Wrapping up another semester.....

As another semester, my 4th here at Kaplan, draws to a close I find myself crucially aware of how much my life has changed just in a short years time. The school work has provided me the kind of challenge that woke up my mind and soul from its sleepy state, shaping and changing me into the person I really wish to become. Being a mom always will be my most important work, but becoming a more fulfilled person, with a career that I'll take pleasure in, will make me an even better mom. It is for this that I strive to finish school and learn all that I can....to show my daughters that it is never too late to change your plan, go back to school or learn something new. Being happy is the ultimate goal.....and I sincerely hope all my classmates are able to persist and reach their goals as well! We 've all come so far, so please don't give up!!!!

I have high hopes for all of you......Chrissy :)

I was most fortunate to get to go along with 2nd grade class to the Bowl-o-Rama to extend their learning about simple machines in science. They had so much fun, especially when they were taken bekind the scenes to see firsthand how the balls and pins are set back up. Truly a joy to be around them!
School, of course, has taken a serious note, as we are in Unit 9....the week that all the big projects are due. Many are stressing, but I have to say that I feel calmer and more in control than I did in my previous terms (3).
Part is due to aggressively working on things early (it really helped me!) and the other part I think has come the from the confidence (not foolish cockiness, mind you) that I built. The last several terms we have all proved that we are hard workers and can meet the deadlines. What can make each term more manageable, however, is our ability to continually make improvements to our study habits and organizational skills. Essentially learning to become better students......
I have enjoyed the blog and want to continue it, so hopefully will see at least some of my classmates again on the blogspot!~ Chrissy :)

The four Markham girls

I am admittedly not the most computer-saavy girl, but i finally figured out how to add pictures to my blog post! This blog has been a very interesting learning experience and I think I'll continue to enjoy it for now and use it with family and friends who aren't close by to help keep up with the "happenings."
To the right is my 11 year-old, Mariah....or as she is often referred to in our house.."the spoon that stirs the pot." Must be a third child thing....


Then there is 8 year old Tessa, who is remarkably wise for her age!


This was a school day in her first grade year...about a year ago (her teeth are all grown in now).

Finally, here is 15 year old Zoe, on the left, and 18 year old Mallory, on the right, at her high school graduation last June 2009. Oh happy day!

These are the faces of the people I love so dearly and work so hard for....if only I could keep them from growing up so quickly!

Spring in New Hampshire!

The last several days have been warm and gorgeous....the kids are ecstatic to be outside, kicking the soccer ball around, after 6-7 inches of rain last weekend that lasted about 3 days (and flooded many yards and basements) ! I even spotted a few shoots of leaves poking up through the ground in the yard...first sign of spring....Hooray! My excitement may not be understood by those of you in more southerly climates, but anyone who has endured New England winters can relate to the gush of relief we experience when the first stretch of warm weather arrives and we can throw open our windows and inhale the fresh air deeply! Nothing can compare....
My Zoe-girl had her 2 wisdom teeth removed on the 17th and everything went quite smoothly, although I think she is getting anxious to eat solid food again (the liquid fruit smoothie diet can only sustain you for so long!). She hardly had any noticeable swelling and was actually asking to go to school the next day, less than 24 hours after the surgery. Gotta love a girl who doesn't coddle herself too much!
I also had a fantastic day yesterday with tessa's 2nd grade class, who went bowling at a local alley. This was a addendum to the science unit they've been doing on simple machines. They got to go behind the scenes and observe the many simple machines that are utilized within the more complex machines that operate the pin set-ups and ball returns. It was really fun to see the learning come alive for them!
Have a terrific week everyone....enjoy the fresh air and sunshine....I certainly will!

Markham Momentum....

This week has been such a busy one for our family! Midterms have arrived, papers are due...the pressure is on! But life keeps right on going at full speed. Clusters of eye doctor appointments, doctor and dentist visits seemed to be clustered together this month for the 4 girls. My 15-yr old daughter Zoe's dental visit revealed that the 2 wisdom teeth on the bottom will need to be removed as soon as possible...this Wednesday morning to be exact. She was most fortunate never to have developed any wisdom teeth on the top at all! Hopefully her younger sisters will be so lucky too! Mariah (11) was discovered to be near-sighted and will getting her first pair of glasses this week....she took along a good friend to help her choose the frames that she likes. Happily, she is very excited about getting glasses because seeing the blackboard and anything from a distance has been difficult for her this year. Seeing better will be a tremendous relief for her! :) To top the week off...my husband had to go in for an emergency tooth extraction, which was quite painful for him (I did not envy him for a moment...poor guy!). But despite the many distractions, and thanks to good organization and attempting to do assignments as early as possible, I still managed to complete my first draft of my research paper ahead of schedule. I can truly say that I feel satisfied with my paper in every possible way and was pleasantly surprised with how comfortably the words flowed once I got going. It helped tremendously that the subject matter about nutrition in school lunches was one that ignited my curiosity and made me want to learn all I could about it! Now to see if others share my enthusiasm..... :)

The Writing process unfolds.....

When we first began this class, I felt that I would be writing a typical paper, as I have done so many times in the past. That I wouldn't necessarily learn anything that I hadn't already experienced. But I couldn't have been more wrong. The seminars have been engaging, even exciting because of Dr. M's direction and I find myself challenged more than I had expected to be. This is what college is supposed to be ---waking up your mind to very different ideas and diverse points of veiw---even if only to solidify our own beliefs even more. Choosing to investigate the content of school lunches and how the unhealthy foods are affecting our children was a fantastic choice for me because I am concerned that my children be fed the healthiest diet I can provide for them. My research has been both shocking and also hopeful, as I have uncovered several articles about just how much fat and salt are in a typical school lunch, how this elevates BMI (body mass index) and blood pressure in children, escalating the likelihood of developing diabetes or obesity. The hopeful part I found when I retrieved a few articles about schools who have made changes in their lunch programs by offering fresh fruits and vegetables (instead of canned or frozen), whole grains, and lean meats. The results were positive and measureable, as the children were retested for BMI and BP, with overall reductions in their numbers. An increase in physical activity accompanied this change of diet, as well, but the results of these experiments is both promising and reason to help our schools locally to implement these very practical changes. Our children deserve to feel good and live healthy lives---that is something we all can agree upon!

The Polar Plunge at Sebago lake in Maine to Benefit Children with Cancer at Maine Medical Center

Yesterday at Sebago Lake, my aunt and 2 cousins (and many more) took a leap into a hole cut in ice to raise over $40,000.- toward the treatment of childen who are battling cancer, such as my 3 year old cousin, Joey. Joey was diagnosed at age 2 with leukemia and has endured a year and half of intensive chemotherapy and more pain than any child of his age should have to. Through it all he remains happy and resilient, simply a joy to be near! He has finally gone into remission, is regaining his strength, as well as his hair. He still has a minor 2 year maintenence chemotherapy regimen to go through, but is well on his way to good health again! I, along with my entire family, am so grateful that Joey was able to receive the kind of treatment that he needed at Maine Medical Center, so he can laugh and grow up alongside of his big sister, Lily. Supporting cancer treatment and research in your local area is so vital because none of us ever expect to deal with having cancer or having a loved one diagnosed with cancer, but the fact is that most of us will be touched by it at some point during our lifetimes. The person that benefits from money raised for a good cause may very well be us.....just food for thought!

Simple pleasures....

There is so much in the world to be grateful for; to be healthy, to have a family you adore, to be warm on a cold February day, and to have been created and shown the meaning of love. I will take some time to enjoy the simple beauties around me today....and I wish the same for you!