The Power of Wii

This weekend we got what just may be the greatest gaming system on earth, a Nintendo Wii. I was a little skeptical at first but I have to admit, it's a ton of fun! I'm looking at it as a chance to really bring our family closer, who cares that we play so much that laundry is stacking up, dishes aren't getting washed and bedtimes are a thing of the past. What really matters is that I have yet to beat Ryan at tennis!!! Ok, so maybe it's not bringing us closer but it really is fun.

Deep in concentration.............

This is what was requiring such concentration, some cow racing game, JJ's favorite!

The Joker

Last weekend JJ went to his friend Will's birthday party. It was a batman theme and at the end of the party Will's dad dressed up as The Joker and all the kids sprayed him with silly string. Now this is how JJ spends his days, walking around the house with SpiderMan goggles saying, "I'm the Joker!" It's pretty funny!

And just because she's so darn cute, here's Allison. Finally walking!!!

Frankie the Frog

JJ had the privilege of bringing home his preschool classroom mascot, Frankie, this weekend. He was so excited, before he went to school that day all he would say is, "I hope it's my turn to bring home Frankie." When I picked him up on Thursday he was beaming getting to carry Frankie out. He had all sorts of adventures planned for Frankie.

I thought it was cute how attached JJ and Frankie were to each other. That's until I realized Frankie had to go everywhere with us, he went to Chick-Fil-A, he went on a walk with us, he even went to So Italian for dinner with us.

And, of course, who ends up hanging out with Frankie at all these public places? Me! I'm pretty sure I heard someone whispering about with grown woman carrying around the stuffed frog! I can't wait for Tuesday to come so Frankie can find a new home!

Not a Happy Birthday

So yesterday I started not feeling too great, running a fever and by the evening I had a sore throat. Then Ryan started running a fever. This morning we all got up and made appointments for Ryan and myself and Allison (she was running a fever over the weekend). The results.....3 cases of strep throat! JJ missed the bullet, although I'm expecting it will hit him soon. I knew this turning 30 was a bad idea, it's all going downhill!:)

Oh and Happy Birthday to my friend Dacia, I hope yours was better than mine!!

Surprise!!!

Some of you may know that on Monday I will turn the big 3-0. It has not been a day that I've been looking forward to but I finally came to terms with it, I decided I'm in good company! My dear husband pulled a fast one on me tonight and threw me a surprise party. I was shocked!! Here I am after I realized what was going on, and, yes, it did take me a minute to realize what was going on!

Here are the kids anxiously waiting to yell Surprise!

And sucking the icing off the candles.

It was a great time! Thank you guys, I think I can handle turning 30, I mean, it's not like I'm pushing 40 or anything, now that would be traumatic!:)

Stuck

Not too much exciting has been going on in the Schmidt household (besides the 19 cubbies we had at church tonight but that's a whole different post!) so here is the story of the day. Ryan took JJ to work with him for a good part of the day so I took advantage of only having one kid to chase around and was getting some housework done. Allison was 'helping' me with the laundry. All the sudden I hear her yelling, "DA DA DA DA" at the top of her lungs. This is what I found....

I don't know how she managed to get into the laundry basket in that position but she was totally stuck! And, yes, I had to take a picture before I helped her out!:)

Apple Orchard

Today was such a pretty day, my friend Jen and I decided to take all the kids to the apple orchard. Here is Allison and her best buddy Madison enjoying their apples. If you can't tell, Ali REALLY enjoyed her apple!:)

JJ kept going from apple to apple asking, "Is this one perfect?"

For some reason Allison was totally freaked out by the apple trees, everytime she got near one she had a fit.

All the kids had a great time, we're already planning a return trip for pumpkins!

Campfires and Camping

Tonight we decided to have a campfire and roast some marshmallows.

Then Ryan and JJ made a tent in the living room and decided to 'camp out'. JJ thought it was Christmas he was so excited!

As for myself, I was thrilled to have the whole king-sized bed to myself!:)

Barn Raising - Part 2

Well, I know you all have been on the edge of your seats waiting on the next part of the barn raising. I had planned on documenting every stage of the building but, to be honest, I didn't think it would take this long and I got bored with it! So I won't keep everyone in suspense any longer.....................

It's finally finished, oh yeah, except for painting it and putting on the door.

Mike, the Young part of Schmidt and Young Construction, has been helping Ryan build the barn. So while they worked the kids and I had a little water fun.

And some squirt gun action. It's all fun until they decide to turn on the you!:)

Anna spent a good part of the day trying to catch one of the million butterflies we have in our yard. Here she is with one she finally caught. Unfortunately she held onto it a little too tight and the poor butterfly didn't make it.

Allison spent the day napping, lucky girl!:)