Busy Bees!

We had a wild and crazy weekend, and never settled down to just hang out. Saturday brought about the Annual Great Pumpkin Festival, which is always a blast! The kids enjoy picking and decorating their own pumpkins, jumping on hay bales, eating donuts on a hanging string, and just running around on one of the last warm weekends of the fall.

Don't the kiddies just love to pick pumpkins....or as Emmy would say..punkins? We will have to show the completed jack-o-lantern closer to Halloween. Hunter's pumpkin will be a loner, Hayley won't carve hers because the insides are messy and gross. Hers will be a magical wonder of colors and shapes. I'll let Brent help with carving, he is the artistic one in the family. Mine always look like I kicked them, after I spend an absurd amount of time pampering the dang thing.
From pumpkins to family reunions... we headed to Toquerville for a get-together (one of many)
The kids are always entertained well. This year they shot rockets 150 feet into the air, with a clever compression cannon. There will certainly be lots of knock-offs coming to your area soon. Only we will try to rig it to shoot something super cool like brownies, candy or cheesecake. Any treat item should have fewer calories because they are shot out of the confection. Right?It is also a time to hear fun stories from Brent's grandpa, Clark Olds. We all adore him, he loves to be involved, and always has some creative advice for everyone. We were lucky to be able to sneak him into a few pictures. I am grateful that our children will have special memories of their Great-grandfather.

Emmy the great, seemed to be on a roll this weekend also. She has decided she needs help from no one, and is vocal to the point of popping ones eardrums. After a shower this a.m, she had a little lunch...all over. Brent and I are not surprised that she so tiny, 'cuz not much makes it in her mouth. Dingbat!The worst part is that today was the first day that I was able (or willing) to put Emmy's hair into piggies. They were so dang cute, and she ripped one side out with spaghetti fingers. Brent thinks she looks so much like Hayley did at this age. Both were hairless wonders. The weekend ended with a bang...or a bonk. Emmy performed some stroller gymnastics, and landed a perfect ten on her forehead. Super-sized goose egg, and a little nose skid. Brent and I will be replaying that in our heads for a while I'm sure, at least until all signs of trauma are healed. Poor baby!

Because of the elevation change, the bump on her head may appear larger due to light refraction. Is that possible? We love the daredevil dearly(with stress on devil). She keeps us on our toes. Too bad she can's seem to stay upright on hers.

Lastly, if anyone hasn't seen this seasons iCarly, you've got to watch for it. The halloween episode is just hilarious. Check for re-runs on Nickelodeon or I think they have them on iTunes also.
CHOW!

Another year prettier!

Sweet little Hayley is now six years old, which seems totally unbelievable to me. We have had the best birthday week ever, since all of the festivities seemed to be spread out. Her birthday party was monday, her birthday saturday (while on our Disney trip), and her family party with Grandma and Grandpa was tonight. It really made her feel special, because the goods and attention just kept on coming. ( She may need a bigger room though!)
Hayley chose to have her party at Grandee's Ice cream shop. It was such a blast! All of the kids were able to choose several kinds of their favorite ice cream, and then were taken behind the counter to "top" it and make their very own sundae. Some of the combinations were just a little silly. Blah!

A few of the kids choosing their very own goodiesSweet smiles for ice cream!
Adelaide needed a little assistance. Big brother to the rescue!
Too busy snarfing down the goods to wave at mom.Good times were had by all, and it was so fun to watch the children choose and fuss over their sundaes. The silly conversations and mannerisms were fun for Brent and I to watch. Cute kids!
Hayley has thought all year about choosing the location of her birthday dinner. She must have remembered from a cousins birthday, that at Texas Roadhouse, they let you sit on a saddle. The saddle won out over all others, and the YeeHaw holler just made her grin like a crazy cowgirl. Not too hard to twist mom and dads arm to get us down there! Yummy!
Hayley with some of her favorite people in the world, Grandpa, and Aunt April. Her smile is so goofy, she just loves all of the attention.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAYLEY!
a sweet posting for a sweet little girl! Love you!

Disney Days!

We were lucky to fit a trip to Disneyland this year. Disney always decorates to the hilt for the holidays. We loved the little candy corn-corn stalks. Every where there were pumpkins, candy corn, ghosts and all were in Disney attire. Super Cool! We always have such a great time. Good food, churros ( mostly for Brooke) great weather, and awesome company.

California Adventure had some of the best decorations. This is out front of the gates, and this candy corn is one of the "A's" in California. They are Huge, and a really great prop. The others are on the Golden gate bridge in the entry. This was the night that we were able to go into the park and trick-or-treat. We bought tickets before we went, and were lucky because they sold out.






Hunter and his cousin Corbin, always have such a good time together. They are great buddies, and keep themselves entertained and usually us also. What goobers!

Hayley and Sidney are just so darn pretty! A little bit of naughty and nice. They play endlessly and are good helpers. Sidney was a second mommy to Emmy, which was a huge help to me. Both girls celebrated their birthdays this week. 367 days apart, Sidney is 7, and Hayley is now 6. What a pair!




Endless fun in the sun with the Schoppmann and Lilomaiava family. If anyone talks to Leslie, ask her to tell you about Indian statues, and her slip of the hand. I could not include that pix. What a hoot!


Amazingly enough, Emmy learned how to say Winnie-the-Pooh at Disneyland. There couldn't be a better place for it! The minute we were in line for the ride, she repeated Winnie-the-Pooh, like a mantra. She adored all of the hustle and bustle, and is really a great traveler!


This is the perfect ending to the perfect trip. Emmy was amazed at all the goings-on, and was thoroughly entertained. Hats are one of her favorite things, and she got a 2-fer when it was a "mouse" hat too.

So lucky to go, and I already can't wait until next year. Thanks for checking in!

Welcome to the Schoppmann family blog.

We are so excited to be joining the blogging sensation. I am still a little daunted by the task of learning all of these new computer functions, though Brent insists that I can do it. Here are our fall pictures from Cedar Mountain. It is fun to trek up the canyon with the kids and hopefully get a few good ones in too! Some crazy but great times.



It seems the only time Brent and I are able to have a picture together is in the fall. Life seems to focus on the kids, and it is easy to forget some time for ourselves.

If these aren't the cutest kiddies.. well we think they are. Hayley's laugh and Hunter's smile are so addicting. And Emmy... gosh, she is such a doll! We are so blessed and grateful.

Hope to keep on blogging, check back soon, but not too soon. I am only capable of learning so much in a session, then my brain turns to mush.