So much to do....

....so little time. ....too many sick people. ....so very tired.
....would rather do something else!

Feel better food

A sore chest and scratchy throat always feel a bit better after a bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with hot fudge, oreo pieces and whipped cream. Being sick is almost worth it!

Let's go for a walk!

With warmer temperatures come many walks for the Schwartz family. Whether it be just the ladies~Older pulling the young in the wagon, or the whole family~Usually headed downtown so Papa can grab a cup o' java from Blue Monday, walks are a commonly enjoyed pastime for our household!

Miss Kate, enjoying the warm weather.


Maddie took the next two pictures. She and Meg really love having their turn with the camera!

I'm always a bit startled at how long my nose is when I see it from the side!!!



(Most of) Our ladies.

A parting gift from the Sodens.....

Yeah I saw it before it could fall on me thankfully, as I was carrying a BABY. ;o) Don't worry dear Sodens, you will have it again soon....Muahaha!!!

Who needs snow?

My backyard is a disaster right now-mud everywhere, it just looks gross, so I don't have a complete picture to show you, but if you were at my house this past week you would find what we are affectionately calling "the lake" in our backyard. It has really been something to see-the lower left quarter of our yard has been about 6 inches+ underwater. Now tell me, when it is springtime what is one of kids favorite things to do? Yes, that is correct, they play in the water. My kids are no exception, pulling out the sleds and using them for snowless play.

Bet you didn't know you could go boating in a sled huh?

A visit to the Sodens

For the past couple of days I, along with the younger two, have been visiting Sara and Scott and kiddo's out in the boondocks (a.k.a. Boyd, MN). It was really nice to be able to spend some uninterrupted time with them, as we have been missing them quite a bit! It was also a nice change of pace for me only having 2 kids for the first time in 6 1/2 years. It was also the first time I have ever left any of the kids home with Jason and I'm pleased to report that he not only did a great job with the kids, but he cleaned our bedroom (believe me-a huge job) and did most of the laundry (also a huge job!) while I was gone. What a great guy! :o)

We didn't do a lot-Just hung around the house chatting, played an amazing game of Scrabble (amazing because I won with a score of 305-probably my best score ever!), and watched some episodes of Friends-a wonderful way to spend a couple of days. If Kate had been a bit less crabby it would have been absolutely perfect!

Lissie of course enjoyed spending time with Andrew, but truth be told, was missing Papa and getting a bit homesick by around dinnertime last night. It was her first trip anywhere without Papa and the rest of the girls and I think it was a bit strange for her. Next time, with the rest of her sisters and warm weather, will be better I'm sure!


Breakfast time!
Kate and Sara. The Sodens have only seen Kate 4 times since she was born. Yeah, we do not see them enough. Kate during on of her rare not-fussing moments.

Allie-The cutest thing ever, as always. :op


It was warm enough that we could send Lissa and Andrew outside for awhile. It's so nice being out in the country where you can do that!
They are so cute!!! ♥ ♥ ♥
Playing on "the cushion". Ha ha!
Static!
I said I was going to bring Sara home so she could rock Kate for me all the time when she is fussy. I still think I should have!
We're home now and happy to be, but we really miss our Sodens and can't wait until they come home again!

She sucks her thumb

Ever since Madeline had severe teeth issues caused by thumb-sucking I have done my best to discourage the habit. From birth we push the pacifier whenever appropriate and Kate has been no exception. I cannot count the number of pacifiers laying around this house, ready for duty whenever Kate needs consoling. Unfortunately, Kate does not always agree with this method of consolation. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, Miss Kate-

Look at this naughty child!

Don't be fooled by the look of peaceful contentment on her face!

Well....I guess she does look awfully sweet! ♥ ♥ ♥

Catch up post! (loooooooongest post ever!)

Ok, I've gotten slack with blogging and I'm sorry. It's that yucky time of the year when you just don't want to do anything and unfortunately for you, anything includes blogging. So here I am, ready to catch you up on our happenings for the last few weeks.

Jas is home for a couple of weeks, thanks to things being a bit sluggish at his place of employment. We've really enjoyed having him home (for the most part-I have had some mornings when I wished I could send him back to work, but they have been few and far between).

Jason-Hard at work.

The girls have been complaining lamenting that they didn't get a chance to make a snowman before the snow got melty and gross. Well lucky for them we had a monster snowstorm that dumped enough sticky snow for them to make one. Jas also got in on the fun.

Why do they eat snow? Gross!

And their hats?

Look at how black her hair is in this picture! I love it!

What a pretty nose you have! All the better to smell you with, my dear.

Playing while Papa and the older girls do the work. (rolling)

Finishing touches!

All of the girls and their snowman. :o)

Papa, the ladies, and their snowman!


Kate has spend recent days doing what she normally does-She cries, she sleeps, she eats, she leaves gifts for us in her pants on a regular basis. She does fun stuff too though-She smiles, talks and giggles, and is starting to take more of an interest in the things around her and is trying to grab things with her pudgy little hands. She is our cutie patootie!

Hanging in the Bumbo. She really likes to sit up. I fully expect her to sit up on her own early!

Who thought a big yellow thing could be so interesting?

Awww!

She has also been spending more time on her tummy (a.k.a. tummy time) getting ready for that oh so scary (for mom), giant leap toward mobility. *shudder*

Tummy time gets old quickly.


Annnnnnnd we're exhausted!

Precious!


Also a part of our routine lately has been the addition of Ezri on Fridays. She is such a sweetie and thankfully on Kate's off days, Ezri is perfect, and vice-versa. Lucky me. ;o)

Kate and Ezri, hangin' out.

Isn't she darling?

This next photo is a picture of my parent's new dog, Missy. This is what Missy would do every time, EVERY time I would try to take her picture. She is super cute and super sweet, but she does not like the camera!

It's fun walking a dog that doesn't drag you everywhere you go!

Nana, hanging out with Kate while the girls play with the dog.

Yes, she is a sweetheart!


Here is Alyssa after I stuck her under Kate's play gym and told her she was a baby. What the pictures aren't telling you was that she was really mad at Mommy for saying she was a baby!

Yeah, she's cute from any angle!


Auntie Laura is in town right now, on her way out west to Oregon. Let me pause here for a short tutorial. Oregon, if you are a midwesterner, is pronounced Or-uh-gone as in "The Oregon Trail". Yeah you know what I'm talking about. However, if you are from the state of Oregon itself, apparently you say Organ, like body parts or the noisy piano type instrument. In my humble opinion the latter is incorrect. ;o)

Anyways, Auntie Laura is headed off to the state with the unpronouncable name so we have been hanging out with her for the past week or so, as it is a good 30 hours to drive to Portland-a trek we will not be making terribly often.

We'll miss you Laura!

Lastly, (aren't you excited that this novel is about to end!) we moved Jolene into the basement this past weekend. She will be staying with us until the wedding. Madeline grudgingly graciously agreed to wait until June to move into her room in the basement in order to allow Jo to occupy it for a few months. I cannot tell you how exciting it is for little girls to have a Jolene living under your roof. Definitely blog worthy at least!

"For real Mom? This crazy person is sleeping under the same roof as I do? Do you not care for my safety?"

There you have it friends and family. I told you it was long, but don't you feel more complete now that you know what the Schwartz's have been up to? You know you do.