Christmas Card Photo 2007

After many, many closed eyes, NOT smiling faces, and dogs not cooperating, we finally got our Christmas card photos printed and in the mail! It was worth all the "takes"! I feel so blessed to be a part of this family. I'm such a lucky, lucky girl.

Brrrrrrrrrr!

Thanksgiving was spent with my family this year in Goldendale at my Grandparents house. There was a pretty good turn out of family, and everyone seemed to have a really good time. There was snow in Goldendale, so of course, Tayler was about as excited as can be. We had a great visit with everyone. And, while we were there we discussed plans for a family vacation to Yellowstone National Park in June. We can't wait!!
Brian started playing hockey a few months ago with a local league. He's having a lot of fun doing, and we're having a lot of fun watching his games! Although cold, it's nice to see him doing something he loves!

AND, lastly we finally got some snow here at our house! Although the driving hasn't been very much fun, and my work can get kind of hectic during it, Brian and Tayler made the best of it in our back yard making an adorable snow man! Tis the season!!!

Halloween/Birthday

This year, we had a great Halloween. Tayler loaded up on candy, and looked adorable in her Island Princess Barbie costume. I had to work the whole day, but when I got off, Tayler, Brian and I set off to see what kinds of goods our neighborhood had to offer! Tayler was so cute....she went up to the doors by herself (unlike last year when Brian and I knocked with her) and was very careful to say thank you to everyone! We were so proud!!!
The next day was Tot's 5th birthday! We celebrated with a family pizza party at Round Table!! Tayler got the Barbie guitar she's been wishing and hoping for for months! She also got some really cute clothes, and brace yourself........a Hannah Montana Barbie and CD!!! Yes, she's been in pure heaven since. The following Saturday, she had a party with a few of her friends from her class at school! We went to a hair salon called Monkey Dooz where they cater to kids. Tayler loves getting her hair trimmed there becuase after the cut, they put her hair up in a really cute doo, and spray sparkles in it! The party they threw didn't dissappoint! Her and her friends got to dress up in the hundreds of fancy dresses they have there. Then they got their hair, make up and nails done, and had cake and fancy drinks. I really think it was a 5 year old girls dream come true!

Field Trip!

Today was Tayler's first field trip! We went to the Country Mercantile with her class where everyone got to choose a pumpkin, go through a hay bale maze, climb on a hay bale pyramid, and see a petting zoo! It was a great time!

When we arrived, we all loaded on to a tractor that was pulling a trailer with hay seats on it. We rode out to a huge pumpkin patch where each kid got to pick their very own pumpkin! This picture here shows the really beautiful green and orange pumpkin Tayler chose. This photo also shows the ONLY time during the trip that Tayler carried her own pumpkin! (Next year, the rule will be "if you can't carry it, we aren't getting it!")

Then it was off to the maze and pyramid....which of course, were both a hoot! The kids went crazy crawling up, around and through each.

We spent awhile petting the miniture horses, pigs, lambs, and rabbits. There was a pig there that was going bazerk pulling on a string that was attached to his water trough, so that was a little frightening, but other than that it was a lot of fun. No ones fingers became a miniture horses afternoon snack, which is something I was worried might happen! Tayler was very good though, and made she she did as we were told, and made sure to only pet the animals' bodies. Face petting usually equals and nibble or two.

Afterward, they had juice and cookies for the kids where they were able to play with thier friends a little bit more before it was time to say goodbye.

Tonight.....Brian and Tayler get to take her pumpkin back to the school where they're having a "daddy/daughter" pumpkin carving night! Oh, isn't preschool fun!?!?!

More Wedding pics

My sister's friend Crystal was so kind as to snap some photos at our wedding...I think she did a wonderful job! Still waiting for the professionals!

What's new???

So, blogging has been a bit sloooow lately. There is ONE major reason for this....and if you work with me, you know what it is. Blogging has been BANNED at my workplace....and since that is where I used to do the majority of my blogging....the frequency of my blogs has greatly suffered.

Anyway. Minor setback. A few things have been going on with the Schienbein family over the last little bit. First item of business....my mom's birthday! It was on October 8. Unfortunately, Brian and I both had to work late on her actual birthday.....but we took her to lunch on the Saturday before instead. We (this is becoming our go to birthday restaurant) went to Anthony's and had a wonderful meal, and even had birthday cake afterward!




My mom got some great new clothes and a fancy new watch from us kids (her daughters, their better halves, and the TOT). She really seemed happy and I think she enjoyed herself. Then on her real, actual birthday, Scott's parents Sandy & Jess took her, Scott, and Ashlee to dinner at Outback Steakhouse. And afterward, they went back to my mom and Scott's house for a delicious, HOMEMADE coconut cake, and apple pie. (Scott's mother is somewhat of a whiz in the kitchen. For this, I'm grateful she only lives here half the year!!)

I love my mom so very much and truly DO NOT know what I'd do without her. I'm a mama's girl in the truest sense of the word. She's the kindest, most understanding, and compassionate person I know. She is, in fact, the best mom in the world. I can only hope to someday be the mother she's been to me.

Today, Brian and I had the opportunity to work in Tayler's class! Her teachers do something called "centers" about twice a month. During centers, with the help of a few parents, the kids are able to do a couple of different activities at different centers (hence the name) set up around the room. They spend about 10-15 minutes at each center before moving on to the next. The parents, however, stay at the same center the entire time which gives them the opportunity to work with every child in the class. It was fun to meet all the children, to see faces to go with the names we hear Tayler saying when she tells us about her day, and to be able to watch Tayler interact with her teachers and classmates. Brian and I were lucky enough be assigned a center together. Since the class is studying the letter "D" this week, we helped them construct "Dudley Dog" out of construction paper. It was really cute. One of the other stations (the one I'm afraid all of the kids were looking forward to, even more than the Dudley dog station) was the station where Tayler's friend Alex's mom was helping the kids make doughnuts! Homemade doughnuts that the kids got to eat after they helped make them. What fun!

Other than these two exciting events, business is as usually. Looking forward very much to Halloween, Taylers birthday and Thanksgiving!!

Goldendale

This morning my mom, Tayler and I drove to Goldendale and spent the day with my grandparents. We hadn't seen them since the day after our wedding, and decided it would be niec to go up and spend some time with them. Plus, my grandma mentioned to Tayler that she'd picked up two dresses for her while she was visiting Tennesee last week, so of course, we had to make the trip. We did the normal stuff......a pedicure and facial for grandpa. And we went on a "nature walk" through the acres and acres of land my grandparents own and us kids have loving named "the compound". We saw deer tracks, wasps nest, TONS of acorns, and all of the land turning over itself to the beauty of autumn. It was a wonderful day. I can't think of a better way to spend time with your grandparents.

I love my husband

I've had a rough couple of days. Being a girl, if you know what I mean, isn't easy. Being a step mom, although I love it, isn't easy either. My husband knows that from time to time, I get a little teary and probably over-emotional about things that could possibly seem minor to the naked eye. But even though he may not totally understand what goes on in his wife's crazy head, he's still there for me. Today, knowing that I'd been a little down, he suprised me with one of the sweetest cards I've ever gotten, AND a gorgeous Kenneth Cole watch. Just a little something to let me know he loves me. I'm so lucky. And what's even cooler than the fact that he bought me a watch is that he picked one out that the face of matches the watch I gave him on our wedding day....so we have matching ones. I know....I know. Some of you wanna vomit now...but I love it. Every weepy second of it.

Happy Birthday Seester!

Twenty five years ago today, my world became a better place. At 7:27pm in Pasco, Washington at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, my baby sister Ashlee Varonika Harris was born. Since that glorious day, she's not only turned into one of the most beautiful people (inside and out) that I know...she's also become my very best friend in the world.

When we were young, I teased her mercilessly. Sometimes it's a wonder to me that she even still wants to be my friend. I've seriously struggled with some honest-to-goodness guilt about mean things I used to do to my baby sis. (i.e. telling her that all of my Halloween candy was gone, when it was really hidden, so she'd share hers with me is one that has eaten at me for years) But I have some of the best memories with her as well. Times when we were FORCED (against our will...child abuse really) to pick weeds on Saturday mornings while our dad was doing yard work and we'd mess around until we were threatened within an inch of our lives. Or times we'd drive to our dad's house in Seattle while we were in high school...making the most of the weekly trip we'd have to make. We were together, and that's all we needed to enjoy ourselves.

She's a total knock out, she's got the softest heart of anyone I know (hello...halloween candy) she's hilarious, and she is the only person on this earth that has been down the same road that I've traveled. Her and I together. Through the good times, and the bad times, have always had each other. I honestly can not imagine my world without her. I'd lie, I'd cheat, I'd steal, and I'd die....all for this girl. She's my heart and soul, and I thank my lucky stars every day that's she's a part of my life.

Wedding Photos!

Slowly but surely we're getting photos from guests at our wedding who were so kind as to catch our special day on film. The following photos were sent to me by my Aunt Noell. I think she got some pretty good shots. Look out Ansel Adams.

We're Back!

Soo, as the old saying goes, "the honeymoon is over"....but not in the bad sense....we're just home from Maui. It was awesome! We swam, walked on the beautiful beaches, went to a Luau, drank too many mai tais and pina coladas (lava flow style!), ate tons of delicious sea food, spent far to much money, and got waq\y to much sun but all in all it was wonderful. And, as a special treat, becuase we were beat and our flight was going to go all night long, my husband changed our tickets to first class on the flight home! Pure bliss! We had an amazing time, but we're glad to be back, attempting to organize our lifes into whatever state of "normal" they were pre-wedding planning. And just like the wedding ones, more photos to follow...but for now......

And for the record, per the Washington State Department of Licensing, and the Benton County Auditors Office, I'm officially a Schienbein!

Wonderful Weekend!

This weekend has been one of the most wonderful and memorable of my entire life. Brian and I were married on Saturday. It was a joyous and special day! Also, the days leading to our wedding were wonderful. We haven't gotten many wedding photos from our friends and family (and we won't get any from our photographer for a few weeks), but I wanted to post a few that we do have from the weekend. We leave for beautiful Maui in the morning, and I'm sure upon our return, I'll have many more pictures to post. But for now, these will have to do!

The first day of the rest of her life!

Yesterday was Tayler's first day of pre-school! She had a great time meeting new friends, meeting her teachers, making something special with finger paints, getting her first book order, and just plain getting used to school life! I think this is going to be a great year!

Multnomah Falls

During our camping trip, we made a drive to Multnomah Falls. I've been going there since as far back as I can remember, and Brian and I stopped there last time we camped at Beacon Rock. So we thought it only appropriate to take Tayler there during this trip.

No matter how many times I come here, I'm always in awe of the beauty of the falls.

Lucky Me

I get to marry this handsome devil in just over a week!!!!