Major League Baseball in conjunction with People magazine has launched a campaign looking for "People All-Stars Among Us."  The top All-Star in our area will travel to St. Louis for the July 14 All-Star game to be honored during the festivities.

We each have run across an amazing person making a difference in the community make. While All-Stars in your book we would like others to learn of these efforts. By visiting www.peopleallstars.com you can share the stories of individuals working to make your community a better place. Nominations must be 50 words or less, include a photograph and the All-Star must be at least 16 years of age. A photograph can be a group shot or organizational logo and the birth date can be approximate.   The deadline to submit is Friday, May 22 and voting will take place June 8-24.  Please share this information with your community.  We hope to see one of our local All-Stars standing tall among Major League Baseball's All-Stars.

Below are the All-Stars Among Us...

Christy
My neighbors have always been an important part of my life.  In fact, my brothers and I have always thought of them as a second set of parents because of their kindness and contributions to our own lives.

  
Not only have they helped us to succeed in life, but they have also selflessly given to others in the community as well.  A couple of years ago, a family in our town suffered from a severe fire in their home.  Many of the family's belongings were lost and the family was left without a home for some time.  My neighbors, who own a second house in our community as well, offered the family their second home for free while they worked to repair their fire-damaged home.  The family suffering from the fire graciously accepted my neighbors' generous offer and stayed in the house until they were able to move back into their home.  I believe that my neighbors' generosity and concern for another family in our community makes them all-stars!

Katie T
For about 18 years, Betsy Billie has been an "all-star" in the West Chester community.  Over the years, she has contributed so much of her time and heart to help families in need. 

Betsy started out as a kindergarten teacher and then moved her way up to Executive Director.  In her years, she has written numerous time-consuming grants in order to receive many new and updated toys, furniture and a playground!  She is an ultimate advocate whether she is supporting the families and/or staff and is very knowledgeable in her career.  For the staff, she has increased bonuses and yearly raises in a line of work that is known for very low wages.  She continues to be actively involved by making phone calls to get more information or to check up on families or to build connections with the community her day care serves.       

Her hours spent at the workplace and doing work for the center are innumerable.  She frequently comes in early and stays late including weekends.  She will give you a ride to wherever if you need one.  Talk about busy; she barely has time to take a bite of her sandwich when she is already lending an ear to someone.  She makes her staff and families a priority while building close relationships with all of them.

Her love, understanding, patience and generosity are apparent in all that she has accomplished and established for the staff and families of the WCADCC community

Debbie
I would like to recognize the entire Philadelphia Police Department as our All Stars.  These men and women put their lives on the line each and every day, facing real criminals with very real and dangerous weapons, to protect our communities and our families.  Police Officers dedicate their lives to working in an occupation where life and death too often meet; they wear their uniforms proudly and perform their duties with strength and courage, as well as compassion.  They're faced with circumstances not everyone would like to encounter; they are protectors who go above and beyond to serve their community.  These remarkable people demonstrate ceaseless dedication and bravery, as well as selfless courage and heroism, just to protect the citizens in our communities.  So I would like to applaud the Philadelphia Police Department, all Law Enforcement, and especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for us all.  Thank you for all you have done and still continue to do to keep us safe.  You are my "All-Stars"!   

Sam
I feel that all teachers deserve to be noticed as an all-star. The teachers that I have learned from have provided me with the information and skills that I needed to be successful in the next stage of my education. One teacher that sticks out in my mind is my English teacher from my senior year of high school.  Mr. Kulak was the teacher that truly prepared me for college and was the only teacher that got me to enjoy reading (he was actually the only teacher that got me to finish an entire book). If it wasn't for him I would have been extremely overwhelmed with the college experience in general.

 
One of the activities we would do actually helped me with the tryout process to become a Ballgirl. Every Friday we would do a public speaking activity called "The Hot Seat". Each student would get asked a random question and would then have to answer on the spot in front of the entire class. This activity helped me during tryouts when Scott Palmer was interviewing me. The interview part was the most difficult part of the tryout for me because I had never done anything like it before. Right before I was called in I just kept saying to myself "It's like the Hot Seat". That calmed me down and made feel a little more confident going in there. I am about to graduate college in June, and it has made me think of all the people that have helped me get to where I am today.  Mr. Kulak is definitely one of those people!

Katie H
Nick DeSantis is a true All-Star. At just 24 years of age, he saved his good friend Jason Kilderry's life. Jason was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease at the age of 14. This is a degenerative genetic disease that he and three other family members had. Even though Jason had this kidney disease, he still went on living his life as normal as possible.
Jason and Nick were both on the Rowan University's Cross Country team together which is where they first became good friends. About a year ago, Jason's kidneys started to fail. He was in and out of hospitals dealing with this life threatening disease. Jason eventually had to have both of his kidneys removed. Doctor's told Jason that it was time to start searching for a kidney donor. Out of all of Jason's friends, the only match was Nick DeSantis. Nick had to make the biggest decision of his life and agreed to give Jason one of his kidneys. On April 9, 2009, Jason successively received one of Nick's healthy kidneys. Today, Jason is finally living a healthy life. Because of Nick's gracious gift, Jason will eventually be able to fulfill his life's passions of running, triathlons, and training others. Nick DeSantis is without a doubt the biggest All-Star in my community.

For the third year in a row, we were asked by the Relay For Life iin Macungie, PA to participate in their annual fashion show.  If you look back to our blogs in April you will see pics from last year's event.  Ten of us participated in the event and wanted to share our experiences...one thing we all figured out, modeling is hard!!!!

Fehran
In case you don't know I'm a Phillies ball girl and that means I represent the team on the field and off. On the field, I love backhand dives, running groundballs out and close plays at the plate. Once the game is over however, I trade in my glove for my lipgloss and a cute outfit which is why the Relay for Life fashion show was such a blast!  What girl doesn't love being pampered with hair and make-up? I'm pretty sure that everyone of us played dress up as kids and it felt good to relive those days. Besides being able to show off fun clothes, it felt great being able to partner with the American Cancer Society and contribute to a great cause. 

Danielle
The fashion show was a blast!  We arrived at the Hotel Bethlehem at 10am for hair and makeup.  After getting beautified, we tried on our outfits for the designers.  My first outfit was from Francesca's - it was a black cotton dress, with metallic shoes and jewelry, and a matching clutch.  My second outfit was from Harley Davidson.  It consisted of a cream colored short sleeve button up shirt with the Harley logo, black stretch pants, and matching cream extremely tall stillettos!  To top it off, I sported a leather Harley Davidson purse.  My final outfit was from Marla's collection.  It was a black v-neck in the front and back dress with slightly frayed fringe along the outline of the arms.  My shoes were black with a red strap and wore a matching necklace.  Walking the runway was really fun, too.  We all went one by one and right before we were finished, we stopped in front of the photographer and striked a pose!

McKenzie
I didn't really know what to expect for the fashion show, but I was definitely very excited. When we got there we got our hair and makeup done for us. I LOVED how they did my hair, I got huge curls and then it was teased and put up, it looked great! All of the makeup girls were also unbelievable, the colors they used looked great with all of our outfits. The best part of the fashion show was that it was for a really great cause, to help fight cancer. There were a few little kids that walked in the show with us, and they were absolutely adorable! It's great to think that we were all a part of something that can be a tiny piece of helping to improve their lives!

Jordan
The Relay for Life Fashion Show made me feel a bit like I was trying out for Top Model!! It was such a fun experience!  We started off early, getting to the hotel at 10am, and were pampered by girls doing our hair and make-up.  The girls all looked gorgeous! Personally I have never worn that much make-up in my life, but it was still really fun to try it out for the day.  Being the only girl who sports curly hair on a regular basis (even though Irena HAS curly Q's but opts to straighten them), I went through the most pain while getting my hair done, due to the curls being brushed and pulled apart in order to re-curl it with a curling iron.  Do you know how much that hurts?! Nonetheless I made it through, but not without an interesting showing of faces.  The clothes were very different, but the most different and interesting outfit was watching Christy wear leather gloves and a leather jacket, all while stomping down the runway in black stiletto heals with a motorcycle helmet in hand to sport Harley Davidson attire.  The sweetest, most cheerful, and innocent girl in Harley Davidson had to be the highlight of the show, and yet, she was able to pull it off and actually look like she belonged in a motorcycle gang!!  When the Ball Girl gig wears off for Christy, we at least know she would fit in on Top Model.  Overall, it was so great, especially to have ten of us girls all in one spot at the same time (since we are scattered all over, doing different events and games, and most of the time only two or three of us at once), and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Irena
The fashion show for Relay for Life was a great time for a great cause! It's rare that so many of us girls get together for one event. So, when it happens...it's always a good time. Our make-up and hair looked fabulous and our outfits were very nice. Most of us had three outfits to show. So, once the show started, we were running all over the place making sure we had the right outfit on with the correct accessories. I would have to say my favorite part of the day was watching Christy try to fit into some chaps. That's right...chaps! It was the most hilarious part of the day!

Christy
The Relay for Life Fashion Show was a blast!  Whenever the ballgirls have the chance to work together as a team, we always have a lot of fun!  One of the best parts about being a ballgirl is the opportunity to attend various charity events.  This was my second year participating in this fashion show, and it was just as fun this year as it was last year.  I admit; however, modeling a wide variety of clothing lines can be pretty challenging!  A lot of times the clothes that you are asked to wear may not be "your style," but you need to pretend that it's your clothing type.  For example, one of my outfits came from the Harley Davidson clothing line.  I had on a leather jacket, leather gloves and I even carried a motorcycle helmet!  I LOVED the outfit because it was the complete opposite of my personality...I've never been on a motorcycle before, but the clothes made me feel really tough!  Overall, it was such a great day because we were all working together to help raise money for a great cause.

Lauren
It's always fun to have stylists do your hair and makeup!  They gave us really colorful eye shadow, which is something I never wear myself, so it was a nice change.  The whole show is a fun experience, because we get to feel like real models for a day... but you really get to experience how hard models work.  Fashion shows are so tiring!!!  I fell asleep very early that night!  But it's definitely all worth it, because Relay for Life is such a great cause.

Alison
The American Cancer Society Relay for Life Macungie Fashion Show was held in Bethlehem, PA on April 26, 2009.  We ballgirls were asked to model some of the clothing, which we were more than happy to do!  We arrived at Hotel Bethlehem and made our way up to the loft above the Grand Ballroom.  Everyone was there - designers with their racks of clothing, shoes, and accessories, the makeup artists with their makeup spread out covering a whole table, and the hair stylists with their curling irons, flat irons, clips, hairspray, and everything imaginable.  We were ushered right in to sit down for hair and makeup, which took several hours!  In between, we were fitted for the different outfits we would be wearing in the show.  It was fun to see what the designers had picked out for us.  Luckily, most of the clothes fit!  We had a couple practice runs, and before we knew it, it was time for the show to start!  With the music playing, one by one, we strutted our clothing through the ballroom in between tables of onlookers.  I kept thinking, "don't trip, one step at a time" haha!  We did this for each line of clothing.  In between, we had to run upstairs to quickly change into our next outfits and fix any hair/makeup issues!  It was fast-paced but fun.  In the end, I think everyone enjoyed the show and a good amount of money was raised for Relay For Life.  It's a really great event and I am very happy to have been a part of it!

You never had to shake his hand to be touched by him.  He didn't need to know your name to feel like he was your friend.  Harry was one of the few people in this world that can impact all generations from all areas of the country with just the sound of his voice.  Losing Harry is not only a tragic loss to the Phillies organization but to the sports world as a whole.  Harry was often imitated but he will never replaced.  We wanted to share our memories of Harry and let everyone know just how much he meant to us.  Please feel free to leave your memories of Harry.

Katie T
What a sad day in Philadelphia. What a legendary person.  On a day when words are so hard to find, the best way to cope is to share our fond memories of the voice of the city.  My personal memories of Harry include the way he said the Phillies' names after great plays; listening to him countless times on the radio as I played outside each summer as a kid; as I drove to and from the stadium (the Vet and CBP) if I couldn't catch the game on TV; listening to him and Whitey joke around and tell stories; listening to/seeing him interview the players (especially when they got pied with shaving cream!!); listening to him on the radio while watching the game on TV during the playoffs instead of the other channel's announcers; waving to him at the game; seeing him sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the 7th innings; seeing him throw out the first pitch just the other day; hearing the crowd roar in applause for him.... My summers will not be the same. Our prayers and thoughts are with him and his family.

Irena
I'm watching the National's game right now and I already miss Harry's voice so much. I had met him just a few times, but each time he was as nice as could be. He was never too busy to send a wave and a smile your way. At 26, I don't remember one game I've ever watched that Harry didn't announce. His voice was apart of so much of the Phillies history that its absence will change the way I watch a game. I was lucky enough to be at game five of the World Series. Of course I was excited when the Phillies won, but it wasn't until I was home the next day and heard a replay of Harry Kalas calling the last play, that I realized how amazing an experience it really was. It just didn't hit me until I heard it from Harry. My deepest sympathies not only go out to his immediate family, but his larger Philadelphia family that will miss him so much.

Christy
Harry Kalas' voice is a voice that I've loved since childhood.  I have such great memories of watching and listening to the Phillies' games on summer nights with my family...Harry calling every game.  Harry's voice will always remind me of those great memories.  I feel so fortunate to have been a part of the Phillies Championship Season, and now I realize how lucky I am to have shared some of those great moments with Harry Kalas as well. 

A moment that I will never forget with Harry Kalas was during the DVD premiere of The Perfect Season.  The movie ended with highlights from the World Series Parade.  After the DVD screening, I was walking out of the theater and Harry was walking next to me.  Harry turned to me and said, "Hey, wasn't the day of the parade the BEST day?"  Of course I agreed with Harry that the day of the parade really was "the BEST day."  Harry's comment about the parade made me realize just how much the Phillies, the fans and the entire city of Philadelphia meant to him.  Anyone would have realized how grateful Harry was to have been a part of the Phillies organization. 

Alison
Even before I was old enough to know Harry Kalas's name, I associated his voice with the Phillies.  My earliest memories of Harry are when my parents would take my brother and me to games at the Vet.  As a toddler, my brother would always fall asleep before the end of the game, so we would leave early and let him sleep while my parents listened to the end of the game on the radio during the drive home.
Growing up without cable television, I recall my mom listening to many of the Phillies games on the radio.  To this day, I still prefer to listen to the games on the radio rather than the television.

It is a sad feeling knowing that we will never hear him call another game.  I like to think Harry is now reunited with Whitey, broadcasting the game to all departed Phillies fans.  My prayers are with his friends and family.  You will be missed, Harry!

Lauren
I am very fortunate to have been able to meet Harry Kalas for a brief moment at the red carpet DVD premier of A Perfect Season this winter.  I escorted him into the theater, and got the chance to speak to him about his beloved Phillies, and their world series victory.  Though we only spoke for several minutes, it is one of my fondest memories of being a ballgirl.
 
Everytime I hear Harry's call to end Game 5, I get chills.  There is no one who embodies the spirit of this team more than Harry Kalas.  Watching Phillies games without hearing Harry's voice will not be the same.

Amanda
What an extremely sad, sad day in Philadelphia.  The Phillies lost family today.  They lost their "voice" and a man that was a big "heart" of the organization.  Harry Kalas touched so many lives over the years by bringing the Phillies passion and energy into so many homes.   He connected the fans to the Phillies and brought America's favorite pastime to life each and every game.  Growing up and watching the Phillies since I was a little girl, I knew no other voice.  His voice carries so many memories for all of us.  His unique "This ball is outttta here" and the famous "Swing and a miss, struck him out! The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 World Champions of baseball" will never be forgotten.  There are not enough words to describe the contribution Harry made to the Phillies and the world of broadcasting in Major League Baseball.  Even though I have never had the honor to meet him, Harry Kalas' voice has touched my life in so many ways through the Phillies.  Baseball definitely has lost one of its finest today. RIP Harry Kalas. You will truly be missed!

Sam
Growing up as a Phillies fan players would come and go, but there would always be one constant...Harry Kalas. At the start of every spring, Harry's distinct voice would radiate through my living room and call a game not only as an announcer, but as a passionate fan. He had the ability to capture the emotion of a moment, and when you hear his unforgettable calls being replayed you remember exactly how you were feeling at that specific point in time.  His voice has implanted many memories in my mind that will be preserved forever. Here are some of my favorite memories of Harry Kalas: High Hopes , Take me out to the Ball Game in the 7th, The Harry Kalas Christmas Sing-a-long, White Leather Shoes, "Chase Utley you are the Man", "Outta Here", "Michael Jack", and "The Philadelpha Philles are the 2008 World Champions of Baseball".  Those were the memories that first came to my mind when I first heard about Harry, but I think the picture of the fans chanting "Harry" will always stick out in my mind as my favorite. He is a legend to us fans and will never be forgotten. 

Gina
Harry Kalas will be remembered as one of the most legendary voices in baseball history.  I have had the opportunity to work many events with Harry and I will never forget my memories of him.  My fondest memory occurred this past January 28, 2009.   Debbie and I worked a charity event at the Charcoal Pit in Wilmington, DE.  Harry arrived, and Debbie and I walked him into the bowling alley.  The three of us found a table to set up shop and Harry signed whatever fans were bringing to him.  I remember how Harry made the fans faces light up and he never turned down a picture or autograph.  Just watching him made me so happy and reminded me how fortunate I am to have gotten the chance to work with the most legendary voice in Phillies baseball history. After signing, Debbie, Harry, and I ate some dinner and shared different stories.   Throughout the night we walked lane to lane and took team pictures.  Some fans asked Harry to record their voicemail message on their cell phones and he would say " This is Harry Kalas and this one is outa here the Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 World Champions of Baseball"  Those fans are so lucky to be able to have something so many other people would cherish.  I will also never forget Harry singing High Hopes during Octoberfest on stage with ballgirls, Mr. Greengenes, the Phanatic and Tom McCarthy the crowd loved it and everyone, including me, sang along with Harry.   Harry you will be missed by everyone.  I would like you to know just how much you have impacted my life, and I will never forget the conversations I was able to share with you.  Rest in Peace.

Laura
When I heard the news that Harry Kalas had passed away I was completely saddened. It felt like I had lost a member of my family because I grew up listening to Harry broadcast every Phillies game since I was a little girl. His distinct voice and home run call gave me goosbumps no matter how many times I heard it. He was such a joy to listen to and brought so much to the Phillies organization.
 
One of the first events that I had the opportunity to do as a ballgirl was sing Christmas Carols at a nursing home in Media, PA. with Harry Kalas. He brought so much joy to the people in that nursing home. They had smiles the entire time we were there singing. You could see that Harry truly enjoyed being there and singing. He really helped brighten up the day for these older people during the Holiday Season. That is a great memory I will remember forever.

Katie H.
I was born and raised a huge Phillies fan. My whole family literally bleeds Phillies red. I can remember laying on my family room floor next to the open windows and feel the warm summer night air while listening to Harry call the games. That is probably my favorite memory of Harry Kalas. I was listening to WIP and Angelo said that people will remember Harry with familiar sounds, smells and sights. I will always remember being a little girl and watching the games with my family in my living room laying next to that open window. I also had the priveledge of being on the field during the ring ceremony game when he threw out the first pitch. I remembered seeing him waiting in the dugout and getting giddy because I was literally 5 feet away from him. I will never forget seeing him that day. He is and will always be a Philadelphia legend.
These next few games will be hard on us, but knowing that he was there during the whole 2008 season has put peace to my mind. RIP Harry the K.

Lindsay
April 13th, 2009 will always be remembered in Philadelphia as the day we lost Harry Kalas.  The memories of Harry will continue on, as he was a legend to both the city of Philadelphia and Major League baseball.  I still get goose bumps when I hear the "the Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 World Champions of Baseball!!"  And even if I'm not watching the clip, the thought of winning the World Series is coupled with the sound of his voice.  Hearing his voice reminds me of summer nights with friends and family in South Philadelphia and I imagine as long as I'm watching the Phillies, I'll still hear his voice calling the games.

McKenzie
The passing of Harry Kalas was so sad for Phillies fans and baseball fans everywhere, but the evening of his death turned out to be a great one. No matter what TV station or radio station you turned on, all you heard were great stories and memories about Harry from fans, players, and Phillies employees that have known him over the years. It is very apparent that he left a memorable mark on baseball, and memories of his life and career can't help but bring smiles to people's faces everywhere, whether you are a Phillies fan or not. His legacy will live on forever!

Fehran
Over the last few days, Major League Baseball has been brutally tested. The tragic and untimely passing of Nick Adenhart, coupled with the loss of Detroit's "Bird" remind us all that in the end, maybe it is just a game...but then I think of Harry, and suddenly baseball is back to being much more than just a game.  That's what he did.  He was able to sit in a booth without props or special effects and convert plays into vivid exclamations of what he saw, which made people love baseball and love the Phillies.
 
My greatest memory of Harry will always be 'SWING AND A MISS--STRUCK HIM OUT!  THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES ARE 2008 WORLD CHAMPIONS OF BASEBALL'  I'm so glad he was able to make that call.  I'm not even exactly sure if winning the World Series would have been this sweet if that call had been made by someone else.  Harry the K's legendary voice and on-air charm will never be replaced, but it will be remembered every time our beloved Phillies take the field.  He was so much more than a play by play announcer.  He loved and appreciated the fans--all of them, and always had time to smile and shake a few hands.
 
My prayers are with the Kalas family and I hope they truly understand how much Harry meant to us all and how much he will be missed season after season. 

Jordan
I was in shock when I got the text from my mom saying that Harry Kalas died.  Every time I heard his call on the last pitch from Lidge to make the Phillies World Champions, I got the chills on my arms and felt my happy emotions well up inside--and that was before he passed away.  Now that it has been played over and over, and knowing that I won't hear him over the TV anymore, the chills and the emotions have become stronger and sadder.  What a sad day for Philadelphia, God bless Harry Kalas.

Debbie
Harry Kalas has been the only voice of baseball I've ever known; I grew up listening to him, feeling as though I was right there at the ballpark, wishing I was at the ballpark.  Harry's passion and love for the game and the Phillies/Organization was exactly what he delivered each time he stepped into the pressbox.  Harry's knowledge and precise coverage of each game was something we have all grown to appreciate and crave, and is something that can never be replaced.   Not to mention his signature sayings, "That ball is outta here" and my personal favorite "Chase Utley, you are THE MAN."   Not many people can send chills up your spine or spark uncontrollable Goosebumps just by listening to their excitement over the radio.....We witnessed a Legend; our Legend and our Hall of Famer. 
Something I will never, ever (ever, ever) forget was on Oct. 31st, 2008; having the honor to ride along on the first float with Harry (and all of the other amazing announcers-Scott, Larry, Wheels, Sarg, etc...you guys are awesome!!) during the parade, celebrating the World Championship.  The "Harry, Harry, Harry..." chants, the endless sea of people, who just like Harry, have had and still continue to show such a passion and love for the game and the Phillies - which I can guarantee gave Harry peace!

The last event I had the honor to work with Harry was this past January at a "Celebrity Bowling Event" headlined by Harry the K himself, and even though there was no bowling involved, seeing how much it meant to the children for Harry to be there and vice versa was a truly humbling experience to say the least.  He must have signed 1000 autographs that night, but it was always something Harry was happy to do!  We'll miss you Harry....very much; your presence, your voice and your love for the game will never be forgotten. 

As the boys of summer finish up with Spring Training in Clearwater's beautiful 85 degree weather; last Saturday, March 21st (the second official day of Spring) we found ourselves in Medford, NJ playing our first charity softball game of the season.  It wasn't exactly the Spring like weather we were hoping for, but we came prepared, with Under Armor and tissues, and were all ready to play!!  I'm not going to lie....the competition was a little intimidating, but we have a talented roster of 19 beautiful girls who can run, throw, hit and catch - it's not everyday you see that, so I'm sure our competition was feeling a little intimidated as well.  So let's here what the girls had to say about our first game and make sure to contact Michele DeVicaris @ MDEVICARIS@phillies.com if you're interested in playing us...but hurry our schedule is filling up fast!!!  

Perrin
It was a great feeling to finally be able to pick up a ball and bat again. The last time I had even swung a bat was at ballgirl tryouts in the fall. I was hoping to shake off the rust early and not embarrass myself for the first game of the season and all things considered, things turned out pretty well. Despite the colder weather, the game was a great time and the opposing team couldn't be friendlier. It was exciting to see the rookies and vets play together as a team for the first time this season. Even the Phanatic came out to cheer us on! Afterwards we got to meet the kids, sign autographs, and handout giveways. It is always entertaining to see what miscellaneous things people will ask you sign. I think there were some shoes and even cell phones floating around with authentic ballgirl signatures. Overall, game one marked a great start to the spring and I can't wait for more to come!

Katie H.
We had our softball game against the coaches and parents of the Shawnee High School boys baseball team. It was a little chilly that day but we had tons of fans there to cheer us on which made it a lot of fun. I was a little nervous because their roster consisted of only men! We played really well together and made some nice plays and had nice hits. We did lose the game, but had so much fun it didn't matter!

The baseball players were our base coaches and umpires which worked in our favor :) My brother plays for Shawnee and was excited to have the ballgirls play his coaches.

We had a surprise guest for the fans - the Phanatic was there! During our game he walked around and hung out with the fans. It was a really fun softball game and was glad I was a part of it!

Fehran

Our first softball game against parents from the Shawnee H.S. baseball team was a blast!  The air was a little chilly but quickly warmed up once the bats started swinging.  We started the day with a quick jog around the field to get our muscles moving, followed by a few stretches and some warm up throws.  It was awesome to finally hear the pop of a ball hitting leather, which lets you know Spring has arrived and Opening Day is just around the corner!  Our team had great pitching backed by a solid defense which helped to keep the score close.  All of us did a great job at the plate, with the exception of one, who shall remain nameless, and managed to deliver a performance that was barely questionable, at best :-)  Needless to say, I'm looking forward to the next game and can't wait to lace up my cleats again!

Katie T.
Last Saturday we had the privilege of playing our first softball game as the 2009 Phillies Ballgirl squad.  Even though it was a little chilly (I have to admit I don't like cold weather), we really enjoyed playing our first challengers, parents and coaches of the Shawnee High School baseball team in New Jersey.  Some of us ballgirls hadn't played softball in a few months so it took us a little bit to get warmed up.  Both teams had some great plays and the Phanatic came out to cheer us all on and meet the fans and players!  We would like to thank the parents and coaches as well as the Shawnee baseball team for inviting us out to play!  Of course, we can't forget our bat boy, Justin, for helping us in the dugout.  We all had a lot of fun and we're excited for our next game.  We'd love to play your team too!

Alison
The charity softball games are such a great part of being a ballgirl and our first game of the year was awesome!  It was so exciting to get my glove and cleats out again.  The weather was perfect for playing softball, and it really felt like springtime.  There was still a chill in the air, but the sun warmed us up.  I think many of us were pretty rusty on our softball skills, but we still had some good at-bats and defensive plays.  We have a lot of talent on the team this year and I can't wait to play more!

Sam
Opening Day and the start of defending a World Championship is quickly approaching, but what the fans don't know is that our Opening Day was this past Saturday against Shawnee High Schools boy's baseball coaches and parents. We are also playing to defend our Summer Softball Showdown Championship.  I don't want to sound over confident, but I feel that our team is capable of defending the Summer Softball Showdown Championship this year. Overall, I think we played very well even though we didn't come out on the winning side. The most important thing was that we all had fun playing together for the first time.  I am very excited to keep playing with the girls because I see a lot of potential and feel that we can only get better. So, our venture to defend our championship has already begun and now it is time for the Phillies to begin their journey to defend their title. Hopefully, there outcome on Opening Day turns out different than ours.

McKenzie
When we got to the field for our first game, it was COLD! The first thing we did was take a little jog to attempt to warm our bodies up. Definitely for the rookies, and probably for the vets as well, the adrenaline and excitement for our first game definitely helped us to forget about the temperature outside. After not playing competitive softball for almost 6 years, I was a little nervous to step up to the plate in front of all my ballgirl teammates and the somewhat large crowd that showed up to cheer both us and our competition on. This was one of the first times since we became ballgirls that we were all at the same event, so it was great to chat with all the girls we don't see on a regular basis.  I was nervous to bat, but once you get up there it is a blast and great to hear everybody cheering you on. Unfortunately I started out our season going 0 for 1, but I plan on turning that around very quickly!

One of the funniest parts of the day was after the game, we all lined up to sign autographs for the kids. The rookies don't have baseball cards yet, so the kids had to improvise on items for us to sign. I have to admit, one of the first autographs I have ever signed was on that day and for a little boy who convinced his mom to let us sign his brand new Nike sneakers!! I wasn't sure at first, but I figure this kid will have a pretty good story when he tells all his friends that the Phillies Ballgirls signed his shoes!

Even though we ended up losing the game, everybody had a great time. I had the honor of rotating with the lovely Amanda at shortstop, who did an awesome job in the field! I can't wait for the next game, but we are going to be a tough team and our competition better be ready for us!

Christy
Softball season?  I could hardly believe that it was time to step out onto the softball field!  The off-season went by so quickly!  Even though I was a little nervous at the start of the game, as soon as we made our first "out," I quickly relaxed and I knew that the game would be tons of fun.  This first game was also a chance for the veteran ballgirls and the rookie ballgirls to spend some time together as an entire team.  Watching all of us play together definitely makes me excited for the rest of our softball season!
 
I also really enjoyed getting to talk with all of the kids who came to the game.  It's always such a good feeling when kids are excited to meet you and to talk to you.  I still haven't gotten used to the idea of kids asking me for my autograph, but I think that the interaction with the fans is one of the best parts of being a ballgirl!

Gina
I think that its funny to see the reactions I get when I say that being on the actual field at the stadium is really only 1/3 of my job as a ballgirl.  And although having the best seat in the house is  by far the coolest part of my job, playing softball is definitely my favorite.  I am such a competitive person when it comes to sports I am playing, so I do not like losing.  With that said, we lost this weekend in NJ at Shawnee HS.  Haha but instead of being a pessimist, I took into consideration that it was our first game of the season and we all were a little rusty.  You could definitely tell that by the second inning we all had our game faces on.  We played six innings, and I got to bat once, which was a line drive to shortstop mind you, and it was, I swear the only catch the guy had all game.  I was really impressed with the rookies and how well they played! We only lost 6-2, which is not too shabby considering the rooks took some time adjusting to the slow pitch.  I think we all take time adjusting to the slow pitch, I literally stand at the plate saying to myself "don't swing don't swing don't swing, okay now" just so I can get my timing correct.  After the game Katie H's mom invited us all over to the pavilion where we signed some Phillies gear/ballgirl baseball cards for our fans that came out to support! There were so many kids that came to watch, and the Phanatic was even there for some time.  The kids were great and they were so happy to have us there.  It always feels good to be able to raise money for charity and make a future ballgirl or boy smile!

Amanda
Being a Rookie, I had no idea what to expect for my first ballgirl softball game!  Besides tryouts, I hadn't really picked up a glove or played softball since high school, since I played field hockey all through college for IU.  So you can imagine I was a little nervous! Our competition was a team of male adult baseball coaches and teachers and they sure were intimidating when they came up to bat! It also didn't help I was playing SS, which is the position my boyfriend plays in college, so I could imagine him being there critiquing my every play and fielding in "his" position. haha The game was a blast though! I really had so much fun; from being announced, to cheering in the dugout for every girl, to signing autographs for kids (one boy even gave us his cell phone to sign; I'm sure his mom loveeeed that).  Even though we lost, our team really held our own and had some awesome plays and key hits; with the encouragement of the Phanatic on the foul line! Everyone got to play and got up to bat so it was great to have everyone involved and having fun. I def. can't wait to play again and get some "W's"! GO BALLGIRLS :)

Jordan
I loved the first game, and I can't wait until the next one!  The next one though I will be more prepared to field the way I used to, my errors really killed my game.  However, I finally have a glove of my own that I found that I really liked and fits me well (I was using a borrowed glove, my old glove was thrown out a few years back, it was in pretty bad shape), and I cannot wait to use it!  Hopefully it will help get me more comfortable playing softball again.  Ha, one can only hope right!  I watched in amazement at the rest of the girls at bat and on the field, they were all great!  I love being a part of this team.  I was smiling the whole time, even if the temperatures were in the 40's.

Lauren
Our first softball game was a blast!  Though it was a bit cold in the morning, the sun was out and it was a beautiful day!  Everyone played really well on both sides.  This was a great chance to see what the new ballgirls are going to bring to our team, and they definitely added a great deal of talent at every position.  The team we played seemed like they had fun, too, and they were great sports.  It is always fun to play a team that gets excited about the game, but whose main goal is to have a good time.  The community got excited about it as well, and tons of kids came out to watch.
 
I enjoy our softball games because I was always part of lots of athletic teams growing up, where my happiest childhood memories come from.  I always pitched slow pitch for little league as a kid because I loved being part of every play during the game.  I continue to pitch for our team now (switching innings with Debbie) and it can be very nerve-wracking, because you usually have to pitch to big, strong guys who could hit a line drive right back at your head.  And since we play slow pitch, some teams really pound the ball.  But just like when I'm sitting on the line during a Phillies game, I love the feeling of being so close to the play all the time.  It is definitely exciting and invigorating.  I can't wait for our next game!

Laura
I was really impressed with the way we all played together on Saturday especially since it was our first time with our "new team." I think we have a lot of great talent with the new girls and I think as we continue to play together and get to know each other better we will be a really solid team. I am really looking forward to our future games!

  Hometown:  Medford, NJ

Resides: Medford, NJ

College:   Rowan University

Major:   Health & Exercise Science

Occupation:  Health & Phys. Ed. Teacher

Favorite Restaurant in Philadelphia: Continental

Favorite aspect of Philadelphia: I love the shopping, nightlife and of course the sports

Three things you would take on a desert island: My dog Bailey, sunglasses and my iPod

Favorite Movie: Just Friends and Money Pit

Biggest Pet Peeve:  When people chew with their mouth open!

What do you do when you aren't watching Phillies Baseball?  Shopping, hanging out, playing tennis, going to the beach

What is on your ipod? Everything - Dave Matthews, Rhianna, Incubus, Jay Z, Jack Johnson and the list goes on and on.

Favorite Phillies' player (past or present): Lenny Dykstra

Most people don't know what about you?  I love to read.

Most prized possession: My memories of the 2008 World Series

A few weeks ago we were approached South Jersey Magazine and asked if we would be interested in modeling Spring fashions for their March issue.  So we rounded up the South Jersey girls (Alison, Katie H, Christy O and Irena - Sam had class) and spent an entire day at a studio in Cherry Hill.  Everyone was great to work with especially the photographer who probably wasn't used to dealing with such amateurs.   It was a great day and we can honestly say models deserve the big bucks because it is a lot of work to smile for 8 hours. 

Katie H

I had the opportunity to model clothes for South Jersey Magazine.  Myself and three other ballgirls (we are all from South Jersey) got to model spring fashion that is available at boutiques located around South Jersey. It was definitely a different experience! We were asked to get there without any makeup on and our hair worn down without any products in it. I don't know about the other girls, but it was strange to walk out of the house without makeup on! When we got there, we met with the photographer and got to look at the clothes before we were rushed into hair and makeup. We all had our makeup and hair professionally done for the shoot. There was a 'theme' to our shoot that made it more fun than just standing there and posing. The photographer had us pretend we were looking or touching objects from our 'theme'. It was hard but fun! The girls and I had a blast at the photo shoot and it is something a girl could get used to! The clothes were really cute, the photographer was awesome and I would definitely love to do something like that again!

Irena

The South Jersey Magazine photo shoot was so much fun!  I mean, what kind of girl wouldn't love to be pampered by getting their hair and make-up professionally done, wearing fabulous clothing, shoes and accessories and then having a professional photographer take their pictures?  The editors decided that they would use theme for the shoot.  So all four of us, had different poses for different chapters of the story.  At one point, I was pretending to look into a giant tea cup!  The clothes, shoes and accessories they had prepared for us were really nice and of course I loved spending time with the girls.  The photo shoot was just another great example of the awesome perks that come with being a Phillies Ballgirl.  Look for our photos in the upcoming March edition of South Jersey Magazine!

Alison

When we were asked to model for the March fashion spread for South Jersey Magazine, I was really excited and scared at the same time! Let's just say I don't have much experience at photo shoots, but I was willing to give it my best shot! It ended up being really fun, but it definitely wasn't easy.  After a couple hours of getting our faces put on and our hair styled, we were ready to pose.  The hardest part was imagining the backgrounds - oversized tea kettles, flowers, walking on the face of a watch, there were some crazy scenarios that we had to imagine being a part of!  Luckily, most of the outfits fit us well and the photographer was great to work with.  I can't wait to see the results!

Christy

When I was asked to participate in the photoshoot for South Jersey Magazine, I was both excited and nervous!  I had never been a part of a real photoshoot, and I didn't quite know what to expect.  When I arrived at the studio, and the editor explained to us that the fashion spread was going to be themed, I knew that it was going to be fun! 
 
The interesting and most challenging part about the whole shoot was that we would be shooting in front of just a white background.  That meant that as models we would have to imagine the scene from a theme or story that we were going to be made a part of. 
 
For my first scene, I had to imagine that I was underneath a larger-than-life faucet and that a giant water drop was about to drip onto my head!  The clothes that we were modeling also matched with our scene, so I was able to wear an adorable pink raincoat with really cute green shoes!  It was definitely a challenge to imagine myself underneath a faucet, but the photographer was a good guide and the other ballgirls helped me with their cheers and word of encouragement.  For the entire day, the 4 of us were changing outfits, getting new hairstyles and helping each other pretend to be in a chapter from a particular story.
 
Overall, the photoshoot was extremely fun and extremely exhausting!  Modeling is much harder than I ever imagined.  I never really realized how much "acting" goes into modeling and that one day of work can just wipe you out completely!  I feel so lucky to have been invited to the shoot and to have worked with so many talented people.  I can't wait to see the final spread this Spring!      

Hometown:  Buena, NJ  

Resides: Mays Landing, NJ 

  College: Rider University- Undergrad, LaSalle University-Graduate

Major: Communication

Occupation: Partner in a publication and printing company
 
Favorite Restaurant in Philadelphia: Scannicio's

Favorite aspect of Philadelphia: History

Three things you would take on a desert island: Sun Block, Ipod and 2008 World Series Trophy

Favorite Movie: Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2

Biggest Pet Peeve: When people drag their feet when they walk

What do you do when you aren't watching Phillies Baseball?  Hang out with friends, work-out, travel and go shopping 

What is on your ipod? The Killers, Kings of Leon, Cold Play

Favorite Phillies' player (past or present): Shane Victorino

Most people don't know what about you? I'm a vegetarian 

Worst pick up line you have ever heard: Hey do you have any band-aids, because I just skinned my knees falling for you.

Most prized possession: My cat: Paris Butters

So as we mentioned in the last blog, each week (or ever few days, if its a slow news week) we are going to feature a different member of the 2009 ballgirls team.  A few weeks back, we were asked to answer a few questions about ourselves so Phillies Phans can get to know us a little better.  We decided to start with the Veteran ballgirls first since most of you are familiar with them.  This will be a refresher course for you...and since we are the captains, that's right, we get to go first...

Debbie Fischer

Hometown:

Ridley Park, PA          

Resides:        

Wilmington, DE

College:

Widener University

Major:

Hospitality Management

Occupation:

Recruiter ~ Wells Fargo

Favorite Restaurant in Philadelphia:

I don't eat out in Philly often but the most recent trip into the city was with the ballgirls to celebrate the World Series win and the season coming to a close over dinner at Maggiano's, which was absolutely fabulous!   

Favorite aspect of Philadelphia:  

There is so much to do and see in the city, I swear I get lost every time I'm there.  You're guaranteed something new and exciting around every corner; from the history to the shopping, Philadelphia has it all....oh and of course the best fans J 

Three things you would take on a desert island:

Three things I would like to have on a desert island would be: A huge role of Gore-Tex fabric, a toothbrush and sun screen....oh and my husband, Bo and lip gloss!  Obviously, I'd never survive!  lol

Favorite Movie:

Old School, Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman, The Notebook, Christmas Vacation, etc....

Biggest Pet Peeve:

When I can hear someone chewing their food...eww, makes me sick!

What do you do when you aren't watching Phillies Baseball? 

Probably at work (hardly working J), shopping with money I don't have or sleeping, something that I'm deprived of during the season....but it's completely worth it!!

What is on your ipod? 

I can't even tell you the last time I used my iPod, so really couldn't answer that question  

Favorite Phillies' player (past or present):

Present would have to be Cole Hamels but I do consider them all my favorite :) Past player would have to be Tug Mcgraw...ya gotta believe!

Most people don't know what about you?

I'm scared to stay at home alone...

Worst pick up line you have ever heard:

Guy: Here have a seat, you must be exhausted!! Me: Umm, thank you...but why? Guy: Because you've been running through my mind all day!

Most prized possession:

My wedding band and engagement ring!

Sam Arnone

Debbie Fischer

Hey Phillies Phans....did you think we forgot about you??  Of course we could never do something like that; we just have not stopped since the parade on October 31st!!!  I'm sure some of you have seen us around town touring with the trophy or attending various other charity events, and even though this may considered our "off season" we're busier then ever, which is never a bad thing.  If you haven't already heard, we hosted the 2009 ballgirl tryouts in late November; the response was so overwhelming, it was very hard to narrow down the amazing talent that had come through the doors, but we did and are excited to give you all a chance to meet the new girls for the 2009 season.  Before I go any further, I should probably introduce myself, and answer the question you are all most likely wondering about....Where's Jocelyn?  Well my name is Debbie Fischer and this will be my third season as a Philadelphia Phillies Ballgirl.  You may also know me as Debbie Sulecki from the 2007 season, but last April I married the man of my dreams and took his name too   Okay, so back to business....the past two seasons have been such an incredible experience, making the role as a Phillies ballgirl that much more appealing.  Not only did we have 1,600 resumes submitted, the appearance requests for ballgirls have almost tripled, which is almost expected considering the success of the Phillies these past two seasons.  Well this season, myself and fellow 3rd year Ballgirl, Sam Arnone have been asked to help with the transition of new ballgirls and to provide the leadership and knowledge we've gained from our experiences over the past two seasons.  As co-captains, we were also given the task to keep the Ballgirl Blog ranked among the top MLB blogs, which will not be an easy task considering the big shoes we were left to fill of former Ballgirl, Jocelyn Brown.  Jocelyn did such an amazing job keeping the posts up-to-date and fun; I mean, she does this for a living (she's a freelance writer), and she is very good at what she does...we will miss her expertise but know she's only a phone call or email away!!  And not only will we miss Jocelyn, but we'll miss the rest of our veterand ballgirls from 2008 season but just like Jocelyn, they are all only a phone call or email away....once a Ballgirl, always a Ballgirl   So there you have it....

Sam and I will be joined by 8 returning girls from the 2008 season as well as 9 new girls for this coming season.  I'm getting better, but 9 new girls is a lot, and remembering all their names is proving to be very difficult!!  But we are all very excited for the season to begin and I know Sam and I can't wait to keep you all in the loop with going's on of us Ballgirls - we have a few ideas up our sleeves that are sure to keep you entertained through out the season.  And that's what we'd like to do for the next ummm....17 blogs!  Each (week, Every couple days) we will feature a new Ballgirl, having them answer a few questions as well as have them tell us a little about themselves; and come opening day, you'll have "Meet the Ballgirls" and we'll look forward to seeing you all at the ballpark on Opening Day!!! 

 
One thing we'd love to have more of is your comments, suggestions and feedback.  We're writing this for you so we want to make sure we are doing the best we can to make reading our blog something you look forward to doing....so please let us know what you think, what you'd like us to talk about, etc...we look forward to hearing from you.  Here's to another Championship Season.......GO PHILLIES!!!!!

Sam Arnone

 
This season I have been asked, along with Debbie Fischer, to be a captain for the Ballgirls, but to also write for our blog. For our first blog entry I was asked to write about what I would like to accomplish this season. A million ideas ran through my head, but let's be realistic here, a girl can only achieve so much in one season! First thing I would like to accomplish is to show the fans what the Ballgirls do other than sit on the sidelines at the games. I feel this blog will be a great way for the fans to see a different side of us, and get to know our personalities a little better.  Every couple of days a different Ballgirl will be featured on our blog so, be sure to check back to get to know everyone before the season starts! I am really looking forward to sharing our experiences throughout the season with you!!!

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, Festivus, or something else altogether, the holidays are a wonderful time to spend time with family and to rekindle old traditions.
For me those traditions involve squeezing into a pew with my big, goofy family for a Christmas Eve candlelight service, then staying up until the wee hours of the morning on Christmas Eve, watching It's a Wonderful Life and wrapping Christmas presents.  For Lauren, they entail a trip to Colorado and the Hanukkah fairy, and for Gina, they involve the most incredible sounding dinner ever!  Wherever the holidays take you, all of the ballgirls would like to wish you health, happiness, and hope for an amazing 2009!

Lauren
I definitely had a unique holiday tradition that not a lot of other people had.  Since I celebrate Hanukkah, I always looked forward to getting gifts from the Hanukkah Fairy!  He came each night of Hanukkah during dinner, and my brother and I never noticed!  My family lit the candles, sang the prayers, and ate a home-cooked dinner together each of the eight nights of Hanukkah.  Before dinner, our gifts for the night were nowhere to be found, but after dinner, we'd rush into the living room and on the fireplace would be several wrapped presents, and tiny knickknacks and candy in our "Hanukkah stockings" (like Christmas stockings, except they were blue with a white star of David on them!).  He got me some pretty nice gifts.  I got a lot of cool art supplies, some good candy, and one year, a dollhouse that my Dad and I built together.

Since Hanukkah rarely falls on the same date as Christmas, my family would travel every year during the holidays and go skiing.  On Christmas Eve, we usually end up at one of our favorite restaurants in a town in Colorado, and it feels like any other night!
 
My wish for the New Year is that everyone I love stays happy and healthy, although it would be nice to see the Phillies win another World Championship!

Sam
Every Christmas Eve my family and I go out to dinner and then come home and change into our PJs. After everyone is settled my mom and dad let my brother and I pick one present to open. (My brother always opens socks.)

On Christmas morning, my mom turns on all the Christmas lights and calls us down for breakfast and presents! We open our presents under the tree and then the stockings are always last. My brother and I then have to open up the presents that Santa had left my dogs. (I still don't understand why Santa wraps the presents he gives to our dogs). After all the presents have been opened we just hang around the house all day and then get ready for dinner with the rest of my family.

As you can see Christmas is a huge ordeal full of tradition in my family and I am grateful that each year my parents make sure my brother and I have the best Christmas possible. I understand that not many people are as fortunate so each Christmas I always wish that everyone has at least one present to open on Christmas morning, and this year I will also be wishing for another World Series Championship!

Teresa
The holiday season is my favorite because it means that I get to be reunited with my family and friends. From the Jackson 5 Christmas album to White Christmas, our family has its holiday traditions and favorites. My mom usually decorates the house with the same decorations every year. She takes it VERY seriously; my favorite is her 12 Days of Christmas clock... and yes, every hour, on the hour, it sings a different Christmas song.  Hurley (my dog) still hasn't figured out what that noise is! 
On Christmas Eve, we gather around the tree and wait for Mom to throw us a different present from each other.  Then, the gag gifts come... I get picked on the most when it comes to those. I've gotten my fair share of whoopee cushions and other unmentionables! 

On Christmas Day I'm usually the one to wake everyone up at an ungodly hour to open our presents from Santa! Then we head to mass, watch some football, and finish off with a great Christmas dinner complete with plum pudding and Christmas crackers (Irish traditional favorites). Then Dad usually puts on some Irish Christmas music to round it out, to which we sing along. I can't wait to visit everyone at home to wish them all a Happy Christmas! To all Phils phans, enjoy your holiday season and have a very happy new year!

Debbie
My Christmas is jam packed with family parties, from the 20th through the 26th.  My husband's mother's side of the family party is on the 20th, then my Dad's family on the 24th, my Mom's family on the 25th, then my husbands father's side of the family on the 26th!!!  And extra special party added this year on the 27th will be the First Annual Ballgirl Christmas party...which I am very excited to host...I mean, after all we've been through, I couldn't see me not celebrating the holiday's with them all, they're practically family!!!  Can't wait.
My one wish for this year would have to be.....for this economy to straighten up, for us to get back on our feet, for the people who lost jobs-to find something even better, for my family's health, wealth, and happiness, and I wouldn't be representing the Phillies if I didn't wish for another "Perfect Season."  Happy Holiday's Phillies Phans, may this coming year bring you nothing but the best

Laura
After experiencing this entire past season and the World Series championship I can only wish for another World Series victory in Philly for the upcoming baseball season. We have waited so long for this to happen! I have been filled with so many memories from this year that I would love to experience it all over again!

Katie
I LOVE Christmas time! My family has this Christmas tradition every year. On Christmas Eve, we eat dinner as a family then go to church. When we come back from church, my brothers and sister open gifts that we give each other. We do a pollyanna every year and have so much fun buying each other gifts. On Christmas day, we all used to sit at the top of the stairs until my parents got the video camera ready. It was so hard waiting for them to get ready for us to come down! When we got downstairs we had to open our gifts one by one so that we can see what everyone got. After we open our presents, I would help my mom make our dinner. The whole day is so special and I am happy that we can still have our family traditions.

My Christmas Wish: I wish for another World Series title next season :)

Alison
One holiday tradition I had growing up was that we weren't allowed to open any presents until after church on Christmas Day! As a kid, it was torture having all those presents under the tree and not being able to open them immediately! In the end, it taught us patience, but it wasn't always easy!

My holiday wish this year is for no one to be hungry during the holidays.  The Phillies collected canned goods at the Holiday Sale last weekend, so thanks to everyone who brought food! Every little bit helps!

Christy G.
Besides the playoffs - Christmas is my favorite time of the year. Christmas Eve I love to sit in the family room with the fireplace on as we watch Christmas movies or home videos with my family. We stay up pretty late before having our hot tea with honey and go to bed.  To this day on Christmas morning my father still takes the video camera out and makes us wait on the stairs before coming down to the tree to open presents. I'm very excited but very sad at the same time... Now that I am engaged I know that this holiday tradition will be over soon. I know I will see my family on this Holiday every year but it will be hard to transition to my new lifestyle. In a few years I am sure I will start my own tradition and have my family over my house for the holidays. So I do look forward to that and keep that in the back of my mind...that a new an exciting journey of my life is about to begin. I wish everyone a very safe and happy holiday season. ☺

Irena
Every year, I go over to my parent's house on Christmas Eve. When I was a child, we would open our gifts Christmas morning like every other family. However, that tradition has changed because I have 4 nieces and 3 nephews that celebrate Christmas at their homes on Christmas morning. So, now we celebrate on Christmas Eve.

Our entire family gathers at my parents' home and we have dinner, then we hang out until midnight, which my younger nieces and nephews love because they get to stay up so late! We all gather around the tree and open our gifts. The kids start first because they have so many gifts to open! So, all of the gifts are technically opened on Christmas day but just a little earlier in the morning.

After a good night's sleep, my parents and I drive to Brooklyn to visit my grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. This year the trip will be a bit different because my grandfather passed away in July and it will be our first Christmas without him. So, my wish this year is that we not only enjoy celebrating the holiday, but also my grandfather's life.

Lindsay
Being the youngest of three children, I was usually the one who would be carrying out each of our Christmas traditions.  As a self-proclaimed Christmas Brat, I was the one to place the angel on the tree and the one to lay Baby Jesus in his manger on Christmas morning.  However, my favorite tradition is one in which my entire family participates.  Each year, my dad will sit us down on Christmas Eve to read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  The book itself is a giant coloring book almost 30 years old with its pages colored by my family throughout the years.  Some are done more skillfully than others (my personal favorite is a page where Santa's suit is a very masculine pink as opposed to the typical red) but all pages are cherished year after year.

Christy O.
I LOVE Christmas!  Every year on Christmas Eve my family and I go to the candle light service at church.  Then, we come home and eat lots of Christmas cookies and of course watch A Christmas Story on TV (you know, the one where everyone says, "You'll shoot your eye out!").  After the movie and way too many cookies, we usually go to bed and then get up early for presents and a BIG breakfast. 
 
My one wish for Christmas this year is that I hope everyone has the opportunity to spend lots of time with their families and friends.  Christmas is a perfect time to appreciate everyone who touches your life.  Happy Holidays!

Gina
Christmas is definitely the best holiday.  At my house, my mom cooks dinner and all of my sisters come over.  We normally have lobster and filet mignon for our main course.  I have three sisters, Kelly, Angela, and Monica and we are all pretty evenly staggered in age. 

Growing up Christmas time was when my mom thought it was cute to dress us all the same.  So the past few years, now that everyone is older, we decided that it would be funny if we still all wore the same thing.  Last year we wore matching ugly Christmas sweaters and pink slippers.  This year my mom got even more into than last.  She ordered us these mistle toe headbands and red and white striped leggings. 

My two older sisters are nurses, and this year they have to work on Christmas Eve, which is normally when we have our dinner....I know, such a bummer.   But instead of having dinner Christmas eve, this year we are having it Dec. 20th!  I don't mind it at all though, this is my favorite season!!  I love when my entire family is together; it really is like one big party at the Papili house. 

On Christmas day my dad takes all the girls to church at St. Elizabeth's where I went to grade school.  After church we go and visit the moms and dads of my father's friends that he grew up with.  When we finish that we stop by my uncle Louis and aunt Dolly's for some coffee, and then we are off to Mom-mom and Pops where my dad cooks everyone breakfast!  I hope everyone enjoys there holiday as much as I will.  Have a safe and wonderful Christmas!