Let me back up...Thanksgiving First!

Before I go on, I must go back. So while you all have your mind on Valentine's Day or other holidays to come, I am taking you back to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. I really do hate to get things out of sequence and at this point I am really just blogging to journalize more than anything. I have debated many times over, still haven't come to a final decision, about shutting down my blog all together because I use Facebook so much more. But when I do actually find the time to sit here and blog, I find that I really do love it and it is something that perhaps in time, that my children will love as well because they can look back into mommy's journal. So for now, I will update.
November & December found this mommy incredibly sick. Most days were spent with my head hanging over the side of the toilet, which got cleaned almost every single day...who wants to throw-up in an un-sanitary toilet? At that point, it was the cleanest, or maybe I should say, the only clean part of my house.:) Indeed, there were times that I felt so overwhelmed with my house and wondered how I would ever make it through what seemed to be the LONGEST time of morning/all day sickness ever.:) My children had begun to wonder if there was something really wrong with mommy and in fact it started to affect Brittan so much that he started thinking that he was sick to his tummy each day as well.:)
At Thanksgiving, we could no longer keep it from them and Brook was the one appointed to share the news with them. The memory of their faces is one that I will never forget! Brook asked them if they were having a fun "Turkey Day?" They both said, 'yes' but couldn't understand why he would even ask. He then proceeded to tell them that, "mommy has a little turkey in her tummy as well." This, they did not understand at all. At this point I told him to clarify and when he told them that we were going to have a baby I thought that Brittan would BURST from the excitement! Brooklyn, in her very calm way asked if this was really true and if that meant that she was going to be a "big sister?" and then the biggest smile formed on her face and stayed for quite sometime. Brittan on the other hand, bounced right over to me, started dancing all around, and then wanted to know if he could "kiss the baby in my tummy?" This started what is now an everyday, several times a day habit! All day long, every couple of minutes on Thanksgiving Day he would come up, gently pat my stomach, tell the baby that he loved it, and kiss my stomach. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined that he would be so EXCITED about a baby, but he is!
We spent the holiday, like every year, with my family. So we got to share our exciting news at the dinner table when we went around the table saying what we were thankful for. I do have to add right here, that Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same if we weren't able to be with my family. The traditions that we share, the beautiful & delicious dinner that we all prepare together, sharing about the different things that have come & goen throughout the year and why we are so thankful for them, and the time that we spend together is what Thanksgiving day is all about to both Brook & I. We LOVE our tradition of being there with them and don't forsee it changing anytime soon, if ever.:)We had/have so much to be thankful for and expressed all the many things, but most of all we wanted this little one to know one day that we are indeed thankful that God saw fit to bless us with it! What a special year indeed!


My kids LOVE to watch the turkey prep & then when it is cut.☺



The 'things' that I am most thankful for aren't things!


It is always so much more fun to eat at a beautiful table.:)


Kids table


Nana's Little Indians


My kiddos LOVE the wish bone.


The end to a perfect meal...Dad offered his help to wash up the dishes with me. ☺

Merry Christmas From The Schatz Family

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

I am one of those that has my Christmas cards printed, addressed, and ready to go by the first of December, usually.:) And for the first time in 12 years the Schatz family will not be greeting anyone in their mailbox. This year it just isn't happening and I have come to the conclusion that even though I don't like it, it is okay. At some point I had to just start crossing off things on my 'To Do' list, not because they were complete, but rather because it was so completely overwhelming to me to see that I was getting nowhere. I have convinced myself that people will be even more excited to receive one next year because they didn't this year and there will also be a new face added to out little family.:)

So, please don't feel offended that you didn't get a card, no one did. The picture has finally been put away and will not be shared with friends near and far. This does not mean you are all not sent out very best Merry Christmas wishes, but rather, mommy is still sick. Hoping that this ends soon and that life soon will return to normal. Much Love to all!

I'm a Planner, but Ultimately His Plan is Best!

I'm a planner. I'm the type of person who has my calendar out on the counter at all times and I check it several times a week. In fact, I recently purchasd a 'family calendar' to hang in my laundry room once it is finished...I thought that it would be nice for the rest of the family to 'see' what is on the agenda for the week or month. I love to look back through past months a see what it was that we were doing at certian times. I love to plan! But while pondering on that a while back I realized that life brings about many things that we could never plan, some good, some bad, some wonderful, and some to perhaps teach us lessons about life that we couldn't learn on our own. And although we think that we have a plan, God has a much bigger and better plan. I also thought about how some of the most fun and memorable times in life have been those spontaneous moments that we have shared as a family or with friends. Those late night phone calls that say, 'hey wanna meet me for coffee?'...'you doing anything for lunch today?'...or when Brook decides at 10:30 p.m. that he wants ice cream and so we all rush out the door to go with him. These times weren't 'on the calendar', but I so love them! So while I say that I plan, I also have to say in that same breath that I like the spur of the moment as well.

We have recently experienced some surprised spontanity, a plan from God that wasn't really on our radar screen. It was talked about, but never set in stone and it wasn't 'put on the calendar.':) I laugh at that last phrase, and when you re-read it you perhaps will too. I don't mean it to sound like that, but wasn't sure how else to say it...we are expecting out 3rd little one! Ok, deep breath here...you just read that correctly, I am pregnant!!! Wow! just reading that over again even looks a little funny to me.;) We are due around June 20th and truly, even though it wasn't 'on the calendar' so to speak, we are thrilled!

The timing of it all couldn't be more divinely planned. We will be able to have the baby in Nampa, like always. Not that I would have done it any differently, but with Brooklyn being out of school for the summer, well it couldn't be more perfect! And by Brooklyn's school have a week break about every 6 weeks or so, she will only miss 2 or so days for our monthly appointments, again another divine plan. I have been sick with this little one, as is my normal pattern, but wow! I am beginning to wonder if I will ever be able eat normally again or go places without gaging at the different smells. This part can't go by fast enough.:):) Other than that little hitch, everything is wonderful!

So in this case...planning isn't everything...God's surprises are the BEST!

Camping...a family favorite!

With our summer being so incredibly full, not like that is unusual, but still is seemed to be so busy that squeezing in a camping trip almost didn't happen. We decided that the last weekend before Brooklyn was to start school would be the perfect time for us to getaway and just be together as a family without the interruptions of the phone, internet, or tv.

We headed up to our property in Waha and are finding that to now be our favorite camping spot. There, we are away from other campers, it is completely beautiful, and is the perfect place for us all to ride 4-wheelers. The kids especially enjoy the open meadows that are here and there because this is where we allow them to drive the 4-wheelers by themselves. Although Brittan is still a little too young, Brook can ride on the seat behind him and still have him think that he is all alone.:) Brooklyn on the other hand has free reign. She has mastered her own 4 wheeler and is becoming a wonderful, safe driver. It is so fun to watch her confidence build and it is something that she completely loves to do!

On Sunday, our friends John & Heidi came up to join us for lunch, 4-wheeling, and smore's around the campfire. It was so fun to share our 'camping' spot with them and we look forward to many camping trips there together in the years to come. Let us know if you like to camp or would like to join us sometime even for an afternoon of fun together. I don't know how much we will get up there this next summer, but when we do, you are invited.:)


Treasure hunting.


Brooklyn and her treasures.


The old homestead now that the guys have torn down the old porch.


Catching butterflies


The kids gathering firewood.


John & Heidi ready to ride.


Brittan & Colby playing with some 'treasures' that they found.


Starlight Mountian Theatre.:)


Brooklyn playing in the old barn with her imaginary horses.:)


A view of the lake.


Brooklyn proudly showing me that she is driving all by herself!


Brook & Brittan riding the big 4-wheeler.


Our little family enjoying some snacks before bedtime.:)

First Day of School '09

The summer ended way too quickly and before we were ready it was the 'First Day' of school. Brooklyn was up and dressed by 6:30 a.m., something that hasn't been repeated since. But there is something so exciting about the first day of a new school year.

First Grade...staying at school all day...having Mrs. Ridinger for her teacher...new pencils...crayons...backpack...lunch at school...being picked up in the circle...these are all things that added to Brooklyn's excitement and have continued to be wonderful things for her as the year has gone on. She loves math, spelling, art, and show & tell. We just had out first PTC and found out that not only does she love it, she is doing great. Hearing those words makes Brook & I even more reassured that we made the right decision last year in having her repeat. We can't go back and change it now and after seeing and hearing how wonderfully she is doing in class, we wouldn't want to.

So here is to a wonderful year of First Grade...


Our Happy First Grader!


Brooklyn & Mommy


Brooklyn & Daddy


Brooklyn & Mrs. Ridinger

Crane Family Vacation - Oregon Coast

Crane family vacation is a tradition. And anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a real traditionalist! Every other year my side of the family takes a vacation together. This is no easy task, to get 17 different schedules, opinions, tastes, etc. to all coincide, but somehow we manage to. It is always the highlight of the year. This year, since the economy is bad, things are tight for everyone, and some have little babies, we thought that it would be best to go to the Oregon Coast. What a great choice! We had all kind of forgotten what a fun place it is. We kind of get set in our ways of thinking that Disneyland is the only place to go, but actually this vacation went down in everyone's books as one of the most fun and definitely the most relaxing. We didn't have to be anywhere at any certian time and that was so wonderful! It was truly vacation and we even came home refreshed and relaxed.:)It also just so happened to be my parents 40th anniversary and the Coast was the first vacation place that they went to when they were dating. It was a wonderful way to
celebrate this big day!





Train ride around the zoo.:)











Poppy bought all the grandkids a little otter. Ours are named Butch & Lori!:)





So fun to watch the big boats come and go.


Brittan was NOT fond of the fish smells along the warf.


He could live in the sand.


Happy 40th Anniversary to my wonderful parents!


The whole clan.:)





Allie turned 1 while we were away, so we celebrated her day together.:)





All the boys in my family except for my brother, Brent & his son, Keaton.





Me & the love of my life!


A fishing boat crashed up on shore.








Having fun writing in the sand.





Brook & the kids at Multinomah Falls. The kids loved the falls.


The last stop before we headed home.