This is what I go through every night . . . Every night I put the kids in their beds, tuck them in and remind them not to get out of bed. Kira does pretty good and generally falls right to sleep. Keylee usually fusses a little and sometimes requires some rocking by Joe. Inevitably, Keenan gets out of his bed several time and will come to find me to tell me something he forgot ("Mom, Mom, I forgot to tell you . . . ) or, tell me he has to potty ("Mom, Mom, I have to potty and don't worry I won't potty on your toilet seat"). On the particular night pictured above, Keenan came in and said, "Hey Mom how do I look?" He was wearing his reindeer hat he made at preschool, his sunglasses and carrying his water and flashlight. I couldn't help but laugh and I grabbed my cell phone on the counter to take a quick picture. It was hard to get mad at him for getting out of his bed after he looked so darn cute.

On Saturday, Kira performed at the Mall with her dance class. When watching this video ignore me saying "crap." I said that when I realized the only person that I may get any video of is the high school girl standing in front of Kira leading the dance. As you will see from the video, I do have some footage of Kira.

SIBLINGS WEEKEND

It was siblings weekend at my house. All three of my older sisters came to Manhattan to take in the last KSU football game of the season. We had a great time. Thanks Tamie for organizing the event. It was great to get together with my sisters outside of the normal holiday get-together schedule.

KEYLEE AS MISS NOVEMBER - NOW

MISS NOVEMBER WHEN SHE WAS THREE MONTHS OLD

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY KEYLEE JO!!!

Keylee turned one year old on Friday.

TRICK OR TREAT!!!

Keylee was a flower

Keenan was a red Power Ranger

Kira was a Pop Star

My sister Tamie was in town and took the kids trick or treating for me while I attended the Manhattan High football game in Junction City. The kids always love it when Aunt Tam Tam comes to town.

LOOK WHO IS 40!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANNA!!

I WAS TAGGED

I was tagged by Erica and . . . in (delayed) response 4 Things I was doing 10 years ago. 1. Going to Law School 2. Studying 3. Living in Topeka with my husband and our two dogs, Babe and Murphy 4. Studying (see that is really my only memory from 10 years ago) 4 Things on my to do list today. 1. Conference call at 9:30 a.m. 2. Court at 1:00 p.m. 3. Court at 3:00 p.m. 4. Going to MHS v. WRHS football game tonight GO INDIANS!! 4 Random things I love about my husband 1. work ethic and commitment to the students and athletes he works with daily 2. morals and values 3. love for our children 4. love for his faith and family 4 Jobs I have had. 1. Attorney 2. Tennis Instructor 3. Aerobics instructor 4. Mom 4 Movies I have watched more than once. 1. Pretty Woman 2. Top Gun 3. A Few Good Men 4. Legally Blond 4 Places I have been 1. Florida 2. New York City 3. Cape Cod 4. Boston 4 Places I want to visit 1. Hawaii 2. London 3. Mexico 4. New York City (I want to go back) 4 TV Shows I watch 1. Regis and Kelly 2. Lipstick Jungle 3. Grey's Anatomy 4. Private Practice *I really don't watch these weekly but I do record them with the intent to watch them all during our first snow storm this winter 4 Things you may not know about me. 1. I love sports 2. I enjoy listening to audio books when I travel. 3. I love Broadway musicals and plays 4. I love coffee (the good kind with a little chocolate and some caramel in it)

Halloween Costume Party

Joe and I went to a costume party this past Saturday night. I will post some other pictures from the actual party soon. It was hilarious to see everyone in costume.

MHS CHEER CLINIC

Kira participated in the MHS cheer clinic this past Saturday. The high school cheerleaders did a great job and Kira had a great time!

This is the Schartz picture from the Johnston's Wichita 1/2 Marathon from Sunday Sept. 21st. I finished in 1:55. It is not my best time. I can say I am happy I did the run but most of all . . . I am even more happy it is over!!

(pictured: center is Joe's brother Mike, to his right is his wife Tammy, the short person on his left, well . . that is me)

Lisa is pictured with me below. She is who I trained with for the 1/2 marathon. I am not sure what exactly made us so tired . . . could it be that we drove to Wichita at 4:30 a.m. for the 8:00 a.m. start time, the fact that we ran 13.1 miles or maybe it is the marathon shopping we did after the race????

Thanks for running with me Lisa!!

A trip down the Halloween isle at Target!

Kira . . . featured as Hillary Clinton.

Keenan . . . featured as The Family Guy

(I think that is who he is).

Too funny! Joe and I could not stop laughing!

MY TODAY SHOW APPEARANCE IN NEW YORK CITY

That is me peeking out between Campbell Brown and Matt Lauer (that is my friend Angie, on the other side of Matt Lauer). This picture was actually taken from my DVD that I referenced on yesterday's blog posting. I managed to pause the video, capture the frame and then created the picture. I did not accomplish this alone. Three of my college friends and I headed to NYC a couple summers ago to celebrate our 30th Birthdays. It was such a great trip and our Today Show appearance had to be the highlight.

Look who made The Manhattan Mercury!! I mean you REALLY have to look . . .

Yep, that is me in the pink sweater with my tan purse in line ordering my beloved coffee at Bluestem. I guess this is as close as I was going to get to the Today Show yesterday.

TODAY SHOW AT BLUESTEM BISTRO

There are two things I enjoy each morning the Today Show and a good cup of coffee. Today was a special treat. I stopped by Bluestem Bistro for my regular cup of coffee and, to my surprise, the Today Show was there doing a special feature on political views in the "Little Apple." I did not really want to get on TV this time due to the topic as I was afraid I would embarrass the Manhattan community and my family. At our house, it is a little less CNN and Fox News and a little more Hannah Montana and Thomas the Tank Engine on our televisions. Needless to say if my office didn't subscribe to Time Magazine, which I take home to read from time to time, I am not sure I could even tell you who each presidential candidate has chosen to be their running-mate. Besides, my last appearance on the Today Show was so great that I didn't want to some how ruin my reputation. ha. (For those of you who I have forced to watch my Today Show appearance over and over again on DVD you know what I am talking about). Above is Lester Holt. I really wanted to get my picture with him but he seemed too busy to interrupt for a photo.

TRUE STORY: I go into my office today and look above my desk to find a bat. I go out to the reception area and say "ok, is this a joke?" "Who put the bat in my office?" Everyone just looked at me with wondering eyes and replied, "You have a bat in your office?" Finally, people made their way to my office to find that in fact I did have a bat in my office. Yes a bat! There was a bat that was hanging upside down right above my chair. SPOOKY!

Morrison, Frost, Olsen & Irvine, LLP.,

Attorneys at Law

"We Will Go to Bat for You!!!"

The slogan above originated from Rod Olsen (who is the "Olsen" in Morrison, Frost, Olsen & Irvine, LLP.)

Pretty catchy don't you think? (no pun intended as you watch the video below)

The man featured in the video is Bill Frost (who is the "Frost" in Morrison, Frost, Olsen & Irvine) He took charge of the situation acting as if he had experience catching bats. Bill confessed that he saved his wife (before she was his wife) and some of her friends from some pesky bats too. It is great to have someone in the office with bat catching experience as you never know when there is going to be a bat hanging upside down above your office chair!!

*I was actually hoping for a much more dramatic video. I wanted Bill to swat the bat and for the bat to take off flying all over the office with everyone taking cover under their desks. Then, no doubt, the video would be "YouTube" worthy!

A night at the neighbor's . . . . . and we had a lot of fun!

As the adults continued to sit outside and converse the children all went inside. We didn't hear from them for quite some time. Then, out they came all dressed up. Kira and Emma were "rock stars" (so they said) and Keenan was a zoo keeper. I think Bryce was a repair man of some sort. I am not exactly sure what all the others were but they each identified themselves with some sort of title. It was so cute and funny how they all worked together and suddenly appeared in costume.

Ummmm. Good food. We are missing one little one in this photo. Logan's little sister must have been inside getting some food.

Here are the older girls having an appetizer.

Here are the boys . . . Hey, where is Logan?

Kira's first day of 1st grade!

The school year started today. Hard to believe summer is over.

More pictures from my parent's

50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration

at Big Cedar Lodge

Big Cedar has the most beautiful landscaping.

There are so many places that are truly picture perfect.

Here we in front of the waterfall by Devil's Pool Restaurant.

Keylee is getting ready to take her first swim. The waitress at Joe's Crab Shack asked if Kira or Keenan wanted to dance with her when the staff did their dances. Keenan was unsure but Kira jumped right up.

HAPPY 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

MOM AND DAD!!!

My parents, sisters and their families all spent the week at Big Cedar Lodge to celebrate my parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary. We had a great time. We took one large family photo. Each of my sister's chose a color for their family to wear. The picture below is of my sisters with my parents in the center. From left to right, Tisha, Susan, Dad, Mom, Kitra (me) and Tamie. We had such a great time. Kira cried on the way home, sad that we had to leave. THANKS MOM AND DAD for all the great memories, laugh and love. Fifty years is something to be proud of, you set a great example for your children and grandchildren. All the Grandchildren: back row: Taylor, Shelbie, Britt, Isaac, Keylee, front row: Keenan, Gage and Kira The Schartz Family: We chose a pale yellow for our family to wear in the family photo. I joked as I thought we looked like the Schartz Family Bumble Bees. More pictures to come!!

Keylee is almost 8 months old!!

Kira is now missing her top two teeth. I tell her that it will be a race to see who will get their teeth in first, Kira or Keylee.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY JOE!! I am pleased to announce the new addition to our garage . . . a new lawn mower. For years Joe has had a push lawn mower that is not self-propelled. When I mowed (which trust me was rare) at our Ella Lane home I would think that the neighbors were watching and laughing as I put on my weightlifting gloves, put all my weight behind the mower and pushed just as hard as I could only hours later to find I had only mowed half of the front yard. Can you say exhausting??? Joe never seemed to have to put that much effort into it. Now, we have an even larger yard so I told Joe to treat himself (and me) to a new mower. I told him I refuse to help him mow with the other mower. So, although I convinced him to purchase a mower (which he continues to say "there is nothing wrong with the other one) it was much needed, long overdue and as probably as much for me (for the two times I might mow a year) as it is for him. Just to give Joe a little shout out but I know he doesn't read my blog . . . I am blessed to have him be the father of my children he is truly great Dad and his children adore him!!

Joe and Keylee on Father's Day

Playing in our "new" hood

We just love our new home and neighborhood. There are so many children on our block that Kira and Keenan are constantly wanting to be outside playing with the neighbors. They are all a great group of kids it is so much fun to watch them all play together.

Keenan's preschool graduation

Keenan participated in the graduation ceremony at his preschool. Generally, they have the ceremony for the children who will begin Kindergarten in the Fall; however, since the preschool closed at the end of the school year they celebrated a graduation ceremony with all the children.

Many homes were lost but luckily no lives were lost during Wednesday night's terrifying tornado. We live in the northwest corner of Manhattan and the Tornado hit the Southwest part of town and continued East through campus. It was a hard to drive through the devastation and see so many people lost their homes. These are a few pictures but many of the homes on Amherst Street and Miller Ranch area were demolished in the storm.