Wednesday, November 19, 2008

RELATIONSHIPS.

Last week we held the annual relationship night with panel discussion and food. Thanks to the Degooyers, Browns, and Schuermans for giving a great question/answer/advice panel. Below are some of the pictures from the slideshow. I was unable to access all of pictures due to unforseen issues with my computer skills, but enjoy scrolling down and smiling as you see these fun pictures. Also, if you have time be sure to read the advice each couple gave about "how they make their relationship work." I am sure you will find some great ideas and suggestions or just enjoy reading how wonderful our SAA members are.
Above: Woods, Whitakers, Wilde, Petersons, Llyons, Callisters, Browns, Wendlings, Ewells, Wanzek, Overall and Smiths
Below: Guymons, Beans, Schuldbergs,Squires, Crellings, Jiminez, Lofleys, Castles, DeGooyers.
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You're gonna love reading these...

LOFLEYS
Kent and I have a goal to go on a date once a week, so even if we can't find a babysitter for a night out, we will still do something fun -- just us. Honestly, sometimes that means folding socks, but when Kent is doing it with me it is something I look forward to. I get to talk to my husband about whatever we want to and that helps me remember why I love him so much.

HENDERSONS
We have really fun traditions. For example we make pizza every Friday night, hang out and decompress from the week. We also go out on dates and trade babysitting to get away with just each other. Lastly, we have common goals and really support each others' goals no matter how crazy they are. We are each other's finish lines.

RITERS
How do we make our relationship work? Make sure she is emotionally cared for, and a mutual understanding and respect for the responsibilities that we are faced with.

ABBIE GOEBEL AND COLIN WEERTS
Trying new things together, lots of laughter and the occasional foot rub!

PRICES
When I asked Greg how we make our relationship work he said "Cooking". Which is true, we love to cook together and especially create new things and experiment. But lately we don't have many opportunities to do that. So I would also say that two other things that make our relationship work are just playing together, and putting the other person first. When we both think of each other before ourselves, we are happier and always feel loved. Then I try to get the house work and other errands done while he does the school thing so that when we do have time together we can play or even just relax together.

GUYMONS
Matt and I do as many things together as we can. It is definitely a priority to make time for each other.

BEANS
To make our relationship work we make sure to keep communicating... we spend time as a family! It isnt easy to find time, so we use meal times as our standard for spending quality time together and try and fit in a couple hours of relax time in at least one day a week! Most importantly we both try to be understanding of each others needs and we always keep each other laughing!!!... Laughter is the best Medicine in our house!!!

SCHULDBERGS
"We try to have fun, keep things new, and remember what it was that originally attracted us to one another"

CASTLES
We make the most of the time we have together and enjoy ourselves. We continue to date, have fun and be stupid together.

OVERALLS
Something Trenton and I do, well Trenton does for me is he writes me notes in the morning before school so when I wake up I have a sweet note from him and I automatically have a good day thinking about him. Trenton always makes me and the kids his number one priority no matter what he has going on.

SQUIRES
You have to make the time to be together! Our favorite things to do together are travel and go out to eat! This helps us to take a break from our stresses and focus on our relationship! All relationships are work, you get what you put into it just like everything else in life!


HOLMES
How do you make your relationship work?
We look for the good in each other. We express our appreciation, gratitude, and love for each other often.

EWELLS
Relationships are hard, but I have learned that if you willingly serve selflessly, without seaking reward, your love for eachother will grow, no matter how hard life gets. Communicate every emotion and leave nothing out. Be best friends and love eachother with everything you have. Never stop working at it.

SMITHS
Having fun together. I think it's important to do things together that you both enjoy. I feel very lucky to have someone that I know I can always have fun with--no matter what where doing. We share a lot of the same interest. Even though he has a busy schedule we always make time for each other and the kids. We are a family first :)

CALLISTERS
Act like newlyweds. We try to always treat each other the same way we treated each other when we were dating. Love notes, cuddling, listening, flirting. When you can wake up in the morning and think, “How can I make my spouse’s life worth living?” you will find your life is worth living too.

CHAMBERS
We get interested and excited about what the other one is doing or involved in. We love to be outdoors together and we enjoy doing the same activities so making time to do those activities is important.

STRINGHAMS
Our advice is to plan regular date nights and make time for each other. Also, KCOM provides several activities for couples/families, take advantage of them.

WHITAKERS
As for making our relationship work . . . It's kinda silly, but everyday we play a little game and see who wins. The first one to say, "I Love You More," that day wins. That way saying I love you is always on our minds.

LLYONS
Communication is a must. If you're not talking, you're not in a relationship.

DEGOOYER
1. Put each other's needs first.
2. Plan quality time together.
3. Don't sweat the small stuff!

WANZEK
We travel a lot so we can get away to focus on each other, and make memories by experiencing new places together.
I remind my children that their Daddy was my first love and we need dates alone to take care of that love.

WENDLINGS
We have a good support system
for each other, we talk about things before we act on them and make
all of our decisions together, if we can't decide on something we will
both sleep on it and then see how we feel about it. We have developed
a lot of patience for each other also and that helps a lot when it
comes to school and kids. :)

WOODS
Christopher and I are SO different but for some reason it doesn't seem that hard to make it work. I guess the one thing that helps our relationship the most, especially during this pretty stressful time in our life, is remembering. Remembering the "thank you", "I love you", "what can I do to help". Remembering what the other is dealing with before making a comment or judgement. Remembering to communicate because we aren't mind readers! Remembering that we're both human and make mistakes. And always remember the things that you love about your partner especially on those hard days!

WILDES
We make our relationship work by talking to each other alot! We also share each other's responsibilities and work together. We give more than we can to each other.

PETERSONS
By not sweating the small stuff and a few of the big things. Also by learning to laugh at/with each other-A LOT.

BROWNS
Mark and Melinda Brown make their relationship work by teamwork and sharing family responsibilities. Another way is just by loving each other no matter the other ones faults.

FIELDS
How do we make it work? Just like everyone else, a complex combination of little things. For example: time alone together on a regular basis, getting out once in a while, playing games, staying in and watching a movie together. Not being selfish, putting the other one first, trying to see things from each other's perspective. You know- blah blah blah- stuff like that.

The Hillams
The Riters
The Hendersons




What makes your relationship work??

The Stringhams.
The Prices


The Fields





Thursday, October 16, 2008

This is a video of the Fondue demo night. Tamra did a terrific job explaining the art of fondue cooking and eating. I am assuming you can look for her handout on the website. The video is about 20 minutes. I will warn you there is a a little shaky hand and I kind of tried to follow who was asking questions or commenting. But give it a shot and you will most assuredly learn something about fondue. We missed those of you who couldn't make it and for those of you in far away places, enjoy the video.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

A fun Children's Social

http://picasaweb.google.com/blue22belle/ChildrenSSocial02?authkey=4ribglUk4vU#
Click the link to see the fun Children's social planned by Angie Castle and Tiffany Hillam.
We went to the Conservation Center (it's south on Highway 63, just passed the Day's Inn. It's on the west side of the street) We had an instructional speech on frogs and toads, saw some in real life, and even saw a bat. The lady told us we would be going in a cave and my first thought was, 'how come i've never known about a cave in Kirksville? and is Chloe dressed okay for a cave?' Pretty sure, I then turned around and saw the "pretend" cave made of a big black tarp! The kids had a great time and I'm okay with knowing that K-ville still doesn't have a cave. FYI the closest cave is in Hannibal (about 90 miles away)
Enjoy the pics.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Super September project night

Last night we had our September project night, hosted and created by Danika Humphreys. She came up with this wonderful fall decoration. Here is picture of how mine turned out, but based on what i saw last night the possibilities were endless.
Here's what you need: (1)4 cut 2x6 blocks. (Danika cut all 200 or so of ours. Go Danika) (2)Choose an acrylic paint color you like such as brown, red, tan, cream or even black. (You buy these at walmart. They come in a small tube and cost around $1) You need to have a craft store near you that sells (3)wood letters. They are also fairly inexpensive. (4) Sand paper. (5) fallish pieces of scrapbook paper cut to the size of your wood. (6)ModPodge (sold at any craft store of Walmart). (7) Tacky glue. It comes in a brown container. You could also do a hot glue gun or Danika said the modPodge would also work as an adhesive. Now...
Here's what we did: Paint you letters first so they can be drying. Next, start sanding the edges of you blocks so you get all the loose pieces of wood off and so they have a nice edge. Paint each side of your block. Once your blocks are dry, apply a nice layer of ModPodge to the top of your block, add paper and smooth down to get bubbles out. Next, put a thin layer of ModPodge over the paper. This will create a "finished" look and it will be a bit shiny. Finally, put a small amount of the tacky glue to the back of your letter and position on your block. You're done.
**A few people there also lightly sanded their letters and the edges of their blocks, when dry, for a different look.
Thanks Danika for a terrific night and a fabulous keepsake!!

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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Check out the "getting to know you" slideshow.
http://c:/Documents%20and%20Settings/chambers/Local%20Settings/Temp/PowerPointWebPagePreview/getting%20to%20know%20you_files/frame.htm
**I am working on figuring this out. I think my powerpoint was a little too big. I may just have to splash people's photos on here occasionally. Thanks for checking the blog, though.