SCHLENSKER FAMILY

A New Discovery.....

2011-11-21T20:23:00.008-05:00

According to Wikipedia, "Planking" (or the "Lying Down Game") is an activity consisting of lying face down in an unusual or incongruous location. The hands must touch the sides of the body and having a photograph of the participant taken and posted on the Internet is an integral part of the game. Players compete to find the most unusual and original location in which to play. The term planking refers to mimicking a wooden plank. Rigidity of the body must be maintained to constitute good planking.

Whoever came up with this truly ridiculous game must have had way too much time on his hands. With that said, it is quite entertaining and makes for some good family fun. Here are some photos for your enjoyment.....

My Baby's Three!

2011-11-19T22:59:00.000-05:00

Where have the last three years gone? It's so hard to believe that Claire is already three. My baby is growing up.....not too fast, though. She's still in diapers. That's a whole different story....one that I hope ends sooner than later.

Claire was just a few weeks old here......

And now she's in a big bed......

Claire has definitely brought a new feel to our house. It's amazing how one little girl can whip the whole family into shape. I don't remember a time when she wasn't talking. Sometimes I feel like I'm having a conversation with a 12-year-old.....and then I remember that she's still not potty trained. Either she's more stubborn than the boys or I've just run out of steam.

Claire is feisty, funny and strong-willed, but she's got a soft, tender side that can melt your heart. She makes you work for the tiniest bit of affection, but when you get it, it's so worth it. Man, I love that little girl! Our family wouldn't be complete without her.

I love thinking of all the things we'll be able to do when she gets older.....shopping, pedicures, movie nights when the boys are camping. The possibilities are endless. =)

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Several months ago, I found an ugly little TV stand at Goodwill for $10. I'd been wanting to make Claire a play kitchen for sometime, and this was just the thing I needed to get started.

Not too impressive, but I had a vision. Thanks to Scott and his dad, my vision became a reality. They did all the hard stuff like removing doors, dividing the bottom shelf, putting a new back on, etc. Then I got to do all the fun stuff. We were so happy with the way it turned out and so was Claire. She absolutely LOVED it!

Amy and her boys stopped by to give her some new toys for her kitchen.....

What a fun birthday! All of her gifts went so well with her new kitchen!

At Claire's request, we had a "worm cake." This girl really does love worms. I can't keep her from picking them up off the driveway after a rain storm. Yuck.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Claire!!! We love you!

Halloween!

2011-11-14T16:00:00.000-05:00

Halloween was cold and rainy this year. The kids' costumes and candy were dampened, but their spirits certainly weren't. We trick-or-treated with our neighbor Josh, and his dad Darrel again this year. Josh and Logan are the same age and love playing together.

Mason and Logan went for scary/gross costumes this year, while Brady and Claire opted for the softer side of Halloween (much more my style).

As a mother, a little piece of my heart broke when Mason told me he wanted to dress up as the "bleeding Scream mask." It's quite ironic that this very costume scared the pants off him when he was two. I seriously thought there was some irreversible damage done after that night. For years, the poor guy trembled and clung to my leg at the mere sight of one of those masks. It's funny how things seem to change almost overnight. While I was not wild about the costume choice, I did like the fact that he was finally facing his fears....or rather wearing the face of his fears. Oh, how far we've come.

Logan wanted to be Ghost Rider this year. He and Scott had fun coming up with his costume. I think they did a pretty awesome job. Costume creativity is definitely not my biggest strength, so it's nice to have a husband who enjoys that sort of thing.

Brady had his heart set on being a Ninja Turtle, which was funny to me because he's never had a big thing for them. It all made sense when I realized that one of his best friends had the same costume.

Instead of serving it's original purpose, the mask became an umbrella as we sloshed around in the rain from one house to the next. I prefer being able to see his cute little face anyway.

For having three brothers, Claire is definitely a girly girl. Don't get me wrong....she can hold her own and make any of her brothers cry, and then in a snap, turns into a sweet little princess. It's amazing how that works really. I think Scott is officially being taught that women are just born crazy. That's my new excuse...."I can't help it. I was born that way." I don't know why it doesn't work as well for me as it does for Claire.

Anyway, here's a picture of our feisty little butterfly.

So sweet and innocent looking. Right? Don't let her fool you. She's a girl on a mission and almost always gets what she wants. I'm thinking that's a quality that will manifest more positively as she gets older.

Well, here's to another Halloween...... If only could stay away from the candy bowl!

Project Beadboard

2011-10-10T16:47:00.001-04:00

I've been chomping at the bit to make little changes around the house......you know, to make things a little less "cookie cutter." I've been wanting to put beadboard in our tiny downstairs bath for quite some time and finally got Scott on board. Lucky for us, his parents had already planned a visit and his dad is quite the handyman. He was so nice to help us out.

First, the baseboards had to come off. I'd watched a tutorial online and thought, "That doesn't look too hard." Boy was I wrong. I was so happy to have D (Scott's dad) there to help out. If it weren't for him, we would have really messed things up.

Next came the fun task of cleaning the baseboards. I really need to teach my boys how to "aim" better!

Scott and D removed the sink, and then it was on to the fun part.....

Power tools! Don't you love how these pictures make it look like I did most of the work? That's just a little strategic planning....Scott and D did most of the hard stuff. They just let me jump in here and there and were nice enough to snap some pics.

This is the part I'd been waiting for! I was so excited to get my first glimpse of the "new" bathroom.

Once all the beadboard and trim was in place, Scott and D left me alone to paint and worked on some other projects (more on that later). I love that we opted for a less traditional look and put the beadboard in horizontally. It really makes the bathroom look so much brighter.

Scott and D put the sink back in....a task that is easier said than done....

And VOILA!

{We still need a mirror. The old one doesn't fit anymore.}

I absolutely LOVE the finished product. It's even better than I pictured in my head. Thanks for helping us out, D!

Earthquakes, Hurricanes & Fallen Trees....Oh, My!

2011-08-28T22:27:00.000-04:00

Mother nature has been pretty busy around here this week. On Tuesday, we had an earthquake. I was with the kids at the pool when all of the sudden, it sounded like a truck was going to drive right into the pool. The concrete started swaying beneath us, and everyone stopped what they were doing and just stared at each other. It took a second to register, and when it finally did, all the cell phones came out. Everyone was trying to call friends and family, but no one could get through. We were all a little freaked out. I quickly grabbed my kids and headed home. We found one picture knocked over and a sweater that had fallen off the drying rack, but nothing too bad.

Just four days later, we were hit by hurricane Irene. It rained all day long and the winds were CRAZY! We had three trees go down behind our house. Three families in our ward (that we know of) had trees fall on their houses or garages, and we just feel so blessed that no one was hurt. We only lost power for a couple hours, which was way better than what we anticipated. All in all, we feel pretty darn lucky.

Events of the Summer....

2011-08-16T10:47:00.002-04:00

I'm waaaay behind on my blogging. We've done a lot of fun things this summer, and somewhere along the way, I've lost all motivation to blog about them. So here's my attempt at catching up....

Logan had a birthday in June. I can't believe my little Logie is eight! He's growing up so fast. We had a fun birthday breakfast consisting of Walmart coffee cake (only the best for our little man).....

and opened presents....

Logan requested a party at Laser Quest, so that's what we did. It was so much fun! Scott and I even got in on the action. I'm not sure who had more fun - the kids or the grown-ups.

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July was a busy month. We had our nephew, Scott's parents and Scott's aunt come and stay with us before the big Schlensker family reunion we host every year. It was so fun to have them here with us and we were so happy they could be here for Logan's baptism.

What a special day!

Everything was just perfect. I just wish we had taken more pictures.

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All the boys (Scott, Papa D, Mason, Logan, Brady & Caden) went to the beach for a day. The water was FREEZING but they had a fun time. It was Caden's first time in the ocean and he loved it. They found all sorts of sea creatures and even brought some of them home (the dead ones, of course).

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Next on the agenda was the reunion. We were so lucky to have Aunt Mar join us this year. It was so fun having her around, and I loved that the kids got to know her better.

Claire warmed up to her quickly and before she knew it, Aunt Mar had a little shadow. Every time she turned around, Claire was there. She even surprised her in the shower once! (Sorry about that, Mar.)

The reunion was so fun. It's so nice to have the whole family together. The kids always have such a great time playing and the adults love chatting and catching up and eating ice cream late at night.

Aunt Mar was nice to take the family picture this year......

It's always one of the favorite activities. Right, D?......

We also got to meet our adorable little niece, Mae, for the first time.....

Is she not the cutest baby alive?

I love this shot of the sisters....

Thanks to everyone for helping make this year so fun! Can't wait 'til next year!!!

Hiking with the Fam

2011-06-12T10:31:00.001-04:00

A couple weekends ago, Scott took us for a hike on a nearby trail he recently discovered (thanks to a friend and his calling as Webelos leader). The kids had so much fun exploring and climbing on rocks and branches.

They weren't shy about jumping over streams and creeks. Even Brady joined in, and to our surprise was not afraid at all.

Claire was perfectly content to pose for the camera.....

Mason even took some time to do a little golfing......

We had a great time! This hike is definitely making our list of "things we need to do again."

Happy Summer!

Superhero Mash Up

2011-05-16T07:14:00.000-04:00

What do you get when you combine the costumes of Mr. Incredible, Harry Potter and Thor?

Only the greatest superhero known to man.....

INCREDIBLY HARRY THOR!

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

2011-05-11T15:46:00.000-04:00

I was in Chicago for most of Mother's Day weekend {on a fun getaway with a couple girlfriends}. Scott was so great and took care of EVERYTHING! I didn't get home until 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning, and found this waiting for me....

Here's a close-up of the picture in the frame....

How did I get so lucky?

It's Official....

2011-05-11T15:15:00.000-04:00

We have a TRAMPOLINE!!!

Several of the kids' friends have trampolines and they've been asking for one for well over a year now. We decided it would be a good idea to make them "earn" it with acts of kindness.

It took them quite a while to fill up the jar (some of those puffballs are pretty small), but they did a great job! It was so fun watching them go out of their way to help each other and do things around the house without being asked. Plus, they appreciate it so much more knowing they put forth the effort to earn it.

The best part is that it's been so fun for the whole family. We've spent many an evening outside together...all six of us jumping on the tramp. It can't get any better than this!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T22:51:00.001-04:00

We only had time to snap one quick picture before heading off to church. It was a race against the clock to get shirts tucked in, hair combed and the tripod set up. We were surprised that not only was everyone looking at the camera and smiling, but Brady and Claire were holding hands! {Maybe we should do family photos like that more often.}

We had a wonderful, leisurely morning. The kids had fun searching the house for their Easter baskets.....even if the Easter Bunny did a better job hiding them last year {so we were told by our oldest}. That would be my fault. I was in charge of hiding the baskets this year. Scott had fallen asleep after a long day of yard work and that left me alone with my uncreative brain to find all the hiding spots. Also, I forgot to buy eggs, so when we looked in the fridge this morning for eggs to dye, we discovered that we only had FIVE. Whoops! Despite the "way too easy to find" baskets and only five eggs we never actually got around to dyeing, the kids still had a great Easter. We had fun just being together and having dinner at my parents' house with the rest of the family. We hope you all had a wonderful Easter too!

Is it summer yet?

2011-04-02T20:35:00.000-04:00

Claire insists on "swimming" in the tub every time she takes a bath. She LOVES wearing Logan's goggles, and some nights it's nearly impossible to get her out of the tub without a fight. I usually just pull the plug {while she's still swimming} and let the water drain out. She'll swim until the bitter end....and then some. I have a feeling she's going to love the pool this year.

I Need This....

2011-04-01T15:53:00.000-04:00

A little over 12 years ago, I married into an amazing, wonderful, fun family! {Love you guys!} They are also ALL extremely organized. I am constantly amazed by their organizational skills (and a little covetous). Everything has a place.....every toy...every pen, pencil and marker...every pot and pan...every craft supply. I, on the other hand was not blessed with the organizational gene. I got the "organized on the outside, messy on the inside" gene. If you were to walk in my house, it would probably look pretty tidy....until you opened something (a drawer - a closet - the pantry - the fridge). The playroom is full of mismatched toys, puzzles and games, and I will often find unrecognizable left-overs in the fridge. It has bothered me for years that I just can't seem to keep everything in it's place, but I have finally come to a realization...... I will probably never be as organized as my husband's wonderful family, and that's OKAY. I've decided that it's much better to focus on the things we're good at and not stress so much about the things we're not. So, I'm not great at organizing.....So what?

I found this shirt on one of my favorite blogs:

It may not be true, but it sure makes me feel better! =)

Grill Master

2011-03-21T11:50:00.001-04:00

We've had quite a few days of nice weather lately. It's really gotten us in the mood for grilling, and Scott has taken it upon himself to try a new recipe(s) every week. Here's what we had for dinner last night....

YUM!

The kids loved being outside "helping" Scott. Maybe in a few years, they'll be doing the grilling.

Claire didn't want to miss out on any of the action. Don't you just love her outfit? Grandpa gave her those boots last week and she refuses to wear anything else. The leggings are a nice touch too!

The Benefits of Thrift Store Shopping....

2011-03-15T14:13:00.004-04:00

I was just browsing the internet and came across this.......

The price?........ $695! (@ Restoration Hardware).

Remember this little beauty I found for $35?

Who in their right mind would spend that kind of money on a chair? For $695 it better clean the house, do the laundry, make dinner and help with homework! I'm just sayin'.

Our First Real Vacation

2011-02-24T15:16:00.003-05:00

After 12 years of marriage and 10 years of parenthood, we decided it was time to take a vacation. Not just a weekend a couple hours away.... but a real, we-can't-come-back-quickly-if there's-an-emergency, leave all your troubles behind, lay on the beach, remember the good old days VACATION! Scott's been wanting to return to Puerto Rico since he came home from his mission 17 years ago, and now he can finally say he's been back.

We had an amazing trip and owe my mom big-time for watching the kids. {Thanks, Mom!} It was so fun and refreshing and relaxing. You can check out our photos here:

http://gallery.me.com/mmschlenk#100122&bgcolor=black&view=grid

The only question now is, "Where do we go next?!"

A Quick Birthday Recap...

2011-02-24T14:46:00.001-05:00

We had the whole fam over to celebrate Mason and Scott's birthdays. It's always a little crazy, but so fun!

Here's a glimpse of how crowded the house gets when everyone's here. It's hard to believe that nine people are missing from this picture! The cousins have so much fun together and we feel so blessed to live near so many members of our family. It's fun to watch all the kids grow up together.

We had another slightly less crowded celebration for Scott's actual birthday. He's never been much of a cake fan, so I made him is favorite - chocolate chip pecan pie. Yum!

He had plenty of help blowing out his candles! The kids always get so excited when we have birthdays around here.

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Brady's birthday was the most recent. My baby boy is five! He is so funny and has such a great sense of humor. He's quick-witted and loves to make people laugh. He's always seemed a little older than he is and constantly amazes us with the way he puts words together and uses them correctly. He's a great brother and a great kid and we can't imagine life without him!

{He used to be so tiny!}

We went against all we believe in and took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese's for Brady's big day. I'm admittedly a germ-a-phobe, and that place just creeps me out. It's amazing what we'll do for our kids, isn't it? They all had a blast and I think I endured it pretty well. We forgot the camera (of course), so we have no proof that we actually went there. You'll just have to take my word for it. =)

When I asked Brady what he wanted for his b-day cake, he said "CHEESECAKE!" without any hesitation. He'd never had cheesecake before and I'd never made it, so I was a little worried. I found an easy no-bake recipe that turned out delicious (in my opinion). He didn't really care for it - not even with all the toppings (oreos, choc. chips, fruit, whipped cream, choc. syrup, etc.). Oh, well. Live and learn, right?

Claire was right there in the action. Heaven forbid anyone blow out there own candles around here... I call it team work!

Project 'Not' Complete

2011-01-12T16:39:00.002-05:00

Okay....I'm getting so excited about my new project that I just had to share (I'm such a nerd, I know). I finally decided on a color. It's called 'Martinique Dawn' and it's a beautiful light greenish color. I'm sooo happy with it! I've primed it and put one coat of paint on it and I already LOVE it! It just needs one more coat of paint, a little distressing, a little glazing (this will be a first) and a coat or two of polycrylic. Wow....I guess I'm NOT almost done! Hopefully I'll get it finished this week. Cross your fingers!

A New Project

2011-01-08T15:47:00.001-05:00

I hadn't been to Goodwill in a couple months, so I decided to stop by today and see if there was anything I just couldn't leave behind. I've been casually looking around for some sort of seating/storage option for our family room. I didn't want to spend a lot of money, so when I saw this for $20, I was sold!

A little paint and some new hardware and she'll be good to go! Now if I can just decide what color....black, white, red??? Or maybe I should just re-stain it. I've never been very good at making decisions. Hmmm....

Double Digits (and a Decade of Diapers)

2011-01-06T14:47:00.003-05:00

Well, it's official....we're the parents of a 10-year-old! And maybe even more noteworthy....we've been changing diapers for 10 years straight (with two in diapers three times!).

Mason is such a great kid and we feel so blessed to have him in our family. He loves to read, play the piano, snowboard, play basketball, golf, wrestle with his brothers, watch sports with his dad and play video games (of course).

We had fun celebrating his birthday. It always sneaks up on us being so close to Christmas and all, but we managed to pull it off again.

Claire was so nice to 'help' him open his presents. She had some of them already opened before he could even get his hands on them.

Grandma and Grandpa Knight met us for Mason's birthday dinner at Bob Evans....Mason's restaurant of choice.

We came home for Cold Stone cupcakes (which are fabulous, by the way). I haven't been bitten by the super-creative cake bug yet. Fortunately for me, Mason said it was the best dessert he's ever had. (And yes, that is my backside in the picture....Scott just couldn't wait to take the photo until I was out of the shot.)

Don't you like how we don't even have 10 candles? I forgot to buy them, so I had to scrounge around and find whatever we had. Mason didn't seem to mind. He's pretty easy-going. That's one of the things I love the most about him. Happy Birthday, Mason! We love you!

December 2010

2011-01-04T14:32:00.002-05:00

Here's a quick recap of things that went on during the busy month of December......

The kids had fun playing in the leaves and Scott did a great job raking. I can thank my neck problems for getting me out of that fun chore this year. =)

Mason had his piano recital....

And Brady had his preschool Christmas program....

We went to the ward Christmas party and got to sit on Santa's lap....

Made WAY too many gingerbread houses. (This is about 1/3 of them.) Notice Scott's gingerbread version of Hagrid's hut on the far left....

Logan (and Scott) made the BEST WIGWAM school project EVER!.....

We had a wonderful Christmas (even if you can't tell by looking at Claire's face) and everyone made it through healthy (until the stomach flu hit our house late that night)......

Santa even brought us some snow. It's the least he could do considering he brought us the flu.....

And last, but not least, here's a picture of Claire redeeming herself (she really can smile for pictures). Don't you just want to smooch that cute little face?!

2010 was a great year for our family and we're looking forward to 2011!

Family Picture 2010

2010-12-22T14:16:00.000-05:00

Mason (9), Logan (7), Brady (4), Claire (almost 2)

Our Baby's 2!

2010-12-05T16:27:00.001-05:00

The last two years have flown by. I can hardly believe that Claire is now 2!!! It really doesn't seem like that long ago she looked like this.....

She has grown up so fast and continues to amaze us. She's a daredevil who likes to climb on anything and everything.....tables, counters, pianos. She is constantly talking and always has something to say. When we're at home, she wants to be on my hip the majority of the time (making it nearly impossible to get anything done), but when we're out she's Little Miss Independent. She refuses to hold my hand when we walk to the bus stop and loves to run in parking lots. She's energetic, funny, smart and challenging and we love her just the way she is......most of the time. =) She can hold her own with her three older brothers and loves to play outside. She's not afraid to get dirty and loves just about anything that makes a mess. We feel so blessed to have her in our family and love the "softer side" she's brought into our home. She can melt our hearts so quickly with her little kisses and hugs and her, "I love you Mommy and Daddy."

Grandma Knight took her (and me and Brady) to the zoo for her birthday. She got so excited to see all the animals and loved feeding them too. She wasn't frightened by anything and probably would have jumped over the fences if we'd let her.

As you can tell, I had a difficult time getting her to look at the camera. I don't blame her..... Why would she look at me when there were so many other more interesting things to look at?

We ended her birthday with presents and cupcakes. She even blew out her own candles!

Project Complete

2010-11-07T19:01:00.000-05:00

I'm so bummed I forgot to take a "before" picture. This was an old brown desk I found at Goodwill for $30. It practically begged me to take it home and give it a makeover! I painted it antique white and gave it some new hardware. Isn't it pretty? It's going to be my new nightstand out at the farm.

I was going to distress it a bit, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I think I like it just the way it is!

Halloween

2010-11-07T18:50:00.000-05:00

This was a year of cheap Halloween costumes for us. You've gotta love that! We put the boys' costumes together with things we already had and a few dollar store purchases, and Claire's costume was part gift/ part gift card. I think we only spent about $3 this year. That has to be a record!

Mason was a skeleton zombie.....all his idea. Scott and I had fun piecing his costume together.

Logan was Nick Fury....a Marvel superhero and leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. (I learn something new everyday.)

Brady was Iron Man....thanks to a costume he got for Christmas last year.

And Claire was a cat.....the ears were a gift from our neighbor. She loves their cat, Sweetie.

I love this one of Mason and Claire. They look like they're practicing their "Thriller" dance.

My Latest Find....

2010-10-25T12:18:00.001-04:00

I was browsing the antique store the other day looking for a cheap headboard to fix up. Claire will be outgrowing her crib in a few months, and I see this as a perfect excuse for another "project." Well, I didn't find a headboard, but I did find this great little chair. Is it weird to say you're in love with a chair? ....because that's exactly how I feel about my most recent bargain.

My original plan was to paint it red or possibly white, but once I saw it with the boys' desk, I loved it just the way it was. It looks so much better than the hand-me-down black office chair that was there before.

Sometimes I catch myself just staring at it. (Strange, I know.) I love the curvy lines of the back and arms and all the character of the nicks and scratches. It's quite comfortable too! The boys might have to find a new spot. =)

Before & After...

2010-10-14T15:19:00.000-04:00

Last week, I found myself browsing the local antique store looking for a 'cheap find' in need of a makeover. I'm very inexperienced in this department, but have recently had a desire to start learning. I found this cute little bench and decided to go for it.

I sanded it down a little and four coats of paint later.....

It was a little too crisp so I roughed up the edges a bit for a more distressed look. Now I just need to decide where to put it. The KITCHEN.....

That wall needs a little work. It's been the 'highchair wall' for lots of years. I've got a few ideas up my sleeve, though.

Or the ENTRYWAY.....

I think it needs a decorative pillow or two....hmmm.

We All Wanna Be Rockstars!!!

2010-10-07T20:16:00.001-04:00

Last weekend, Justin hooked up Rock Band to the newly-installed mammoth speakers in the arena at the farm. We all had fun getting in touch with our inner rockstar as we jammed to The Beatles.

The kids were awesome! I think we might have some future performers on our hands.

Even Grandma got in on the action.

Love these cool kids!

I'm a little confused by everyone's attire. We had church clothes, pajamas and everything in between.

Justin was a natural on the mic. I think he even refused to give it to one of his kids at one point. Oh, yeah....we were serious. The little kids didn't get to bed until midnight and the grown-ups kept jamming until almost 1 a.m. We paid for it a little the next day, but it was worth it!

Until next time...

First Haircut (It's about time!)

2010-10-07T14:16:00.000-04:00

Since Claire will be 2 next month, I figured it was about time for her first haircut. From the back, it looked like beautiful cascading curls......

But from the front.....not so much!

It was a little too "business in the front, party in the back" if you know what I mean.

I took her to a really cute kids' salon and had someone a little more 'experienced' do the honors. Claire was a dream. She got to sit in a fire truck, eat a lollypop and watch Monsters Inc. But best of all, she didn't make a peep! After carrying three screaming boys out of various barber shops (on several occasions each) I decided to do this one right. Can't you just hear my sigh of relief?

The curls may be gone for the most part. (It still flips up a bit on the ends.)......

But it looks so much better now. Goodbye mullet!

I've Been Robbed!

2010-09-27T17:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, I've been robbed......of the chance to paint my one-and-only girl's toenails for the first time!

Scott stayed home from church with Mason a couple weeks ago. It's pretty much a given around here that if you stay home with one of the older kids, you get the youngest as well. It's only fair, right? When I got home, I was greeted by a smiley-faced little toddler admiring her pretty purple toes. I must admit, I was a little mad. I've waited a looooong time to have a girl and get to paint her cute little toenails. When I asked Scott why he did it, he said, "Mason was sleeping and I didn't know what to do with Claire. I figured girls like to paint their toenails, so that's what we did." I couldn't stay mad for long. It really was cute. I just couldn't believe that Scott of all people would be the one to beat me to it. =)

I'm just glad he took pictures.

He actually did a pretty good job.

Sweet little feet!

First Day of School

2010-09-26T21:18:00.001-04:00

I was at my Aunt's funeral on the first day of school. I'm so glad Scott snapped a few pictures for me!

Mason - 4th Grade

Logan - 2nd Grade

Brady started school a week later. This is his last year of preschool. I can't believe we'll have 3 in elementary school next year.

He was so excited, I couldn't get him to pose for a normal picture.

Quick Trip Out West

2010-09-26T21:05:00.000-04:00

My siblings, parents, sister-in-law and I took a quick trip to Utah and Idaho to attend my Aunt Kathy's (my mom's brother's wife) funeral. It was a trip full of so many emotions. It was so fun being with my family and seeing relatives I haven't seen in years, but the reason for the trip was so sad. Aunt Kathy's passing was so sudden and unexpected and she will be missed greatly. I wish we could have taken this trip under different circumstances, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with so many loved ones.

We first stopped in Idaho to visit my grandpa, aunts, uncles and cousins on my dad's side of the family.

This is us at my grandpa's house. We had the best meal with garden fresh corn on the cob and watermelon. Thanks, you guys!

Just the kids. I never go on trips with just my siblings. It was funny settling back into our old family roles. Suzanne will attest that the family dynamics were quite entertaining.

We stopped at the fair on our way out to see my dad's older brother, his wife, their kids and their grandkids. What a fun group! It was so fun to see all of you!!!

The night before the funeral, we went to a special dinner in Salt Lake. I got to see cousins I haven't seen in forever. It had been about 20 years since I'd seen Mike, the cousin sitting next to me.

Before the funeral with my dad's sister and her family.....the lighting was a little bad in this one.

We ran out of gas on I-15 on our way back from the funeral. It was quite the adventure. We managed to coast to an exit ramp and came to a stop right across from an abandoned gas station. Go figure.

A nice lady stopped and took Nelson to get some gas. We were back on the road in no time and got a good laugh at the situation. My dad swears he'd never run out of gas before. It was just funny that we were all there to witness it.

End of Summer

2010-09-22T15:49:00.000-04:00

It's so hard to believe the summer is over. It all went by so quickly. We tried to squeeze in a little more fun before the kids went back to school. I decided to be brave and take the kids to Kings' Dominion without Scott. Thanks to some great friends for encouraging me to be a "cool mom." The kids had so much fun (and so did I)!

We didn't leave the park until closing time. We were all happy and exhausted. The kids did amazingly well....I couldn't have hoped for a better day.

VA BEACH.....

For our last trip of the summer, we went to the beach. The kids had so much fun boogie boarding and playing in the sand, and Scott and I had fun dreaming of an ocean vacation by ourselves. Just kidding. Sort of. =) It was all good until Logan got lost. He was only gone for about 3 minutes, but those were the longest 3 minutes of my life. I was so happy to go home with all 4 of our kids!

These things are harder to pedal than you think. Of course, we weren't exactly getting too much help from the passengers in the back. =)

Mason and Logan were fearless in the water. They definitely didn't get my fear of sharks. Who knows, maybe someday we'll have a couple of surfers.

Brady and Claire were content to play in the sand and soak up the rays.

I think the sign said, "Please don't climb on the statue." Oops!

Texas!

2010-09-21T14:35:00.002-04:00

We had a wonderful trip to Texas with Grandma and Grandpa Knight. We all had so much fun and can't wait to go back!

Real cowboys wear crocs, right?

Claire loved all the attention she got from Grandma and Grandpa.

The boys got to ride horses a lot, and they're starting to get pretty good. Grandpa is so nice to provide so many fun opportunities for them. Thanks, Dad!

I think the boys were a little nervous, but they weren't about to pass up this opportunity. I love these pictures....they're priceless!

Grandma and Grandpa wore us out! You'd think it would be the other way around, but if you know anything about my parents, you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. Thanks for another fabulous trip, Mom and Dad!!!

Schlensker Reunion 2010

2010-08-18T16:55:00.003-04:00

It's hard to believe that another Schlensker family reunion has come and gone. It's always fun to have everyone together (even if it's just for a few days). It was unbearably hot this year, so we spent most of our time at the pool.

The boys were doing tricks down the slide. I'm still not sure what Mason was doing here, but it looks pretty awesome!

Caden was not about to be outdone by his cousins and had some pretty sweet tricks himself.

Brady finally decided that it was okay to go down the slide by himself. Just as long as he was wearing a life jacket AND and a tube.

I love this picture of Rylee. She had no problem keeping up with the boys and still had time to pose for a photo op.

Logan loves adventure and had a blast doing cannonballs off the rocks.

This is Todd and Lindsey enjoying their last family reunion sans kids. We can't wait to see the cute little bundle they'll be bringing next year!

Riding horses was another favorite activity. My cousin Austin was so great to help all of the kids ride. Thanks, Austin! Some of the girls are still talking about the "cowboy" at the ranch.

Morgan and Kylie were naturals. They loved every minute of it!

Claire got in touch with her maternal side and had fun feeding Siena. Notice how she opens her mouth too?

This is Alleah and no, that is not her bottle. I love that cute little smile!

We were so excited to meet Siena for the first time. I hate living so far away from the cousins. They grow up so fast between visits.

Brady was attempting to carry Cameron around, but I think they're almost the same size! That kid's going to be tall!

Ah, the "oh-so-anticipated" family picture. I think it turned out pretty well considering the number of kids. Don't you?

An attempt at getting a picture of the cousins. Hey, who's screaming child is that? =)

Facing My Fears...

2010-07-14T10:56:00.002-04:00

....of lake water, to be exact. Some friends of ours were so nice and invited us out on their boat. (Thanks, guys!) I love being on boats, but I've never been too crazy about being in the water. You just never know what might be lurking in there....snakes, giant fish, the Loch Ness Monster. Well, I faced my fears head-on and tried wakeboarding. I'm SO glad I did!

This is me right before my first (and disastrous) attempt. I'm smiling, but I'm really thinking, "I hope nothing bites my butt while I'm sitting here so helpless."

I was totally SHOCKED that I got up on my second try. Can you tell? Now I was having fun!

On a fashion note...swim skirts don't look that cool while you're on a wakeboard.

I did have a few "graceful" wipeouts. I guess it would be false advertising to not include those as well. I don't think I've ever had so much water up my nose. Even with the wipeouts, I'm so glad I did something out of my comfort zone. It really was so much fun!

This is Scott showing off. (I guess I should include some pics of him too.) ;) He's been about four times now and really enjoys it. I can honestly say I never pictured the two of us doing stuff like this. I guess that's what makes it so fun!

Thanks again to our great friends! We had a blast!

Who Knew Painter's Tape Could Be So Entertaining?

2010-07-12T22:39:00.000-04:00

I ran errands the other day and came home to this.....

.....Scott had turned Brady into The Last Airbender. There is definitely never a dull moment around here.

Scott is so great with the boys. Sometimes it's hard to tell who's the adult and who's the kid, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

How can you not love that cute little face?!

Tooth Fairy

2010-07-12T16:02:00.001-04:00

Logan finally lost the tooth that had been hanging by a thread for what seemed like an eternity. He was so excited as he put that little tooth under his pillow and went to sleep. Unfortunately, the Tooth Fairy has been a little forgetful these days. She must be very busy because she has failed to show up at our house on more than one occasion. Is this a familiar story to anyone else? I hate the disenchanted look I get from the kids the next morning as they discover their tooth still under their pillow. It breaks my heart. I really should file a complaint. If only I knew where to send it......

Birthday Boy

2010-07-12T15:45:00.001-04:00

The past seven years have gone by so quickly. I can't believe that my little Logie has gone from this...

to this...

Notice the cake? That's Scott's handy work. He found the idea in a magazine and was on a mission. Right after he finished it, the whole thing split in half. I've been informed that this was his first and last cake. I was very impressed....I think he did a great job!

Logan had a small party this year since he had a big one last year. He just had a couple friends over for pizza and a movie. (That's my kind of party!) They all had a great time.

Logan's favorite gift was his new bike. He loves going for bike rides with Scott and Mason, and he can keep up with them much better now.

Logan is still our "good time guy." Scott dubbed him that several years ago and it still holds true. He loves to smile and have fun and is such a great brother. He's always thinking of his siblings and is so helpful to me. I don't know what I'd do without that little guy.

Sweet Tooth

2010-06-13T16:19:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, I ran upstairs to throw a load of laundry in the washing machine. I left Claire downstairs because I knew I wouldn't be gone long. When I got back, this is what I found....

Check out the dent she left in that thing! I knew she liked sweets, but I had no idea she would gnaw her way through the plastic to get to them. She seems pretty proud of herself. Almond bark, anyone?

Rain Gutter Regatta

2010-06-13T16:10:00.000-04:00

I'm a little behind on some of my posting.... The rain gutter regatta kind of crept up on us this year. Scott had the brilliant idea of repainting last year's boat and making a new sail. It definitely saved time in the prep-work department, but didn't didn't prove most effective in the long run. Mason didn't place, but we all had a lot of fun. We have the best scout leader in our ward and he always makes things so fun for the kids (and their families).

We'll be more prepared next year.

Wassup?!

2010-06-07T22:17:00.003-04:00

This weekend I (Scott) was telling the boys about the Superfriends show I used to watch when I was a kid. I tried to look it up on the computer and all I found was a short video of the Superfriends but with the audio from the old Budweiser "Wassup?!" commercial dubbed over it. The boys thought it was funny until I showed them the real commercial. They thought that was even funnier and soon were "wassuping" each other every chance they got. Thus, a beer commercial has inspired the following video. Enjoy. We sure did.

New York

2010-05-18T10:47:00.002-04:00

It was so nice to get away for a few days with some of my very favorite people. We treated ourselves to a fun Mother's Day weekend and had a blast! Here we are by the Brooklyn Bridge. We discovered that just because it looks close doesn't mean that it actually is. We walked quite a ways for this shot. =)

In this shot, we were actually lucky enough to get a seat on the subway. It was smelly and gross, but so much fun. We even got some good map reading practice in. Brittany (taking the picture) was a professional subway map reader by the end of our trip.

We rode the Staten Island Ferry just a day before one of them crashed and injured several people. Fortunately, our trip was smooth sailing....just a bit windy!

Food was a top priority on my list. We researched a few places we wanted to go and this was one of them....Calexico Carne Asada. It's a very popular street vendor and we found out why. It was so delicious! Some European tourists must have thought the four of us eating tacos on the side of the road was quite fascinating because they stopped to take pictures and video of us. Strange. Maybe we'll end up on You Tube.

Another favorite food stop.....CRUMBS! And yes, I'm the only one who couldn't wait to try a bite until after the picture. The best cupcakes I've ever had!!!

Times Square.....We were oblivious that they were evacuating just a few blocks up for a bomb scare. We found out when one of the husbands called and asked where we were. Luckily it was just a false alarm.

We went to the show "Promises, Promises" one night. It was so fun to see Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth, both of whom we've seen on TV.

This is the billboard we saw big as life as we left the show. Gross.

We also went on a tour of the Tenement Museum (per Brittany's request) where we learned about the hardships the early immigrants went through when first arriving in this country. It ended up being very interesting. I was glad we went....and not just for the award-winning gelato we had afterwards. =) Thanks, Brittany!

One of my favorite things was our walk through Central Park on our way to the temple. It was so beautiful and peaceful. Quite the contrast from the busy hustle and bustle of the city.

A view of The Plaza from Central Park. Beautiful.

This is us on the observation deck of the Empire State Building. I have to admit, I felt a little queasy when I looked down. It was really awesome....and a little scary. The whole trip was so much fun, thanks to some wonderful friends!

Picky Eater

2010-05-10T16:59:00.000-04:00

Brady has been our pickiest eater since day one. He has very little variety in his diet, so when we find something he likes, we are sooooo happy. We recently discovered that he likes plain noodles. No butter. No cheese. No sauce. Normally I would be mortified to see my child eat like this in a public place, but with this kid, I am overjoyed when he puts anything in his mouth that's not a cracker or a fruit snack. We can work on manners later. Right?

We Hate Goodbyes

2010-05-10T16:50:00.003-04:00

It's always so sad to leave. We had such a wonderful time in Cincinnati. Thank you Grandma Weez, Papa D, Bethany, Brian, Todd and Lindsey for everything!

Opening Day Parade & The Cincinnati Zoo

2010-05-10T16:32:00.005-04:00

Our trip to Cincinnati was packed with all kinds of fun things. One of which was the Reds opening day parade.

Logan calls her Mrs. Baseball Head. I'm sure she has a real name, but I'm not sure what it is.

The flowers at the zoo were beautiful! We had such a fun day.

Grandma Weez is always so fun!

The boys loved the reptile exhibit. Me......not so much!

Cute kiddos. Where's Brady?

Mason, Morgan and Logan on the train.

Claire and Daddy.

Scott, his sister Bethany and the most of the kids.

The boys loved the big rhino.

Easter

2010-05-10T15:32:00.005-04:00

Between sessions of Conference, we went to check out the new softball field where Scott's dad coaches.

All the Schlensker men and the cousins. Beth and Brian had everyone over for Easter dinner. It was so nice. Thanks!

What a cute picture of Todd and Lindsey.........and Scott. I need to learn photoshop.

Claire and uncle Brian.

Cameron made the perfect centerpiece.

Great-grandpa Schlensker and the grandkids.

Spring Break in Cincy

2010-05-10T15:05:00.000-04:00

We had so much fun in Cincinnati over Spring Break. Todd and Lindsey so graciously hosted the Easter egg hunt. The kids were in heaven and the adults had fun too!

It was Claire's first "official" Easter egg hunt and Logan was with her every step of the way. He is always the first to help out and loves being a big brother.

Brady had lots of help from Grandma Weez. Thanks, Grandma!

It was so fun to share this time with cousins and aunts and uncles. We don't get to be with Scott's side of the family nearly enough. They were all so nice to accommodate us while we were there.

I love this picture of Morgan. She's such a happy, fun-spirited kid with loads of personality!

One Last Hurrah!

2010-03-24T23:57:00.000-04:00

Well, winter is coming to a close, and we just took our last trip up to Wintergreen for the season. The weather was AMAZING! 70 degrees and sunny! The snow was a little slushy, but we had fun snowboarding in short sleeves.

On our way home, we stopped at the Blue Ridge Pig. That's kind of a tradition now. It's a dive, but it has the best turkey sandwich and potato salad I've ever had. Yum! Can't wait 'til next year!!!

St. Paddy's Day

2010-03-17T14:37:00.000-04:00

I love St. Patrick's day. The kids always get so excited and I get to experiment with green food coloring. So fun! Here's a picture of the kiddos all dressed in green.

Hair

2010-03-17T14:32:00.000-04:00

We're discovering something around here for the first time....hair. After three boys, it seems so strange to have a child with so much hair. We love the way it swirls in the bath water and how it looks in a soap-hawk. However, we're not so fond of the way it gets stuck in the velcro of her bib and in the snot crusted to her nose. (Yes, that really does happen.) =)

Slumber Party

2010-03-17T14:21:00.000-04:00

Scott was out of town last weekend and I wanted to do something fun for the boys without REALLY having to do anything....you know what I mean? (I'm such a good mom, I know.) So, what better than a slumber party on the 3rd floor? We pushed all the couch cushions together and brought up sleeping bags and blankets. They were so excited! For some reason, Brady had the hardest time sleeping. I took this picture around 11:00 and he was still up. They thought it was awesome to wake up the next morning and already be in the same room as the Wii. Ah, simple pleasures!

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall....

2010-03-02T22:46:00.001-05:00

Who's the fairest.....

Of them all?

Claire loves to look at herself in the mirror. We could be in trouble in about 15 years!

Brady's 4th Birthday

2010-03-02T22:34:00.002-05:00

I can't believe how fast they grow up! It doesn't seem like that long ago we were bringing Brady home from the hospital and now he's 4 years old!

We had some friends over for lunch and cupcakes after preschool. Brady was so excited that it was FINALLY his birthday. He's been asking me everyday for about a month, "Is today my birthday?"

When Dad got home from work, we went to Cheeburger Cheeburger for dinner (only because I vetoed McDonald's) and then came home for presents and more cupcakes. It was a great day for a great boy!

Pinewood Derby

2010-02-21T16:32:00.000-05:00

Mason started out the night by receiving his Wolf merit badge.

Lining up for the pinewood derby.

Mason's car is the black one with flames on it. He and Scott had fun working on it together.

Victory cheers! (He didn't come in first overall, but he won this race!)

Basketball

2010-02-21T16:22:00.001-05:00

We haven't been that great at posting pictures of Mason's basketball games. Here are a couple from his latest game. He loves the game....like father, like son!

Jewelry Making 101

2010-02-09T13:38:00.001-05:00

A good friend of mine inspired me to do a little jewelry making. She is so talented and creative and was nice enough to show me the ropes. Thanks, Brittany! These are my first attempts.....not too bad! =)

SNOW!!!

2010-02-06T20:27:00.002-05:00

After being out of school all week except for a half a day on Thursday, we got hit (yet again) with another big snow storm. The kids have had so much fun playing outside and Scott and I have logged around six cumulative hours of shoveling.

We took Claire outside for her first "real" snow experience today. To our surprise, she really enjoyed it! Maybe she was just happy to be out of the house for a change....

Scott was the master snow fort builder today. He spent a good 2 or 3 hours on this masterpiece. It's hard to tell, but our WHOLE family is inside....all 6 of us!

These pictures will give you a better idea of how tall it is. We teased the boys and told them they'd be sleeping in it tonight. A couple of them actually thought it would be fun. Somehow, I have a feeling that would only last about 5 minutes.

Pigtails

2010-01-25T20:14:00.001-05:00

Claire's hair is really getting out of control these days. It's not long enough for me to really do anything with, but it IS long enough to look like a mullet. I had a small moment of boredom the other day, so I decided to try out pigtails. I obviously have very limited experience in this department. She looked so funny that I just had to snap a few pictures. I think we'll save the pigtails for a time when she has more hair.

She's also walking like crazy. I haven't quite figured out how to upload video to our blog, so I guess snapshots will have to do for now.

Scott's Birthday

2010-01-25T19:59:00.001-05:00

January is certainly a month of birthdays for us. Mason, Scott, my mom, Scott's mom and my brother all have birthdays in January. There's nothing that relieves holiday stress more than January birthdays. (Can you sense the sarcasm?) We had fun celebrating as a family. We went out to dinner and then had a giant cookie cake - Scott's favorite.

I was going to write, "Happy Birthday Scott" on his cookie, but then I found out that the girls at work made one for him too. Not wanting to be outdone, I thought this saying was more fitting. =) I think I need a little practice with my frosting writing.

All of the kids were glued to Scott as he opened his presents after Sunday dinner. It's always fun to celebrate with the whole family. There are now twenty-three of us when we all get together. Crazy!

Family Resemblance

2010-01-18T16:04:00.002-05:00

People are always saying how much Brady looks like Scott. Well, a few months ago, we came across this picture of me as a kid and were astounded at how much it looked like Brady. We even held it in front of him and asked him who it looked like. His reply....."Me!"

New Year's Resolution

2010-01-07T23:42:00.000-05:00

One of my new year's resolutions is to be more crafty. My ultimate goal for the year is to learn how to sew. My mom did a ton of sewing for us when we were young, so I'm not really sure why I never learned. I've decided to start small....this is my first project of the year, and no, there was no sewing involved. Regardless, I'm pretty proud of myself.

Mason's 9th Birthday

2010-01-07T15:05:00.000-05:00

This is as far back as the pictures on my computer take me....I think Mason was around 18 months here. Has it really been nine years? Where does the time go? Mason is a great big brother to his siblings and a huge help to his mom and dad. We are so grateful to have him in our family.

I'm not sure why, but Mason is rarely "normal" in any pictures these days. If he's not doing bunny ears on someone, he's giving you a cheesy grin (case in point).

Three great boys! There is no end to the energy in our house and we love it.....most of the time!

Happy Birthday, Mason! We love you!

Christmas Day

2010-01-07T14:50:00.000-05:00

Christmas morning was so fun! It was WAY better than last year when Claire was just a tiny baby. The kids had so much fun opening their presents, and Scott and I just loved seeing their little eyes light up. It's hard to believe that it's all over.

Christmas Eve

2010-01-07T14:40:00.001-05:00

We were at my parents' house again on Christmas Eve. It's always a full house when we're together, but so much fun! The evening was complete with....

Delicious food....Christmas Eve paella....a new tradition? Only time will tell.....

Camera wars with Justin....

A full-out talent show. We had Christmas carols, trombone numbers, piano solos, you name it....

Mason played "Up On the Housetop." He looks thrilled, doesn't he? Maybe he's just really concentrating.

Logan and Brady sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."

And of course, I had to get a picture of cute little Colton. He was all dressed up and ready to party!

P.S. I think I figured out my posting dilemma. Hallelujah!

I'm So Confused....

2010-01-06T11:33:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to post more holiday pictures on our blog, but I can't upload more than one at a time. The "new post" format recently changed, and when I try to upload my photos, it looks like they'll all appear, but only the last one I tried to upload shows up on my preview/editing page. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong??? Help!

The Christmas Festivities Begin!

2010-01-03T15:55:00.003-05:00

The family festivities began a couple days before Christmas when Grandma had all the grandkids over for a holiday party. The highlight, of course, was the nativity. Mason was so excited to be one of the "big kids" this year and got to narrate instead of wear a costume.

Logan and Matthew were wise men. Aren't they cute?

Brady and Bowen were shepherds....also cute!

My favorite had to be baby Jesus (Colton). He was a little too big for the manger, and I just love his swaddling clothes!

Claire decided she would rather eat the nativity than be in it. We all had a great time! Thanks, Mom!

The Weather Outside is Frightful!

2009-12-22T16:33:00.004-05:00

This is the view from our back door on Saturday morning. Scott and I were supposed to be in D.C. for our anniversary, but we headed back early so we wouldn't get caught in the storm.

And this is the view from our front door.

Mason and Logan have LOVED playing outside, but Brady isn't a big fan of the snow....hence, no pictures of him. He lasted about five minutes on Saturday and hasn't been out since. That's okay....it's nice having him inside to keep me and Claire company.

Cute boys!

Family Picture 2009

2009-12-21T15:56:00.003-05:00

We have a tradition of taking our family photo on Thanksgiving. Last year, however, Claire was only one week old and I selfishly opted out. Scott scouted out the perfect spot this year and my aunt, Denise, took our picture. Thanks, Denise! It's hard to believe that we're a family of six now!

Mason's Piano Recital

2009-12-16T19:38:00.003-05:00

Mason had his very first piano recital last Saturday. He's been taking lessons from one of our good friends, Brittany. She teaches several kids in our ward and does a great job. I have been amazed at how much Mason has taken to the piano. He enjoys it so much and I love listening to him play.

He was a little nervous, but he did a great job. I was so proud of him. Unfortunately, Scott didn't make it in time. He was stuck at home waiting for the HVAC repair guy, but that's a story for another day.

I hope Mason continues to love the piano as much as he does now. It would be so fun to have a musical family. Hopefully he'll make better use of his lessons than his parents did!

Oh How Fun, Claire is One!

2009-11-19T20:14:00.005-05:00

My friend Tammy made these gorgeous cupcakes for Claire's birthday. She's so amazing....check out her website (www.cupcakekali.com). We had Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, uncles and cousins over for her party on Sunday. It was so much fun!

Claire definitely had no problem digging in!

Has it really been a year? It's amazing to see how much she's grown!

Daddy loves his little girl.

Happy Birthday, Claire!

Team USA

2009-11-16T11:05:00.005-05:00

Another race accomplished by Team USA (or so we've been dubbed...thanks, Paul!). It's been so fun training with such a great group of friends! I'm so proud of all of you ladies!!! Thanks for helping me accomplish something I never thought I could do!

Daddy-Daughter Time

2009-11-12T15:18:00.003-05:00

Who knew the kitchen could be such a wonderland? Claire loves playing in the dishwasher. I swear, she can hear that thing opening a mile away! Notice who's doing the dishes...there's nothing better than your hubby doing the dishes AND watching the baby.

Who says playing in the water is only a summer activity? Claire and Daddy had so much fun splashing in the sink last night. It was a little messy, but a lot of fun!

I love this picture...so cute! Daddy's little girl!

Halloween

2009-10-31T21:41:00.005-04:00

We loved having Halloween on a Saturday this year. The kids had so much fun carving the pumpkin and roasting the pumpkin seeds.

Since we only carved one pumpkin this year, Scott had each of the boys design a part of the jack-o-lantern. Brady had the eyes, Logan had the nose and Mason had the mouth. I think it turned out pretty well.

Mason was so excited to be something scary this year. We had fun with the makeup! Logan was Batman and Brady was Bumblebee the Transformer. He picked out a really cute astronaut costume at our playgroup costume swap, but between then and now he changed his mind. Go figure.

Claire was so cute in her little poodle skirt...another score from the costume swap. A mom in our ward made it for one of her little girls a couple years ago. Isn't it cute?! I can only dream of being that talented!!! Thanks, Gretchen!

It was so nice and warm this year. No one needed coats or layers. It was the perfect first Halloween for Claire!

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-21T16:18:00.006-04:00

Brady had his first field trip to the pumpkin patch this week. It was pretty cold that day, and I discovered that Claire doesn't own a heavy coat. It pained me to do it, but I put her in one of the boys' old coats. I guess it's time to go shopping!

Brady had a great time searching for just the right pumpkin. He's so excited to carve it for Halloween.

Cute friends sitting on pumpkins.

The corn play area was definitely the favorite activity of the day....and so much cleaner than a sand box. We did bring home a few stray kernels, though.

We've Got Spirit!

2009-10-16T19:08:00.003-04:00

For some reason, this is Claire's favorite sitting position. It doesn't look that comfortable, but apparently it is. Every time I see her like this, I can't help but picture her in a little cheerleader's outfit. Go Team!

More Cute Photos

2009-10-16T14:38:00.004-04:00

I've noticed that I have increasingly fewer pictures of each child. I always used to wonder why there were so many more pictures of my older brother and sister than there were of me, but now that I'm a mother of 4, I totally understand. There's just so much to haul around these days that the camera unfortunately ends up at the bottom of the list. These pictures are a small attempt to close the gigantic photo gap. Pardon the runny nose and crusty face...just more evidence she's the 4th child!

Photography 101

2009-10-16T14:14:00.003-04:00

It's been so chilly here lately, but a few days ago, we had some really nice weather. The kids were playing outside (except for Mason who was sick and in bed), so I thought I'd bring out the camera and get a few shots. I got a little carried away....when I uploaded my pictures, I discovered that I'd taken 99 photos. I'll just post a few of them. =)

First Soccer Game of the Season

2009-09-28T14:43:00.004-04:00

Logan is playing soccer again this year after taking last year off. We decided that having a new baby was a big enough adventure this time last year. To our surprise, he picked it back up with no problem. He loves to run around and is pretty quick for a little guy. He loves being on the same team as our neighbor and he has a great coach.

New Hair Color

2009-09-23T14:41:00.003-04:00

I went in for highlights a couple weeks ago and ended up waaaay too blonde (as you can probably tell from my last post). I went back to my hair stylist and asked him to make me a brunette. After coming home a redhead, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Thanks to a box of nine dollar hair color, I'm now a brunette again. It's been years since my hair has been this dark and I'm not sure I like it. So....I'd love some feedback (I've got thick skin - I can take it). Do I keep it this way or go for highlights again???

Forever Friends

2009-09-17T15:00:00.003-04:00

You know those people you just connect with and know you'll be friends forever? Julie is one of those for me. We met as roommates our freshman year at BYU, and now 13 years later...10 years of marriage and 4 kids each, we're still the best of friends! Thanks for coming to visit, Jules! I can't think of a better birthday present.

First Day of School

2009-09-17T14:46:00.003-04:00

I can't believe how quickly the summer flew by. Mason and Logan were both really excited to start school this year. Brady started preschool this week, and it's so nice for him to have something of his own. He's been going to the bus stop and dropping kids off at preschool with me since he was born, so he's thrilled that it's finally his turn. I'm a little thrilled myself, to be perfectly honest. =)

And the Verdict Is...

2009-09-17T14:38:00.002-04:00

A BIGGER HAMPER!!! After reading my last blog post, my cute sister-in-law called and mentioned that she happened to have a hamper she wasn't using. Being the wonderful, thoughtful, generous person that she is (yes, I'm talking about you, Suzanne) she offered it to me. Thank you so much, Suz! I actually haven't done laundry since she gave it to me. I'm not sure if that's a good thing, but I'm loving the amount of clothes it can hold!

The Job That's Never Done

2009-09-08T19:14:00.004-04:00

This is what the boys' hamper looked like a few days ago. Why is it so hard for me to stay on top of the laundry? I have no idea. It just seems wrong that you can spend all day doing laundry and when everyone puts their clothes in the hamper at the end of the day, it's like you never did a thing. I've decided that I need to do one of two things - either do laundry more often or get a bigger hamper.

Surgery

2009-09-08T15:37:00.004-04:00

Well, the dreaded day has come and gone and Scott has been doing much better lately. It's been about a week and a half since his shoulder surgery, and things are going well. The first several days were a little rough, but every day he seems to be getting better. He'll be in a sling for six weeks and we're not sure what to expect after that, but for now, we're just taking it a day at a time. He feels badly that he can't be more helpful around the house and with the kids (at least that's what he tells me. =)) but I don't mind picking up the slack. He did manage to empty the dishwasher the other day. I was so surprised! It sounds like a little thing, but it made me so happy. A couple of his friends showed up the day of his surgery with a hilarious bouquet of balloons. They did "man up" their gift a little with the UFC hat and shirt, though.

Last Hurrah

2009-08-25T21:04:00.004-04:00

With shoulder surgery looming in the near future, Scott has been trying to fit in as much golf and other two-handed activities he can. He and Logan went wakeboarding with some friends of ours yesterday. Scott had been once before, but this was Logan's first time. Apparently, he hopped right in the water with no reservations. He must get that from Scott.

VA Beach

2009-08-24T14:44:00.002-04:00

The beach was the first "mini vacation" we took during Scott's week off. I was shocked at how fearless Mason and Logan were. The minute we got to the beach, they took the boogie boards and headed into the water. Brady was more comfortable on dry ground, however. Maybe next year he'll get in on the action too. Claire was perfectly content to relax under the umbrella and had fun splashing in the baby pool. We're already looking forward to our next beach trip!

Natural Bridge Caverns

2009-08-24T14:41:00.002-04:00

Natural Bridge

2009-08-24T14:31:00.003-04:00

Wintergreen

2009-08-24T14:23:00.003-04:00

So many updates, so little time

2009-08-24T13:49:00.003-04:00

Here's a quick recap of our fun summer adventures...Scott's entire family came and stayed at the ranch for our third annual Schlensker family reunion. This is the only time of year that everyone can be in the same place at the same, and as always, we had so much fun! Mason attended his first-ever cub scout day camp where he learned how to shoot bows and arrows and BB guns and got to do all sorts of fun boy stuff. Logan lost his second tooth and Scott took a week off work so we could have our own mini family vacations at VA Beach, Natural Bridge and Wintergreen. It's been a fun summer!

Go Karts

2009-07-14T22:03:00.004-04:00

After the burger challenge, we thought the next logical thing to do was to take the kids to the go kart track and let them drive around in circles. =) The big boys even got to drive their own karts.

1/2 Pound and Pounder Challenge!

2009-07-14T21:59:00.003-04:00

2009-07-14T21:47:00.004-04:00

Our nephew Caden has been staying with us for the past few days, and since he has two sisters, we thought we'd show him what it's like living in a house full of boys. First on the list...the 1/2 pound burger challenge at Cheeburger Cheeburger. Mason, Logan and Caden all ate their burgers pretty quickly and then chased them down with an order of onion rings. Scott even got in on the action and took the pounder challenge. Brady decided he'd play it safe and just have a grilled cheese. At the end of the night, the boys didn't even seem phased. Scott, on the other hand, realized that he's not a teenager anymore. Good times!

Logan's 1st Lost Tooth

2009-07-14T21:27:00.003-04:00

It's official....another one of my babies is growing up. Scott tricked Logan the other night and told him he was just going to loosen his tooth a little. He loosened it alright. Logan was SO excited when his tooth popped out. Of course he had to rub it in a little and tell Mason that he lost his first tooth at a younger age....always a competition. =)

Golf Camp

2009-07-14T11:37:00.004-04:00

Mason and Logan both went to golf camp this summer. Mason has done it a few times before, but this was Logan's first year. The best part of it for me was that they got to dress all cute and preppy. Normally it's a fight to get them in collared shirts. They both had a great time and Logan's swing improved dramatically. He's already been saying that he wants to go again next year. Logan got "most improved" and Mason got "best putter."

4th of July

2009-07-14T11:32:00.003-04:00

We definitely win the award for least pictures taken over the 4th of July weekend. We only snapped a couple of Claire, but they're too cute not to share. (I'm totally biased, I know.)

A Day at Congressional with Tiger

2009-07-14T11:24:00.003-04:00

Scott and Mason went to D.C. the other week for a fun "father-son" outing. For $25 (kids 12 and under are free) they got to see Tiger woods and other pros compete at the Congressional. I'd say that's money well spent! I don't know who was more excited, Scott or Mason. It was a long day, but the smile on both of their faces when they got back was priceless. What an awesome opportunity.

Logan's 6th Birthday

2009-06-23T19:35:00.003-04:00

This year we decided to have Logan's birthday party at a place called Pump It Up. It was so much fun! The best part for me was that I didn't have to clean anything up when it was all over. The kids had a great time and so did the adults. Maybe I'll have my next birthday party there! Logan invited several of his friends from church and a few from school. He even invited some girls. He's quite the ladies' man these days!

Contraptions

2009-06-13T16:13:00.003-04:00

What would I do without all the wonderful baby contraptions they have now? Our newest one is the bumbo seat and it truly saves my life around dinner time. (Thanks Grandma Weez & Papa D!) It's just nice to have a place to put the baby when I need both of my hands. Fortunately, Claire seems to really enjoy her little entertainment centers, and I can usually buy myself a few minutes to get things done.