Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I hope you all had great holidays! Gotta love any holiday that gives you a 4 day weekend! We headed up north to Cheryl’s house for Thanksgiving! It was a lot of fun! We ate, watched football, ate some more, played board games, ate, some of us napped, oh and did I mention that we ate! Ha ha! Friday Trent had to work, so the kids and I just hung out, and did some stuff around the house. Then in the afternoon/evening we put up the Christmas tree, and decorations inside. The kids had tons of fun, I was worried that Kale was going to not leave the tree alone. He kept trying to take ornaments off the tree, and touching it. But by the end of the weekend he seemed understand that it’s off limits!

Saturday Rylee started basketball. They are called the “Little Devil Dribblers”. She was tired on Saturday morning (we stayed up late on Friday night), and didn’t want to get up and get to practice. She got upset, and was crying...She said she didn’t want to go, and that she didn’t even like Basketball. When we got there she cried again. She said she was to short and she couldn’t shoot the ball all the way up to the hoop. I told her not to worry about it...That they were most likely not even going to shoot anyway. By the end of the hour, she was smiling ear to ear! She loved it. They did a great job with the kids, and now she can’t wait to go back next week! It was funny! How things change! They also go free jump ropes, so she was excited about that!

Sunday we headed up to Aunt Lynda and Uncle Steve’s for Thanksgiving with my Mom’s side. It was a lot of fun as always. I got to see my Cousin Mandy’s little baby for the first time. The kids played Play-Dough, and decorated Christmas cookies! They had a great time! We sampled some cookies last night for supper and they were great!

Things you notice...

So here I am trying to take a nice picture of Trent and the kids...I didn't get a good picture of Trent and the kids, because Kale was not cooperating, but if I had the Katers would have ruined the background anyway...What is up with those faces?

I love the way Eli and Jade are looking at each other! How cute!

As I am uploading the pictures (finally) from the Badger Volleyball game...I notice somethings. I took a couple pictures that I had to crop, and "highlight" to get my point across, but I think you understand where I am coming from...

Pictures from the Badger Volleyball Game...

Baby Jade enjoying the game...Or the Pretzel, I am not sure which?

Kato and Jade...What is with that face?

Eli - Big SMILES!

Half of the Gang

(Taylor & His Girlfriend, Chris and his roommate Ryan, Jodi & Cheryl)

Kris, Justin, Jodi...Oh Trent and Kale too!

Lucky Charms?

Take note of his Socks...

Hungry Anyone?

I often think that my kids are my lucky charms! I thank god everyday that they are in my lives! I have never really meant it in the literal sense! Well, Kale decided it was time to help himself to a snack. He went into the pantry (FYI - the Child safety thing wore out), got out the box of Lucky Charms, and dumped it onto the floor. I had just ran downstairs to put something into storage. When I came back upstairs, I found Kale, Eli, Lilly, and Easton eating the cereal off the floor! I ask what happened and Eli replies, "Kale did it! I am just helping him clean it up!" Yeah you are! I get the broom and clean it up...Throw away tons of Lucky Charms and get all the crumbs off the floor. Of course the whole time KC was helping me by eating them...After I got the mess cleaned up I noticed that some of the marshmellows were sticking to his socks...Okay...Maybe more than some. This is what your feet look like after walking around on a bed of Lucky Charms! He thought it was funny! What can you do!

And so the Madness starts!

Last week I was hired to coach Girl’s basketball at Lodi High School. I will be coaching the JV this season. Things around the Schneider Household are going to be a little crazy! I am adjusting my work hours so that I can make it to practices. I can’t thank Trent, my work, and Kara (our sitter) enough for being flexible and willing to work with me as all of our schedules get flipped upside down! I think it will be a great experience and the perfect part-time job for me. But until we all get used to getting up early, and going to bed earlier, we are in for some cranky days.

My basketball team seems to be made up of some great girl’s! I got the chance to get to know them a little bit this weekend. We traveled to Rio to play in a series of scrimmages. If we didn’t get anything else out of the day, at least now I know all of their names! I am looking forward to a great season!

Badger Volleyball Game

Not a very good Family shot, but it's the best we got!


This weekend we headed to the Wisconsin Badger Volleyball Game. There was 20 of us that went! It was a good time. We didn’t see the best of matches, but we still enjoyed the game. I think that Bucky Badger might have been hungover, cause the little bit he was out he wasn’t his normal peppy self. He was just kind of walking around, and then he was sitting on the steps a couple times. After the first game I was looking for him, so we could take the kids over and get a picture with him, and he never returned to the court. I guess I shouldn’t assume he was hungover, maybe he had H1N1!!! We cheered the Badgers on, but they lost in 3 games. Minnesota is ranked 18th in the nation and the Badgers are having a down year. But it was still a great time.

We got home just in time to watch the Packer Game! WOW! What a game it was...They looked like a different Team from the previous two weeks.

Cherishing those Moments...

Trent & His Grandpa Schneider

As many of you know, Trent has played baseball for most of his life. He has specifically played Home Talent Baseball for 18 years, and this was the first time he won the a Batting Title. He was very excited about that! Last month we had his baseball banquet, and he received his gift for winning. It's a very nice, engraved watch that says Trent's Name and Batting Average for the year. When Trent received the award he said a few words...Most of his speech was about his Grandpa and how he owes a lot to him. He was the one that started him playing and taught him a lot of the game. After the banquet Trent told me that he wanted to give Grandpa Schneider the watch. So the other weekend when we went down to see them and Trent gave him the watch. I wasn't sure if he would except it or not. But he was very proud! He put the watch on right away. We took pictures, including his phone (so he could show his poker buddies). It was fun. Trent got to say thank you for all his Grandpa has done over the years for him. I know how much of an influence on Trent he has had. That is why we named Kale after him! (Grandpa Schneider's First Name is Carl, and Kale's middle name is Carl) It was a special day! I know it's one that we will remember for a long time! *Note - The watch is wrapped around the bat handle.*

Eli's view of the world...

Sally & Grandpa (photo taken by Eli)

Darleen & Grandma (Photo taken by Eli)

Daddy & Kale...Way down on the other side

(Photo by Eli)

Eli's Feet (Photo by Eli)

Since Cheryl let Eli use her camera awhile back...He always wants to take pictures now...Here is Eli's pictures from Cash's game on Sunday...I think he is getting better!

A house of Goof Balls!

Eli posing for me.

I think that I live in a house of goof balls! This picture was taken this weekend at Cash's football game. I told Eli to smile for a picture, and this is what I got! Now I think it's adorable, but seriously! What a crazy kid! Kale is just as silly! He will run around the house and giggle! When I ask him what he is doing he turns to me and makes a face and laughs...then takes off in the other direction. I must say that there is never a dull moment at our house. The kids always come up with silly things to say, faces, etc. Every night at the dinner table is an adventure...If it's not Eli being silly, Rylee telling jokes, or Kale giggling, it's something else! Last night Rylee was telling a story about something that had happened at school, when trent interuppted her to ask me a question. Rylee quickly responded with "Daddy, I was talking...Please don't interupt!" I couldn't help but laugh...She told him! After she was done talking...Then I told Trent he could ask his question...I got an eye roll! Then Eli was trying to tickle me later in the night and I called him a "goof ball"...He replied, "I am not a goof ball...I am Elijah Trent Schneider!" Valid point!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today we headed to Sally's house and had lunch with Mom for her birthday! Well, It was also cause we went and watched Cash's Flag Football game too! The kids spent a long time last night making cards for Grandma. Rylee actually got really upset, cause she wanted to make the perfect heart for Grandma's card, and all of the ones she was drawing were not perfect! She was so upset about it, she actually started crying. We had to calm her down and explain to her that Grandma wouldn't care if it was perfect or not...She would like it just cause Rylee made it! Kale even scribbled a little bit on some construction paper! Eli had more fun cutting the paper than making the card, but that was okay too! It was a fun project!

Cash actually threw a touchdown pass today too! I am not sure he knew who he was throwing it to, and I am not sure the kid that caught it knew it happened, but it was a sucessful play anyway! It was really cute to watch! They had a great time!

Go Badgers!

Eli (the Super Fan) was clapping & cheering all night!

Rylee enjoying the game.

Trent and KC

Last night we headed into Madison to the Kohl Center, where the 5 of us watched the Badger Basketball team crush the Bemidji State Beavers! What? You went to a Game with 3 kids 5 and under! Yes we did...You can't turn down free tickets!

The kids had a great time...Eli and Kale loved Bucky! They were waving to him all night long. Rylee was more concerned about the Nachos than anything else, but all in all we had a good time. We were on the Jumbotron (sp?) three times. Trent and Kale were on in the beginning of the game. Then apparently Eli, Rylee, and I were when we were coming back from getting Nacho's and going to the bathroom. And then at the end of the night Kale and Trent were on again. I guess the camera's like the kids! I have been to a million games, and even sat in the same seats, and never been on before! ha ha! Here are a couple pictures from the game!

Halloween Pictures!

Deigo the Animal Rescuer, Cinderella, and the Dragon

Here are the Kids before Trick or Treating on Halloween!

Halloween...

Daycare Group on Friday Night

(Becky Frye...aka Kiss, Eli...aka Diego, Logan...aka Vampire, Alex...aka Wolverine, Kale...aka dragon, Kara...aka fisherman, Rylee...aka Cinderella, Luci...aka Snow White, Liam...aka Darth Vader, and Jade...aka an Elephant)

We had a great Halloween! Tons of fun...Cinderella was stunning in her blue dress, glass (okay plastic) slippers, and crown. Diego looked wonderful in his rescue outfit, complete with binoculars, and rescue pack! The little dragon completed the three some of adventures! It was a lot of fun! Friday night we headed with the Daycare gang to downtown Prairie and Sauk for the business Trick or Treat. We got some good stuff...Free icecream cone at Culver's and a personal Pan Pizza at Pizza Hut! Then Saturday night we went around our neighborhood. Eli only made it like 5 or 6 houses and then he was content to stay in the double stroller. He was cold! He wrapped up in a blanket and went along for the ride. Kale was happy to watch all the activities. Rylee was dedicated. She was on a candy mission. After awhile, I took the boys home (Trent was handing out candy at our house), and Rylee wanted to go back out. So we hit the street down from our house and a couple other houses. It was fun! She was really into it! Then when we got home, Rylee and Eli handed out Candy to the Trick or Treaters at our house. Good thing we had gone to Prairie and Sauk, because we ran out of candy, and had to regift some! Is that legal? Oh well...