Just hearing about Michelle Malzacher's life can make you tired.

Malzacher is the Latin and linguistics teacher at St. Leo the Great School. She is also the Home School Association president there. She teaches a weight lifting and a treadmill cardio class at a local gym. She's been married for five years and (do the math) has four sons.

Whew!

Malzacher's life is definitely full. She says, "Life is too short. God has given us a great gift. Life is a great adventure and I want to soak it up. I don't want to miss a thing."

The Malzacher boys are Noah, 4; Ian, 3; Christian, 2, and Oliver, 4 months. Malzacher says she and her husband, Nick, are very "old school" parents. The two met in Florida when Malzacher went there to visit a cousin. It was a whirlwind romance and the two have never looked back. The couple have a large family, but to Malzacher it "just feels right."

Malzacher believes that the number of children you have really depends on the person you marry. Nick comes from a family of 10 children - seven brothers and two sisters. Malzacher has two sisters and a large extended family.

"Our house is always noisy, always busy," says Malzacher. They believe in discipline, responsibility and routines. "We are teaching our sons that they don't just get stuff because they want it. And they have to help each other."

The boys have small, simple, age appropriate routines. When they wake up in the morning they must get dressed before they come downstairs. If they don't clean up their toys, the toys have to go into "Mommy's Toy Box" and are given to charity. There's dinner, bathtime, stories and bedtime. "Very simple," says Malzacher. "Nothing out of the ordinary. But very simple. Children need routines."

Malzacher and her husband work together in the raising of the boys. They want their sons to "learn from us about service to others, how to be healthy, how to volunteer and to be adventurous." She added, "We walk the walk. ...What I say, I do."

She says her secret, if there is one is, "Honestly, [my] wonderful husband. I am very blessed to have such a great partner. We want to live an adventurous life together."

Malzacher loves Latin and she loves teaching it. She was able to travel through Europe as a student with just her knowledge of that language. "It's the base of all languages - everything else is attached to it." It was her idea to add the language to the curriculum at St. Leo's and she designed the program for the school.

But isn't planning a date night important? Isn't time alone with your husband something all working parents need?

Malzacher says yes. But you won't necessarily find her gazing into her hubby's eyes across the table at some romantic restaurant.

No - their idea of close couple time together is training for a half-marathon or going on a hike. One year Malzacher completed the Ten Mile Broad Street Run in Philadelphia when she was 5 months pregnant. And she and Nick hope to one day take snorkeling lessons together. "I like to do stuff like that," Malzacher said.

The Malzachers also believe it is good to spend time alone with each of their sons. Every week or so they try to take each boy out to Manhattan Bagel or to market. "My sons have four different personalities." She said whether they like to read or draw, "I try to be aware of that."

It seems that Malzacher is doing it all: living life to the fullest and trying to pack in as much adventure as possible for herself, for her marriage and for her children. But certainly, there must be something that makes Malzacher apprehensive ... something that makes her feel a little unsure? Does anything scare her? Anything?

"Having girls," said Malzacher. Daughters "would scare me."

More about November's mom

Malzacher wrote and developed the Latin curriculum for St. Leo's. She loves the history of the language and how it has affected the cultures of the world.

Malzacher grew up in Lancaster.

Sports are usually on the TV in the Malzacher house.

She loves to read and will flip between reading a newly published work and a classic. She is currently reading "Great Expectations," by Charles Dickens.

Malzacher does like to cook and she likes trying new recipes. "But no casseroles," she said
According to her boys, Malzacher's favorite "boy" color is blue and her favorite "girl" color is purple.

By Maureen Leader, Lancaster Newspapers Special Features writer