Schultz Family Christmas–in August!!!

I have been going to the Schultz Family Christmas since before I was a legal Schultz!  It’s always so much fun to get together and see how the family is doing.  It used to be held on Christmas day.  But as the family got larger it became more difficult to hold it then.  So we had changed it to the Saturday before or the Saturday after Christmas – which ever was actually closer to Christmas.  This worked for a while, but then also became difficult to manage.  So now we hold it whenever the person in charge can manage it.  There are 6 Schultz siblings Robert, Martha, Herb, Louise, John, and Doris – though Uncle Herb passed away a few years ago, Aunt Barb still takes her turn.  This year it was Andy’s parents turn to host and it turned out to be a beautiful day!  I was a little worried as we have been having terrible storms – but God was good and provided a beautiful breeze and blue skies!  It was great to see much of the family, but still missed seeing those that just live too far away to make it in!  I didn’t take too many pictures – maybe I can get a few from Uncle Donald later – but we did have fun!Our newest craze – Qwirkle!  Such a fun family game!Do you see the look I’m getting?  That’s because I had just taken several wonderful pictures of him and he was saying “Really?  You want me to smile MORE?!?!?”Here are a few of the wonderful pictures!  Man, I love this kid!!!! Daniel and his PopPop!  I am so thankful for Andy’s family heritage!  All Godly men and women.  So thankful for the influence and example they are to me and my kids!  God is so good!

First Day of School!

Today was our first day of school!  It is later than we usually start – but we’ve had a very busy summer and this was the first day I had all the kids together!  I surprised them with a field trip to the Franklin Institute to see “Mummies of the World”.  What an amazing display!  if you get the opportunity to do this tour – go for it!  Andy was able to go with us!  I so love it when he goes to these type of things as he can easily translate the dates of the mummies to Biblical times.  It was really neat to see these people who had lived so long ago.  I was a bit worried about how Daniel would handle it – but he loved it!  He was fascinated with all the details and examples of mummies.  I really wish I could have taken photos – but with the delicate nature of the objects that was not allowed. 

After the Mummies exhibit we toured around the different rooms.  Isaac’s Loft is always a favorite……as is the newly redone Benjamin Franklin room.  The kids also enjoyed the new Changing Earth room.Here they are making a news cast about the weather via green screen.  Afterwards you could watch it on a TV outside of the room.Matt rode the Sky Bike and was showing off a bit!

It was a good first day!  Now only about 179 to go!  Tomorrow we are going to start Math, English, Spelling/ Vocab, Spanish (for Matt) and Science.  I am waiting on Literature, Writing, and History until after our staff retreat next week.  I’m really praying that this will be a better year than last! 

I REALLY DO like my kids!

We have been done school for one week! And in that one week I have discovered that I REALLY DO like my kids! I know that sounds funny, but we have been having a lot of fun. For the past few nights the older two, Andy and I have been playing Mario Kart on the Wii. It has been a riot. Andy and I usually lose, but that's okay! Today I took the kids - all three - out to lunch. It was so great! Daniel was such a big boy and sat in a regular chair and ate his lunch so nicely! He continues to amaze me at how grown-up he is getting! We even bought big boy underwear today! CARS!!! He can't wait to wear them. We are going to do potty training as soon as we get back from all our running around this month! It is really nice to be done with school!

Last weekend Andy and I attended the CHAP conference, while Andy's parents watched all three kids! They are amazing! (THANK YOU!) The conference was pretty good. Andy went to Chris Hogan's seminars and was really encouraged. He really opened our eyes to some things that have to change in our family. Some of the changes will be tough for all of us, but will be well worth it in the end! I was very thankful to attend the conference as I purchased everything I need for next year! Yes, I guess we will be doing this again! I am very excited about the reading program I discovered for Matt. When I went to the conference I had NO IDEA what I was going to use for him next year. I prayed the entire time I was there for God to direct me to the right program. He lead me to Drawn to the Heart of Reading. It looks so amazing! It is exactly what I wanted and am hoping that Matthew will enjoy as well. In a few weeks when I get my objectives together and the portfolio completed for this year I will post everything I intend to use for Matt, Sarah, AND Daniel! Yup, we are doing preschool next year! Nothing stressful - just some scheduled reading, coloring, art, etc! It is going to be WILD year!

A Day of Peace

Today was a pretty quiet day - I love these days. I am not feeling well (sinus trouble) and so need calm days when that is the case. We got up and went to Sunday School and Matt received a medal for completing his Discipleship Class. He had to take a test and everything! I LOVE his Sunday School teacher - Miss Denise. She is so amazing. She works full time and volunteers for all kinds of things at the church, including the 4th-5th grade Sunday School - which has mostly Pastor Kids - you know what trouble they are!!! It can be a brutal group! But she loves them and teaches them the most amazing things! He learned a lot through this class, my prayer is that it is not only head knowledge, but will become heart knowledge as well.

After Sunday School Daniel and I came home. He was falling asleep during worship and I was feeling miserable. I came home, fed him lunch and put him down for his nap. I probably should have taken a nap as well, but I know if I sleep during the day it will hard to go to sleep at night. So I cleaned my kitchen, we are having a terrible problem with ants, and cleaned the living room from most of the stuff we brought home from being gone a week. I still have a few loads of laundry to complete, but it will get done by Wednesday.

Tonight we had fun just hanging, playing the Wii. My mom got this for Matt and Sarah as their birthday present this year. It is a lot of fun! We laugh and giggle at each other for the silly things we do. We really like the Sports program - my favorites are golf and bowling! We are saving up for two more remotes - they are pretty expensive. Then all four of us can play at the same time. While we were playing Daniel was running around like a goof with a swimmy diaper on his head - a little trick his daddy taught him! He is just too funny!

Tomorrow is a school day for us and I am not sure how much we will get done as I am sure our street will have a block party - meaning lots of loud music. We will do the best we can and catch up on another day whatever we don't finish.

Fun Day

Well, after an exhausting night, Daniel was up all night fussing, we completed some school and headed off to the Adventure Aquarium in NJ with the Hinsons. The past few weeks I have gone the afternoons have not been very crowded, which is nice when you have a stroller. Today was not the case. You would have thought they were giving away free admission as crowded as it was! We managed to see several of the exhibits, including the hippos - and they were actually moving! In all our visits there, they have always ever sat. It was really fun to see them moving in the water. They kind of bounce along the bottom of the tank floor. They really are amazing creatures! Daniel loved seeing them go! After going through most of the aquarium, we headed outside to see the penguins and then ventured into the Children's Garden. It used to be included in the price of the aquarium, but when the aquarium was renovated they separated. We paid the extra admission and enjoyed the quiet of the gardens! It was so much nicer than the aquarium. They have a great butterfly room, with several different varieties of butterflies. Daniel loved it! He is totally enthralled with butterflies! It was a good day. Now I am tired and I think I will head off to bed early tonight. I have been so busy with school and dinners and what not, I haven't actually been able to deep clean anything! I guess that's a good thing - it means I am sleeping! Only tonight and tomorrow night and then it's off to visit the grandparents! Then Andy will be home! We all can't wait for that!

Day One

Andy left this morning for the Teen Missions Trip to Richmond, VA. It's neat for the teens of our neighborhood to go to a mission field and minister to other people as they themselves have been ministered to. Though it is hard for all of us - a week is a long time! - the benefits of this trip to the teens is amazing! Pray for unity and strength among the almost 20 teens and 8 adults this week.

So, while we are missing Daddy, we are continuing to plug away at school. Obviously, Matt and Sarah had other things on their minds. Matt moved as slow as molasses, finishing his schooling at 8:00 pm. Sarah enjoys her free time and plugged away at all her tasks. She is so funny. If you know Sarah she is as energetic and talkative as they come - but when it comes to school work, she loves workbooks and checking off all her assignments. I totally did not expect that when it came time to teaching her! I thought I would have to be all movement and motion, but she has really surprised me in her learning style. The one thing she hates is math, specifically math facts. If you have any great ideas on how to make this more fun, I would love to hear from you!

My friend Carisa and her boys came over for dinner tonight and are planning to through Thursday. Her husband is also on the trip. If I have people I can cook for, then I don't mind doing it. If it is just the kids and I - I HATE IT! Sarah and Paxton had a great time playing together as did Daniel and Kyler. Daniel loves Kyler and before they came this evening was yelling at the top of his lungs "KY! KY!" I hope they develop a good friendship as the years go by.

This past weekend we enjoyed a trip out to Lancaster, PA to join in the Schultz Family reunion. All of Andy's dad's (John) siblings and their families get together at least once a year. It was great to see everyone (about 40 in all), but the neat thing this year was hearing for the first time John's parent's voices. Martha (John's sister) had a tape of Wilbur and Carrie Schultz singing and talking. I had never heard their voices as they had both passed away when I met Andy. It was also funny because they spoke mostly in PA Dutch. John can still speak Dutch and used to tease Sarah with it - it would drive her crazy as a two year old! We'll have to see what Daniel does with it! I so love Andy's family. They are a great bunch of faithful believers and a lot of fun to be around.

Well, I am off to finish planning school. I am trying to plan through the end of September. With most of our vacation falling in September I know time will be short. I hope then to fall asleep so as to be well rested for the kids. Andy usually takes care of breakfast, which is such a blessing! I usually need the morning to get mentally prepared for my kids. Pray for me!