My History

I saw this picture today for the first time in my life.

That little boy on the left is my Papa Doug.

He's with his dad (Papa Ralph), his mom (Grandma Mazie), and his brother, (Uncle Gary).

I instantly felt choked up.

That picture of Papa Doug could be Carson.

The shape of his face.

His posture.

His smirk.

I miss him so much.  But this picture reminds me that I have a little piece of him living at my house.

What I'm Reading



via



Sometimes, I get on what I like to call "reading kicks". 

Where I read, and read, and read. 

Several books.

Then, I'll stop.  Maybe for months at a time.

But, right now?  I'm on a kick.

The above book is what started it.

One of the better books I've read.

Now, I'm reading this:

via

Also good.

And this is next on the roster:



via



And.  That is all.

Happy Birthday, Tayler!

I almost can't believe it.

Our little Tater Tot is ELEVEN YEARS OLD today!

ELEVEN!

It seems like she started preschool just the other day!

Time flies.  Holy cow, does it ever fly.

Tayler is such a wonderful daughter.  She helps out with her siblings.  She's patient with them (most of the time:)), and tries to help them when I'm occupied.

She's becoming quite the hockey player.  Her dad couldn't be prouder. And as usual, she's doing awesome at soccer.  Even trying out the goalie thing this year.  She's doing great, just like we knew she would.

She has perfect attendance at school, and takes great pride in being there every day.

We really couldn't ask for a better oldest child.

We love you so very much, Tayler!

Waiting for Tayler to get home from school!

Last night was HALLOWEEN!  It's the first year that Elin's really been excited about the holiday.  I taught her and Carson to say "trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!"  They both thought was THE FUNNIEST thing they'd ever heard and chanted it all day.  And Carson would say it every time a trick or treater came to our door, even when he didn't answer it.  Then he'd yell to Tayler (who was our official candy-passer-outer) "did they hear me!?!?!"

We spent the early afternoon trick or treating up the Uptown shopping center.  All of the stores there hand out candy to the kids in the afternoon.  It's a really nice way to get little kids involved in the holiday, without having to haul them around in the dark.

The weather was AMAZING!  None of us wore coats. 

It couldn't have been more perfect!

Ready to hit the streets, err, the Uptown!

Elin had a ball getting candy at the Uptown.  Her little voice

saying "Trick or Treat!" at each business was about the cutest thing I'd ever heard.  But, it must have been a lot of work.  This girl was out before we even got home.  Aaand, she slept through dinner and neighborhood trick or treating.  But, when she woke up, she got some dinner, and some treats, and was happy as a clam!



Not that you NEED dessert on Halloween, but witch hat cookies were a must!



While Elin was resting, Tayler, Carson and I decided to brave the neighborhood.  And, I use the term "brave" loosely.  Carson was so excited to get out and get some candy, but then realized that some of these scary (decorated) houses are even scarier at night!

And when one of our neighbors' sons came out wearing a wolf costume, in a nightgown, telling Carson "Hi little boy!  I'm your grandma!" Well, that was about all she wrote.  He wanted nothing to do with door knocking, candy gathering after that.  So, we waiting in the driveways of houses while Tayler gathered candy. 

All in all, it was a fun family night.  I love this time of year and am already getting excited for Elin's birthday, and Thanksgiving!

The Weekend

This post is about our weekend.  But, I had to start it with a picture of Elin's dresser.  Put together, and in her bedroom.  It really looks cute in there.  The reason I haven't posted this sooner is that it's a terrible photo.  I was going to try to snap a better one, but it just hasn't happened. So, I decided a crummy picture is better than no picture!  So, here it is!

It's been working out really well in her bedroom.  Eventually, I would like to find a dresser that is in better condition, and put it in her bedroom with a similar paint job.  But for now, this will do.  And she is happy as a clam about it.  Anytime someone comes over, she takes them upstairs to show them her big girl bedroom. 

Now, onto the weekend.  Whoa.  It was a busy one.

Friday started the weekend fairly calmly though.  Tayler had a dentist appointment in the morning, which went smoothly.  Then the kids and I grabbed a few groceries, and some pumpkins to replace the rotten ones on our front porch.  Then we got busy!

Tayler and I got kind of creative and used a drill to make a bunch of holes in our pumpkins for light to shine through.  I think it'll look really neat at night.  And I carved Carson's and Elin's for them.  Elin requesting a "SPOOKY!" face and Carson requesting a "SCARY" one.

I did my best.

They were pleased.

But, of course, no pictures of the final product were snapped.  I'll get some Halloween night. 

I also snuck in a walk on Friday.  It was BEAUTIFUL in our neighborhood.

Then, craziness started on Saturday morning. 

We attended the coldest, and foggiest soccer game I have ever been to.  As you can see in the above picture, it was crazy!  Very fitting for week before Halloween.  Not ideal for a 2 year old sister spectator.  But, Tayler played well.  She was the goalie for half of the game, and did a really good job.  Soccer is somewhere that Tayler excels for sure.  It's always fun to watch her play.

After the game, we hurried home because Tayler was having a friend over.  We've decided in our house that every OTHER year will be a friend birthday party for the kids as they get older.  And since T had her BIG BASH last year, this year we told her that she could have a friend over, they could do a fun activity, then the friend could spend the night.

After the friend came over, and we had a little lunch, the girls and I hit the coolest spot in the area for a soon to be 11 year old.  ROLLERENA!!!

The girls skated to their hearts content for 2 hours while I sat and people watched.  Well, I had a book too.  But, if I'm being honest, the people watching was the best part.

Afterward, we hustled to Pasco because Tayler had a hockey game.

 (I told you the weekend was busy!)

I don't have any pictures of that game because I didn't actually attend that one.  I went to pick up T's birthday cake during that time, and put a few loads of laundry through at the house!

We went to dinner with the Grandma Shanna, Grandma Betty Lou, Aunt Ashlee, and the fam at Tony Romas (one of T's favs), then came home for this:

HELLO ONE DIRECTION BIRTHDAY CAKE!!!!! 

Tayler requested, and we delivered!

We enjoyed the cake, a little bit of ice cream, and a couple of presents.  It was a really nice evening.

The next day, the Schienbein family was right back at it!!

Well, that's not entirely true.  Sunday was actually pretty relaxing.  But in the afternoon, the whole family loaded up and went to Tayler's hockey game (if you're keeping track, that's 3 games this weekend!)

Tayler is just learning the beloved sport of hockey.

The skating, the puck passing, the goal shooting.

She's learning it all as she goes.  And I could not be prouder!

She works really hard, and doesn't complain.  This girl just busts her rump out there.  It's really awesome to watch.

This week is probably going to be just as crazy.  Halloween is Thursday.  I'm excited.  I think it'll be fun.

Hopefully, I'll find time for another walk or some time to just relax.

But, more than likely I'll be running from one activity to another like a crazy lady.  Ahh, the life of a mother.

Sneak Peek

I decided to post an update on the dresser re-do that I'm currently in the midst of.  I have to start by saying, I was a little disapointed in the shape of this dresser.  It was a craiglist find, and the pictures looked fantastic.  The seller said that the dresser was solid wood, and in good shape.  So, I asked my hubby if he could get it for me.  Now, this next part was my fault.  My husband was under the impression that I'd already made a deal with the seller, and this was a case closed sort of situation.  NOT the case.  So, he went, paid, and picked up the dresser.  Then promptly texted me "I think you paid too much for this dresser."  Ugh.  Lesson learned.  Next time, I'll be much clearer.  Or, I'll go myself.  Spending too much on something that is less than the quality you're expecting SUCKS.  But, it didn't cost a fortune, and it will work for the time being.

Presenting, in a slightly taken apart state, THE dresser:

I headed on down to my local Home Depot and started checking out the color selection.  I knew I wanted the body of the dresser to be white. So, that part was easy peasy.  And I had an idea of what color "family" that I was looking for...but I had to find it.  Then, I stumbed upon this beauty.

The darkest color is very similar to the color of Elin's bed that I recently painted.  Then, I just used colors in the same "family" to create the "ombre" look I am going for.

Then I had the paint specialist mix up samples cans (at less than $3 each!) for me to use on each drawer.  I was a tiny bit nervous that I wouldn't get the look I was after becuase the samples don't come in a high gloss.  But, since they were so affordable, I decided to do it!

And here's what I got after just one coat of paint!  Isn't it lovely!?!?!?  The drawers gradully get darker as they go down in such a pretty fashion!  I'm smitten. 

I have a few more coats of paint to add before I'm finished, but I think it'll look really nice in E's new bedroom!

Bills Berry Farm

On Friday, we went to Bill's Berry Farm with some family friends.  In the past, we've always gone to the same pumpkin patch every year.  But this year, we decided to give another place a try.

I am so happy that we did!

There were so many things to do and see.  It was a great time!

At Bills, they have a weekly Autumn Festival during this time of year.

During it, they have BBQ burgers and hotdogs, and freshly made pumpkin doughnuts.  Oh my.  So delicious.  Like, I could have eaten a dozen myself, delicious.

The kids rode horses, which is not something Elin or Carson had ever experienced.  When Tayler was young, 2 years in a row she rode the same horse, Midnight, at the fair.  She talked about it for months afterward.  She was a little less excited about this horse riding experience, but she was a good sport.

Tayler didn't ask her horses name :(

 There was a hay pyramid, which the younger kids LOVED. 

 And an apple sling shot which Tayler really loved (and ended up doing like nine times!)  You won a dozen of the awesome doughnuts if you got your apple into a target.  Tayler tried so hard to get it, but never did.  One of the people we were with did though.  It was really fun.  There was a corn maze, which ALL of the kids thought was really fun, and a small "train" that went through the farm with kids on board.

Then it was time for what we'd all been waiting for!!  The great pumpkin hunt!!!

 

As you can tell, Elin was kind of excited about all of the "baby" pumpkins she found.  We did end up letting her and Tayler each get a big pumpkin, and a baby so they could put them in their bedrooms.  Carson on the other hand, was only interested in getting a huge one.

After the farm, we headed over the Carrolls house (one of the families we went with) for dinner, s'mores and carving.  Luckily, we decided to do all of the pumpkin work outside, next to a small fire.  By the end of the night, there was pumpkin and marshmallow EVERYWHERE.



Our booty

Tayler carved her own pumpkin this year.  It turned out very cute

I carved Elin's pumpkin as she directed me. "Triangle eyes mom!"

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE this time of year?