Issue 31 — 145+ members & GROWING! September/October 2011

SEPTEMBER

7th First Day of School

14th 5:30, Girls Night Out CNY Healing Arts, Syracuse

11th 10th Anniversary of 9/11

30th 6pm-10pm Fall Sale Setup & Preview Sale

OCTOBER

1st 8:30am, Fall Clothing & Equipment Sale

Lakeside Fire Department

5th 6:30pm, MMM Dinner Meeting Ruby Tuesday, Dewitt

31st Halloween

NOVEMBER 2nd 6:30, MMM Dinner Meeting Ruby Tuesday, Dewitt

16th 10:00 am, March for Babies,

Onondaga Community College

24th Thanksgiving Day

FALL SALE SCHEDULE:

Friday, September 30, 2011

6-7pm Sellers setup

7-8pm Sale open to sellers only

8-9pm Open to paid MMM members only (no guests please)

Saturday, October 1, 2011

8am All sellers arrive

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

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

http://www.facebook.com/groups/multiplemomsmingle/

Let’s Get Cooking

1/$8 or 2/$12

Multiple Moms Mingle is proud to

present its first ever cookbook complied

by the dedicated efforts of our group

members. This padded three-ring

binder cookbook contains 150 well-loved

family friendly recipes including appetizers, main dishes,

desserts and many others.

Check or money order payable to

Multiple Moms Mingle

4738 Starlite Lane; Syracuse, NY 13215

www.multiplemomsmingle.com/MMM/cookbook.html

2 MULTITUDES, September/October 2011

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 Jodi Hayes

CHILDREN’S LIBRARIAN Jecenia Bresett

MEMBERSHIP Mary Wood

Cyndi Rizzo

BIG SISTERS Amanda Fosberg

NEWSLETTER Leslie Petty

Mary Wood

PUBLICITY Aimee Dryer

MEETING PROGRAMS Cyndi Rizzo

PLAYGROUPS Kelly Somerlot

Krista Selig

PREEMIE CLOSET Melissa Sainsbury

HISTORIAN Leslie Petty

STATE REPRESENTATIVE Kelly Carter

NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE Mercedes Genei

Big Sisters Needed

Top 5 Reasons for Becoming a

MMM Big Sister:

5. You can add one more friend to your Facebook friends!

4. You have a good excuse to meet a friend at the mall.

3. You have someone to listen to all of your crazy multiples stories.

2. You get to relive your pregnancy/early multiples days.

1. You can help one of our new members and maybe they can even help you!

Being an MMM Big or Little Sister can be a rewarding experience!

If you are interested in being a Big Sister please contact Amanda Fosberg for more information!

Looking for Fun Fall Family activity???

Then Check this out!!!

Enchanted Beaver Lake

Where: Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville

When: October 27-30, 2011 6:00-8:30

What: Over 400 specially carved jack-o-lanterns of different shapes

and sizes plus glowing luminaria light the way along two winding, wooded

trails greeting participants as they venture through the darkness at the award

-winning, Enchanted Beaver Lake. Face painting, fortune telling, magic

shows, and storytelling are all a part of this magical experience, one that is

truly unique to Central New York.

Cost: $3, under 3 free/$5 for parking-pre-purchase of parking pass is

recommended. For more information go to:

www.onondagacountyparks.com/beaver-lake-nature-center/enchanted-beaver-lake/

MULTITUDES, September/October 2011 3

BIG SISTERS

Contact: Amanda Fosberg 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 Amanda 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 Amanda today.

CHILDREN’S LIBRARIAN

Contact: Jecenia Bresett

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!

COOKBOOK FUNDRAISER

Contact: Mary Wood, Leslie Petty,

Christine Coomes & 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/MMM/cookbook.html

CROUSE NICU DONATIONS

Contact: Kelly Somerlot

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: Jodi Hayes Worried about "what to expect?" Interested in learning more

about twins and triplets? Scared to start potty training?

Please contact Jodi if you are interested in donating or

checking out any books, videos or magazines from our

library.

MEMBERSHIP/DIRECTORY

Contact: Mary Wood & Cyndi Rizzo 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 site

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.

NEWSLETTER

Contact: Leslie Petty & Mary Wood

Have an idea for a great article? Please submit them to

either Leslie or Mary by the 10th of the month.

PLAYGROUPS & ZOO TRIPS

Contact: Krista Selig & Kelly Somerlot

Playgroups are being formed throughout the year. Please

contact Krista and/or Kelly if you'd like to schedule a play

date at your home or even a park. Please check the MMM

Calendar for other upcoming play dates.

(Continued on page 4)

Life as a Multiple Parent By Nicole Miller, mom to 3 year old twins

In the words of Dr. Drew Pinsky being a multiple parent is like being in the Zone Defense all the time. He couldn't be more right. There is nothing like spending an entire day sheparding twin eighteen month olds away from toilet seats, the dog, climbing chairs, coins that fall out a relative's pocket, the pretty decorative marbles at your parent's house, the dog again, climbing stairs, the pepper shaker, and on and on. You spend your day with one foot planted while the other pivots back and forth, your body hunched over in an utmost unnatural position so that your arms to can reach the little 32 inchers. No wonder why our bodies are stiff those first few steps each morning.

Life of a multiple parent of twin two year olds exemplifies that of the African grasslands. Sometimes you actually think there might be a wildlife photographer in the tall grassy corners of your house capturing your moments of zoo life on film. Like the moment you hear silence, then a unfamiliar and ever so odd popping sound. It is then that you rise from your chair like the lion does on the plains and your little gazelles skatter in all directions, mastering quick turns and passes. It is also then that you discover they have mastered the art of opening the pantry door and helping themselves to the Cher-rios that are now all over the floor. Mind you the odd sound was that of a crushed box and exploded bag due to the gazelles pouncing on it.

Life with twin three year olds confirms the notion, Murphy hated on multiples. Here are a few Murphy's Law of Multiples…

What one doesn't think of, the other will. Two weeks I ven-tured to the basement to do a load of laundry. When I returned I found my son, naked with blue inked stamps all over his back and quite humorously on his hind end. When I asked, how did you get stamps there, my daughter proudly proclaimed, "I did it." So much for paper.

Two together are smarter than one. This is especially true of the parent who tries, alone, to don twins with winter clothing. As you finish dressing the second child, the first runs past you and has proceeded to remove his coat, hat, and gloves.

Two kids, twice the amount of body orifices. Beware of peas and remember what one doesn't think of, the other will.

Multiple parents age like the presidents. Yes, we see the pictures or our beloved presidents and remark that they age expo-nentially in such a short period of time. Such is the same of the first three years of a multiple parent's life. What starts out as a mane of three gray hairs before they are born turns to Barbara Bush by year three.

And through it all, I would not change one memory or one moment. Last week, we took our kids camping for the first time for their Birthday. After arriving at the site they screamed with delight, bouncing up and down like little Tiggers while holding hands. Their excitement was contagious, so much it felt like our first time too. On Monday, driving back to Saranac after a day of looking at stuffed animals at the Wilderness Museum we saw a rabbit on the side of the road. It hopped off into the weeds and my son said "Yeah, an animal that moves!". Upon arriving home, my son attempted to leap off our porch, forgetting our home is not the Adiron-dacks, and proceeded to get a boo-boo on his knee. My daughter re-trieved a band aid, dressed his wound and gave him a hug, kiss, and the kind words I love you Ashti. It is then that I realize, yes one would be easier, but two is utterly magical. Stinky feet and all...

4 MULTITUDES, September/October 2011

PREEMIE CLOSET

Contact: Melissa Sainsbury

Our preemie closet is full and available. Contact Melissa

if you need to borrow it.

PUBLICITY

Contact: Aimee Dryer

We have ads for our meetings in the Penny Saver and

Family Times. Special events are advertised too.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Contact: Kelly Carter

HELP WANTED

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)

TWIN GIRLS: Amanda, 6lbs 2oz and Allison, 5lbs 15oz born

on August 20, 2011 to Melissa and Everett Walter.

TRIPLETS: Lillian Quinn, 3lbs 15oz, Liam Stanley, 5lbs 6oz and Noah Phillip, 4lbs 11oz born on September 1, 2011 to

Nicole and Greg Kopiasz.

TRIPLETS: Joey, 5lbs 6oz, Gianna, 5lbs 6oz and Alexis, 4lbs 10oz born on September 2, 2011 to Nicole and Rich

DeMarchi.

TWIN GIRLS: Amelia, 5lbs 13oz and Olivia, 4lbs 13oz born in

September 2011 to Stefanie and David Cassel.

TWIN GIRLS: Rose Amanda and Kate Charlotte born on

September 30, 2011 to Amanda and Bill Schlegel.

Multiple Moms to be…

Amber Mosher, Expecting Twins Susan Hurlburt, Expecting Twins Oct '11 Katie Vandyke, Expecting Triplets Nov '11 Kari Szymanski, Expecting Twins Nov '11 Ashley Mason, Expecting Twins Nov '11

Cynthia Jackson, Expecting Twins Nov '11 Laura Harrington, Expecting Twins Dec '11

Erin Rivera (McClure), Expecting Twins Dec '11 Heidi White McCormick, Expecting Twins Jan '12

Jessi Lyons, Expecting Twins Jan '12 Dana Pietrowicz, Expecting Triplets Feb '12

Kelly Berger, Expecting Twins Feb '12 Jennifer Burns, Expecting Twins Mar '12

New moms to Multiple Moms Mingle!

Trisha Harp, Cynthia Jackson, Angela Stay, Jessi Lyons, Jennifer Burns,

Heather Perretta, Erin Rivera, Laura Harrington, Shirin Milani, Anna O'Brien, Katie Vandyke, Dawn

VanHorn, Amber Mosher & Hilda Martinez-Reyes.

& YOUR NAME HERE!

148 members & GROWING!

Is your child’s school or classroom nut free? Are you at a loss for lunch and snack ideas??

One of our moms asked this questions and here are some of the suggestions she go along

with a few others to help make it easier to provide a safe environment for your children and their

classmates. Be sure to always check labels as the peanut-free status of commercially packaged

cookies, crackers and snacks can always change!!!! Better safe than sorry!!!

bagels and cream cheese cheese sticks Cheez-Its fruit snacks raisins

pita and hummus yogurt sticks (Gogurt) Teddy Grahams Sun Chips craisins

veggies and dip pudding cups Rice Crispy Treats Goldfish Pringles

fruit and yogurt Tostitos and salsa graham crackers Wowbutter fruit cups

pepperoni and cheese applesauce cups Wheat Thins popsicles Fruit Loops

Cream cheese and jelly Nutrigrain bars Triscuits Corn Pops jello cups

No Nuts Here!!!

MULTITUDES, September/October 2011 5

— CHILDREN —

1st Sarah & Joseph Kozlowski's 1st Birthday

2nd Claire Sheen's 15th Birthday

4th Lidia McDaniel's 7th Birthday

5th Patrick & William Millet's 1st Birthday Joseph Morgan's 8th Birthday

6th Liam Langstaff's 4th Birthday

8th Andrew & Amanda Bush's 8th Birthday

10th Ethan & Andrew O'Neil's 1 Birthday Nicholas, Nathaniel & Noah Houghton's 3rd BDay Sara & Elnora Dunn's 1st Birthday

12th Ashley Allott's 4th Birthday

13th Matthew & Maura Leonardis’ 5th Birthday Tyler Zeman's 5th Birthday

14th Andrew, Katelyn & Kirsten LaVancha's 4th Birthday Daniel, Jack & Emmaline Morgan's 2nd Birthday Victor & Maddox Rizzo's 5th Birthday

17th Elizabeth Friers’ 3rd Birthday Mathew St John's 8th Birthday

19th Sara, Cate & Jack Johnson's 4th Birthday

22nd Hailey & Anna Gurley's 3rd Birthday

26th Clare Chase's 4th Birthday

27th Kaylee Morgan's 9th Birthday Jayden Greco's 9th Birthday

— MOMS —

3rd Laura Lautz Monica Visconte

7th Kelly Rich

9th Melanie Addai

12th Connie Palleria

15th Gina Pauline

— CHILDREN —

5th Brandon & Valerie Vona's 8th Birthday

8th Lila Johnson's 1st Birthday

9th Gavin & Logan Dixie's 1st Birthday Loralye & Abrielle Halterman's 2nd Birthday

10th Louie Petrocci's 6th Birthday

15th Kevin & Olivia Brandstetter's 2nd Birthday

18th Madeline & Quentin Canastra's 1st Birthday

22nd Joshua Bennett's 19th Birthday Oriana, Thomas & Zachary Ptak's 1st Birthday

23rd Kendra Stock's 4th Birthday

24th Abby & Andrew Hawkinson's 1st Birthday

26th Caitlyn & Carter Klei's 1st Birthday Duncan & Gianna McDaniel's 4th Birthday Nathan Abernethy's 5th Birthday

27th Emily & Kate Wood's 6th Birthday

— MOMS —

2nd Wendy Hawkinson 5th Joan Stearns

7th Dena Halterman

10th Jennifer May

12th Christina Jureller

15th Susan Hayes

16th Nicole DeMarchi

19th Jamie Lynn Waller

27th Caitlin Graff

30th Stefanie Cassel Mary Wood

17th Marla Brandstetter

18th Kara Murphy

19th Kimberly Reed

21st Alisa Dunn

30th Shanna McCarty

6 MULTITUDES, September/October 2011

It’s Time to go BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!!

MULTITUDES, September/October 2011 7

Despite the rain our Annual Summer Picnic

was a blast!

The Bubble Man

8 MULTITUDES, September/October 2011

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.

Buzz and Woody

Mario and Luigi

Mickey and Minnie Mouse

Thing1 and Thing 2(and Dr. Suess)

Aladdin and Jasmine (and Genie)

Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker

Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader

Fred and Barney

Wilma and Betty

Woody and Jessie (and Buzz)

Butterfly and Ladybug

Batman and Robin (and Joker)

Pebbles and Bam Bam

Elmo and Cookie Monster

Superman and Spiderman (or girl)

The Powerpuff Girls

Pac Man and Ghosts

Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow (and

Dorothy)

3 Little Pigs

3 Blind Mice

Pooh, Tigger and Piglet

3 Musketeers

M and M’s

Halloween Costume Ideas for Multiples