Issue 22 — 100+ members & GROWING! March/April 2010

MARCH

3rd 6:30pm, MMM Dinner Meeting

Ruby Tuesday, Dewitt Final Spring Slim Down Weigh-In

12th: 6pm, Spring Clothing Sale Setup & Member’s Preview Sale

(No Guests Please)

13th: 8:30am, MMM Spring Clothing & Equipment Sale, Empire Room NYS Fair

14th 3 pm, Benefit for Judy Aguirre Thunderbird Lanes, Baldwinsville

14th Daylight Savings Starts set your clocks and babies

ahead 1 hour

16th 10:00am, Children's’ Playgroup, Skaneateles

17th St Patrick’s Day

20th First Day of Spring

22nd 10:30am, Children's’ Playgroup, North Syracuse

APRIL

1st April Fool’s Day

4th Easter

7th 6:30pm, MMM Dinner Meeting

Ruby Tuesday, Dewitt

SPRING SALE SCHEDULE:

Friday, March 12th

6-7pm: Sellers setup, Empire Room NYS Fair Grounds

7-8pm: Sale open to sellers only

8-9pm: sale open to paid MMM members only (no guests please)

Saturday, March 13th

8:00am: All sellers arrive, Empire Room NYS Fair Grounds

8:30am-12pm: Sale open to the public

12-1pm: Clean up & removal of all items brought to the sale

Mixing it Up with Multiple Moms Mingle

Purchase a club cookbook today $10!

150 family friendly recipes within a

padded three-ring binder.

www.multiplemomsmingle.com/cookbook.html

Multiple Moms to be...Multiple Moms to be...Multiple Moms to be...Multiple Moms to be...

Karen Sebastian, Karen Sebastian, Karen Sebastian, Karen Sebastian, Expecting Twins Apr '10

Karen Atherton, Karen Atherton, Karen Atherton, Karen Atherton, Expecting Twins Apr '10

Kristen Smith, Kristen Smith, Kristen Smith, Kristen Smith, Expecting Twins Apr '10

Lisa Salisbury, Lisa Salisbury, Lisa Salisbury, Lisa Salisbury, Expecting Twins May '10

Aimee Blok, Aimee Blok, Aimee Blok, Aimee Blok, Expecting Twins May ‘10

Casey Frazee, Casey Frazee, Casey Frazee, Casey Frazee, Expecting Twins May '10

Amy Hall, Amy Hall, Amy Hall, Amy Hall, Expecting Twins June '10

Jamie Lynn Waller, Jamie Lynn Waller, Jamie Lynn Waller, Jamie Lynn Waller, Expecting Twins July '10

Barbara Allott, Barbara Allott, Barbara Allott, Barbara Allott, Expecting Twins Sept '10

2 MULTITUDES, March/April 2010

Executive Board PRESIDENT Kelly Carter kcssunshines@aol.com (315) 308-0277

VICE PRESIDENT Mary Wood

TREASURER Tracy Blumer

RECORDING SECRETARY Leslie Petty

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

Cyndi Rizzo

Committees LIBRARIAN Amanda Fosberg

CHILDREN’S LIBRARIAN Susan Hayes Renee Gurley

MEMBERSHIP Mary Wood

BIG SISTERS Meghan Leonardis

NEWSLETTER Tracy Blumer Leslie Petty Mary Wood

PUBLICITY Cyndi Rizzo Sharon Bush

MEETING PROGRAMS Maureen Bennett Lisa Vona

PLAYGROUPS Krista Selig Susan Hayes

PREEMIE CLOSET

Melissa Sainsbury

HISTORIAN Leslie Petty

STATE REPRESENTATIVE Kelly Carter

NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE Mercedes Genei

Kelly CarterKelly CarterKelly CarterKelly Carter Mom to 4 year old twin girls &Mom to 4 year old twin girls &Mom to 4 year old twin girls &Mom to 4 year old twin girls & MMM founder and presidentMMM founder and presidentMMM founder and presidentMMM founder and president

School DaysSchool DaysSchool DaysSchool Days The 2010-2011 school year does not begin for another six months, but

now is the time to register for kindergarten, pre-k, nursery school and daycare.

We registered Ashley and Brooke for kindergarten just last week. The

girls will be attending half day kindergarten at Walberta Park Primary School in the

Westhill School District. They will take the big yellow bus from our home in the

morning to school. The bus will drop them off after school at around noon at On

the Hill Childcare Center for kindergarten enrichment 3 days a week. The other 2

days a week they will head home to dad on Tuesday and to me on Thursdays. I

have gone over the routine a million times in my head. Will we be able to all be

up, dressed with hair done by 8:15am to catch the bus? Certainly we will adjust.

Will the girls be exhausted with no chance for naps? Certainly they will adjust.

Those first few weeks will be just that, an adjustment. That is the way whenever

there is new routine.

Public school is an especially exciting milestone for us. It seems that

everywhere we go, people ask the girls how old they are. Now that they are 5, the

next question is “Are they going to kindergarten in the fall?” Another question we

often get is “Will they be in the same class?” After careful consideration, consult-

ing the research, their current teachers, and asking the girls what they would pre-

fer, we have requested that they be placed in the same classroom for kindergar-

ten.

Meghan Leonardis, current SAHM mom to twins plus 1, and former kin-

dergarten teacher, spoke on the topic of kindergarten readiness to the MMM

moms at our February meeting. One of the many things

Meghan stressed was not to cry when we send our kids

off to kindergarten. I will try not to, at least until I turn

to walk away from the big, yellow school bus.

Stats from paid members only, as of March 2010.

Would you like your

multiples placed together

or separate for

kindergarten?

14% said they wanted them separated

25% said that they were undecided

60% said would want them together

MULTITUDES, March/April 2010 3

BIG SISTERS

Contact: Megan Leonardis We offer a "Big Sister" to paid MMM members that are pregnant and/or are new moms of multiples during the first 3 months after giving birth. We pair you up with a member that has multiples like you have (or will have). The idea is for the big sister to check in with her little sister often— to offer support, advice, help, etc. as needed. Then she reports to the group at each meeting on how her "little sister" is doing. The little sister can also contact her big sister as needed. Please contact Megan to get hooked up with a "big sister" today! If your multiples are over a year old and are interested in becoming a “big sister” contact Megan today!

CHILDREN’S LIBRARIAN

Contact: Susan Hayes

We are now collecting books for our children’s lending library. We are looking for books that are gently used or new, and pertain to useful or enriching topics like potty training, multiples, multiculturalism, special needs or growing families, to name a few!

CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT SALE

Contact: Melissa Sainsbury,

The MMM Clothing & Equipment Sale will be Friday, March 12th (set up and members only pre-sale) and open to the public on Saturday, March 13th 8:30am-12pm at the Empire Room on the NYS Fairgrounds.

COOKBOOK FUNDRAISER

Contact: Mary Wood, Heather Hayes, Leslie Petty,

Christine Coomes, Lori McIntyre & Donna Refici As a club fundraiser we have published a cookbook with our own 150 recipes. We ask that each member sell or buy 2; they make great gifts. For more ordering information please go to www.multiplemomsmingle.com/cookbook.html

HISTORIAN

Contact: Leslie Petty Leslie is gathering photos for the clubs scrapbook. If you have a photo to share, please give it to Leslie. Any "old" club photos or group photos would be great.

LIBRARIAN

Contact: Amanda Fosberg Please contact Amanda if you are interested in donating or checking out any books, videos or magazines from our library. We have many things to choose from that may be helpful to you.

MEMBERSHIP/DIRECTORY

Contact: Mary Wood If you are a new member, please download and complete a registration form under the files section of the member’s only Yahoo groups site or under membership on our website multiplemomsmingle.com. You can send Mary a photo of your kids or family if you'd like one included in the MMM directory that gets updated every other month.

PLAYGROUPS

Contact: Krista Selig Playgroups are being formed throughout the year. Please contact Krista if you'd like to schedule a play date at your home or even a park.

PUBLICITY

Contact: Cyndi Rizzo & Sharon Bush We have ads for our meetings in the Pennysaver and Family Times. Special events are advertised too.

(Continued on page 4)

Welcome NEW moms to

Multiple Moms Mingle!

• Kara Murphy • Casey Frazee

• Jamie Lynn Waller • Aimee Blok

• Denise LaCombe • Kara Primrose

• Amy Hall • Karen Atherton

• Barbara Allott • Lisa Salisbury

• Kristen Smith • YOUR NAME HERE!

110 members & GROWING!110 members & GROWING!110 members & GROWING!110 members & GROWING!

4 MULTITUDES, March/April 2010

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Contact: Kelly Carter

April 2010 convention will be held in Owego, NY. April 2011 may be in Syracuse, hosted by Parents of Multiples.

Help Wanted: ● Big Sisters (contact Meghan Leonardis) ● Multiple Birth Awareness Apr '10 ● Summer Family Picnic ‘10 ● Silent Auction '10 ● Christmas Family '10 ● Children's Holiday Party '10 ● Adult Holiday Party '10 Consider your own talents and interests, as well as how much time you will be able to invest. If your children are over 1 year of age, we ask you to join a committee and help support our organization. Please email Christine Coomes to volunteer.

(Continued from page 3)

Check out these books to help Check out these books to help Check out these books to help Check out these books to help

your children prepare to go off to your children prepare to go off to your children prepare to go off to your children prepare to go off to

Kindergarten!!!Kindergarten!!!Kindergarten!!!Kindergarten!!!

On the way to Kindergarten On the way to Kindergarten On the way to Kindergarten On the way to Kindergarten by Virginia Kroll

A mother describes the increasing accomplishments of

her 5 year old, from crying and sleeping, to riding a

tricycle, then preparing for school.

I’m Telling You Dex, Kindergarten Rocks I’m Telling You Dex, Kindergarten Rocks I’m Telling You Dex, Kindergarten Rocks I’m Telling You Dex, Kindergarten Rocks by Katie Smith

Dexter knows everything there is to know about

kindergarten and is not at all scared about his first day

there, but his stuffed dog, Rufus, is very nervous.

Kindergarten Countdown Kindergarten Countdown Kindergarten Countdown Kindergarten Countdown by Anna Jane Hays

Rhyming text follows an excited little girl as she counts

down the days before the start of kindergarten.

Off to Kindergarten Off to Kindergarten Off to Kindergarten Off to Kindergarten by Tony Johnston

A young boy lists all the things he will have to take with

him on his first day in kindergarten.

Welcome to Kindergarten Welcome to Kindergarten Welcome to Kindergarten Welcome to Kindergarten by Anne F. Rockwell

A boy visits the classroom where he will attend

kindergarten the following fall and finds our what is in

store for him.

My Kindergarten My Kindergarten My Kindergarten My Kindergarten by Rosemary Wells

Shows what happens during a year in kindergarten,

from learning the alphabet, counting to 10, reading and

more.

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Multiple Mommy Expecting One More!

Stephanie Johnson Stephanie Johnson Stephanie Johnson Stephanie Johnson

Expecting a singleton

Oct ‘10

MULTITUDES, March/April 2010 5

To Separate or Not to SeparateTo Separate or Not to SeparateTo Separate or Not to SeparateTo Separate or Not to Separate

…..that is the Question???…..that is the Question???…..that is the Question???…..that is the Question???

At some point in the future, the near future for

many of our members, the question of whether or not your

multiples should be placed together in elementary school

will have to be answered. There are many opinions on this

topic, and pros and cons to both scenarios. The recommen-

dations listed below may be helpful when you are making

this decision for your own children.

• It is not recommended to separate multiples who want

to be together. Forced separation can damage self-

esteem, inhibit language development and delay learn-

ing.

• It is not recommended to automatically separate multi-

ples in their first year of school. Such a separation adds

to the stress of starting school and may actually in-

crease the multiples’ need to be together.

• All multiples need as much independence as they are

ready to handle. Multiples flourish when allowed to

separate on their own timetable. Whether they are in

the same classroom or not can and should be evaluated

each year. As multiples grow older, they themselves

will also have input as to whether or not they should or

want to be together.

• Encourage multiples to choose separate classes as they

gain confidence in their school situation.

• Decisions as to whether or not the children should be

together needs to be made by a “team” approach-the

parents , the teachers and the principal. Educators

need to realize that the parents know their children

best and it is important for an easy transition to school

and development that parental opinion be considered.

• If multiples are in the same classroom, they can be in

separate settings within the class.

• Make it easy on the teachers and students and dress

your multiples differently so that they are easily recog-

nized and seen as individuals.

Additional information regarding this topic can be found at :

www.multiplebirthscanada.orgwww.multiplebirthscanada.orgwww.multiplebirthscanada.orgwww.multiplebirthscanada.org

Do any of your children have a peanut Do any of your children have a peanut Do any of your children have a peanut Do any of your children have a peanut

allergy, have friends that do or attend a allergy, have friends that do or attend a allergy, have friends that do or attend a allergy, have friends that do or attend a

school that is “peanut free”? Do you school that is “peanut free”? Do you school that is “peanut free”? Do you school that is “peanut free”? Do you

wonder what snacks are safe to have on wonder what snacks are safe to have on wonder what snacks are safe to have on wonder what snacks are safe to have on

hand or to send in to school? hand or to send in to school? hand or to send in to school? hand or to send in to school?

The list below can help you out. The list below can help you out. The list below can help you out. The list below can help you out.

However, due to continual changes in However, due to continual changes in However, due to continual changes in However, due to continual changes in

manufacturing, packaging and processing, manufacturing, packaging and processing, manufacturing, packaging and processing, manufacturing, packaging and processing,

please always continue to read the please always continue to read the please always continue to read the please always continue to read the

ingredient labels of your chosen snack. ingredient labels of your chosen snack. ingredient labels of your chosen snack. ingredient labels of your chosen snack.

Healthy Snack Options: Healthy Snack Options: Healthy Snack Options: Healthy Snack Options: All fresh fruits, Applesauce cups,

Dole Fruit bowls, plain raisins or craisins (NOT chocolate or

yogurt covered), All fresh vegetables with ranch dip cups,

cheeses (sticks, shapes, cubes), Thomas’ presliced mini

bagels (plain, whole grain, or cinnamon raisin), yogurt.

Cereal Bars/Snacks: Cereal Bars/Snacks: Cereal Bars/Snacks: Cereal Bars/Snacks: Kellogg’s Nutri Grain, Wegmans, Price

Chopper, or Market Pantry brand fruit and grain cereal bars

(apple, strawberry, mixed berry, blueberry, raspberry and

cherry), Kellogg’s Special K bars and Go-tarts (be sure to

check labels of individual flavors)

Graham Snacks/Animal Crackers: Graham Snacks/Animal Crackers: Graham Snacks/Animal Crackers: Graham Snacks/Animal Crackers: Nabisco Honeymaid

Graham Crackers, Sticks and Bees (honey, cinnamon and

chocolate), Nabisco Teddy Grahams (cinnamon, honey, and

chocolate), Keebler Graham Crackers (Bug Bites, Scooby

Doo Bones), and Nabisco Barnum Animal Crackers

Salty Snacks: Salty Snacks: Salty Snacks: Salty Snacks: already popped popcorn (Price Chopper, Wise,

Pirates Booty and Smartfood Brands), Pepperidge Farm

Goldfish Crackers (Cheddar, rainbow, pretzel, baby, pizza

and parmesan varieties), Pretzels (Rold Gold, Wegmans,

Wise, Price Chopper, Bachman and Anderson brands),

Nabisco Cheese Nips (Cheddar, 4 Cheese and Bold), Nabisco

Wheat Thins (original, multigrain, harvest garden, ranch,

honey, big, harvest 5 grain), Nabisco Ritz Crackers (regular,

whole wheat, dinosaurs, and sticks (NOT cheese or peanut

butter varieties), Nabisco Kraft Handi-Snacks (crackers ‘n

cheese, breadsticks ‘n cheez, pretzels ‘n cheez)

Of course there are many more safe snacks out

there. One we tend to bring to school is Nabisco Golden

Oreos. They are both nut and egg free.

The above list was distributed at West Side Nursery

School by a mother of a child with a peanut allergy. And

although the list is very helpful…..

ALWAYS BE SURE TO READ THE LABELS!!!ALWAYS BE SURE TO READ THE LABELS!!!ALWAYS BE SURE TO READ THE LABELS!!!ALWAYS BE SURE TO READ THE LABELS!!!

Keep Out

Mark your Calendars!!! Mark your Calendars!!! Mark your Calendars!!! Mark your Calendars!!!

The 5th Annual Multiple Moms

Mingle Summer Family Picnic will be

held on Sunday, August 1, 2010 from

10am-2pm at Santaro Park in the

Town of Onondaga.

6 MULTITUDES, March/April 2010

Multitudes, Multiple Moms Mingle newsletter, happily accepts suggestions, tips, articles and information for publication from members... although we do hold editorial rights. ;) We did our best to get all of the information correct and up-to-date. If you notice something that is incorrect or was left out, please let us know.

A special thank you to Dr. Robert Kiltz, CNYFC, for his kindness and generosity with the printing of the Multitudes newsletter.

Please submit information and materials to Leslie Petty or Mary Wood by the 10th of the month prior to publication.

CHILDRENCHILDRENCHILDRENCHILDREN————

8th Jacob & Samuel Stock's 1st Bday Ashley & Brooke Carter's 5th Birthday

9th Brooke & Emily Chiaramonte's 3rd Birthday Adelaide & Hannah Roy's 1st Birthday Devon & Braden Gryzlo's 4th Birthday

13th Gwendolyn & Austin Fosberg's 2nd Birthday

15th Jared Sebastian's 2nd Birthday

17th Twins Rickey's 1st Birthday

20th Leah, Brock & Ellis Vanderlan's 2nd Birthday

21st Alex & Madelyn Duggleby's 7th Birthday

22nd Quinn & Ty Harte's 3rd Birthday

23rd Porter Sheen's 2nd Birthday

24th Johnathan Sebastian's 12th Birthday

30th Gretchen, Theodore & Olena Conrad's 3rd Birthday

30th Emma & Lillian Belfield's 1st Birthday

31st Nathan Keating's 1st Birthday

MOMSMOMSMOMSMOMS————

10th Amy Hall’s Birthday

15th Crystal Arnold's Birthday Karen Sebastian's Birthday

16th Nikki Arias' Birthday

25th Aimee Blok's Birthday

29th Denise LaCombe's Birthday

CHILDRENCHILDRENCHILDRENCHILDREN————

1st Megan Petty's 14th Birthday

4th Samuel & Sophia DiGennaro's 4th Birthday Erin & Ryan Keating's 4th Birthday

7th Jed & Ella Yaw's 1st Birthday

8th Triplets Bennett's 2nd Birthday

9th Owen Leonardis' 2nd Birthday

10th Maya McCullough's 15th Birthday

14th Sharon & Aidan Lautz's 1st Birthday

15th Siri & Will Brubaker's 1st Birthday

19th Narayana Darosh Pellicciotti's 6th Birthday

24th Jack & Selina Hayes' 2nd Birthday

29th Karter Bennett's 5th Birthday

MOMSMOMSMOMSMOMS————

1st Vicki Sacco's Birthday

5th Kristine Stoffregen's Birthday

10th Krista Selig's Birthday

12th Mary McKellar's Birthday

17th Kimberly Sorts' Birthday

24th Tracy Blumer's Birthday

28th MaryAnne Abernethy's Birthday

29th Nicole Miller's Birthday

30th Christine Coomes' Birthday