Well here we are, facing another softball season...this year is sooo much better than last year!!
After a long year and much anticipation, Kourtney is back on the field...running, catching, batting and giving her mother much pride and joy. Even better...she's not on the field by herself either. Nick was asked to be the new Junior Varsity High School Softball coach!! I cannot tell anyone enough what a relief it is that if she gets hurt again, at least he can be there right by her side! Things are as they should be, thank God. So if you ask what Nick is up to these days, he literally is eating, sleeping, dreaming, playing, and breathing SOFTBALL!! 5 nights a week he coaches Kourtney's team or is at a JV game, then 2 or 3 nights a week he is coaching Emily's team. On weekends he attends several meetings having to do with one of the three leagues he is involved in. He's really busy!!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
2009
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were ringing in the year 2000 with worries of the new millennium followed by the tragedy of 2001 and the fear we were recovering from as we rang in 2002. So here we are, preparing for 2009 and the inauguration of the United States first African American President and increasing fear over the state of our economy. It seems as the decade is almost to an end, the decade ’00 will be regarded as one of constant struggle. Personally I am looking forward to the next decade ’10 where I will be watching Kourtney graduate high school (Class of ’11) and begin the next phase of her life, College. I anticipate that I will have renewed sense of hope as she earns her degree and has the opportunity to make a difference in this world. Emily will be graduating in ’15 and for her I anticipate a world much different than the one we are in now. As for myself, I anticipate finishing this decade with my Associates degree in Business Administration (May ’09) and expect that by 2012 I will complete my Bachelors in Management. Nick is also planning on going back to school, so perhaps the decade ’10 will be one of continuing education for the Motterns.
Our Daughters
Both the girls are quite accomplished in school by staying on the honor roll and participating in various school activities. Kourtney is now in 10th grade. She attempted to run for class president this year, however lost by 3 votes to the president of last year’s class. She recovered fast from that disappointment and focused on her memberships to FFA (Future Farmers of America) Key Club (Volunteer Club) and Forensics (Speech/Public Speaking Club) and Planet (Save the Earth Club). She also has been busy going to physical therapy for her knee that she had surgery on this past year. That has been pretty intense for her, but she is doing well and has received clearance to begin the schools bowling league. Her physical therapy should wrap up some time in January and just in time for her to begin Softball training season. Nick and I cannot wait to see her on the field again this spring, and will not sit through a game without slightly holding our breath that we never have to go through another recovery from an injury of one our girls. Speaking of holding our breaths, Kourtney acquired her permit for driving. It is a good thing that Kourtney was blessed with such a calm, cool and collected father who has been very good at teaching her the rules of the road. Granted, Kourtney was driving stick shift at the age of 11, motoring around a Chevy Sprint on the Mottern’s property for quite a few years. From go-karts and four wheelers and “field beater” cars, she has gained a lot of experience in driving off road. Unfortunately, drivers education in school doesn’t teach them what the actual experience of driving on a paved surface is going to be like with other vehicles heading toward you. So Nick has taken on the job of “driving coach” and I have resolved myself as passenger since I am very clear on my tendency to overreact and do not want to shake Kourtney’s confidence as a driver. If you have any good tips for Kourtney, feel free to post a comment for her.
Emily is now in 6th grade. This was the year she went from Mahoning Cooper Elementary where several generations before her attended elementary school, to the Danville Area Middle School. I held my breath as she started this new school which combines 3 other elementary schools into one. Many children have a hard time making the transition, but Emily was ready. I am confident that her participation in Little League Softball made the transition much easier for her since it enabled her to get to know a lot of girls from the other elementary schools before she got to the Middle school. This was ideal for Kourtney as well, both for Middle school and High school. Emily is also focused on her religious education and is looking forward to receiving Confirmation in 2011.
The Year in Review
So, I managed to blog up until August, when Kourtney started her physical therapy and I began my Fall semester of college. This past fall was the most challenging semester yet, as I tackled Algebra again. Thank God for my dad, Bruce who tutored me through the class and helped me get a B in the class. I also thank God that my girls have MUCH better math skills than I do. I will begin 2009 tackling Statistics, big fun! Nick begins 2009 training for his certification in welding, which will make him more marketable should the economy turn around and offer more jobs. For now he starts his 16th year at Bloomsburg Carpet Industries. He has job security and the BCI has reassured it’s employees that they have not felt the effects of the slow economy as of yet…good news.
There has only been room left for the two other facets of our life, family and friends.
Mom (Becky), Dad (Bruce) and Dawn (sister) and Dave (brother-in-law) are all doing well. Dawn will begin 2009 starting school again, full time, to launch a new career in Ultrasound technology or something like that. Mom and Dad are making plans for a trip to Rome in celebration of Dad becoming Catholic. After 39 years of marriage, he finally has received the “calling” to join the Catholic church, thanks to a wonderful priest named Father Don. Mom is excited to finally have company to attend church weekly.
As for our friends, our circle of grows surrounding softball. This year, Nick decided to coach ASA softball and we became great friends with the Fritzs’. We now spend our available free time hanging out with the Drumheller and Fritz families. We all have daughters in and around the same ages which makes our get togethers a lot of fun. Nick was thrilled when Tony Fritz asked him to go on a Bear hunt this past November. Although they did not get a bear, Nick has several hours worth of stories to tell about the experience. It seems he and Tony have a tendency to create these great experiences to share with everyone, including the stories of taking their daughters out hunting as well. Yes, Emily has now found a “soul sister” in Tony’s younger daughter, Leslie. They are two peas in a pod when it comes to their shared interests.
For now, to end this, I will leave you with a quote from Ann Landers:
“ Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world. “
To all of you who took the time to read this..know “We love you.” “ We love you.”
It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were ringing in the year 2000 with worries of the new millennium followed by the tragedy of 2001 and the fear we were recovering from as we rang in 2002. So here we are, preparing for 2009 and the inauguration of the United States first African American President and increasing fear over the state of our economy. It seems as the decade is almost to an end, the decade ’00 will be regarded as one of constant struggle. Personally I am looking forward to the next decade ’10 where I will be watching Kourtney graduate high school (Class of ’11) and begin the next phase of her life, College. I anticipate that I will have renewed sense of hope as she earns her degree and has the opportunity to make a difference in this world. Emily will be graduating in ’15 and for her I anticipate a world much different than the one we are in now. As for myself, I anticipate finishing this decade with my Associates degree in Business Administration (May ’09) and expect that by 2012 I will complete my Bachelors in Management. Nick is also planning on going back to school, so perhaps the decade ’10 will be one of continuing education for the Motterns.
Our Daughters
Both the girls are quite accomplished in school by staying on the honor roll and participating in various school activities. Kourtney is now in 10th grade. She attempted to run for class president this year, however lost by 3 votes to the president of last year’s class. She recovered fast from that disappointment and focused on her memberships to FFA (Future Farmers of America) Key Club (Volunteer Club) and Forensics (Speech/Public Speaking Club) and Planet (Save the Earth Club). She also has been busy going to physical therapy for her knee that she had surgery on this past year. That has been pretty intense for her, but she is doing well and has received clearance to begin the schools bowling league. Her physical therapy should wrap up some time in January and just in time for her to begin Softball training season. Nick and I cannot wait to see her on the field again this spring, and will not sit through a game without slightly holding our breath that we never have to go through another recovery from an injury of one our girls. Speaking of holding our breaths, Kourtney acquired her permit for driving. It is a good thing that Kourtney was blessed with such a calm, cool and collected father who has been very good at teaching her the rules of the road. Granted, Kourtney was driving stick shift at the age of 11, motoring around a Chevy Sprint on the Mottern’s property for quite a few years. From go-karts and four wheelers and “field beater” cars, she has gained a lot of experience in driving off road. Unfortunately, drivers education in school doesn’t teach them what the actual experience of driving on a paved surface is going to be like with other vehicles heading toward you. So Nick has taken on the job of “driving coach” and I have resolved myself as passenger since I am very clear on my tendency to overreact and do not want to shake Kourtney’s confidence as a driver. If you have any good tips for Kourtney, feel free to post a comment for her.
Emily is now in 6th grade. This was the year she went from Mahoning Cooper Elementary where several generations before her attended elementary school, to the Danville Area Middle School. I held my breath as she started this new school which combines 3 other elementary schools into one. Many children have a hard time making the transition, but Emily was ready. I am confident that her participation in Little League Softball made the transition much easier for her since it enabled her to get to know a lot of girls from the other elementary schools before she got to the Middle school. This was ideal for Kourtney as well, both for Middle school and High school. Emily is also focused on her religious education and is looking forward to receiving Confirmation in 2011.
The Year in Review
So, I managed to blog up until August, when Kourtney started her physical therapy and I began my Fall semester of college. This past fall was the most challenging semester yet, as I tackled Algebra again. Thank God for my dad, Bruce who tutored me through the class and helped me get a B in the class. I also thank God that my girls have MUCH better math skills than I do. I will begin 2009 tackling Statistics, big fun! Nick begins 2009 training for his certification in welding, which will make him more marketable should the economy turn around and offer more jobs. For now he starts his 16th year at Bloomsburg Carpet Industries. He has job security and the BCI has reassured it’s employees that they have not felt the effects of the slow economy as of yet…good news.
There has only been room left for the two other facets of our life, family and friends.
Mom (Becky), Dad (Bruce) and Dawn (sister) and Dave (brother-in-law) are all doing well. Dawn will begin 2009 starting school again, full time, to launch a new career in Ultrasound technology or something like that. Mom and Dad are making plans for a trip to Rome in celebration of Dad becoming Catholic. After 39 years of marriage, he finally has received the “calling” to join the Catholic church, thanks to a wonderful priest named Father Don. Mom is excited to finally have company to attend church weekly.
As for our friends, our circle of grows surrounding softball. This year, Nick decided to coach ASA softball and we became great friends with the Fritzs’. We now spend our available free time hanging out with the Drumheller and Fritz families. We all have daughters in and around the same ages which makes our get togethers a lot of fun. Nick was thrilled when Tony Fritz asked him to go on a Bear hunt this past November. Although they did not get a bear, Nick has several hours worth of stories to tell about the experience. It seems he and Tony have a tendency to create these great experiences to share with everyone, including the stories of taking their daughters out hunting as well. Yes, Emily has now found a “soul sister” in Tony’s younger daughter, Leslie. They are two peas in a pod when it comes to their shared interests.
For now, to end this, I will leave you with a quote from Ann Landers:
“ Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world. “
To all of you who took the time to read this..know “We love you.” “ We love you.”
Friday, September 5, 2008
Mottern's Olympic Summer Luge
September begins with the girls back in school, Kourtney beginning her Sophmore year and Emily as a 6th grader in middle school. Labor day weekend lent itself to Nick and his softball buddies throwing a "family" bash. A little bashed it ended up being after the guys put together a 120 foot slip and slide for the kids (and adults) that provided hours of entertainment and was the beginning of an annual "olympic style" competition for furtherest distance slid. A summer luge if you will.
Every now and again adults have to see if they can compete with kids a third of their age. Nick was up for the challenge and did quite well, willing GOLD this year, beating out the gracefulness of Tara Fritz and Marlee Drumheller. Better luck next year girls! This accomplishment did not come without a price to pay for Nick, as he has been taking Tylenol and Advil on a schedule since Monday morning. He will tell you it was well worth it. The girls did not come away unscathed either, as each one of them proudly displayed bruises on their hip bones from landing belly first onto the slide.
Perhaps we will submit our video to YouTube!
Friday, August 8, 2008
The Edge of Exhaustion
School is in it's final week, just a few more days and I will have another semester behind me.
This semester has been the worst, I did not realize how horrible it was going to be trying to enjoy summer, work and go to school. Luckily, I have a two week break before I start Fall semester (this will be the 4 semester of 5 that I need to get my Associates degree inBusiness Administration). By fall of 2009, I am hoping to start working on my Bachelors of Management Information Systems again and if all goes well, Kourtney will be graduating high school at the same time I am graduating from BU. Woo hoo!
The girls are gearing up for school to start on August 25th and Kourtney is happy to finally be putting weight on her knee (albeit, very little right now). We expect that she will be able to dump the crutches and start physical therapy by her second week of school. She will have just enough time left in September to do the things she has been dying to do since school let out...Knoebel's here we come!!
Her
e are some photos of how the girls are keeping themselves busy this summer...enjoy!
This semester has been the worst, I did not realize how horrible it was going to be trying to enjoy summer, work and go to school. Luckily, I have a two week break before I start Fall semester (this will be the 4 semester of 5 that I need to get my Associates degree inBusiness Administration). By fall of 2009, I am hoping to start working on my Bachelors of Management Information Systems again and if all goes well, Kourtney will be graduating high school at the same time I am graduating from BU. Woo hoo!
The girls are gearing up for school to start on August 25th and Kourtney is happy to finally be putting weight on her knee (albeit, very little right now). We expect that she will be able to dump the crutches and start physical therapy by her second week of school. She will have just enough time left in September to do the things she has been dying to do since school let out...Knoebel's here we come!!
Her
e are some photos of how the girls are keeping themselves busy this summer...enjoy!
Friday, July 25, 2008
Softball, Softball and ...More Softball!
Little League softball came to an end on July 18th, when Emily's team (coached by Nick) ended up losing to our biggest rival, Milton. It was a bitter sweet loss since we were hoping that we wouldn't have to travel to Minersville for sectional playoffs, which we didn't since we lost. The girls took it in stride though, and enjoyed a ride in the fire trucks to celebrate a good game and good sportsmanship. Milton needed to win, life is pretty miserable for them when they lose.
Tomorrow Nick turns his focus on ASA softball, where the Lace Bandits will play 3 games
on Saturday and one on Sunday, and more if they win them all. This is one of the last few tournaments we will play in, so thankfully softball is almost over completely. This is just in time for Kourtney to start physical therapy! The running never ends....
Tomorrow Nick turns his focus on ASA softball, where the Lace Bandits will play 3 games
on Saturday and one on Sunday, and more if they win them all. This is one of the last few tournaments we will play in, so thankfully softball is almost over completely. This is just in time for Kourtney to start physical therapy! The running never ends....
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Post Surgical
June 27th was a day that Gwen really needed her sanity checked. By sheer coincidence and timing, Kourtney and Nick both had surgery; Nick for a stapendectomy, Kourtney for ACL reconstruction and Lateral Ligament repair.
Nick's procedure required removing the unhealthy part of the inner ear and replacing the bones of hearing with artificial parts, as a means to make the ear hear again. Nick's surgery was a success! After 25 years of little or no hearing in his right ear, Nick has "stereo" again! Albeit the first several days were a little humbling for him as he suffered from bouts of dizziness and no sense of taste. Thank goodness they are resolving.
Kourtney's day started out with anxiety, the fear of the unknown, and in classic TV fashion I am sure she had visions that scarry people with very large needles would be strapping her down and torturing her. Luckily, she had the magnificent staff of the surgery center where I used to work, caring for her. Utlimately, the entire experience will not be remembered too fondly by Kourtney as she suffered through a three hour delay doped up with Versed and a nerve block in her leg, then a miserable 36 hours of sickness from anesthesia. But by Sunday night she was asking for pizza and on her way.
Today is three weeks post surgery for both, and Nick is hearing very well, his sense of taste has returned and no dizziness-A SUCCESS! Kourtney doing well, hasn't needed pain medication since day 4 after surgery and is getting around very well; she has 2 more weeks of using her crutches with no weight bearing and then begins to add weight a little at a time for 5 more weeks. This will take us to the first week of school when she will begin physical therapy for 4 months and will be finished just in time to start practicing softball in January.
She is doing remarkably on her crutches, just like my dad said she would "You'll be surprised how well she will do with those crutches-she's fifteen, young enough to adjust and overcome." He was right, she hasn't let it stop her hopping up into her "three foot off the floor bed" or from going up and down complete flights of stairs to sit in the press box and do the announcing for Emily's All-Star softball games these past two weeks. The good news is, it has only mildly effected her social life, as she has been hanging out with her buddies, Nick I. and Marlee D., a sign that all is well.
Nick's procedure required removing the unhealthy part of the inner ear and replacing the bones of hearing with artificial parts, as a means to make the ear hear again. Nick's surgery was a success! After 25 years of little or no hearing in his right ear, Nick has "stereo" again! Albeit the first several days were a little humbling for him as he suffered from bouts of dizziness and no sense of taste. Thank goodness they are resolving.
Kourtney's day started out with anxiety, the fear of the unknown, and in classic TV fashion I am sure she had visions that scarry people with very large needles would be strapping her down and torturing her. Luckily, she had the magnificent staff of the surgery center where I used to work, caring for her. Utlimately, the entire experience will not be remembered too fondly by Kourtney as she suffered through a three hour delay doped up with Versed and a nerve block in her leg, then a miserable 36 hours of sickness from anesthesia. But by Sunday night she was asking for pizza and on her way.
Today is three weeks post surgery for both, and Nick is hearing very well, his sense of taste has returned and no dizziness-A SUCCESS! Kourtney doing well, hasn't needed pain medication since day 4 after surgery and is getting around very well; she has 2 more weeks of using her crutches with no weight bearing and then begins to add weight a little at a time for 5 more weeks. This will take us to the first week of school when she will begin physical therapy for 4 months and will be finished just in time to start practicing softball in January.
She is doing remarkably on her crutches, just like my dad said she would "You'll be surprised how well she will do with those crutches-she's fifteen, young enough to adjust and overcome." He was right, she hasn't let it stop her hopping up into her "three foot off the floor bed" or from going up and down complete flights of stairs to sit in the press box and do the announcing for Emily's All-Star softball games these past two weeks. The good news is, it has only mildly effected her social life, as she has been hanging out with her buddies, Nick I. and Marlee D., a sign that all is well.
Friday, May 30, 2008
And so it begins.....
I never seem to have enough time to keep in touch with those I love so much.....perhaps this will help a little.It is softball season, so it is a crazy time of year. I am managing to keep up with the two classes I am taking (thank God for online classes), working full time and participating in the softball experience.
June 27th Kourtney AND Nick will be having surgery. Kourtney for a torn ACL and lateral knee ligament repair and Nick for ear surgery to repair the hearing lost years ago. This just happens to be the week of my midterm exams as well. So while they are recuperating, I will be frantically studying.
Nick is busy coaching Emily's softball team, so proudly displayed here in this photo "Leighow's Subway". (Pictures of Leighow's in action-Log in using Danville and password Homerun) He is anxiously waiting to see the final standings to see if Leighow's will win the championship, earning him the spot to coach the 9-10 year old All Star Little League team, which thankfully will be played here in Danville (a lot less mileage). With any luck I will be reprieved of managing the concession stand, although I have to say that Nick has pretty much taken over this responsibility for me since manging my schoolwork and work schedule doesn't give me time for a whole lot else.
Kourtney's summer is going to be a bust, since she will be laid up for 6 weeks on crutches with no weight bearing on her knee, followed by 4 weeks of partial weight bearing and then September she starts her Sophmore year with regular trips for physical therapy. Hopefully she will be recovered enough to start her driving lessons in December. As you can tell she is quite the photographer, and supplies us with regular updated photos, albeit mostly of herself. It seems self photography is the thing to do these days, and provides a healthy dose of self esteem.Memorial Day weekend was a rather unexpected blast thanks to Kourtney's idea to have friends over for a "camp out". She invited a few of her very best freinds, Ally, Marlee, Carly and Nick over for a backyard campfire and then slept outside in tents. The thrill for Nick and I is that we got to enjoy the company of a few of our favorite people, the Inverso's (Nick's parents), my sister Dawn, her husband Dave, my friend Jen and a few minutes with Mom and Dad. Then Sunday after Kourtney and her friends watched the original three Indiana Jones moves, we (the Motterns, Inverson's, Dave and Dawn) all met at the local "Drive-In Movie" place called Three Points Drive In Theater to watch the new Indiana Jones movie and Ironman. The whole evening was made even better due to Maria's homemade heavenly hot chocolate!
Lastly, Emily will be finishing Elementary school this year, heading for Middle school next year for 6th grade. She still looks like she is a 3rd grader, so I am hoping this summer will bring a much needed growth spurt for her so she actually looks like she belongs in 6th grade.
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