On to another month. Spring is on its way. We love to grill as a family year round, but with spring comes lots of grill time. Now that basketball is finished and I am knee deep in my gymnastics season, Brad is in charge of dinner a bit more. Boy, do I love that!
Thursday 1 slow cooker chicken strogenoff-al
Friday 2 UGA meet-Brad's birthday
Saturday 3 Bratts
Sunday 4 chicken lasagna
Monday 5 Easy mexican casserole-al
Tuesday 6 chicken ranch pasta salad-al
Wednesday 7 tacos in pasta shells-al
Thursday 8 chicken florentine casserole-al
Friday 9 pizza
Saturday 10 jambalaya
Sunday 11 baked spaghetti I-al
Monday 12 baked slow cooker chicken-al
Tuesday 13 baked ziti IV-al
Wednesday 14 broccoli cheese soup
Thursday 15 slow cooker pork cacciatore-al
Friday 16 pizza
Saturday 17 Mac and cheese
Sunday 18 chili
Monday 19 slow cooker chicken and dumplings-al
Tuesday 20 strawberry french toast
Wednesday 21 quesadillas
Thursday 22 chicken fiesta salad
Friday 23 pizza
Saturday 24 baked chicken nuggets-al
Sunday 25 grilled brown sugar pork chops-al
Monday 26 beef strogenoff
Tuesday 27
Wednesday 28 tacos
Thursday 29 goulosh
Friday 30 pizza
Saturday 31
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Wife/Mom/Coach
I have wanted to write about this for a long time, but do I really even have time to sit down at the computer? The answer- Rarely! I am always driving and I come up with something I should post, updates or pictures I have to post. Usually those ideas are the last thing on my to-do list.
Being a wife, mom, coach (and once a competitive athlete) has given me many perspectives. I have to emphasize this quite clearly, so I don’t get comments or responses as to why I think this way. What I am about to write is all my opinion and experiences. I have coached for the last 18 years, I have been a wife of a coach for the last 11 years and a mom for the last 8 (6 ½ of those my children have been involved in sports/activities). I think having all these perspectives has given me an opportunity to talk to people, especially parents about certain situations that are going on with their children. If you are not a wife, mother, coach or have never been an athlete, maybe you can learn a little about me.
I am going to list the top 10 (in no specific order) of 3 different perspectives
1. Observations from a wife of a coach
2. Observations as a parent
3. Observations as a coach
You will notice there may be some crossover in some of the top 10. Also, you may ask if these things REALLY have been done or asked to me...the answer is YES! In other words, I am writing this out of pure experience!
Observations from a wife of a coach (many other coaches wives would agree on the following)-
10. It makes us mad when you try to coach your child from the sideline. That is our husband’s job.
9. What you tell us, we will probably tell our husbands.
8. Even though the above is true-please know that we are still women and we love to have conversations with people.
7. We will fiercely defend our husband in which we feel he is being berated as a coach and especially as a person.
6. All the gifts and brown noising to us and our children won’t get your child more playing time. Although we love being thought of!
5. Most wives of coaches I know and myself included are there to support our husband-don’t ask why we are there. We are not necessarily cheering on your children, just our husbands.
4. Just because our husband is the coach-doesn’t me we necessarily believe in his coaching philosophy.
3. Please be cordial to us. We would love to get to know you since our husband spend the majority of their time with your child.
2. We love our husbands-that is why we are there supporting him. We don’t always like the sport.
1. In the end-this is not what our life as a family is all about. I would like him for some holidays!
Observations as a parent
10. Don’t brag. Being excited and celebrating is one thing, but bragging is another.
9. Don’t complain about sitting and watching-you signed him/her up.
8. Don’t gossip about other kids parents. You wouldn’t want people talking about you.
7. Be loving not critical. Love them enough to close your mouth and cheer for them even if they are not the best.
6. Know when your child has had enough and it’s just not “their thing.”
5. Be prepared to sit for a while (See #9). Bring something to entertain yourself.
4. Remember that you are the parent not the coach.
3. Don’t complain about the coach in front of me. I may be a coach and I know exactly how that feels.
2. Don’t compare and contrast. Every child is different!
1. Be your child’s biggest positive cheerleader!
Observations as a coach
10. If your child can’t drive and you have to take him/her to practice-be there on time.
9. Don’t coach from the sideline. That is my job. That is why they hired me.
8. If you have a problem or concern, come to me first. Going behind my back is childish.
7. Have your child prepared for whatever practice they are attending. That is if they are young enough not to prepare themselves. I.e. hair up, water, snack, etc.
6. Your child will probably not go to college on a full ride scholarship or to the Olympics. Don’t ask how I can get them there. I just take it day by day.
5. I am not their parent- I am their coach. Although, I always will integrate life lessons into coaching. Don’t ask me to keep an eye of them outside the gym.
4. Being consistent with a sport will improve them. If they want to improve, they will need to practice. Of course we want to have our children be well-rounded, but taking 6 weeks of class will not make them a superstar.
3. Encourage your child to keep an open mind and an open line of communication with their coach.
2. Being a good athlete not only happens in the gym. It takes a whole lot more-drive, dedication, determination, faith and good nutrition just to name a few.
1. I love to coach-not always do I like my athletes, but I will always try to get them to be the best they can be.
Being a wife, mom, coach (and once a competitive athlete) has given me many perspectives. I have to emphasize this quite clearly, so I don’t get comments or responses as to why I think this way. What I am about to write is all my opinion and experiences. I have coached for the last 18 years, I have been a wife of a coach for the last 11 years and a mom for the last 8 (6 ½ of those my children have been involved in sports/activities). I think having all these perspectives has given me an opportunity to talk to people, especially parents about certain situations that are going on with their children. If you are not a wife, mother, coach or have never been an athlete, maybe you can learn a little about me.
I am going to list the top 10 (in no specific order) of 3 different perspectives
1. Observations from a wife of a coach
2. Observations as a parent
3. Observations as a coach
You will notice there may be some crossover in some of the top 10. Also, you may ask if these things REALLY have been done or asked to me...the answer is YES! In other words, I am writing this out of pure experience!
Observations from a wife of a coach (many other coaches wives would agree on the following)-
10. It makes us mad when you try to coach your child from the sideline. That is our husband’s job.
9. What you tell us, we will probably tell our husbands.
8. Even though the above is true-please know that we are still women and we love to have conversations with people.
7. We will fiercely defend our husband in which we feel he is being berated as a coach and especially as a person.
6. All the gifts and brown noising to us and our children won’t get your child more playing time. Although we love being thought of!
5. Most wives of coaches I know and myself included are there to support our husband-don’t ask why we are there. We are not necessarily cheering on your children, just our husbands.
4. Just because our husband is the coach-doesn’t me we necessarily believe in his coaching philosophy.
3. Please be cordial to us. We would love to get to know you since our husband spend the majority of their time with your child.
2. We love our husbands-that is why we are there supporting him. We don’t always like the sport.
1. In the end-this is not what our life as a family is all about. I would like him for some holidays!
Observations as a parent
10. Don’t brag. Being excited and celebrating is one thing, but bragging is another.
9. Don’t complain about sitting and watching-you signed him/her up.
8. Don’t gossip about other kids parents. You wouldn’t want people talking about you.
7. Be loving not critical. Love them enough to close your mouth and cheer for them even if they are not the best.
6. Know when your child has had enough and it’s just not “their thing.”
5. Be prepared to sit for a while (See #9). Bring something to entertain yourself.
4. Remember that you are the parent not the coach.
3. Don’t complain about the coach in front of me. I may be a coach and I know exactly how that feels.
2. Don’t compare and contrast. Every child is different!
1. Be your child’s biggest positive cheerleader!
Observations as a coach
10. If your child can’t drive and you have to take him/her to practice-be there on time.
9. Don’t coach from the sideline. That is my job. That is why they hired me.
8. If you have a problem or concern, come to me first. Going behind my back is childish.
7. Have your child prepared for whatever practice they are attending. That is if they are young enough not to prepare themselves. I.e. hair up, water, snack, etc.
6. Your child will probably not go to college on a full ride scholarship or to the Olympics. Don’t ask how I can get them there. I just take it day by day.
5. I am not their parent- I am their coach. Although, I always will integrate life lessons into coaching. Don’t ask me to keep an eye of them outside the gym.
4. Being consistent with a sport will improve them. If they want to improve, they will need to practice. Of course we want to have our children be well-rounded, but taking 6 weeks of class will not make them a superstar.
3. Encourage your child to keep an open mind and an open line of communication with their coach.
2. Being a good athlete not only happens in the gym. It takes a whole lot more-drive, dedication, determination, faith and good nutrition just to name a few.
1. I love to coach-not always do I like my athletes, but I will always try to get them to be the best they can be.
Monday, January 30, 2012
February Meals
You will notice that I repeat many recipes that were eaten last month and once in a while I throw in a new recipe. Remember that the "AL" stands for allrecipes.com
Mon Jan 30 chicken potpie
Tues Jan 31 b-ball game
Wed Feb 1 chicken strogenoff
Thur 2nd BLT's
Fri 3rd senior night-b-ball game
Sat 4th Pizza
Sun 5th Super bowl-wings
Mon 6th slow cooker chicken tortilla soup
Tues 7th Tacos in pasta shells -AL
Wed 8th spaghetti and meatsauce
Thur 9th crock pot Pot roast
Fri 10th Pizza
Sat 11th Bratts
Sun 12th no peek chicken
Mon 13th crockpot mexican chicken
Tues 14th Valentines Day-steak
Wed 15th chicken lasagna
Thur 16th out to dinner -my birthday
Fri 17th Pizza
Sat 18th grilled cheese and tomato soup
Sun 19th chicken and broccoli-AL
Mon 20th Potato soup-AL
Tues 21st chicken Parmesan casserole-AL
Wed 22nd Baked porkchops -AL
Thur 23rd baked slow cooker chicken-AL
Fri 24th pizza
Sat 25th
Sun 26th
Mon 27th
Tues 28th
Wed 29th
Mon Jan 30 chicken potpie
Tues Jan 31 b-ball game
Wed Feb 1 chicken strogenoff
Thur 2nd BLT's
Fri 3rd senior night-b-ball game
Sat 4th Pizza
Sun 5th Super bowl-wings
Mon 6th slow cooker chicken tortilla soup
Tues 7th Tacos in pasta shells -AL
Wed 8th spaghetti and meatsauce
Thur 9th crock pot Pot roast
Fri 10th Pizza
Sat 11th Bratts
Sun 12th no peek chicken
Mon 13th crockpot mexican chicken
Tues 14th Valentines Day-steak
Wed 15th chicken lasagna
Thur 16th out to dinner -my birthday
Fri 17th Pizza
Sat 18th grilled cheese and tomato soup
Sun 19th chicken and broccoli-AL
Mon 20th Potato soup-AL
Tues 21st chicken Parmesan casserole-AL
Wed 22nd Baked porkchops -AL
Thur 23rd baked slow cooker chicken-AL
Fri 24th pizza
Sat 25th
Sun 26th
Mon 27th
Tues 28th
Wed 29th
Friday, January 13, 2012
GO GREEN
Most times you would never hear Go Green come out of the mouths of the Kudlas family..with only one exception...when they play Georgia. We could not say no to these tickets. The Outback Bowl was in Tampa, Florida on January 2nd. Aidan and I ventured down to Florida for the awesome triple overtime game in which MI State WON! My Grandma lives 30 miles from the stadium and my Uncle and Aunt were in town from Michigan, so we also got to visit family.
My Uncle Bill (my dad's oldest brother) and my Aunt Denise. 
Outside Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
MI States coach leads the players into the stadium. You can only imagine what Aidan's eyes looked like as he watched them walk in.
Enjoying swim time at Great Grandma's pool. 
These are times that I will never forget. We made some awesome memories!Thursday, January 12, 2012
Monthly menu
There are some people in the past that have requested me to send them ideas from my monthly meal plan or just the meal plan itself. I have decided to post it monthly, thanks to my Aunt Denise who gave me the idea. If you have any questions or are interested in a recipe, just message me back and I can give you them. If they have an "al" by them, it means that it comes from allrecipes.com. Awesome website for any recipe. I will do a better job at posting it the first of the month. You will also see some blank spots. During basketball season, many evenings are spent at a highschool and many have hospitality rooms with food in them. Then, I don't have to cook anything. Sometimes our business gets in the way, ie we are running late..and then we just pick something up, but this is rare. I also have notes when I am gone and I have to make food ahead of time. Fridays are most always pizza. Whether it be store bought frozen or picked up from a restaurant. You will also see lots of crock pot dinners-these save my life. One more note-I always add veggies (my kids LOVE raw veggies) and either a fruit or bread, maybe both.
ENJOY!
Dec/Jan 2012 (Brad gets paid the last Friday of the month, so our grocery budget is based around that)
Tues 28 chicken wings
Wed 29 b-ball game
Thur 30 b-ball game
Fri 31 chicken florentine casserole -al
Sat 1 chipotle crusted porkloin-al
Sun 2 (in FL-make ahead) easy chicken noodle soup-al
Mon 3 spaghetti (in FL)
Tues 4 BLT's (in FL)
Wed 5 chicken and rice bake
Thur 6 beef strogenoff
Fri 7 pizza
Sat 8 chicken Parmesan casserole-al
Sun 9 grilled hamburgers
Mon 10 baked chicken nuggets
Tues 11 left over chicken taco soup
Wed 12 broccoli cheese soup
Thur 13 slow cooker pulled pork-al
Fri 14 pizza (out of town)
Sat 15 (make ahead-out of town) chicken potpie
Sun 16 Lasagna (out of town)
MOn 17 slow cooker Italian chicken alfredo-al
Tues 18 tuna pitas
Wed 19 goulash
Thur 20 slow cooker chicken tortilla soup-al
Fri 21 pizza
Sat 22 slow cooker chicken and dumplings-al
Sun 23 sloppy joes
Mon 24 slow cooker chicken strogenoff-al
Tues 25quesadillas
Wed 26 mac and cheese and hotdogs
Thur 27
Fri 28
ENJOY!
Dec/Jan 2012 (Brad gets paid the last Friday of the month, so our grocery budget is based around that)
Tues 28 chicken wings
Wed 29 b-ball game
Thur 30 b-ball game
Fri 31 chicken florentine casserole -al
Sat 1 chipotle crusted porkloin-al
Sun 2 (in FL-make ahead) easy chicken noodle soup-al
Mon 3 spaghetti (in FL)
Tues 4 BLT's (in FL)
Wed 5 chicken and rice bake
Thur 6 beef strogenoff
Fri 7 pizza
Sat 8 chicken Parmesan casserole-al
Sun 9 grilled hamburgers
Mon 10 baked chicken nuggets
Tues 11 left over chicken taco soup
Wed 12 broccoli cheese soup
Thur 13 slow cooker pulled pork-al
Fri 14 pizza (out of town)
Sat 15 (make ahead-out of town) chicken potpie
Sun 16 Lasagna (out of town)
MOn 17 slow cooker Italian chicken alfredo-al
Tues 18 tuna pitas
Wed 19 goulash
Thur 20 slow cooker chicken tortilla soup-al
Fri 21 pizza
Sat 22 slow cooker chicken and dumplings-al
Sun 23 sloppy joes
Mon 24 slow cooker chicken strogenoff-al
Tues 25quesadillas
Wed 26 mac and cheese and hotdogs
Thur 27
Fri 28
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Friday, December 30, 2011
Christmas Time
Merry Christmas to everyone!
We are back to the swing of things in the Kudlas house. After 1 full week back to school, we are back in the groove. The little over 2 week break was much needed and we enjoyed every minute. This is long post with LOTS of pictures, reviewing the last 2 1/2 weeks.
The kids enjoying some baking. We took cookies to our neighbors and to the local fire station. 
Brad's JV basketball team came over one evening to have dinner, exchange gifts and play some games. 
The next day we were off to Dad and Mom's for a much needed 5 day vacation. Mom always has fun activities planned!
Baking with Grammie
Picture time for Aidan
Aidan is a bit camera shy. 
Carsyn's turn. I went a little out of birth order. 
With Papa's hat on.
Brenna's turn.
We love to go bowling on Christmas Eve.
I am laughing pretty hard at this point. The bowling totally knocked Carsyn out. This kids sleeps anywhere, including the bowling alley. Here she is in Brad's arms, smiling with help Daddy. 
Bubble bath time and Grammie and Papa's big tub. 
Christmas morning. You can't see, but they are busting to get downstairs.
I think Brad is a bit excited. The kids got him the Michael Jackson Wii game. If you don't have this or have never played it, you are missing out. It is so addicting. It is going to the beach with us this summer!
More pictures you ask? Of course! It is Christmas time and my kids are just so cute!
Carsyn had to have her new jeep for her dolls in the picture!
Sweet sisters. They love each other...most of the time.
Uncle Drew and the kids
Grammie, Papa and the kids
My wonderful, goofy family!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)