ESCAPE TO IDAHO

Got away to Idaho again and got to see some "firsts".

My first time seeing Eleni roll over.

Go Baby Girl!!



Not really my first time seeing Ilai play basketball, but certainly not any less enjoyable! This was the last game of their season - they went undefeated.

Notice the score in the background? We were the visitors.

Go Orange!!

Look closely and you will recognize the same two kids - eight years apart.

Not only were Eden and Jack blessed on the same day, they were also baptized on the same day.

The proud moms.

The proud dads.

The proud Gramma.

My heartfelt thanks to my daughters, sons-in-law and sweet grandchildren for delaying the baptisms and waiting for me to get well enough to be able to come and be there.

The musical number for the baptism was sung by the cousins. Not wanting to take a picture in the chapel, we re-created the musical number in one of the classrooms for the camera and had an awful lot of fun doing so.

I'm also grateful to another daughter and son-in-law for having the confidence to send Morgan with me to Idaho so that she could be there for this special occasion. It was a wonderful time for me to get some rare one on one time with her.

I think just about the most fun time I had on this visit was in the kitchen on Friday night. It was our task to make dozens and dozens of cookies for the baptism "reception" the next day. So between Me and Tracy and Beth and Taylor and Kelley and Aubrey and Hannah and Eden and Morgan and Anela, we pulled it off!! We made the best sugar, lemon, chocolate chip, spice and chocolate fudge cookies in town and of course there weren't any leftovers to be found anywhere! (Note to self: Beth could use another set of measuring spoons....)

Morgan became acquainted with Eleni.

(Morgan! Let's not tell Mom that you are barefoot in this picture!)

Had an awful lot of fun playing outside.
As you can see by Kelley's squint, it was sunny and warm.

As usual, the trip was wonderful. When it was time to go home, quoting Dr. Seuss helped tremendously. "Don't cry 'cause it's over. Smile 'cause it happened."

TAHOE OR BUST 2010!!

Frogs in the Pool

Ribbitt. Ribbitt

My sister and her husband are ceritified SCUBA divers. They are going to Maui in April for a much deserved vacation and plan to do a lot of SCUBA diving. It's been a while, so they have to re-certify. They decided to try it out in the priviacy of our backyard before embarrassing themselves terribly in their re-ceritfication class. It worked, because they passed with flying colors!

Congratulations Mario and Janet!!

Mario reminding Janet of some important things.

Even with a wetsuit on the water is cold!!

Who dat?

Interloper.

(Actually am quite proud of Dave for taking advantage of an opportunity that he might never get again!)

Of course I am cursing my sister and her husband at this point as Dave has been on Craig's list browsing - you guessed it - Diving Equipment.......

Saturday Mornings

Shadow and I have to figure out a better way to spend our Saturdays. This is a him in action on any one of the last 3 Saturday mornings in February.

This is what is becoming of my dresser. I am down to one little pile left to sort through. For a while I had forgotten the color of the wood. The entire surface was covered with very very important piles of paper. I'll get to the dust, too.

Our laundry is so caught up it's ridiculous. A pile of towels will take no time!

And you're probably wondering why there is so much flexible time for me and Shadow on Saturday mornings.

It's because we have a new Scoutmaster and Dave and Austen are either on campouts or at merit badge clinics.

You must admit that his sash is looking pretty good though! (Note to future mothers of Scouts: The Merit Badges that are edged in gray are required Eagle Scout merit badges. Gotta have 'em. The ones edged in green are the ones you can pick and choose according to your interests or the interests of your Scoutmaster...)

He'll be getting the Art merit badge today. So relieved! Then I can fill up that pesky blank spot. Next time I will leave the blank spot in the middle so that it is at least symetrical.

Two weekends ago sure was fun though!!

We saw Janet and Mario's newly remodeled, absolutley gorgeous new bathroom and kitchen. We all got to mess it up pretty good too because everyone was there for a 1-week-delayed FSAK
where everyone go to meet Eleni as a bonus!

Eleni and Lilly with matching hats. (Really admire those photographers who can get an entire family to smile nice for the camera. I could only get 75% of my subjects to cooperate. Dirty faces don't count.)

Austen found out that he was allergic to cats. He itched and his eyes watered all night long. Beck and Grampa had fun though!

After about 150 laps of Beck and Ethan running back and forth through the kitchen and living room Ethan took a break for a drink. No one was assigned to bring hair gel.

Grampa always manages to have a good time when the grandkids are around. They seem to like him, too!

Look alikes?

First I had to wait until Eleni turned 3 months old, and then that shot right past and I forgot all about doing this until now.

Here is mom and daughter both in their 3 month pictures. Does anyone think they look alike? Kelley has a California tan and is dressed a bit more modestly but then Eleni had her hair done a bit more stylishly.

Both are definitely sweethearts though!

Birthday Buddies

January is a very full month when it comes to family birthdays. We celebrate Lilly, Janet, Granny, Eden, Kelley, Austen, Scott, Laila and Mitchell. Nine birthdays. Wow! (We only need to remember 7 dates though, because Kelley and Austen share the same day and Scott and Laila share the same day. Nothing personal Mitchell, but I bet Brandi is glad that Laila didn't pick your birthday to double up on!)

But I digress.

I'm briefly going to talk about Austen's and Lilly's birthday celebrations in this post and the difference 14 years (and an attitude) makes.

It even rains at the Happiest Place on Earth. Doesn't stop people from coming though. These soaked folks are entering Downtown Disney. It was a rainy, windy, blustry, cold stormy day - got about 4 inches of rain that day - but we, along with lots and lots of other people, didn't let it stop us from having a birthday lunch with Austen.

Went to the Rainforest Cafe, where inside and outside you heard thunder and the pitter patter of raindrops - constantly. This is the biggest smile I could get from the newest 15 year old on the block. He did seem pretty happy to be there though.......

On the other hand, this is what the newest 1 year old on the block looks like when she turns one and has a new sun hat to wear on walks! Gramma's going to have to put a strap on it however. For a few moments, she forgot that she had it on, so it stayed, at least for the picture. Good Girl, Lilly!!!

Note: Do not have a birthday party for a 1 year old from 2:00 - 5:00. Prime nap time. (Lilly missed about 85% of her party!)

Brothers love birthday parties, no matter who they are for. He knows that he will be able to get Lilly to share EVERYTHING!

Toto, We're not in California anymore.....

No Toto, we're not in California anymore. We're in Buh Buh Boise!!
Have you ever seen a better greeting party in your life????



Good thing Fo'ou took us to Savers looking for snow gear the first morning we were there because this is what it looked like the second morning we were there! Austen's were the first footprints in the snow and now I truly know why they call it a "blanket of snow".


On New Year's Day, some of the kids went to the show to see Avatar and some of the kids went to the mall where Eden got her ears pierced a few weeks early for her eighth birthday!

Finally got to meet this sweet little one after waiting three long months. Eleni Jean belongs to Tyler and Kelley..(Longest three months of my life.) As is with all of her previous 13 cousins, this one is perfect too!

All is well with the Schultz clan. Glad to report that Gunner (the dog) is still alive probably because Tracy is confined to upstairs for a while. She is under doctor's orders to take it extremely easy for 6 weeks, as she had a hysterectomy. Gunner is downstairs, Tracy is upstairs. Lucky lucky Gunner. Tracy is recovering nicely.

The girls of the Maka'afi clan. Anela is excited to turn eight so she can get her ears pierced too!

Felt lucky to get this cute grin from the oldest Maka'afi.

Back in California, will never get a grin from this one. Proud of him though and all the hard work he put into the H20 Polo season.

A wonderful way to end 2009 - seeing everyone in Boise and begin 2010, recognizing Austen's accomplishments!

Christmas 2009

It has been 3 months since I have been on this blog site. I have another blog that tells what I have been doing over the last three months. A three months that I am glad is over. A three months that I have learned, grown, and received much however. A three months that, in the end, I have so much to be thankful for. It is in this three months that I was diagnosed with a squamous cell cancer, received treatment for and am now in recovery mode.

I have so many more wonderful things happening in my life though. I want to talk about them.

Many many years ago I began to realize how hard it was going to be to get everyone together on Christmas for a family celebration. I wanted all my kids and grandkids and sister and her kids to be able to get together and not have to "share" them with anyone else.

So, it has worked out that usually the Sunday before Christmas we have our Family Christmas Party. Then, on Christmas Day, when everyone needs to visit in-laws, etc., it is working out that Gramma and Grampa drop by and give presents to Grandkids, visit for about an hour, and then everyone is off to the other places they need to go. So far, so good!

Below are a few pictures from our Family Christmas Celebration gathering held on

20 December.

Don't know what it was that Dave was being congratulated for, but it looks like it was pretty good. And Mitsi, it looks like Baby "K" is beginning to make his/her presence obvious. (We are all so excited!)


Daddy Eric explaining to Ethan to be patient until he shows him how his toy works. (Get used to it Ethan!)

Danny, Ellen and Mitsi giggling about something....

If you ever find yourself in a bad mood, take a look at this pic of little Miss Lilly. Bad mood GONE!

Don't know what Dave and Lilly are talking about, but both seem very excited about it!

Beck's turn to open his present while most everyone watches.

Love it when the family gets together. Give thanks for mine every single night.