Our Schnei-Mazing Christmas!!

Christmas this year was SO MUCH FUN!!  I don't know if the kids enjoyed themselves as much as I did, but I sure hope so.  If you read my previous blog, you know that we have decided not to do gifts on our 'off' years with the kids.  Instead, we do memories.  This year will be hard to top. 
Disclaimer:  I am HORRIBLE at taking pictures so what you are about to see doesn't do justice for the great time we had.  I didn't even get pictures at some of the events so you'll just have to believe me when I say the kids smiled the WHOLE time.
The kids came to stay with us on Wednesday the 28th.  We don't usually celebrate our Christmas until New Year's Eve but we had a lot to do this year so we started early.
The morning of the 29th, the kids woke up and all of the stockings were missing.  Nobody really thought much of it and just went about their morning eating breakfast and blaming Zak for hiding the stockings somewhere (since he was the only one not out of bed). 
Then the doorbell rang.  Like 5 times.  The kids (and the dog) all raced to the door to see who it could be.  Only a Christmas bin.  They brought it inside and opened it.  To their surprise, there were the stockings full of all kinds of stuff.  Along with the stockings was a letter from Santa explaining that he was anxious to get home and be done with Christmas so he dropped theirs off a little early.  He told them to pack a bag with specific items and to be ready to go by 2pm.
The kids raced around the house getting chores done, taking showers and packing bags and watching the clock closely.  At 2 they were all whining wanting to pack the car and get going but we had to wait for the first surprise that showed up a few minutes late.  The kids couldn't figure out what we were waiting for.  Then Santa's sleigh arrived.  A black stretched limo had come to pick them up and take them to their destination.  Their faces were priceless and burned into my memory but I don't have any pics to prove it.

We arrived at the Westin in Bellevue.  We checked in and went to our rooms.  All I remember the kids saying was "we don't deserve to stay at a place this nice." 

We had gotten a room for the kids and a room for us.  The rooms joined of course, but the kids thought it was great that they got their own room. 

After looking around for a minute, Mom and Dad opened the envelope that Santa had left for them.  Inside were 5 envelopes (one for each child).  We handed them out and watched the kids light up again.

Spending money for the mall across the street.  Since we didn't buy gifts, we thought it would be fun to give each kid their own money to go spend.  They were THRILLED!!  So we hi-tailed it off to the mall.  They all made out pretty well with new shoes, shirts, jackets, iPods, etc.  After walking the mall for what seemed like hours, we decided to go to dinner at ZTejas.  Dinner was on Grandma Wescott who also helped with the expense of the hotel rooms.

After dinner we headed back to the hotel and went swimming.  We didn't last long, everyone seemed a little worn out from the days events so back to the room we went where the kids found another gift for each one of them lying on their beds.  New pajamas for them to wear to bed.  They also had all kinds of chips and goodies sitting on the dresser in their room so we ordered a movie for them and let them eat junk food to their hearts content.

Since they all had money left from the mall, they decided they wanted to order milkshakes from room service and thought that was "awesome".

The next day, Uncle Evan picked us up at the hotel and we went home for a few hours.  Everyone was happy to be home but then Josh's parents had planned a surprise for the kids for 3pm that day.  We drove to Nana's office and she told the kids where they were going.

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures here, but we did get a DVD of all of us flying.  You'll have to come over and watch the DVD if you want to see how much fun we all had.  We all had two 1 minute sessions each and had a BLAST!!  I would HIGHLY recommend it to any who are thinking about going.  After our flying lessons, we wrapped up our Christmas at Spaghetti Factory and headed home!  Nothing more fun than spending time with the ones you love more than anything on the planet!  Something we'll NEVER forget!!



Christmas Eve

Every Christmas Eve we go to Josh's parents house for their big family party.  Great food, tons of people and the annual visit from Santa.  Some of the kids are getting older and find it funny to try and guess who Santa is each year.  So once in a while we like to throw in someone random just to keep them guessing.  Wanna know who made the kids' night this year?

None other than Mr. Adam Turley.  He did a great job being jolly and the kids had a blast mauling him and sitting on his lap to receive their gifts.  The best part was that nobody had a clue who he was (Ryson was the only one of our kids there so none of the others knew Adam). 

Thanks Adam (Santa) for being such a good sport!!







1st Time For Everything

Every year since Josh and I have been married we have debated whether or not to put lights on the house.  The few years we were in an apartment, the decision was obviously easy.  Since we have been in our new house however, we have really wanted to have house lights but haven't wanted the expense or the work that came with them.
This year we bit the bullet and bought lights for our house.  Josh spent hours putting them up just the way I like them and he did a GREAT job if I do say so myself  (Even if it did take him a week to talk himself into getting on the highest pitch of the roof and sliding his way to the edge of the house just so the corner would look right)!!  Love you Babe!!

Merry Christmas?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Merry Christmas?  I'm not so sure about that.  Not to be bah humbug or anything.  It's just that if any of you know what it's like to have a blended family, then you'll totally understand how Christmas (along with all other holidays) tend to lose their excitement when your kids have to be shared with someone else.

Josh and I have been married for 5 years.  We have been 'sharing' our kids with ex-spouses for longer than that so you would think we would be pros at this by now.  However, even with a decree that tells how things should be done, things are RARELY done that way which causes a lot of tension and bickering on everyones part.  Not exactly what I would call the holiday spirit.  This year was supposed to be different.  This year felt pretty normal.  I thought I had it all under control.

This Christmas is our 'off' year with  the kids.  This means that instead of having them on Christmas, we will have them for New Years.  We have decided that on the years we don't have the kids for Christmas we will not buy gifts for them (by the time we see them on New Years, they've had 4 other Christmas's~another thing that comes along with blended families).  Instead, we have chosen to focus on memory builders on our off years.  This means that instead of gifts, we try to take the kids somewhere fun and out of the ordinary.  Something they will enjoy and remember instead of just stuff.

Personally, I have enjoyed this tradition and it makes not having the kids on Christmas that much easier because I know we will be doing something super fun, just a week later, and it gets me out of having to shop for Christmas presents!!

This year is a little different.  Ryson will be staying with us for Christmas even though it is his Dads year to have him.  This makes me sad.  Not because I don't want Ryson around, but because I've had to be the bad guy this year and tell Ryson he can't go to Utah.  Trust me, I have my reasons.  There is a LLLLLOOOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGG story and lots of reasons why he will not be going to Utah this year.  None of which I will be sharing.  I feel bad because Ryson REALLY wants to go see his Dad.  He misses him, that is understandable and one day he will understand why I had to do what I did this year.  Because of all of this drama, I have not been in the Christmas mood at all.  I have had a hard time even wanting to deal with Christmas.  I feel horrible disappointing Ryson and not being able to tell him all the details as to why. 

BUT~With the decision finally being made to keep him here, I feel like I can start focusing on Christmas.  I have a few days off of work starting today and I think the break will be very helpful.  I can stop thinking about all the negative things that are happening and re-direct my attention to making this a fun and memorable time for the three of us that will be spending Christmas together.  Good Times!!

This pic has nothing to do with this post.  I just thought it was hilarious!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Life Lessons

Ryson is growing up.  Way to fast if you ask me.  However, it is so satisfying to sit and watch as your little boy turns into an amazing young man.  Here's the story:
In November, Ryson went through school basketball tryouts.  It was three days of workouts after school for approximately 2 hours.  Ryson is no stranger to basketball, so this was nothing for him.  He was used to the drills and the warm ups and the running etc.  We really didn't think that Ryson wouldn't make the team (that sounds over confident, I know).  On the last day of tryouts, the coach had all of the boys line up on the wall.  If he called your name, you would go stand under the basket on the other side of the gym.  If he didn't call your name, he thanked everyone for their efforts and asked them back next year.  The coach was only taking 12 players out of around 25 kids.
I wasn't there for this big moment, but Josh went.  He said that as the coach started reading names, he couldn't do anything but look at the floor~he was so nervous about the outcome.  As the coach went down his list, calling those that had made the team, he had made it through 11 players and still hadn't called Ryson's name.  Then, FINALLY he called Ryson.  I can only imagine how nervous Ryson was standing there waiting for his name to be called (especially considering how nervous Josh was).  I was so excited to hear that he had made the team.

Fast forward a couple of weeks:

Ryson has had around 5 school games so far.  He has sat on the bench for the majority of these games.  He gets more playing time than some kids on the team, but not as much playing time as he would like.   This bothers him, and honestly, it bothers me too.  However, we have tried to tell him that his playing time is determined on his work ethic at practice and during the game.  We have also told him that if he wants to know what he's doing wrong, he needs to talk to his coach.  This is a terrifying thought for Ryson.  What? Talk to my coach?  He asked if I would do it for him.  I told him no and that if  he planned on playing basketball in the future (one of his goals is to get a college scholarship to play basketball) then he needs to learn how to be 'coached' and that does not include mom being the go between.
Poor Ryson has gone weeks, sitting on the bench, chewing his nails and avoiding eye contact with his coach.  His skills have suffered on the court because he is so nervous to talk to his coach and at the same time he is getting less and less playing time.  
So, we made him a deal.  Ryson works amazingly well with reward charts.  He will do just about anything to mark off a spot towards a reward.  I told him if he talked to his coach I would give him 3 marks on his chart (which would get him to his goal mark of $20). 
Last night, as soon as the game was over, I was looking around for Ryson and guess where I found him.  He was standing on the sidelines having a conversation with his coach!  I could tell he was SO nervous to be standing there listening to what the coach had to tell him but I was so proud to sit there and watch him learn a little life lesson that sometimes it's up to YOU to suck it up and put in the effort if you want to grow. 
I don't care if he sits the bench the rest of the entire season!  Watching him take that step and knowing how hard that was for him made me more proud of him then any last minute, game winning shot, ever could!

From: The Schneider Family

Happy 8th Birthday Blake!!!

Can you believe this kid is 8?  Hard to believe that in just a few short weeks Blake will be getting baptized.  Blake is so much fun!  He says the funniest things and is totally serious about it.  You have to be careful what you say to Blake.  He's quick on his feet and he will come back with some of the best responses.
 

Example: 

Blake - Lindsay, will you help me get some milk?  Me - Just a second. 

Blake -One.

He cracks me up.  He always puts a smile on my face.  Even when he's angry and gets all tense and red and stomps up every single step to his bedroom while saying mean things through his teeth-I still smile!

Blakers, I love you so much.  Thank you for being such a fun part of our family!  Have a GREAT birthday!!