MDA Stride and Ride

This note is from my brother and sister-in-law (Billy and Kelly). Every year they help raise money for the MDA's Annual Stride and Ride to help "Jerry's Kids". If you would like to donate, please click on the link embedded in her note.

Thanks so much!
Chrissy

Friends and Family, Once again this year we have the honor and pleasure of participating as a Team in MDA's 5th Annual Stride and Ride to help "Jerry's Kids", scheduled for May 9th at The St. Louis Mills (in Hazelwood, MO). We are collecting funds for the MDA in honor of our daughter, Elizabeth Pohl and we hope to raise $3000 - To reach our goal I need your help! As many of you know, our 10yr old daughter Elizabeth has Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (she was diagnosed when she was 7mo old). The MDA has helped us connect with specialists and therapists to give our daughter all the additional support she needs. Elizabeth benefited from physical therapy, occupational therapy, swim therapy and speech therapy; used a standing frame, ankle supports, a walker, and arm crutches - today she walks without assistance, which some doctors said would never happen!

We'd like to include you or your company on our list of contributors who are helping us reach our goal. Your donation would help MDA continue the important fight against muscular dystrophy. Check out our web page by clicking on this link: https://www.joinmda.org/stlouiswalk09/kpohl. There you'll find all kinds of information about MDA and be able to make your tax-deductible donation on-line using your credit card. Feel free to pass it on and collect even more funds! :) Everyone is welcome on our team!

Lastly, I want to extend an invitation to you and anyone you know who wants to walk to join us at The St. Louis Mills at 9:45am on Saturday, May 9th. (Registration is from 8:30am - 9:30am and there are plenty of activities and snacks!) I sincerely hope that you'll take the opportunity to support MDA. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. On behalf of the families served by the MDA, like ours, thank you!

Sincerely, Bill and Kelly Pohl

All you have to do is click here to make a secure, online donation. Your donation will help families living in our community and help make a difference. I am excited to add you to my list of contributors. Thanks in advance for your help. Don't hesitate to call or email me with any questions. Together we'll make a difference, If the link above does not work, please cut and paste the address below into the address bar of your Internet browser. https://www.joinmda.org/stlouiswalk09/kpohl Making Strides to Find a Cure

Spring has arrived!

Jim was off work last Thursday, so we took the kids outside to play for a little bit. I think we need a fence! It was sort of tough because they weren't used to walking on the grass, with the little bumps and hills, etc. They walk pretty good inside, just are not used to outside yet. The weather has been wonderful the past few days....except today its been raining all day.

Here are a few pics.......
It was hard to catch Jenna...she's quick!
Alli loves to play with our neighbor's dog
Exploring in the yard
Not liking the grass too much....just about time to go in
My little cheerleaders :)

Easter 2009

So, I had a huge, long post with a whole bunch of pictures and right before I posted it, Alli started pushing buttons (being impatient b/c I told her she could play a game when I was done) and deleted the whole post :( So frustrating! So, I don't feel like typing everything again, but I'll post the pictures. Enjoy!

Easter we went to Mass together as a family.....that won't happen again until Christmas. It was just too many babies and not enough hands. They were good most of it....maybe about half of it ;) We don't have a cry room at our church, so it makes it a little harder trying to keep them quiet. Went to Mom's house for lunch like we always do and had the Easter Egg Hunt. Nobody picked up any brown eggs this year (just for you, Mom!) Lots of fun, like always. Missed Brian and family and Jackie and family. But we did have lots of open seats and didn't have to fight over chairs! haha! We were home by 5. Kids were getting cranky and tired.

Dying eggs
The babies were already in bed...maybe next year
I took Alli to the Hazelwood Egg Hunt too.
Cali and Alli
Alli in action

The Easter Bunny has arrived
Getting ready for the egg hunt....and Ken is ready to go!
Cassie getting an egg from Grandma
Alli was crying at the beginning...I'm not really sure why
Jenna and Kelly
Jimmy and Janie
Marissa & Kelly
Michael's 1st Easter
Jenna and Daddy
Katie and Libby
Billy after he got done holding Libby
Easter Night, relaxing at home

Been really busy lately. Cardinal season has started, although, I've only been to Opening Day so far. Going Friday night to the Cards-Cubs game. I've also been working out since January pretty regular, trying to get in shape for my Jamaica trip and also just b/c I still haven't lost my baby weight and the babies are almost 17 mos old. Lots of wedding showers (which I have my last one on Sunday), now the bachelorette parties have started. We have our 1st of 4 weddings in 6 weeks next weekend. Just so much going on and hard to cram it all in, but I try my hardest! Anyone want to babysit? Kelly, Jen, Steph? I can post the list of days we need :)

Who could resist watching these sweet cute kids? ;)
Just hanging out in the crib one day
Jim and I get to go to our friends Toni and Andy's wedding in Jamaica in May. My mom, who is the best in the world, is going to watch the kids, but I'm hoping my lovely brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and Lynn can help her out A LOT so it doesn't all fall on her. And I'll repay you guys!!!! I'm nervous leaving them and leaving it on everyone, but I can't help but want to get away for a few days! Makes me sound like a bad mom, I guess????

Random Photos

Cardinals Home Opener

Monday was Opening Day for the Cardinals. Pretty much a holiday for St. Louis, or at least our family. We sure do miss the days though when Jane used to do group sales and we'd have 100-150 people in our group. It was so much fun hanging out with everyone. But, they won't let us do that anymore, so we're pretty much on our own. This year, it was Jane, Ken and 6 of their kids, me and Jim, Jason, Ann and Tim, Uncle Dan, and Liz with her two boys. We did meet up with a few of our friends while tailgating. It was sooooooo cold during the game. Would have maybe been worth it if we would have won, but we blew it in the bottom of the 9th! Uggghh!!! Anyway, GO CARDS!!!!!

Jim and Jason

Nathan and Dawn
Me and Jim
Dawn and me
The Davis Family
Uncle Dan, Jim, Chrissy, and Jane

Let's see, what has been going on lately in the Clauser household???

Jim celebrated his 34th birthday on Tues, 3/31. Jenna had a 103 fever on Monday, took her to the DR. and he said roseola is going around and he wouldn't be surprised if that's what it was and she would break out in a rash all over her body in a few days. Anyway, Jim had an excuse to take the day off. We didn't do much, but I think he had a good b-day spending it with the family. I made a homemade lemon cake. He always tells me about his Aunt Kitty's recipe, but I haven't been able to get it, so I tried one out and it turned out pretty good. He tells me it was really good, but not sure if he is just trying to make me feel good or not. He (and the kids) opened gifts and we sang to him. My mom offered to babysit so we could go out for an early dinner, but we just decided that we would grill, so Jim went and bought some steaks, potatos, and asparagus. It was soooo good and we were so full afterwards, we could barely move! Oh, and Jenna did break out with a rash on Wed, so I guess the DR was correct. She is fine now. They all just have runny noses and Jimmy has a bit of a cough. We've had to break out the breathing treatments a few times over the past two weeks for all 4 of them.
I feel so bad...Jenna was throwing a fit, I thought for nothing, because she cries wolf all of the time. So, I took this picture of her and thought it was so funny. Then 10 seconds later, I look back and there is blood all over her shirt and hands and face. She must have bit her tongue or her lip or something. And then when I look at the picture closer, I can see blook all pooled in her mouth on the left side. Poor baby!
We celebrated Jim's b-day with a group of friends last Saturday. We went to Las Fuentes for dinner and margaritas (me, Jim, Don, Brian, Ann, Tim, Kristen, Jason, Dawn, Nathan). Then we headed over to Deavers to meet up with a few other friends (Toni, Andy, Michelle, Jared, Derek, Danielle, Jane, Ken, Jackie, Dave, Peanut) We all had a lot of fun! Thanks everyone for coming out! Jim and I were very hung over the next day! Forgot to take pictures :(

I've had 3 wedding showers in the past two weeks. My friends, Colleen's and Toni's and then my niece, Janie's. They were all fun, they got lots of good gifts, lots of good food. Only one more shower in April, then I start the bachelorette parties and then the weddings! I think I have 4 weddings in two months, although I'm not in any of them (well, I am reading in my friend Kelly's - and VERY nervous about that!)

Few pics from Toni's shower - almost everyone, I think.
Janet, Shannon (Theresa), Toni - the bride-to-be, Chrissy (Morgan)
Janet, Becky, Toni -the bride-to-be, Amy B, Amy Y, Chrissy, & Devan (in front)Hmmm...what else? This weekend is pretty relaxed. Last night, Jim and I went to a happy hour at Trailhead with friends from work. This morning we took the kids to get Easter pictures. That was our first time in a studio...usually we have a photographer come to our house. At home is a lot easier! They got little crabby, but they were tired. And I think no matter what, its hard to get 4 kids to cooperate! Alli and Jimmy were great, Jenna and Cassie were a handful! So, here is the finished product...yes, only one...I'm cheap and stuck with the $10 package. Jim is playing poker tonight, hopefully winning big. Nothing tomorrow except my bootcamp class. And Monday is Opening Day. We will be downtown all day and night! Hope it doesn't really snow though! High of 38, I think! GO CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We also had snow last weekend....where is SPRING??? We didn't get much, but enough to make one last snowman.
Two videos....Jenna trying to wake Jimmy up and Cassie and Jenna jumping. Enjoy!!!