The Crafts of Life

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Goin' Back to Cali...to Cali...

Ok, so the title of this post isn't quite right, for I had never been to California before last week, but it is a title of a song that I had in my head up from wheels up to wheels down back in Indy (and ever since), so that warrants itself to be the perfect post title.

Over spring break I was able to attend a conference for my school's positive based solution program. A team of us from the middle school are going to help implement this program as a district-wide initiative, so our corporation sent six of us to learn the ins and outs of PBIS.

The conference itself was great, and we all came out of it with new ideas. San Diego was unbelievable!! If it weren't so far away from family, I would live there. Ok, the cost of living is a little tough to stomach too, but other than that...yah, I am there. :-) Maybe not...

How did I enjoy such a fantastic city while attending a conference? Well, Russell and I turned it into a mini vacation as he joined me after the conference was over. We walked five hundred miles (maybe a little less) to a multitude of restaurants, bars, and shops. We hopped on a ferry to nearby Coronado (once we found where to buy tickets). We even rented a two seater surrey (sorry, no fringe on top). The surrey was definitely Russ' idea of a good time...I think he might want to buy one to tool around town in. Ok, so it wasn't the most efficient mode of transportation, but hey, now we can say that we rode a surrey around Coronado, and that makes us cool, right? Eh?

As we were living it up San Diego style, Addie enjoyed her stay-cation with my
mom and Aunt Linda. Addie is definitely talking more now, so we are wondering if that is coincidental or if she suddenly learned how to gab from the greatest? :-)

We also visited Terre-fic Haute in order to cap off a great spring break. Addie witnessed her first robotics convention as she watched Uncle Dan at work (no, he wasn't the one building the robot). Mexican food and Addie make a perfect match, for she loved the rice and beans at lunch with Aunt Ali.

The hotel pool overlooking the bay.

La Jolla...La Holy Smokes!

Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry when that Russell is on a surrey...

Midway aircraft carrier...standing next to a fake man apparently means I should be fake too...haha...hand on hip...yikes.

That's our hotel...both towers...what.

The big window at the top of this tower is a bar called The Top of the Hyatt...how fun!

Look Mom and Dad...JoJo is taking good care of me. :-)

So now it's back to school for seven-ish weeks, and then it is summer time. Wow!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Birthday Par-tay...

We celebrated Addie's birthday party at GMS last weekend. It was a good time, and Addie was worn out by the end. I didn't take any pictures, so thankfully my mom and sister were able to snap a few photos.

The cake...

Basketball time with PoPo...

Addie loves tissue paper!

Addie actually looking at the camera...woot woot.

More tissue paper...

Schneider family photo...

What are these? Ooh balloons...fun!

Making a mess...but not really eating the cake.

GMS alumni picture...good times.

And...she's out.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Thus far in 2013...

Cousin Connor made his appearance on January 29. Hooray Bush family!

Happy Valentine's Day pizza! Heart-shaped pepperonis are all the rage...at least I tell myself that. :-)

A tutu for Valentine's Day? Why not? Addie "I love tutus and clapping" Schneider

A wagon for my birthday? Thanks Grandma and Grampy. Sam, her animal friend, is loving the morning wagon rides.

I am one, so that means I get to wear shoes!!

Happy Birthday to me...pigtails are for big girls!

"I cannot believe it...I am one!" Enjoying my train ride courtesy of PoPo and JoJo.

Monday, January 21, 2013

December and January

We made the big haul up to Minnesota for Christmas this year. I didn't have school the Friday before break, so Addie and I were able to rid the house of anything Christmas on December 21. I am sure the neighbors were skeptical of my holiday spirit as I chucked the tree out the back patio door later that afternoon, but I was just happy to know that we wouldn't have to take it all down when we returned from our trek up north.

Addie was a trooper once again, for she did not feel well after we arrived at the lake. Poor thing...we finally took her to the doctor when we got home, and she had an ear infection. Looking back at the pictures I can see that she is pulling on her ear in the majority of them...woops. :-)

We had a great time with the Schneider, Camp, and Chilton clans. Yes, Russ' grandparents were able to make the trip from Vermont for a Minnesotan Christmas. Addie and Ellie traded toys and played most of the days they were together. They are going to have fun as they grow up together.

We closed out the trip with a late night visit to Zorbaz. Contrary to what Scott and Russ may say about Zorbaz (Zorra's), it is one of my favorite restaurants in lake country. :)

The ride home...well...we made it home, and we will leave it at that. It did not compare to the ride home during the summer of upchuck, but it was a tad bit brutal.

We all recovered from colds, sinus infections, and ear infections as we rang in 2013, but now we are all good to go.

We have started attending a new church, and we are really enjoying ourselves. Addie is meeting new friends, and we have met quite a few people too.

We celebrated JoJo's birthday and my birthday (even though it is tomorrow). Russell and I were able to attend Jersey Boys as a birthday gift from his parents and from him. We had a great time, still singing the songs long after the show was over. Russell and Addie really spoiled me this year because I received an ANDREW LUCK jersey too! Hey, big spenders!

Oh yah, I have started playing tennis again...like, actually playing, not just giving lessons. We have had two matches, and I think the tennis bug is inching back into my life. Russell just laughs because I need new shoes, new grips, a new bag (they are soooo cute now compared to when I used to play), etc. He has been supportive and is just happy to see me enjoying tennis again. He is probably getting scared of the next time we play each other...bring...it...on (love talking trash to him since he doesn't read the blog).

Here's what you came for...the pictures: