Maybe I don't blog very much, not just because I don't have much time for it, but because our lives are not that exciting and I don't take great pictures. Even when we went on our trip to St, George, I came back with maybe 3 pictures and some video. So these pics are just a hodge podge of life at the Schmidts-again not that exciting for the public.

Update on the Fam- Mckenna is seeming older and older. She is good friends with some girls in the ward that are 2yrs older than her, so they hang out all day on saturdays, have movie nights and have even gone to the mall (with a mom). She is doing great in school, just started piano and likes it, but doesn't always love practicing since it's with her dad and she says he is mean. I am a witness that he really isn't mean, she just doesn't like to be told what to do and that she is doing something wrong (by her parents).

Caden will be 7 and he is so excited- counting down the days. He tells us that he doesn't need much for his b-day, just a DS game and a legos. So that is exactly what he is going to get. A couple weeks ago when we were at this school award thing, we were eating our donughts by Caden and a little girl from his class came up to sit by him. Her mom called her back to sit with her, but she said "no, I'm sitting by Caden." She sat there touching his shoulder and trying so hard to get his attention, but Caden was so embarrassed, he could hardley look at her. Chad and I were laughing so hard and I tried to give him the que to be nice, but I think the girl was a little too forward for him. She sat there anyway for the rest of the time eating her donught and chatting away at him.

Coleman just started soccer class, but is torn from wanting to play soccer and playing at the park next to the field. He is doing great in school and has come leaps and bounds from last year. He loves playing with his friends and especially his brother. He loves the trampoline and riding his scooter.

Miley started potty training the other day and is a champion! She had two accidents and has gone on her own ever since. The easiest I've ever had it with a child. She is very picky about what she wears, that she mostly goes out in her little pink swimsuit with a tutu on it and her hair isn't done. I've learned to pick my battles with her and the clothes thing is one thing I wouldn't win.

Like Father Like Son

Our little Caden cracks us up more than anyone! He really is the sweetest boy I know and has the cutest sense of humor. On the 100th day of school celebration, he took 100 legos taped onto a poster board and came home with this 100th day of school packet. As we read through it, I was surprised to see his answers to some questions since he is a six yr. old little boy- but if you hear what Chad tells them all the time, it makes sense. Caden is the one who will save up his allowance until he has 20-30 dollars and buy something good. Mckenna and Coleman spend it at 5 or 10 on junk. Cadens dad was so proud.

Christmas with Family

At the very last minute, we decided to travel to Utah to be with our family. We feel bad that we didn't see many of our friends, since we didn't have much time. We were lucky enough to see Susy and Clark and their cute kids at the movie theaters. It's because of Susy and Clark that Chad and I met and they reminded our children that they wouldn't exist without them! We are truly thankful!!

It was so fun to be at Grandmas House, see the cousins, go the Cabelas with Grandpa, going to Cafe'Rio, do a little shopping and of course EATING! Chad and I took advantage of Grandma and Grandpa and went out a couple of times on dates. It's the best thing knowing your kids are in good hands and not having to pay them! Just being with the beautiful Grandkids is pay enough- don't you think? Thanks again!

Christmas

It's not Christmas at our house without the Grinch!! Our real favorite Christmas show is ELF, but for some reason, Miley loved the GRINCH! Good thing our kids don't understand the little bit of naughty humor in the movie.

Miley LOVES Shoes

When Miley was only maybe 7 or 8 months old, I put her first pair of black patten church shoes on her, and her face lite up like you couldn't believe. She was so excited about them, she didn't want to take them off. Now that she is almost two, her shoe fettish is only growing. I do give into it a little, because little girl shoes are so cute. Chad asked me the other day why she has 15 pair of shoes, but as you can tell by the picture, 15 is way off. These are all the pairs of shoes that do fit her right now and she takes turns wearing all of them!

This morning as I was going through the sunday adds, she sat up on my lap and said, "show me the shoes." I didn't know she even knew there were pictures of shoes in the adds. This is a picture of her when I got her box of shoes down and she went through almost all of them trying them on.

Back to school, and Fall is Coming!!

As much as I love my kids, I was so excited for school to start, and so were they. I'm sure they think their teachers are much nicer than I am. Mckenna and Caden have great teachers and are doing great. Coleman goes to the same preschool as last year and seems to be doing better all the time. Now I have a little more time to spend with Miley, and she already loves to go shopping and of course loves target to go up and down the "baby isles" as she calls it.
Caden is now taking a break from Karate' and is going to start basketball in a couple of weeks. Mckenna took a break from singing lessons and is just doing ballet and jazz. I am going to start this little mom and tot class with Miley and Coleman will be able to go to it too. Coleman has in -home therapy once a week and therapy play group twice a week plus preschool 4 days a week, so he is pretty busy. No wonder people look at me and think I'm crazy to have 4 kids, there are too many things to pay for and keep up with , and I only let my kids do one thing at a time right now.
The kids are already deciding what they want to be for Halloween. The thought of going out and buying new costumes for all of them, just seems a little much. Coleman actully seems to care about being something this year, so we can't get away with getting out an old ripped up dress up and see if he'll wear it. So Chad told Mckenna he would pay her $10 if she would wear her recital costume which was a cowgirl. She doesn't really want to wear it, but likes the idea of getting money then asked if she could be a cowgirl Zombie and we could put scary make-up on her and make her look like she rose from the dead.
Then Chad told Caden he would pay him 10 dollars to wear his Karate' outfit- (so he is thinking about it.) Chad will do about anything to save money! We may have to buy Coleman something, since we really don't have anything that fits him. Miley of course already got her Tinkerbell cosutme for $20 since that is all she talked about and she is the baby in the family!!

summer stuff

We love that Shauna is our little photographer anytime we see her! Getting pictures of Mckenna and Caden isn't that diffucult, even thought they don't like it, but getting pics of Coleman and Miley is almost impossible.

The girls!!

The three cute boys- they had a little bit of a "love, hate" relationship, but hey, it's family and three little boys, what else can you expect.

This is Miley enjoying Joes annual 4th of July neighborhood breakfast.

Caden and Miley are best buddies! Miley is constantly asking him to play with her and he is a sweetheart and always does. "Cade" was the first name she said, after mom and dad.

Mckenna is into taking pictures now- this is her work.

This is Luke and Coleman, drying off from getting soaked in the pond and showing off their huge muscles.

Coleman is not too into taking pictures, which may be why I hardley have any of him. I was holding him down in this one.

This is Cade on our deck of our room in Vale!

This year Coleman has done so well and is liking things he never did before. He was pretty terrified of getting in a pool and we just started him in swim lessons a couple weeks earlier and now he loves it! We are so proud of him! He even liked the fireworks this year and he will swing on a swing for the first time!!

Miley loves shoes so much! We went by a store that had shoes out on a table and while I was browsing, she had already taken one and was trying it on!

I can't believe we've been in Colorado for a year now! I guess I'm in a pretty good habit of updating the blog every 3 months! Props to those who keep up on blogs much more than that!! I haven't even put up anything all summer and now school starts Aug. 7th. I like that their summers arent' too long and I think we are all in a way ready for summer to be over. I know I'm ready to have some hours all by myself again, or at least with just one or two, then enjoying nap times more.

We did go on one little trip, to Utah. Everyone who lives away from family knows that most of their trips are to go see family. But as Leah reminded me in her blog, when you go anywhere with kids, it's not a vacation, it's a trip! Chad and I are ready now to go on vacation after going on a trip with kids.

We do love the 4th of July with family! Mighty Joe makes his neighborhood breakfast in the morning of pancakes, sausage and eggs and all the neighbors come join in the front yard. This year wasn't quite the same since my dad got pretty sick and we ended up not even seeing him or staying with my parents. We love them dearly, but didn't want to take the chance of getting whatever he was suffering with for 10+ days. We did fireworks in the circle with all the other neighbors, then went to their back yard to see the "Stadium of Fire" fireworks.

We stayed at Shauna and Joes house and the kids had fun playing with their cousins and just doing whatever we came up with that day. We went to Sundace and let the kids play in the pond, went to movies, the park, out to eat to Cafe' Rio mostly and just hung out. We didn't stay at my parents house, but we did at least meet up with my mom and my sister and her family for a day. My mom took all of us to see the new Ice Age movie and we went to Ryans to ride horses and then to Cafe' Rio again. Thanks to everyone for having us!

We ended up leaving early to come home since we didn't go see my mom and dad and we went stopped off in Vale on the way home and spent a night there. Chad goes there all the time and stays at the Marriot for work. They always upgrade him to a suite so it was nice with 4 kids. When we first got there we were so excited and had such a nice room we both thought, "we should stay here two nights!!" Then after a couple of hours of swimming and dealing with kids, we both thought one night was just right. The next morning we walked around the beautiful areas, but the kids didn't seem to enjoy it that much. The whole time Chad and I were talking about how nice it will be to come back without the children. For some reason they didn't appreciate the fancy shops and expensive restraunts. There was this big pirate ship they played on and that was their highlight. Man, from the way I'm typing it sounds like I don't like my kids much. So don't take me wrong, I adore them all and love them to pieces!!