Monday, March 15, 2010

Natalie's 4th Birthday

Meredith asked me to post for her, so here I go...
On March 2nd, Natalie celebrated her 4th birthday. The Fielders hosted a small party with a BIG cake. I can attest that the cake tasted as good as it looked. YUM! Great job, Meredith and Happy Birthday Natalie! I can't wait for the next birthday at the Fielder house!

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Holiday With Family







We had a terrific Christmas celebration in York. All family was home for Christmas this year. Everyone really enjoyed spending our first Christmas together with Chloe (Steve and Kelly too!). They arrived on the east coast the night before the big storm hit and Chloe got to experience her first snow just as Kelly had hoped she would. We were also really excited to have Dan home with us this year. Megan delivered him safely. Of course you all know that Chris received his most precious gift of all this year - a new head! He looks as good as ever! Ma is now traveling in style with her new fancy cane and is ready to show it off to her crowd. She will be traveling in style now! We hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season and Happy 2010!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Dinner in Lititz

Allison and Meredith & gang were in town in early August. We all went up to Lititz to have dinner with our Grandmas. (some of us went to have dinner with our Great-Grandmas.) We dined at good ol' Freeze and Frizz (right across from Wilber) and finished the evening by feeding the ducks at the park. Fun times!






Hi all, Don't know what order these will appear.



Ma & Chloe -- we stopped for a visit on our way home from Strasburg railroad. She checked everything out.



Mom's birthday. We had tea in the tea room in Lititz. Of course shopping after. Mom was still healing from leg wound, so she & I sat on a bench while girls shopped.



Chloe kissing Chris goodby.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Eagle Has Landed

....and is getting ready to take the A-train to Colorado on Thursday night!

Grandma got here safely last Friday and has been busy doing laundry and baking banana bread at Nathan's request. Mom, Dad, and Toni are taking Ma out to see Lorrie and Mark and crew tomorrow night. We're taking Amtrak and are really looking forward to the ride! Should be a good adventure for us. Mom and Dad have already taken this train to CO and back a few times but it will be a first for Grandma and Toni. We're taking snacks, cards, and pillows! I'll take some pics and post them when we get to Lorrie's.

Have a great weekend, Family!
Toni

P.S. Anyone else on Facebook that I don't know about yet???

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Our Visit to Solana Beach






Al and I had the chance to go out west and spend a week with Steve, Kelly and Chloe. We had a blast and were quickly involved in all of Chloe's lastest activities: swim lessons, bike/scooter riding, coloring and using sidewalk chalk. While we were out, Kelly and I pampered ourselves with a manicure/pedicure/massage. We visited the Midway, Disneyland, Dog Beach, and were able to get used to life in Solana Beach. Steve cooked an excellent breakfast our first morning there and we had a great seafood feast one night as well. We made it through Disneyland in a little under 14 hours! Al and Steve had a great time riding roller coasters and towers of terror. Kelly, Chloe and I enjoyed Monsters, Inc. and A Bug's Life! Chloe had her face painted an looked like a butterfuly all day. :) Needless to say, we were all beat at the end of the day.

Kelly and Chloe flew back to Baltimore with Al and I. They are staying at Mom and Dad's while enjoying visiting family and doing the sights in PA - Strasburg Railroad and the Miniature Horse Farm.

Monday, June 15, 2009

A Weekend Walk in the Woods

We decided to enjoy the great weather yesterday and went for a walk/hike at our local park. The trail follows a creek and despite the muddy sections, it was an enjoyable stroll. Avery began the walk with Mommy...

had a GREAT time seeing all the sites...

and finished the walk with Daddy. She was worn out!!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Memorial Day In Iowa 2009


Lorrie and crew came to visit us in Iowa for Memorial Day weekend. Here are a few pics from that visit.


The kids spent hours swinging out back (consequently we
spent hours pushing them! Dad is helping Madeline,
and Lorrie is swinging with her Audrey.



Nathan, Ethan, Andrew, Owen,
Madeline, Audrey waiting to get our family
pics taken.



Lorrie and her newest little one, Elyse.



Audrey, Owen, Ethan, Andrew in Aunt Toni's bed watching
Go, Diego, Go!
Audrey was very good about sharing her goldfish with the rest
of the kids. Actually, I think most of the goldfish in that bag
wound up in the bed instead of in their bellies! I had a whole
aquarium to change before sleeping that night!



Mark with Elyse, Madeline, Toni. We were waiting to have our family pics made.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Our family poet has been published. Mom, Ma, Helen has won 3rd place in a Haiku writing contest at the Wellness center. Thought I'd share it>

" Aches and pains go away,
Health and wellness here to stay,
Fun at the Center.'

She hasn't received her prize yet.
How about that?
Sheila

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Juniata Valley weekend




Just a couple pics from our big weekend. It was my class reunion & the Juniata Valley Alumni banquet. Mom went along to the banquet & did see some old friends. Great accomodations at Fran & Jeff's new address.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Avery & her Great-Grandma


This was a about a month ago up at my folks new place on the hill. Avery took a nice nap in her Great-Grandma's arms. Just wanted to share!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009




I just looked at all the new pics & notes. Boy have I missed alot. I'm way behind, but you must realize what a challenge this is for me. I'm surrounded by tons of cheat sheets.


Welcome all new babies. It's a family population explosion. ( What beautiful middle names the girls have).


I want to share a baby picture too. Well, a 2 year old. Can you believe the hair? It's enough to go around for all the rest.


If this is a success, I'll try again.


Love, Aunt Sheila

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The Diva

I wanted to share a couple of photos of our future drama queen, Avery. She can have quite the mood swings! We see the "grumpy face" every once in awhile, but it makes us laugh everytime. I'm glad we caught it on camera so I could share with all of you! And just to prove she's not like that all the time, I also included a shot of her getting ready for the summer sun.

Friday, January 23, 2009

the newest hostetler

I wanted to formally present our newest little lovely...Elyse Noel Hostetler.
She was born on December 21st... 7 pounds 6 ounces, 19 1/2 inches long.
It was nice to be home with her for Christmas.

We are adjusting every day...all of us. And, glad to have a month under our belts as a family of 6. The kids are nothing but loving with her and patient with parents who are a little sleep deprived and distracted.


Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Helen's Interview

Wanted you all to see this. Thanks, Uncles Les, for the email pics and letter. Sorry about the spacing, but I don't know how to fix it! Grrrr.....



Wellness Center

Member Spotlight


Helen Bowman














She is one of a growing number of older adults who have been
defying the stereotypes of the elderly. At 91 years of age, Helen Bowman
is every bit as healthy, active and fulfilled as her younger peers. Perhaps
one of the sweetest people you will ever meet, Helen is most certainly a
servant above all else. Listening to her story, you undoubtedly will find
yourself surprised, amazed and inspired by the life she has lived.


Helen grew up in Lebanon, PA, where she says as a kid she spent a
good deal of time staying active at the playground. As she explains it, a
director would supervise playground activity and organized events such as
swimming, crafts and basketball for the children. The winter months were
always full of ice skating and sledding for her and her friends and thus there
was never seemed to be a lack of activities for Helen to participate in as a
youngster. Junior and Senior high school was Helen's time to shine as a star
basketball player for her team. As a junior she helped lead her team to win
the championship and later served as their captain and during the summer
played basketball for her church team. Keeping active was never a chore for
Helen, it was more of an innate desire.


While she never really had much encouragement from her parents to
pursue her activities (her father died when she was a baby and her mother
when she was 13 years old), Helen was naturally inclined to invest her
interest in her wellbeing. During her last years in high school and thereafter,
Helen had thought about attending college to become a physical education
teacher because she loved physical activity and wanted to impart its
importance on others. Unfortunately at the time Helen didn't have the
means to pursue a college degree, but she never let that fact slow her down.
As a mother of four, Helen spent her years raising her children to be healthy
and active, always encouraging them in their physical endeavors be it
football, basketball or cheerleading.

Over the years Helen has definitely come to appreciate the benefits of
being physically active. Although she constantly battles with arthritis in her
back, arms and hands, Helen has found that the exercises she commits
herself to today helps to take the edge off the pain. She explains "I know if I
don't keep going I will end up in a wheelchair. Exercise has made and kept
me physically fit and limber." It sure has! Helen has not looked her age for

years, but it is her dedication to exercise and her busy volunteer schedule
which has kept her looking so great.
Based on Helen's daily schedule, retirement is not for the faint of
heart. Aside from her home duties, Helen has been dividing her time
between such volunteer activities as delivering mail, chapel duty, the beauty
shop (which she recently had to leave to due lack of available time), and
helping in laundry, where she occasionally spends up to five hours. While
many may read this and think "wow, she overextends herself way too
much", remember, Helen thrives on this type of schedule. She does joke
however that "while I don't sit much, it is becoming more attractive."
Helen is quite content with her physical fitness today, in fact she is
proud of it and rightfully so. "I have friends who are amazed at what I do at
my age and that makes me feel very blessed with my overall wellbeing. My
goal is to just keep up my health." To help do just that Helen attends the
Wellness Center three times a week, participating in the Water Aerobics
class and Total Body Toning class. Having felt the benefits of exercise first
hand, Helen is on a mission to encourage those she cares about to get active
as well. "I spent a good deal of time trying to encourage my sister who is
two years older than I to attend her physical therapy after she fell. I wanted
her to understand how beneficial exercise is to regaining strength vital for
walking and avoid future falls and eventually she listened to me. I tell my
friends the same thing about daily exercise and how rewarding it can be."
Who would have thought a 91 year old would be physical fitness' biggest
champion?

When others would probably have used their age as a reason to give
up on their activities, Helen has made it a reason to continue. After all
staying active has rewarded her in good health and has allowed her to be
emotionally, mentally and socially fulfilled. Her reputation precedes her and
her joy and kindness is contagious. Those who know Helen are certainly
blessed for it and if you haven't had the pleasure, keep an eye out, she is the
one masquerading around campus in some sort of holiday garb, extending
her hand wherever she can.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Newest Addition

David and I spent Thanksgiving here in Lancaster. Here's a shot of us on Thanksgiving Day.

Two days later, on Saturday, November 29, 2008, we welcomed Avery Noelle into the family. 8 pounds and 1 ounce and a full week early. I'm glad she didn't decide to wait another week either. 8 pounds was enough for me, thank you very much. Here's a few photos:


Monday, December 1, 2008

giving thanks rocky mountain style

Just 4 short weeks until our little darling's due date meant we were home for Thanksgiving. However, "home" for these days was with some dear friends of ours who manage the Rocking R Ranch in Longmont, CO. We had a leisurely morning and brunch at home and then headed to the ranch where we feasted. On Friday we enjoyed the wonderful weather with some good old cowboy-ing and a wonderful Christmas parade on Friday evening in the mountains. During the parade it started to snow and after a deep sleep in our own beds we woke to a white-blanketed world which called three little Hostetlers to come and play. Saturday evening we joined some friends for a brew party (Dwayne brews his own beer in his garage) and it inspired Mark to make his first holiday "mulled beer". Sunday we enjoyed our launch into the advent season at church and a quiet afternoon of football and snowfall.

So much to give thanks for...




PS - As I write this I am enjoying the near end of Aunt Sheila's chocolate chip cake...no wait...I've finished it. Time for another piece.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Florida Thanksgiving




Karen and Joe had 12 for Thanksgiving in Plant City, and, of course, Joey makes 13. Karen is at top right and her maid of honor, Denise is the young lady in the lower left.

Joey is loving solids and he sat at table in his high chair and enjoyed his sweet potato. From the expression on his face one might think they had been laced with rum or something similar.

I will try to post some of our house pictures as Toni requested and also more of Joey.

Pittsburgh Thanksgiving




We were small but mighty in the 'burgh this Thanksgiving. I am including a photo of Helen's plate so that you can all see that we made sure that she ate. Rick was the picture taker, so he did not make any of the pics. We have had a wonderful visit. Rick is safely back in Boston and tomorrow Fred and Helen drive to Jeff and Fran's where Fred will search for the elusive white-tailed deer and Helen will have her boys to look after!
This is our table. No people. Started out to be 2, then 5, and ended up 3. Too busy eating & forgot pics at dinner. It was delicious though.
Some of you know that Chloe was very sick this past week & had to see a doctor & go to Chlidren's Hospital several times for I.V fluids. Diagnosis was viral tonsilitis. She's better now, but Thanksgiving was not much of a celebration for them. Felt bad that they are so far away & none of us close to help.
Haven't done this for so long (sorry) Will try to do better.
Hello to everybody & I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving.
Love Sheila & Les