Schu News: February 2011

I can't believe I haven't blogged in almost two months! I do have, what I believe, are good reasons or excuses depending on which way you perceive them. Right after Christmas, the four of us took our first journey to Eastern Virginia to be with the Schumacher clan for New Year's. Jon's Uncle Glen and Aunt Cecile flew in from Minnesota, and Jon's parents graciously offered to fly us up so that we wouldn't miss the New Year's family fun. And we did have fun! Williamsburg had just been hit with a large snow storm, so there was still snow on the ground for the kids to play in. The kids LOVED playing in the snow. We spent time at Grandma and Grandad's, Uncle Geoff and Aunt Wendy's, and Uncle Eric and Aunt Victoria's homes, and we enjoyed several delicious meals at each ;) Jon's Aunt Vicky and cousin Joanna joined us for New Year's too, so it was quite a Schumacher family event. After the weekend, Jon flew back home, and the kids and I stayed on for some more time in Virginia. We spent a week doing some sight-seeing(The VA Living Museum was excellent) with Grandma, visiting with Jake and Sophia, and going to Brady and Zach's basketball games. The kids and I drove up to Fredericksburg one morning to visit my friend Gray, who was spending her birthday in the hospital on bedrest. She ended up having baby Matthew a few days later. While I was sad to miss out on seeing the new baby, it was nice to see Gray again! I also stopped by my old school, Ni River Middle, to see some of my teacher buddies for the first time in years! It was very nice to see them again as well. On Saturday, Grandma and Grandad drove us to Virginia Beach where we met up with Amanda, Matt, and Callie and made a visit to the aquarium. The kids had a great time, especially at the Komodo Dragon exhibit and submarine. We ended our week in Williamsburg with a stop at the Great Wolf Lodge where Grandma and Grandad treated me to a haircut for my upcoming birthday. My sister picked the kids and me up later that morning, and Aunnie, Callie, Mommy, Will, and Brighton journied across the state to the lake to spend a week with Nana and Papa. It snowed a little the day after we arrived at my parents', so once again, we spend a couple hours sledding and playing in the snow. The rest of the week, we mainly stayed around the house since the roads were a little slick. Papa took the kids on tractor rides, Nana had craft time with Will and music time with the girls, and we played games and worked more word puzzles out of the newspaper than I care to admit. Amanda and I did go see a movie together while Nana and Papa contained all three beasts, I mean grandchildren. We took the kids to visit Grandma Worley as well as had dinner with one of our cousins and his new baby. We made one trip to the mall together, where we had a pleasent meal but then a not-so-pleasent shopping experience trying to keep all three sleepy kiddos happy. We had a fun time, and it was very nice being together for the first time in years during the winter in Virginia. Amanda drove us back to Williamsburg on Monday, and the kids and I flew out of Richmond on a Tuesday. The journey back to New Orleans took a turn for the worse due to some storms. Our plane had to make an emergency landing in Mobile, where we waited to get more gas before trying to make into New Orleans again. The kids did remarkably well on the flight, but I have never been so happy to be on the ground as I was that night. We were all happy to be safe and back with Jon. We all missed being together, and while we loved our time in Virginia, it was difficult having our little family apart for three weeks. The last journey I made by myself at the end of January. This was the journey into my thirties :( I have dreaded turning thirty for a long time, but now that it has come...well, I still feel old. I had a very quiet and pleasent birthday with my kids and Jon, and I am thankful for making it to this ripe old age.

As for the February Frustrations, we lost our second laptop at the beginning of the month which explains the lack of blogging. We are very very grateful to now have a beautiful second-hand desktop donated to the Schumacher family from Uncle Glen and Aunt Cecile. We really really appreciate having this computer as it is proving to be much more Will-friendly. The other frustration we encountered this month was in preparing for next year. We had to make some quick long-term decisions regarding Will's school for next year, but we are all set and very happy that he will be attending a pre-K program at a private school in Covington, that is of course, unless we are no longer Louisiana residents. But as for now, we are still happily enjoying our life in Louisiana, and there has been no news to the contrary. My next post will hopefully come sooner than the last. My parents will be coming for a visit on Sunday the purpose of which will be to watch Will and Brighton as Jon and I head to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for a few days. Jon won Operations Manager of the Year for Ferguson, so he is being rewarded for his hard work (and I am being awarded for tolerating his hard work) :) I am, of course, anxious about leaving the kids. Please pray for our safety and my nerves as we head out on March 2 and return to our little nest March 5 just in time for Mardi Gras!!!

Playing in the snow consisted of snowball fights, putting snow down Daddy's pants,

eating snow,family pics,

and playing in Uncle Eric's igloo.

The kids would not stay out of the snow even when they weren't dressed for it!

Grandma and Uncle Glen spending some quality time with Grandma's princesses.

New Year's Eve at Wendy and Geoff's house was a great time. We did some Wii dancing, ate fabulous food, and spent some time at Hokie House II (aka Wendy and Geoff's downstairs bar).

I took this pic of a fox at the Virginia Living Museum. Will asked me what the fox was chewing on, and because I can't resist teasing him sometimes, I told him the fox was chewing on little boy bones...

He spent the rest of the outside walk riding in Brighton's stroller. I'm such a mean Mommy!

The Museum was great. The otters were especially playful, and the kids were facinated by the foxes and wolves.

We also had a great time at the aquarium in VA beach.

Watch out for the giant shark!

More snow at Nana and Papa's house. Brighton tried to show Callie just how yummy snow could be.

Let the sledding begin...

We also visited my Grandma. She is our only surving Grandmother and my kids only great-grandmother. Will was little frightened this time, but the girls were happy to oblige for a picture.