♥ Dancing In The Chaos ♥

A New Place to Call Home

2012-03-06T13:47:00.002-05:00

Nate and I have been together for ten wonderful years and have called seven places home, not including living with parents in between houses and in a hotel for four months after the tornado hit. We have had large homes and small apartments. We lived in homes that range from a few years old to over a hundred years old. We have sold houses in a day and some that took over a year. We have lived in cities and on dead end country roads. We have had moments where we felt we had everything in a home, and moments where we were devastated over what we had lost.

We have been brought to tears over the sorrows and joys of our houses and have learned a lot from each experience.

And Now We Have a New Place to Call Home....

On our drive to go see the new house I knew that Nate and I were already falling in love with the area. It was the simple hand squeeze that after ten years we both understand so well. Sometimes it means, "I am nervous", "look at that", or "time to take the kids home". But this time it meant pure excitement and love. The house itself had us from the second we walked in. It had the "warm" feeling that we had been talking about for years and the quiet location that we had been dreaming of. The kitchen is open to the living room so I can cook and still be with the family, a perfect sun room for coffee dates with my hubby, and a loft that is perfect for the kids to do their school and play. There is even a fort in the backyard that the kids can't wait to get back to. It is exactly what we were looking for and we are in love with it! So this little house in the woods of NH will be the next place (and hopefully the last place for awhile) that we call home and I am excited to see what this house has to teach us.

We are so excited for all the outdoor fun that is within walking distance from our home. Our new address is 29 Robin Lane Grantham NH 03753. We do not have our PO Box yet but we will post it soon.

A Fabulous Leap Day

2012-02-29T21:16:00.006-05:00

Because if you only have this day once every four years you might as well make it an amazing one!!!!

We made silly faces, ice skated in socks on the hardwood floor, and had a silly song contest. Dylan told me that I am the silliest person he knows...I took that as a great compliment.

Aliya was anxious for the snow to start falling so we could have a snowball fight !

After our playtime in the snow we ended our day with some warm pjs and hot cocoa. It was a great day at home!

My sister was able to finally take her three boys out of the orphanage today! (Click here to read more about her story

http://edventureproject.com/what-are-you-doing-for-leap-day/ )

No more will she have to "visit" the boys, or be supervised as she spends time with them. She will no longer wonder what they are eating, or how they are being treated because now and forever more they will be her children. They have a family. A family that will love them forever.

They have a Mom and Dad, 5 brothers, 3 sisters, 2 Grandmas, 2 Grandpas, 3 Aunts, 3 Uncles, 6 cousins and loved ones all over the country who have been praying for them. They are orphans no more!!!!!!!! We can not wait to have them home to hug and kiss and show them how much they are loved! We love you Jeremiah, Benjamin and Max.

Please continue to pray for their safety and health. They must pass a health screening with the embassy and then they will be issued their visas and on their way home!

The Story Each Picture Tells

2012-02-28T18:00:00.014-05:00

There is no doubt that I love to take pictures, but it has little to do with how good the picture turns out (I am far from great at it) and much more to do with capturing a memory. I love that what I have caught in each photo is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything. Photos bring back feelings and tell stories that you may never have remembered or even known without them. My parents home has a plethora of hidden history and I love finding each hidden gem. I love the charm and simplicity of each old photo. I can just stare at them and get sucked into the story they are telling me.

August 1943

This picture is of my Grandma and Grandpa Ricard, they were married in England while my Grandfather was serving in World War II. Look at the joy on her face. She must have been so nervous and so excited all at once. My grandfather did not come home from the war until September of 1945. I can only imagine how she felt and the conversation that took place with her parents and family when she said she was getting married and would be moving to the United States. They must have been fearful of all the changes that were about to occur, but if you look at this photo there is nothing but joy overflowing from it. Whatever it was they were feeling due to the uncertain times was definitely overcome by celebration, love, and support at this moment.

1927

My sweet Memere was very dear to me. I could go on for hours talking about things she would do that would make me smile. In this photo she was only 16 years old. It was long before she could tell stories of working in the mills and living in an apartment with five children. It was taken before she was married, before she had any children and at this moment she had her whole future ahead of her. I wonder what her dreams were, what she hoped would come next in her life.

So many pictures just stand alone as just great shots that tell amazing stories and some we are blessed to have letters and articles to help us better understand.

Aunt Denise & Mom 1952

Grandma Ricard on left

Poirier Family 1952

Dad & Mom 1972

Mom 1971

Time Together

2012-02-25T11:46:00.001-05:00

I love time around the table. No matter what it is we are doing, eating dinner, playing a game or each doing our own thing, I always love it! I love the conversations we have and the laughter and silliness that occurs. On this day Aliya was playing Strawberry Shortcake, Trent and Dylan were doing workbooks, Nate was looking up baseball cards and I was knitting and we were all having fun. It is the time we have all together that I cherish so much!

Yogi was being a knuckle head and decided to join in on Aliya and Nate's tickle fight. Our silly dog decided to jump up on the bed and sit on Nate's chest. Yogi is always good for a laugh!

A Day of Love

2012-02-16T21:31:00.000-05:00

I spent my valentines day with my four loves. The kids and I spent the day playing games, making crafts, and relating every subject of school to our loving day. We got a lot accomplished but more importantly we had so much fun!!!

Nate and I tucked the kids to bed, and thanks to my mom being willing to babysit, we were able to head out on a date. There were a million of options of typical Valentine's day things we could do, but we opted to hold hands walking around the bookstore while we drank our coffees. We chatted the night away. The simplicity of our date made it so special to me that I will never forget it. I am so lucky to have my Valentine.

Quiet Winter Days

2012-02-13T12:37:00.001-05:00

Our winter has been very calm. I am anxiously looking forward to spring weather and all the changes that will come with it, but in the mean time I am just trying to enjoy these quiet winter days.

The kids have been having fun working on their baseball cards with daddy. I love to watch them enjoying and loving daddy's hobby with him.

We enjoyed tons of yummy food on Super Bowl Sunday. Unfortunately, the game was far from super for our Patriots but, at least we had some wonderful family time together.

My poor husband hurt his ankle on a ladder at work. He is slowly recovering, but it is so hard to watch a man who never slows down struggle to walk.

Yogi got a hair cut the other day. If it wasn't for his silly personality and mismatched eyes, we would have thought they sent us home with the wrong dog. We love our wonderful sweet short haired dog.

So Much Better then an Apple

2012-01-31T16:33:00.002-05:00

We have really enjoyed homeschooling this year. I have been amazed to watch how quickly our children are learning and changing. It takes a lot of work, but the advantages have definitely made it worth while. Plus, while most teachers get only an apples on their desk, I get something that is much more special!!

Our Funny Kids

2012-01-23T13:04:00.001-05:00

Dylan took a shower and I asked him if he washed really good. He promised he did. I went and cleaned the bathrooms and then Dylan went potty. I heard yelling "Mom come quick...look I made bubbles in the pottty! I told you I washed really really good!"

Trent woke up and said "I slept in really late today. I slept until 8/7 central."

Aliya "Can Yogi sleep in bed with me?" "Okay, then can I sleep in his kennel with him?"

Winter Relaxation

2012-01-23T11:49:00.000-05:00

We are spending our winter relaxing. It has been wonderful. Sure, we have work and schoo,l but our nights and days off have been filled with playtime and we love it.

The kids have been loving playing a family game of tag.

Marching band, video games and playing house are the other fan favorites.

As for Nate and I, we have been enjoying watching our Patriots win! It may be cold outside, but we are completely content with our inside family fun.

Lego Creations

2012-01-23T09:59:00.000-05:00

Trent loves Legos. He has an amazing ability to imagine something and then build it. Often he will wake up with an idea and get "working" while he is still in his pajamas. We love his hobby and all the amazing creations our smart and talented big man can make!

Beautiful Snow

2012-01-13T16:35:00.000-05:00

I have to admit that when I woke up to snow I did not think it was beautiful. In fact, I would have been very content to move right on into spring and have no more snow this year. But as soon as the kids looked outside, they began to scream "SNOW, SNOW" and the joy that lit up their faces definitely changed my tune. Aliya looked out the front window and then ran to the back of the house and yelled "Dylan, come look! It snowed on this side of the house too!!!!" I had no choice but to join in the snow celebration and find the beauty in our snow day. The kids were very well behaved during school because they knew when they were done it was time to go outside. We combined our snow time with our language arts reading of Mr. Popper's Penguins and judging by the smiles I think our snow storm was a hit.

Home Movies

2012-01-11T08:25:00.000-05:00

There is something about watching home movies with the kids that never gets old and can always make me smile!

Hand Me Downs

2012-01-10T20:36:00.000-05:00

Trent 02/06

Dylan 11/08

We have a cookie monster shirt that has been well loved over the years. All three children have called it their favorite at one point and I have loved watching it be passed down. Aliya has just about outgrow this shirt, but she fights me and says that it still fits. I very easily give in on this battle and let her continue to wear it. I know that we are about to close the chapter on our cookie monster shirt, but honestly I will be a little sad to see it go. In fact this shirt will move from Aliya's closet and into my memory box. But for now I am just fine with it being worn for a few more days of play.

Aliya 12/11

Part of the Family

2012-01-08T20:23:00.001-05:00

Our Stay-cation

2012-01-07T22:12:00.000-05:00

Nate had the week off and we had a week full of relaxation.

This week we made a cardboard box castle,

had paper airplane races,

worked on baseball cards,

smiled until our cheeks hurt,

wrestled, had tickle and pillow fights,

made a birthday cake for Nana,

Dylan grew a beard,

and went to the Science Museum.

Where we got to see the city of Manchester made over a two year period and out of over three million Legos. Trent was ecstatic!

He said he would love to build a project like this!

Bubbles!!!!

And Dylan threw a Dylan ONLY dance party!

Nate said "that he can't wait to retire". I think that comment makes it clear that it was a pretty awesome week!

A Very Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T10:35:00.001-05:00

Twas' the Night Before Christmas...

2011-12-24T08:08:00.000-05:00

Time to snuggle up and read Twas the Night Before Christmas

Trent made presents for his whole family. He even made the wrapping paper. He made Nate a pencil holder for work, Aliya a tea pot and cups, Nana a tea cup, Papa a bookmark and I received a beautiful necklace. Trent has such a loving heart and was so excited to see his family open his gifts. We were so proud of the time, effort, and heart he put into each one.

Dylan said his army tank and alien ship were awesome! "This is the best Christmas ever!"

Opening Trent's gifts on Christmas eve warmed Nate and my heart. The kids loved their home made gifts. They were extremely thankful and never asked for another present. They were happy with what they received and would have been content even if their was no more gifts given and that made us so proud of our little ones! They definitely reminded us of True Christmas joy!

We made Christmas cookies for Santa and a few for ourselves too.

Santa's cookies

We spent a lot of time looking out the window to watch for Santa and his reindeer. We are pretty sure we heard his bells and saw his sleigh fly across the sky!

Now off to bed sweet children become some elves have a few more presents to wrap.

Growing Crystals

2011-12-22T16:04:00.001-05:00

Here we only have one rule...

2011-12-21T13:35:00.000-05:00

"Never ever let it cool! Keep it cooking in the pot, soon we got Hot Chocolate!"

"Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."

Christmas Round One

2011-12-20T11:20:00.000-05:00

Christmas with my family was absolutely wonderful this year. I didn't take many pictures so you will just have to imagine lots of laughter, smiles, family and food. After eight years away it was extremely special to be home for Christmas!

I Love My Family

2011-12-20T11:08:00.001-05:00

The Gift of Being Fully Present

2011-12-20T10:33:00.000-05:00

Today I will let my laundry wait for one more day.

Today I will smile as my son watches cartoons in his pj's and slurps his milk and lets it slowly drip down his chin.

Today I will enjoy the sight of Aliya's favorite blanket and stuffed animal lying in the middle of the floor.

Today I cherish the perfect art work that was made for just me.

Today I will get a hundred kisses underneath my Lego mistletoe that Trent made for me and smile at the sight of my special snowflake that Dylan so carefully cut.

Today I will be an audience to the best perfomance of the night before Christmas I have ever seen.

Today I will be thankful for this exact moment of my life, And today my gift to myself is being present in this moment and the joy and love it has and letting all those other distractions and tasks of life wait for another day.

Best Friends

2011-12-15T16:38:00.001-05:00

Card Tricks

2011-12-08T09:24:00.001-05:00

Trent has been teaching himself magic tricks. I am so proud of his new talent! This one amazes me and I even know his secret!

Comfy Cozy Winter Days

2011-12-06T15:22:00.000-05:00

The other day was sweat shirt day. It was a compromise...they wanted school in pajamas, I said they had to get dressed. I love the loop whole they found in getting dressed and i love that they did it as "Team Schlag". The friendship they have created amazes me and makes me happy to no end.

Happy 4th Birthday Aliya Jade!

2011-12-05T08:46:00.000-05:00

Our baby girl is not really a baby anymore. Four years old...I said it quite a few times out loud to see if it would sink in but it still hasn't. Our sweet little baby has become a beautiful little girl. She is growing so fast and it feels that the days are just flying by. We cherish every moment we have with our wonderful girl (and our amazing two boys) and feel blessed to watch her grow and become anything it is she wants to be .

Little Miss had a wonderful Birthday!

Daddy made Aliya fruit pancakes for breakfast. Aliya was in charge of all her Birthday plans, including dressing her family. Boys in tie dye shirts (it was a rainbow party after all) and girls in fancy purple dresses.

Aliya got a new baby doll. The doll must have got a memo on dress code because she fit in perfect.

Aliya asked a hundred times when the cousins would arrive at the house. She was ready to PARTY!

The men choose to make their own fun party game and install a new dishwasher!

The kids had a great time on a scavenger hunt searching for the rainbow of jellybeans.

This picture cracked me up! Just look at that blur of children running past. By the look on my face I am pretty sure that I am reminding everyone to walk...I doubt anyone heard me in all of the excitement.

Aliya changed her mind a hundred times about her cake. She wanted Abraham Lincoln's hat, a puppy, a turtle, a lobster, a castle, a kitty, a baby doll, a penguin, a doll house with Abraham Lincoln eating a Lobster, etc etc etc. She finally settled on a rainbow cake with lots of candy, marshmallows and colors. After all those ideas, I was a little nervous about getting to work out of fear that the plan would change again. But when the cake was done, Aliya absolutely loved it so I'm very glad she took her time choosing it.

Thanks to everyone who gave Aliya gifts. Aliya has so many fun new toys to play with!

Happy Birthday Sweet Princess. We love your desire for adventure, your determination, your passionate love of life, and the way you make a room full of people smile when you do. You are an amazing little lady and we are so blessed to have you in our life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-28T06:56:00.000-05:00

I love Thanksgiving. This year I had a headache larger then the turkey that was served, and while I might have felt miserable, I still loved every minute of our day. It was wonderful to spend a holiday with my family again and watch as our children ran and played with all my nieces and nephews. It was wonderful to be chatting in the kitchen with my sisters and watching my parents hand out the Christmas ornaments. I felt so much love in that house and it was an amazing feeling. Holidays are always hard because no matter what family Nate and I are with we are always sad to be missing the other side of our family. This year we missed Nate's family greatly. We have spent the last seven Thanksgivings with them and it was hard for me not to be making our pies the night before or being able to spend time with them the day of Thanksgiving. I am amazed at how much love and support Nate and I have. I am so thankful for each person near and far who we are blessed to call family.

Reading together by the fire was a favorite pastime for many of the kids. Especially Trent who found a book on dinosaurs.

Aliya, however, found it far more entertaining to slide down the stairs.

I love how on Thanksgiving everyone helps out, many hands in the kitchen makes a big meal far less work and a lot more fun.

We might be a large family but there is plenty of room at this table for everyone.

Traffic Jam

Beautiful Smiles

Dylan and Jon were detectives....Dylan is sure he found some big clues but in order to solve the mystery he has to go back to Jonny's house and play. Good plan Dylan, Good plan.

My sweet sisters who I love so much

It's all about family

My mom started a tradition to pass out a Christmas ornament to each grandchild on Thanksgiving. Each ornament somehow reflects the interest of the child in the past year. She started the tradition when there was just Gabriel. Little did she know that she would be buying 15 ornaments each year!

He must be sleepy from all that turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Just one of those days...

2011-11-28T06:18:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you have one of those days that are just so bad, so bad that you can call it "just one of those days" and people know what you mean. But there is always the opposite of those days...sometimes you have one of those days where you just feel so lucky to be you.

One of those days when you want to roll in the leaves,

One of those days when you want to get dirty digging in the dirt just for the fun of it.

One of those days where you smile until your cheeks hurt.

One of those days where the sun is shinning down keeping you warm and the bright blue sky just makes you smile.

One of those days where you refuse to come in because the outside is so much nicer then being inside.

One of those days that you want to climb a tree and act much younger then your drivers license might say.

One of those days where you realize just how great life is...and you are so thankful.

Nate and I

2011-11-20T11:23:00.000-05:00

The other night Nate and I went out to celebrate our ten year dating anniversary. Ten years ago he held my hand for the first time...awwww...played with my hair for the first time...awwww...and asked me to be his girl...really big awwwwwww. Ten years ago we went from individuals into a couple. A lot has happened since then. We have had three children, three dogs, two bunnies, four fish, ten homes, three nephews, six nieces, one tornado, five jobs, etc. Nate and I have lived and learned quite a bit in the last ten years. Some lessons were easy and filled our lives with joy and some were hard and brought us to tears, but I am extremely thankful that each lesson has only made us grown closer and stronger as a couple. I feel blessed everyday to have my sweet husband beside me, holding my hand, laughing, living, learning and growing old together.

Home Sweet Home School

2011-11-15T06:42:00.001-05:00

I am getting ready for another fun day of school but the sight of the kitchen table with all of our home school "organized" piles on it is about to make me batty. Two of my favorite things are organization and blogging and adding them into our home school routine seems to makes sense. A simple blog to keep our past, present, and future plans for schooling on. I have a feeling that this blog will be mostly lists of assignments, experiments and reading and not exactly thrilling for blog readers. It will take us a few weeks to get it rolling but feel free to check it out if you would like.
http://theschlagfamilysabcsoflife.blogspot.com/

Playing in the Leaves

2011-11-10T15:10:00.000-05:00

Raking as a chore is no fun, but raking to make a giant pile to throw, jump and play in is an absolute blast! I love family time!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Belated Halloween!

2011-11-07T15:53:00.000-05:00

One of the things I love about Halloween is being able to think back over the years and remember the changes in the kids interests (based on their costumes) as well as realize just how much they have grown. I decided to share the pictures that flashed thru my mind as I watched my "big" kids get ready for Halloween this year.

I am missing quite a few Halloween photos because we have had a few Halloween sick days over the years and the rest of the pictures are not saved on my computer....but there once was a baby pooh and tigger that were so cute!

Halloween 2011

Trick or Treat came a week late here due to our snow last week. The kids were so excited to dress up and get candy. All five of us had a wonderful evening of Halloween fun!

Sno-tober

2011-11-01T06:41:00.000-04:00

There is something special about the first snow. Something that requires you to open the door when you see the first few flakes falling and catch them before they can hit the ground.

The first snow makes you dig through everything you own to find warm hats and gloves, just so you can get outside to play.

It makes you want to try and catch a few flakes on your tongue.

and make a snowball...

and a snow angel...

There is something about the first snow that just makes you smile. I love that.

This first snow came rather early this year, and covered the fall leaves that hadn't even fully changed color.

I'm sure it won't be long before we are grumbling that we are ready for spring again, but for now we are still in first snow bliss.

Yogi's First Birthday!

2011-11-01T05:55:00.000-04:00

In one year so much can change, and that is no exception for dogs. Yogi has gone from a tiny untrained puppy to a 112 lb well trained family dog. We love our pooch and are so happy to have him as part of our family.

Yogi's favorite game is chasing a little light around the room (don't ask me, it's must be a dog thing). For his birthday yogi had five brand new lights to chase around and the kids had a blast watching him run in circles around the house.

For a dog who hates heat and loves cold, the snow was a birthday present all in itself. He absolutely loved it...it was getting him to come back inside that was the trouble.

Happy Birthday Yogi Bear...you are one very silly and very well loved dog.

Fun Time with the Deml Kids

2011-10-21T09:17:00.000-04:00

The amazing thing about love is that it always multiplies and never divides. We are filled with joy for three little boys who will soon be adopted and become our new nephews and add even more love to our large family. I have been blessed with a few days with our wonderful nieces and nephews, while my sister Jen, took the time to do some paperwork towards the adoption, get ready for the home study, and run to the State Capitol. We are happy to help Jen and Robert get a little closer to taking the boys home and we are ecstatic to be able to spend quality time with the Deml children! We are dreaming of the day when there will be three more smiling faces in these photos!!!

We found out that the oldest boy, "Bradley", who is deaf is about to be transferred out of the orphanage and into an institution. This means he will be separated from his brothers, likely be given very poor care to the point of starvation and the chance that he many never be allowed to be adopted. Please pray for him.

You can read my sister's post below or follow their blog at http://fillingthehousewithblessings.blogspot.com/

Please PRAY!!!!

Pray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We just got this update... translation, of "specialized orphanage" is INSTITUTION!!! And by being in a different region it will be much harder to get him out!!! Please PRAY!!!!!!!!

"Please, may you push the family of Deml paper-work as much as possible? The older boy is to be transferred to the specialized orphanage to another region! The Director of the current orphanage is trying to keep him as long as possible, but it is getting harder every next day."

Update:

I asked the question:"I know it would be more difficult, but is it still possible to get him out if he's transferred?"

Nancy's answer: It totally depends where he gets transferred to, some places just do not allow adoptions at all and if it is very far away then you will need 2 dossiers and 2 court dates and you would be doing a totally separate adoption ($9k)

Ten Things you can do at a Giant Pumpkin Regatta

2011-10-18T11:00:00.000-04:00

My mom and I took the kids to a giant pumpkin festival. So what exactly do you do at a giant pumpkin weigh off and regatta?

Look at the winning 1,464.5 lb pumpkin of course.

2. Watch pumpkins launch into the river with catapults.

3. Eat very yummy fried dough.

4. You wait a very long, but worth while wait, for face painting.

5. You sit very still while the paint brush tickles your face.

6. Act like a puppy, tiger and monkey.

7. Watch as giant pumpkins get turned into very creative boats to float in a race down the river.

8. Pick your favorite pumpkin boat...all three kids liked Harry Potter best.

9. Wait out a two minute rainstorm and get to see not only a parade but a rainbow as well.

10. Spend quality time with people you love dearly.

What a wonderful way to spend the day.

Beautiful Views on Mt. Kearsarge

2011-10-17T11:17:00.000-04:00

Nate and I decided last week that we were going to climb Mt. Kearsarge on Sunday. For a girl who has LOVED hiking since I was four, I was ecstatic. I literally was counting down the days I was so excited to go. Finally the day arrived and we began our hike. We told the kids a few rules like no jumping, no racing, always sidestep if you are going to fast, if there is an unstable rock or a mud patch always go for the mud, get dirty and have fun.

Dylan's was in awe. He couldn't believe the views and the freedom. He loved every rock, dirt patch, tree, and habitat he found. He was excited and content all at once and my little man did not want to leave...EVER!

We are unsure of which Yogi loved more..the family time or the mud! One thing we did learn that if you ever want a dog to take a good nap, let him hike a mountain and then he will sleep like a baby.

Trent was an explorer through out the entire hike. He found snake holes, chipmunks homes, looked for prints in the mud, different types of rocks, trees, watched for deer and moose and counted every waterfall.

Aliya was our professional hiker. She wanted to have no one to help her. The phrase we heard the most from her was "I can do it"! She took every step with precision and climbed even the steepest parts with ease. We were very proud of our little pro!

I love being with my favorite person and nature...neither seem to mind when I have no makeup and my naturally crazy curly hair. According to Nate he prefers this look on me...I know, I am a very lucky girl to have such a sweet guy!

It was a wonderful time. The kids hiked every step with out one complaint of their feet hurting or being tired. In fact, before we had even reached the bottom they were already asking if we could "go hiking again on Daddy's next day off". These statements were music to this outdoor loving Daddy and Mommy's ears.

Having Fun at Bear Brook

2011-10-13T09:00:00.001-04:00

We decided to make good use of a tree that had fallen down and put the camera on it so we could take a family photo. Press a button, run and tada...a cute picture of all five of us!

The first kind of flowers my hubby ever gave me are to this day, still my very favorite flowers to receive . What type are they? Well...any kind that he picks me while we are spending time together outside. I love them! They definitely beat store bought flowers!!

Family Time!!!!!

2011-10-09T15:38:00.002-04:00

I love getting outside to play with my favorite people! Family time is so good for my heart!

Learning time in the great outdoors

2011-10-06T14:27:00.000-04:00

We have been learning about photosynthesis and seasons this week. So today we took a little fiend trip to see science in action.

My very happy kiddos. According to Dylan field trips are the best part of school.

A Fun Day at the Camp

2011-10-04T11:50:00.002-04:00

Last Friday the kids and I went and visited the Goedecke camp. I don't think I can describe how much fun the kids had as well as the their smile in these pictures do! They loved all their boat rides, playing in the sand and spending time with their cousins. It was a wonderful day.

Aliya enjoying the wind in her hair. :)

We had the fishing poles in the water only two minutes before Dylan caught the first (and only) fish of the day. Look closely, I promise it is there. He was so excited!

Dylan loved exploring what he called "his new lake house". His favorite part was the spiral stair case and view.

Trent has been talking about riding on Uncle Pete's yellow boat for three years. He was elated to finally go on and loved "sitting in the very front while it went super fast". He has not stoped talking about his ride and I don't think he will for a very long time. Thanks Uncle Pete!!!!

The Truth of the Matter

2011-10-04T06:22:00.001-04:00

Today's post is not my typical pictures of my happy family adventures, but it was on my heart and I had to share. My Sister's family is in the process of adopting. This process has been very exciting for our family, but it also has opened Nate and my eyes, and brought us to tears, as we have learned about the poor care children receive in some orphanages and institutions and how poorly the disable are treated. It breaks my heart that anyone is treated like this, never mind room after room filled with children who are tied to beds, severally malnourished, and are without anyone to love them. While it would be much easier to believe that this is all not true, that no country could treat children like this, it is real. The "if I can't see it, it isn't happening" attitude has to pass and we must understand the truth of the matter is, that right now there are children crying out for food and love but many of them will die instead of ever receiving it. I used to think that if someone didn't adopt a child someone else would. That very few children remained an orphan there whole life. However, looking at the news and seeing those overflowing rooms with children who are not just newborns and toddlers, but all ages, convinces me that these children need someone. Someone who is not waiting on the next person to adopt them, but someone who will step to the plate and be their family. And while not all of us can adopt we can all help someone who is. Jen and Robert want to add some of these children to their family which is bubbling over with love. But there will be hurdles along the way. Please pray for these children! They would appreciate every prayer, $38,000 and an ocean apart seems like a lot right now, but I believe that these children will one day be home in NH, running in the backyard and playing with their brother and sisters.

A Perfect Fall Day

2011-09-27T09:04:00.000-04:00

We spent the day outside for my Birthday, which is my very favorite place to be! Apple picking, a walk around the lake, and even ice cream at Goldenrod's. It was an amazing day.

Trent and Elizabeth's 8th Birthday Party! :)

2011-09-25T21:05:00.000-04:00

The party started with the men getting keys stuck in the tree and Nate volunteering to climb up and get them!

But it was well worth the effort because in the end we had a fabulous pinata.

Party Time!!!

Happy Birthday Trent!!!

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!!!!

Not exactly the small kids table! It takes six large pizzas to feed this crew.

The kids had fun getting out their energy on Uncle Pete. :)

It was a wonderful party and we were so happy to celebrate our sweet boy and our niece.

A Day at the Beach

2011-09-22T15:01:00.000-04:00

We were so excited to spend some time at the beach...the kids went running for the water as soon as we got there. We brought home lots of treasures that we found.

For my little boy who loves to dig in the dirt and mud, the beach was heaven.

Aliya found many snails, all who she named Yogi and each one we had take a picture of. :)

Trent dug many sand tunnels and watched as the tide came and filled up his "inventions".

Awwww...we are pretty cute, if I do say so myself. I love spending time with Nate on his day off!!!!!!! :)

Cousins, cousins and more cousins!

2011-09-18T13:52:00.001-04:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

A Slight Delay

2011-09-12T15:26:00.003-04:00

In the words of Aliya Jade "a thankful heart is a happy heart". Our tire blew out on our move across country. It happened in a one lane construction zone on the highway with bumper to bumper to traffic, se were so thankful that everyone was safe. There was no use getting grumpy about the unexpected delay and expense, instead we just enjoyed some extra family time in NY.
While we waited we got to eat some very yummy NY pizza!

Yogi was a good boy while we waited at the mechanics.

We took a fun walk around the neighborhood.

A ride in a tow truck. The kids were so excited!!

Slumber Party

2011-09-11T21:32:00.002-04:00

I love this moment. My favorite people together in a hotel room. Nothing beats family time. :)

A Monkey in our Suitcase

2011-09-09T13:40:00.002-04:00

We have packed all our things and are ready for our move to NH tomorrow!

Time Keeps Flying By

2011-09-05T09:22:00.001-04:00

My mom used to say to my sisters and I, that she wanted to put a brick on our head so we wouldn't grow so fast. When I was young I didn't understand what she meant, now I do. Trent turned eight today. I am amazed how fast the past eight years have gone by, how many things he has learned and how much he has grown into his own personality. I consider it a blessing everyday to be his mom. The only thing I would be ever change would be to slow it all down a little, the whole experience is going by way to fast. Happy Birthday Trent Aaron! I love you with all my heart.

The Hardest Part of Leaving

2011-09-03T06:57:00.000-04:00

is saying goodbye to good friends. IL has become our home and leaving friends and Nate's family is very hard. Ronda and I were neighbors and instant friends. When we met Trent and Meridith were not even one year old and Nate and Greg worked long hours. It was so nice to have each other to rely on for friendly conversation, fun dinners, or a babysitter when we needed one. I loved letting the kids play while we chatted that the day away. We will miss the Bundy family terribly! I just wish I had a box big enough to pack them and take them with us to NH!

A quiet night

2011-09-02T14:50:00.000-04:00

My children are sleeping, Nate is saying goodbye to some friends from work and I am enjoying time at home. The laundry is folded, the dishes are done, the boxes are packed, not even my to-do list is calling my name. My house is silent... minus ONE fly. Yup, that's right, a single fly sounds louder then a race car doing laps around my bed to me. Someone give me three kids running, laughing, playing, a dog barking, a ball being thrown and some legos dropping and then I will be able to relax. Peace and quiet is not a match in my house, but peace in our crazy loud happy house defintley is.

Random Summer Smiles

2011-08-31T07:21:00.003-04:00

We had a beautiful summer this year! It was hot everyday and barley rained. We loved getting out to enjoy the sunshine! I took a lot of on the go photos on my phone. Here are a few of our favorites. It was a season filled with so many reasons to smile and I didn't want to miss even one.

Cute Cousins

2011-08-27T07:57:00.002-04:00

Vegetables

2011-08-25T19:18:00.001-04:00

Some days I have to step back and celebrate the small successes as a mom. Todays success was very small, pea size in fact. Today my children ate...sweet potatoes, green beans, pea pods, lima beans, red peppers, cauliflower and zucchini. Not only did they eat every bite but they even asked for more. So, I may not have accomplished everything on my to do list, but I can check raising the kiddos to eat their vegetables off. One lesson down just five zillion more to go.

Love, The Schlag Family

The Funny Things Kids Say

2011-08-22T08:55:00.002-04:00

The boys asked aliya to help chase monsters. Aliya said "okay, but if we see one I scream and you shoot!"

Trent: "I am outraged at the audacity of my legos not doing what I want them to." (long pause) "Mom, what did what I said mean? " Hahaha Someone has been reading a lot!

Dylan: "When I grow up I can be anything I want right...okay, I'm going to be a super hero who can fly but who is still a kid so I don't have to clean the potty or do dishes!"

Aliya: "Do I have to where my shoes if I'm just going outside to save the world with Dylan?"

A book a day keeps a seven year old happy!

2011-08-16T15:05:00.004-04:00

Trent has read all of these books since the start of summer! This does not include the two a week that he took home from the library. We are so proud of our little reader!

How Miller Park Started a Family

2011-08-15T09:41:00.000-04:00

Miller Park is by far one of my favorite parks. It in many ways was a life changing park. Sounds crazy but hear me out. When I was fifteen I begged and pleaded with my parents to let me go on a mission trip for the entire summer. I had two weeks of training in Florida before boarding a bus and heading to an Reservation in Northern Canada. That bus ride was very long for me and apparently to long for the bus as well and it just so happened that the bus broke down halfway through our trip. And where did that bus brake down exactly? Right in front of Miller Park. So while the bus was getting fixed I spent eight hours exploring this park and by the time we left, I had decided that I like IL and that one day I would go back. Fast forward a few years and I am excepted to a few different colleges, all that had friends at them, degrees I was looking for and many great things to offer. I had to come up with a way to choose and my reason for choosing the one in IL was largely based on my experience at Miller Park (silly reason I know). A few years later I would be sitting at that same park on a date with Nate. Holding hands, talking about life and what we thought "our" future would be like. This park is special to Nate and I. It has been the place where we have held hands and talked through so many chapters of our life. I can't say whether I would have or wouldn't have decided to come to IL if that bus had never broke down at Miller Park, I can just say that I am so thankful that it happened and the way our story has unfolded.

My Little Helper

2011-08-11T07:19:00.002-04:00

Aliya was helping me pack. One box stuffed animals down only 100 stuffed animals left! This is going to be a long process!

A Day with Trent

2011-08-10T06:39:00.001-04:00

Nate and I try and give the kids alone time. We want them to be able to chat uninterrupted and realize how special they are to us. I had the opportunity to take Trent out for they day and it was wonderful!

Trent has always wanted to try Sonic. So for lunch we went and ordered some fried goodness. He loved it! After we went and played at Toys R Us and the bookstore. We even went to the park together, but before we could head home we had to stop and get an ice cream. It was so nice to get some quality time with Trent. He is such a smart sweet boy. This boy can do anything he sets his mind to (all my kiddos can for that matter) and he has so many amazing ideas. I will just stand beside him, support him and watch, because I know this little man is going places! I am so proud to be his mom.

It's to Hot to Move!

2011-08-04T07:39:00.000-04:00

Yogi went from looking like a bear to looking like a goat. We think he might be having an identity crisis!

Happy 5th Birthday Dylan!

2011-08-01T06:29:00.001-04:00

I am constantly amazed my Dylan. He has an energy and love of life that makes me smile to no end. It is hard to believe that Dylan is already five years old. He is growing so fast and we are so proud of him. This year Dylan wanted a Super Hero Birthday. So he had batman, spiderman, incredible hulk, iron man and even star wars decorations. It was a wonderful day for a wonderful little boy that we love so much!!!

Enjoying the Warm Days of...

2011-07-31T07:23:00.000-04:00

Summer!!!!

Parks, Parks, and More Parks

2011-07-29T20:46:00.003-04:00

I love parks and I think I passed down my adoration of them to my kiddos We have gone to every park near us at least twice this year. Nothing beats sunshine and playtime!

"Hooray! I Get to Have Surgery!"

2011-07-18T06:35:00.001-04:00

When we told Dylan he was going to have surgery, his reaction was far different then we expected. Trent told him all about when he had his tonsils removed and his stories included wonderful things like ice cream and pudding. No matter how many times Nate and I tried to gently tell Dylan that he would feel really yucky when it was over, Dylan's optimistic attitude made him only focus on the ice cream. The night before surgery Dylan couldn't sleep he was so excited. He got out of bed several times and asked "can we leave now?" We had to leave at 4:30am and Dylan was chatting away with me in the car and singing some of our favaroite. He loved being out with me before everyone else was awake. When we arrived at the hospital, he jumped out of the car and was wanting to run to the door. His positive attitude didn't fade for a very long time. Smiling in the waiting room and smiling with his new outfit nothing seemed to get my sweet boy down. Nothing until they made him take "yucky medicine". We had been waiting about and hour and Dylan was starting to get very sleepy. When they brought him his medicine he was sitting on my lap. He tasted it, it was far from the ice cream and pudding dreams that had filled his mind for days, and out it came. He spit it all over me, my face, my shirt, and my arm. Then the tears started to come out he was mad, disappointed, sad and scared but luckily he was also very tired. He drifted off to sleep while I held him and then he only woke back up for his little red wagon ride to the back. He smiled and was being silly with me as I said goodbye and gave him a kiss. The surgery was very fast and Dr. Woodson told me that in all of her years she had never seen tonsils as large as his. I was happy to be back with Dylan as he slowly woke up. The first thing he said was "now, can I have my ice cream? I'm sorry for spitting on you mommy." It was easy to forgive a little medicine on my shirt. After all, if I had been going in for surgery I would have been grumpy the entire morning unlike my positive little boy. Dylan took two weeks to really get better. He was up in the nights crying in pain and felt just lousy. It was a sad time for us to watch him be so calm, sad and so unlike our Dylan. However, there was one upside to things according to Dylan, he did get to eat LOTS and LOTS of ice cream!!

A Saturday Out

2011-07-16T07:03:00.001-04:00

Nate had to work but it was such a gorgeous day we just had to get out of the house. I took the kids to the farmers market and bought some peaches, corn, zucchini and flowers. After dropping are things off from the market we went to downtown Springfield and enjoyed a craft festival. There was tons of fun activities to do and watermelon to eat. It was a wonderful day!

Aliya loves everything to do with Abraham Lincoln and surprises people with all the facts she knows. When she saw him sitting at the park she was so excited to take a picture.

Sweet Friendship

2011-07-15T06:05:00.001-04:00

Trent & Gabe March 2008

Trent became friends with Gabe when he was three years old at his pre-school. It was a friendship between two little boys that turned into a great friendship between two families. Their family is very dear to us to say the least. They were the first friends to arrive at our doorstep after the tornado, bringing the kids treats and food and offering to watch the children while we tried to get things put back together. They have helped us move in and out of homes. They have celebrated, births, birthdays, new pets and new homes with us. They have watched us cry and watched us smile, and supported us through it all. Most often our time together has been simple, letting the kids play and feeding the kids a box of macaroni and cheese or frozen chicken fingers when they got hungry. It is that simplicity of our friendship that I love the most. They are the kind of friends that you don't have to impress you just have to be yourself. I can call and say "do you want to come over?" and that is all the plans that we need. They are our friends that have became our family and we love them so much.

A Day Full of Smiles

2011-07-09T06:19:00.000-04:00

I love those days where we wake up in the morning with no plans and quickly declare it a family day. On Nate's last day off we decided to go to the park, and from the park we went to the zoo and after the zoo we decided to go to the State museum. It is nice to have so many fun things to do with the kids so close together. It was a very full day...full of smiles that is.

Our Fourth of July Weekend

2011-07-04T21:48:00.002-04:00

We had a wonderful weekend! We played at the park, grilled out, went and watched a baseball game and went to the fireworks. It was a wonderful all American time!

A Beautiful Day for a Walk in the Park

2011-06-19T07:39:00.000-04:00

What are my favorite kind of days? Days that start like this..."What should we do today?" "Let's go to a park!!!!!"

Xochimilco!

2011-06-19T06:17:00.000-04:00

Xochimilco is our favorite place to eat. Everyone there knows our family and our kids feel as comfortable there as they do at home. It is a special place where we have enjoyed so many dinners as a family and all tho it is just a restaurant, it seems to be more then that for our family. It is a place that holds memories and has brought smiles from ear to ear, not to mention filled our bellys with the most delicious food! We love Xochimilco!

Flooded but firm

2011-06-18T22:16:00.001-04:00

I was praying today about the rain and our once again flooded basement. I realized that the song that was running thru my head and interrupting my prayer was exactley what I needed to hear and pray. I have loved and cherished this song for quite a few years now, and it has helped me thru many figurative and literal rainy days. Watch "MercyMe - Bring The Rain" on YouTube

Happy 33rd Birthday Nate!

2011-06-11T09:35:00.002-04:00

We spent a fun day at the park on Nate's Birthday, playing in the sunshine. I made him a log cabin cake. We have been talking a lot about our dream home and this is pretty much what it looks like made out of sweet yummy goodness. He said he loved his birthday and we love him!!!! I am so lucky to have him in my life! Happy Birthday to my sweet wonderful husband!

Play Time

2011-06-07T13:42:00.002-04:00

This is my favorite kind of day. Nothing to do besides spend time together at the park. It was wonderful!!!!!

Family Craft Project

2011-05-31T10:29:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful anniversary! Nate came up with the great idea to tie dye shirts. We had a blast with this project! We now have cute shirts hanging in our closets and wonderful memories of a very fun filled day!

Happy Nine Years Baby!!!