also gave her a few new clothes for Chrissa and her DVD.

After gifts we watched Chrissa Stands Strong DVD - this is a great one, all about bullying particularly great for girls, but we all loved it! Then we headed off to the Strong Museum.

After the Museum, Nana, Poppy, Uncle Matt, Aunt Ali, Grace, Aaron, and Uncle Adam came over to join in the fun and then Aunt Lindsey, Uncle Mike and Lily arrived to party with some presents, cake and ice cream.

Anna had a great birthday, Thank you to all who celebrated with us!

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:24:00 +0000

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six married men
will be dropped on an island with one car and
3 kids each for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports
and take either music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must
take care of his 3 kids;

keep his assigned house clean,
correct all homework,

complete science projects,
cook, do laundry,

and pay a list of 'pretend' bills
with not enough money.

In addition, each man
will have to budget in money
for groceries each week.

Each man
must remember the birthdays
of all their friends and relatives,
and send cards out on time--no emailing.

Each man must also take each child

to a doctor's appointment,
a dentist appointment
and a haircut appointment.

He must make one unscheduled and
inconvenient visit per child to the Urgent Care.

He must also make cookies or cupcakes
for a school event/social function.

Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house,

planting flowers outside, and keeping it

presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television
when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

The men must shave their legs,
wear makeup daily,
adorn themselves with jewelry,

wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes,

keep fingernails polished,
and eyebrows groomed.

During one of the six weeks,

the men will have to endure severe

abdominal cramps, back aches,
have extreme, unexplained mood swings

but never once complain or slow down
from other duties.

They must attend weekly school meetings and
church and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.

They will need to read a book to the kids
each night and feed them,

dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair

by 7:00 am.

A test
will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be
required to know all of the following information:
each child's
birthday,
height, weight,
shoe size, clothes size,
doctor's name,
the child's weight at birth,
length, time of birth,
and length of labor,
each child's favorite color,
middle name,
favorite snack,
favorite song,
favorite drink,
favorite toy,
biggest fear,

and what they want to be when they grow up.

The kids vote them off the island based on performance.

The last man wins only if...
he still has enough energy
to be intimate with his spouse
at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win,
he can play the game over and over and over
again for the next 18-25 years,
eventually earning the right
to be called Mommy or Mother!

After you get done laughing,
send this to as many females as
you think will get a kick out of it and
as many men as you think can handle it.
Just don't send it back to me....
I'm going to bed.

Be your daughter’s Next Top Model

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:51:00 +0000

By Tricia Rzepkowski
Published by Messenger Post Media
YOUR LIFE now (page 3)
Week of August 24, 2009

Everyone loves a good reality show. Whether you Keep Up With the Kardashians, or worship Dancing With the Stars, you’re seeing a “beautiful woman” on TV everyday.

There are many studies on the effects of the media on a girl’s body image, but there is another persuasive reality show that your daughter watches every day. You. If your daughter is an infant, 18 years old, or anywhere in between, she sees you as the model for what a woman should be. Are you being her Next Top Model?

This reality show is tough and many moms aren’t prepared. You may lack self-confidence, have low self-esteem or a distorted perception of your shape and size. You may not be proud of all your choices. Every day, a small part of your behavior is picked up by your daughter. Are you taking your lifestyle seriously enough to get the win? Here are some things to think:

Young daughters: you choose, she builds habits.
If your daughter is a baby, toddler, or a preschooler you have some time to build up your healthy habits. Right now, she’s a little sponge. She doesn’t yet perceive beauty, but she can perceive happiness. Happiness comes from being content with yourself. Take the time now to make small steps toward your nutrition and fitness goals. Take her on a stroller walk. Start to teach her about fruits and vegetables (and eat more of them with her). You will find that her habits develop alongside yours.
Elementary schoolers: you model, she tries it.
Girls as young as five years old are starting to look at TV and media and learning what is “pretty.” To her, you are the most beautiful woman in the world. Girls in this age group will try anything to be like mommy. So, make sure you are modeling a healthy lifestyle. When you count calories in your lunch, have her add up the calories in hers. It’s a fun math game! When you go to the gym, or play sports, teach her too Don’t forget to focus on your spiritual well-being, which shows her that beauty isn’t about physical appearance alone. Let her know when you are happy, and why. Show her how de-stressing and getting enough sleep are important in your day. Try to avoid complaining about your weight. The latest and greatest fad diets, diet pills, or restrictive dieting can all be seen by little eyes and have a lasting impact.
Tweens and teens: you share, and she does, too.
Your tween or teen daughter’s body and mind changes every day. Self-confidence and a healthy body image can make these years a whole lot more comfortable. You need to BE the woman she’s striving to become. By modeling your healthy habits you impart knowledge not by lectures, judgment, or criticism, but by example. Be a good listener, and let your daughter know about your struggles. She needs to know that things are not always easy, but that you dust yourself off and keep moving. Set goals, make a plan, shop, cook, and eat together. Be workout buddies and accountability partners. Take mental health breaks and reward yourself for a job well-done. Your happiness and behavior are contagious now more than ever. As she’s beginning to make her own decisions, your consistent mentoring and sharing will steer her in the right direction.

You can win!
Becoming your daughter’s Top ROLE Model is a reality show you can win - with just a few simple choices. Your healthy lifestyle will help you be real, available, involved, encouraging, humble, and a good listener for your daughter!
Tricia Rzepkowski is an ACE certified Personal Trainer and degreed Nutritionist who runs an in-home fitness and nutrition consulting practice geared toward women of all ages in the Rochester area. More information is available online at trainingwithtricia.com.

Tricia and Anna Rzepkowski stand ‘Strong & Beautiful’! Anna age five, loves to workout with Mom.

Tech Support Cheat Sheet

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:01:00 +0000

My brother Adam (26yrs old) sent this to my Mom today and she passed it along to me - FUNNY! This is a neat one...Thanx for passing it along!

Learning to ride our bikes - PROGRESS!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:51:00 +0000

Now that we can all tie our own shoes, we are starting to make progress in learning to ride our own two-wheelers! Take a peak...

Maybe, just MAYBE we will have this before the summer is over? Think positive!

Anna's Tea Party

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:24:00 +0000

So Anna's Birthday party this year ...

I'm having a birthday
tea party,
it will be lots of fun!So, Dahling, if you can make it ...
I would love for you to come.
Just throw on a frilly dress and gobs of
jewelry galore--
We'll have lunch,
play games,
so much more!
I hope you can come, and we'll do tea!

Mason even offered to help serve and host the party. Friday afternoon ( the day before the party) Anna selected all of our outfits...Mason's suit is actually very old, right Uncle Adam? This suit was worn by Mason's Uncle Adam in 1990...take a look below.

This is Uncle Matt & Uncle Adam - 1990

So the party began with Tea Pot coloring, tiara decorating and glow in the dark bead necklace making.
After all the girls were all dressed and fancy - we took a group photo - GORGEOUS! Then headed for the table for some lunch and tea. Anna also gave all the girls a lesson in how to hold their tea cup... "Pinky out"

We also fit in a few games - musical dots, pass the tea pot and sugar cube building. Some of the girls even decided to taste a few of these - we had plenty of other sweets - cupcakes and sugar cookies?

Happy 6th Birthday Anna!
Thank you to all the girls who were able to come and celebrate with us!

Summer camping

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:10:00 +0000

This summer we have fit in 3 camping trips and have 1 more scheduled for the fall.

Our last camping trip was to Alpine Lakes Campground near Lake George, NY and Saratoga, NY. We were on the middle site, yes in the tent!
We spent some time hangin' out at the campground Th kids LOVED playing at the pool!
One day we headed into Saratoga. We met up with my Aunt Ginny and toured The Washington Inn - What a neat place. I was so glad we were able to get in a family visit!
After a bit of sightseeing and a tasty dinner at a local find - Mama Mia's, Aunt Ginny, Kris, Mason, Anna, and I headed back to her place on a horse farm to see and feed some horses.We also took some time to see some Harness Racing - some people even won a few bucks!Now camping is full of its ups and downs and most of our trips had more ups, than downs. EXCEPT when the RAIN comes down! Wet tent camping is not a whole lot of fun, we did make the best of it!

Thank you Kerri and Steven for all of your help entertaining Mason and Anna, they are still talking about all the fun they had!

Rascal Flatts Concert! Woo Hoo!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:13:00 +0000

Saturday, July 11 @ 8pm Mason and Anna attended their first concert ever (that is if you do not count the Wiggles live). We saw Rascal Flatts at Darien Lake - WOW!Before the concert we dodged the raindrops at the theme park and had a great day...
The next morning we even played at the hotel pool - GREAT weekend!

Sprinkles...

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:55:00 +0000

on toast? Ok so I have put sprinkles on ice cream, but never on toast. One of my friends is a world traveler, she just returned home from the Netherlands. Kelly said people in the Netherlands put sprinkles on their toast, and what do you know Wikipedia agrees

In the Netherlands, chocolate sprinkles, or "hagelslag," are used as a sandwich topping for sandwiches with sweet contents; this is also common in Belgium and Indonesia, once a colony of the Netherlands.

So when Kelly came over last night she brought me a care package complete with two boxes of chocolate sprinkles - Melk & Puur Sprinkles.

So this morning for breakfast Kris, Mason, Anna, and I put sprinkles on our toast. Holy Moly that is good, now i just need to make them last.

THANK YOU Kelly!

Perspective and some Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:50:00 +0000

Have you ever heard a story and just felt the NEED to try and help, but you have no idea where to begin...

This afternoon, I called my Mom to ask her a simple question about my Dad's Father's Day gift, and my question was answered and the followed by a prayer request...

Do you remember the girl Brigid from Transfig's VBS two years ago that Anna just attached her self to? Yes, I said why? Well, my Mom continued to explain that her family is going through a lot of medical things...HORRIBLE medical things!

Brigid (a Senior in HS & almost 18yrs old) has a benign brain tumor and her brother, Jack (16yrs old) has been having severe head pain caused by arteries in his brain that are re-sectioning themselves(somewhere related to collagen growth- from what I understood)the issue is that any amount of stress, physical, emotional, stress any kind could cause these to burst - NOT GOOD!

I was pulled over on the side of the road when I had my first conversation with my Mom and Anna was with me so we both took a few minutes right then to PRAY for them and their family with the little information that I had. I then continued on my way with my errands all the while aching in my heart to want to help this family that I really never met.

After arriving back home with a piece of paper and pen in hand, I called my Mom again - I needed more details. So, I learned more about Jack and his family, Brian and Kathleen are Jack and Brigid's parents and Maggie (13 yrs old) and Sean (11yrs old) are their brother and sister. Jack will be going to the Cleavland Clinic on June 29th and I am hopeful that the Doctors there will have the wisdom and the resources to help Jack and his family.

Please pray with me for the strength and healing of Brigid and Jack. Lord please fill Brian and Kathleen with your STRENGTH, HOPE, PEACE, & LOVE as they walk with Jack through this difficult time. Please keep Maggie and Sean safe and help them feel your love & the love of their parents. God, you are an awesome God and you are the only one who can carry Jack and his family through this, with you all things are possible. AMEN!

"For with God nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:37)

God has come through for me so many times, I am so blessed! I do want to do more to help this family...I will continue to pray to find a way that we can shine our little light on this family that is going through so much!

Many Thanks! LOVE ANNA

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:05:00 +0000

Make a Smilebox greeting

Writing Celebrations 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:07:00 +0000

Happy Flag Day Klem South

I heard lots of Patriotic songs at the celebration including, Anna and all the Kindergarten friends sing "Yankee Doodle" and Mason and all the 1st grade friends sang "You're a Grand Old Flag."

Today at the Flag Day celebration Anna received a
"Mrs. Carol R Young Student Writing Award"
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
We are very proud of you, Anna!

After the Flag Day celebration I headed to Mrs. Sero's First Grade classroom for the

Sero Superstars Awesome Author's Publishing Party
Here is Mason's Author's Studio poster, First Grade Poetry Book, and Mason's newly published Ben Ten Book!
Buddy I love to read all of your writing, you are working so hard and we are very proud of all that you have done this year!While I was at this fabulous party I was also able to take a look at a few other writing pieces including Mason's "I Like Bugs" poem and his "All About Me" writing. Words included on this "All About Me" writing were "I am the best kid on Earth!"
Well, he is one of my favorites, that is for sure!Next to do at the party was have a snack...CUPCAKES! I did have a chocolate one, oooo was it YUMMY!

Mrs. Sero is always so creative and tried to have her cupcakes send a message, but the vanilla cupcakes just did not have the same plan...

So... "Create a mental image! The cupcakes should spell out:
"Congratulations Awesome Authors!"

Mrs. Sero thank you for a great party, but most of all THANK YOU for being a great teacher for Mason this year AND last year!

Anna's Dancing A Dream!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia Rzepkowski) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:22:00 +0000

Ladies & Gentlemen
presenting...

Anna Rzepkowski

DK Dance Spring Performance
Dancing a Dream

Webster Schroeder High School
June 13, 2009 @ 5pm
No tickets needed!
(there are other shows at 11am and 2pm)

These pictures were taken at the dress rehearsal, June 12, 2009!