Why Another Blog Title Change?

When I started my blog I named it: Coffee, Cats, Ken & Me

Marilyn & Macie came to MA until Gabby could find a place of her own.

Maggie had been with Ken since the move from SC

Then the Chris and Danielle moved back home and it changed it to : 

Coffee, Cats , Kids, Ken, & Me

Now I am changing it again... We are minus 2 white fluffy cats and plus one dog!

Macie & Marilyn moved back with Gabby

Meet Sadie, adopted in February, she is a Kelpie (Australian Shepherd mix)

Yes, she eats lying down.

We call her "Bat ears" She and Maggie get along well :)

So, now we are:  Coffee, Cat, Canine, Kids, Ken, & Me

Stay posted, things are always changing here. We may be minus 2 kids in the Fall! Then, I'll just change the name again.

Leadership Day

I don't often blog about school but recently we had a Leadership Day 

and I thought I'd share a few pictures. 

My School, Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy follows a Leader In Me Model based on Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.  

This is the second year of using this learning model and we had our first leadership day.

Each class got to choose a section of the school to decorate in a way that shows leadership.

My students wanted to make a bobble head band standing on the school singing about leadership. Mission accomplished!

The original plan included a tape recording of the class singing a song that they made about leadership.

Efrayim's tape recorder didn't work well so they wrote the words to the song on a poster to the left.

Other plans included these cutouts that you can stand behind :)

This project was planned, created, and accomplished entirely by the kids with me there just to assist & keep them on track. Anyone who has ever taught knows what a huge production this is. 

So, this was just the wall. We had parents in the building for an hour and a half in the morning and again in the afternoon. Fortunately I'm just an afternoon teacher.

Parents could walk in & out of rooms at will 

as classes demonstrated how leadership works in the school.

We have leadership binders that we keep and we were updating them & sharing them with parents.

The sessions ended with a short student driven assembly.

I still have reservations about the amount of time and effort that goes into this model but I'll tell you. I've never seen a bunch of kids able to work together to accomplish things like these kids do.

Justin and Kate's Wedding

On Saturday May 18th our son Justin married Kate Burke, 

his high school sweetheart at the Avanti Mansion in Buffalo, NY.

They had quite a large wedding party, including Heather, Andy, and Christopher.

Gabby and Danielle sang two songs during the ceremony.

Ken did a wonderful job officiating the ceremony. 

Now we have four beautiful daughters!!!

Oh and a beautiful granddaughter-on the way.

Yes, we are proud parents!!!

Here is my beautiful family :)

Benny couldn't come :(

It was a beautiful day, and so wonderful to have all our family and friends there to share it with us.

Two kids down and three to go :)

Visit From The Girls & Benny

Last month we got a visit from Gabby, Heather & Benny- just because they love us!

We had lots of fun packed into about a day and a half.

The best part was just being together!

Benny made some of his own fun playing a game with the sliding glass doors.

For a more detailed account, see Heathers blog about our picnic & trip to the Dr Seuss courtyard.

Heather's blog

Mother's Day Surprise

 Holidays are sometimes a let down.

There is a build up to what you expect it to be and often, it's just another day. 

Well my family went all out to let me know they appreciate me this Mother's Day!

I woke up to a surprise party in my kitchen-minus the guests of course-Thank God! 

Danielle had spent the late hours of the night decorating the kitchen 

and preparing for a very delicious breakfast for me.

Berry's, yogurt, and granola yummy!

By the way- I love pok-a-dots!

Who wouldn't want to start the day with this:)

Chris bought me a basket and filled it with delicious things, a candle, some travel mugs, and CHOCOLATE!!!

Danielle bought me a tea light set for my patio when we went to Ikea last weekend.

 Also some Starbucks K-cups.

 I also got my gift from Ken at Ikea, a summer weight comforter with duvet cover. 

I was ready for a change.

Gabby gave me a very neat "green" handmade toiletries set. 

(shampoo bar, sugar scrub, peel soap, and massage bars)

Can't wait to try it out.

I have been showered with flowers this week. A massive & beautiful bouquet from Ken.

Danielle brought me home a pretty bunch of flowers earlier in the week.

The lilac bushes are in bloom so Ken's been filling the house with bunches of lilacs- smells so good in here. I think we have a bunch in every room.

I requested a homemade dinner from Ken & Danielle. T-bones, twice baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and rolls. So much for the diet today!