Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Pinterest Success
I have attempted several recipes from Pinterest. Although I have enjoyed the variety it has added to our dinner menu, most of the recipes I would give a 5/6 out of 10. However, I don't limit my Pinterest viewing to food/baking recipes only. When browsing Pinterest I saw a frame that I fell in love with. Below is my Pinterest success. I found the frame, had Jen Salmans order a picture she had taken of the kids in Sepia to go with the frame and decor in the room and bam...success. 
Thursday, March 8, 2012
We are going to miss her
Today was a hard day at our house. We said goodbye to Murphy a/k/a Murph-Murph. Joe and I got Murphy six months after we were married and she is 14 years old (15 yrs in June). We knew the day was coming as she had lost her vision and her back legs would often give out making it difficult for her to walk. It was very difficult to explain to the kids and they did not take it well. The picture below was taken just a few weeks ago. Lots of tears and sadness tonight.
Murphy 6/23/1997 - 3/8/2012
Murphy 6/23/1997 - 3/8/2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
I "Love-Love" This
Kira has really started to make some great progress on the tennis court. She has been spending several hours a week on the court doing both drills and match-play. This summer she will start tournaments. When asked what her favorite sport is she has replied, "My favorite sport is soccer even though my Mom wants it to be tennis." Yes, I am still hoping I can convince her that her favorite sport is tennis. Ha.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
School Program
Keenan had his 1st grade music program tonight.
Keenan with his classmate and good buddy, Reece. Keenan told me that he and Reece are more than just friends they are like "brothers" because he can "read Reece's mind." I am pretty amazed what they are teaching in 1st grade these days. I never learned to read anyone's mind. 
Keenan had a special part in the program. He held the camel's head in a song about Allison's camel having 1o humps (kind of like the song 99 bottles of beer, or pop when we sing it at our house, on the wall). It was very cute and, as you can see below, the camel turns into a horse and Keenan was the man to make that happen.
Before the program started the music teacher kindly asked all parents to remove their child's artwork that was displayed behind the stage and take it home "it is yours" she so kindly emphasized. I tried to scan the art to see if I could determine which silhouette was Keenan. Nope, I couldn't figure out which one was him so I was anxious to see what artwork he pointed out to be his after the program. Well, looking at the silhouette he is holding below, I think you will understand why it was so difficult to pick his out. Yes, because it looks nothing like him and what happen to the back of his head?!?!? I understand why the music teacher wanted to get rid of the "artwork."
Even Reece looks confused about the silhouettes above.
One of these days, sooner rather than later, these two littles will be on stage doing their program. This is Reece's little brother, Davis, and Keylee's buddy. Look out Marlatt here comes (more) trouble.
Keenan with his classmate and good buddy, Reece. Keenan told me that he and Reece are more than just friends they are like "brothers" because he can "read Reece's mind." I am pretty amazed what they are teaching in 1st grade these days. I never learned to read anyone's mind. 
Keenan had a special part in the program. He held the camel's head in a song about Allison's camel having 1o humps (kind of like the song 99 bottles of beer, or pop when we sing it at our house, on the wall). It was very cute and, as you can see below, the camel turns into a horse and Keenan was the man to make that happen.
Before the program started the music teacher kindly asked all parents to remove their child's artwork that was displayed behind the stage and take it home "it is yours" she so kindly emphasized. I tried to scan the art to see if I could determine which silhouette was Keenan. Nope, I couldn't figure out which one was him so I was anxious to see what artwork he pointed out to be his after the program. Well, looking at the silhouette he is holding below, I think you will understand why it was so difficult to pick his out. Yes, because it looks nothing like him and what happen to the back of his head?!?!? I understand why the music teacher wanted to get rid of the "artwork."
Even Reece looks confused about the silhouettes above.
One of these days, sooner rather than later, these two littles will be on stage doing their program. This is Reece's little brother, Davis, and Keylee's buddy. Look out Marlatt here comes (more) trouble.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Mardi Gras, Basketball and Wrestling Weekend
We had a busy weekend with a Mardi Gras party on Saturday night; Kira had a basketball tournament on Sunday (first game at 8:00 a.m. and had to be at Rock Creek High School at 7:30 a.m.), Keenan had a wrestling meet in Silver Lake (and he had to be on the mats for warm-up by 8:00 a.m. After the late night Saturday night and the long day on Sunday I managed to sleep my way through the Super Bowl.
The Krewe of Allegawaho did a great job preparing for the Mardi Gras event this year.
I am thinking Joe's mask should have been up a little higher but honestly, by that point, I am pretty sure he didn't care he was just anxious to take the mask off. However, once we hit the dance floor he said to me, "I need my mask so people won't recognize me dancing like an idiot."
The Krewe of Allegawaho did a great job preparing for the Mardi Gras event this year.
I am thinking Joe's mask should have been up a little higher but honestly, by that point, I am pretty sure he didn't care he was just anxious to take the mask off. However, once we hit the dance floor he said to me, "I need my mask so people won't recognize me dancing like an idiot."
As I said, Kira had a basketball tournament at Rock Creek High School. Her team seems to be improving. Kira is in 4th grade and plays on a 5th grade team. This is her first year to play on a traveling basketball team. It is clear that some of the teams we have faced this year have played together several years.
Kira looks a lot like me when I was her age. I especially love this picture of her because she has the same out-of-control curly hair that I have.
I took Kira to basketball and Joe took Keenan to Silver Lake for wrestling. Surprisingly (not really) Joe didn't take a camera to get an action photographs of Keenan wrestling. Keenan didn't have the best day on the mat. He has been wrestling pretty well but has faced some pretty tough competition.
Kira looks a lot like me when I was her age. I especially love this picture of her because she has the same out-of-control curly hair that I have.
I took Kira to basketball and Joe took Keenan to Silver Lake for wrestling. Surprisingly (not really) Joe didn't take a camera to get an action photographs of Keenan wrestling. Keenan didn't have the best day on the mat. He has been wrestling pretty well but has faced some pretty tough competition.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Schartz Christmas
We started our Christmas celebration by attending the 5:00 p.m. Mass. I don't have any pictures of that as I didn't think Father Ted would appreciate flash photography during the Mass. I will say the Cathedral was full which is always nice to see. After Mass we headed back to Joe's parents to start the evening with chili, entertainment, gift opening and more entertainment. After dinner the men were nominated to do the dishes. Some men were working harder than others, ha. Joe was clearly parched and needed to stop for a beverage break.
As always, before opening gifts, the family sang silent night accompanied by Joe's sister, Jeri, on the guitar as the grandchildren carried in candles to line up around the nativity scene and Keylee (not pictured), since she is the youngest grandchild, carried in baby Jesus to place in the manger.
Our nephew, Preston, asked for Jeri's guitar for a special impromptu song. As you can see from the cheers behind Preston, everyone enjoyed his song.
Grammy and the Grands had yet another performance-wooing the crowd. Joe's Mom gathered the grandchildren and did a special rendition of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
Keylee, featured here with her cousin Tanner, was Rudolph.
The performance brought the crowd to their feet. (oh ya, we were already standing but it was still great)
One highlight that I failed to get pictures of was Joe's sister Toni and her presentation of "Toni's Favorite Things." I think she was dressed in about seven layers of clothing as she had a different shirt to represent each of her favorite things. Another highlight was Joe's Dad wearing the reindeer antlers during the gift exchange (he wore the antlers the grandchildren wore as pictured above). I did get pictures of it but elected not to post them in fear he might not find it as funny today as he did on Christmas Eve. Nonetheless, he was in the Christmas spirit and helped make the evening memorable and fun everyone. Finally, the highlight that must not go unmentioned was that all six children were home with their spouses and children. However, John and Jeri's daughter, Jenilee, is a nurse and had to work in the ER and could not travel to Dodge and John and Jeri's son, Ryan, works on the Ron Paul campaign and he is assigned to Maryland and could not make the trip home. Jenilee and Ryan were missed.
As always, before opening gifts, the family sang silent night accompanied by Joe's sister, Jeri, on the guitar as the grandchildren carried in candles to line up around the nativity scene and Keylee (not pictured), since she is the youngest grandchild, carried in baby Jesus to place in the manger.
Our nephew, Preston, asked for Jeri's guitar for a special impromptu song. As you can see from the cheers behind Preston, everyone enjoyed his song.
Grammy and the Grands had yet another performance-wooing the crowd. Joe's Mom gathered the grandchildren and did a special rendition of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
Keylee, featured here with her cousin Tanner, was Rudolph.
The performance brought the crowd to their feet. (oh ya, we were already standing but it was still great)
One highlight that I failed to get pictures of was Joe's sister Toni and her presentation of "Toni's Favorite Things." I think she was dressed in about seven layers of clothing as she had a different shirt to represent each of her favorite things. Another highlight was Joe's Dad wearing the reindeer antlers during the gift exchange (he wore the antlers the grandchildren wore as pictured above). I did get pictures of it but elected not to post them in fear he might not find it as funny today as he did on Christmas Eve. Nonetheless, he was in the Christmas spirit and helped make the evening memorable and fun everyone. Finally, the highlight that must not go unmentioned was that all six children were home with their spouses and children. However, John and Jeri's daughter, Jenilee, is a nurse and had to work in the ER and could not travel to Dodge and John and Jeri's son, Ryan, works on the Ron Paul campaign and he is assigned to Maryland and could not make the trip home. Jenilee and Ryan were missed.We celebrated Christmas at Thanksgiving with my family and I will post those photographs at a later date.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Christmas Already??
Christmas came early, as it always does, at our house. We are headed back to Dodge City for a few days to spend time with family so Santa decided to stop by before we left. This Christmas seasons seems to be exceptionally busy. I still cannot believe it is really Christmas. Where did time go? I have been trying to keep up but I am certain I did not get everything done that needed to be done at home and at work. Oh well, it is time to enjoy the time with family and to reflect on the true reason for the season. 
This was the year for electronics. Kira-iPad, Keenan-iPod Touch and Keylee-LeapPad (with a new American Girl Doll). The LeapPad was a last minute purchase from a friend who had purchased several and had one to get rid of. It was a huge hit with Keylee and she was super surprised.
The kids have all been asking for the Reebok ZigZag shoes. I have not wanted to buy them in the past because the shoes seem so heavy. Personally, I hate heavy shoes. Nonetheless, I broke down and we gave them new kicks for Christmas.
On Sunday we attended a Santa Brunch. The kids came face-to-face with the "big man" and were able to make their last pitch for why they deserve the items on their list.
This was the year for electronics. Kira-iPad, Keenan-iPod Touch and Keylee-LeapPad (with a new American Girl Doll). The LeapPad was a last minute purchase from a friend who had purchased several and had one to get rid of. It was a huge hit with Keylee and she was super surprised.
The kids have all been asking for the Reebok ZigZag shoes. I have not wanted to buy them in the past because the shoes seem so heavy. Personally, I hate heavy shoes. Nonetheless, I broke down and we gave them new kicks for Christmas.
On Sunday we attended a Santa Brunch. The kids came face-to-face with the "big man" and were able to make their last pitch for why they deserve the items on their list.
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