Abby Fiona Schrader

The puppy days are over! Or maybe not, the kids just caught her licking the icing container.

"I'll teach my dog 100 words. I think I'll start next year." - Michael Frith

WHAT?!?

I had to walk on icy sidewalks this morning! I kid you not, ICE!!!! Even my car was covered in ice. The ice wasn't even caused by anything falling from the sky. It was all caused by everyone's sprinklers going off.

Day Off???

I thought today was supposed to be a vacation day, but I got put to work by the boys. We went on quite an adventure looking for the perfect Webkinz. Ethan found one at the first store we went to. It took Will and Noah to the SIXTH store to find a suitable one. The real kicker is that they found the perfect one at a local beach shop that also carried the one Ethan got so it should have only be a 15 minute trip!

We did get to see the eagle flying around its nest. You can almost always see him sitting in there when you go by, but today he was stretching his wings and flew circles around us. For once we were happy for a red light!

We have seen a bit too much police action lately. Tonight while I was walking Abby, there was some serious action happening at a house that we had just past. We walked past a house and within a minute of passing, there were 5 police cars, an ambulance, and a fire truck there! I have no idea what happened. I just started walking quickly home! It is not the nicest street, but I have never felt unsafe on it. I just walked the last mile home as fast as I could!

Rocket Launch

After 4 days of delay and countless stopped countdowns, the Delta (Mike would want to be sure I mentioned that) rocket finally made it to space last night. It was crazy loud. Normally, rockets aren't as loud, but this one shook our entire house! Of course the nerds went out and took pictures of it.

The swelling in Noah's eye went down considerably today. Now it looks like he is wearing blue and purple eye shadow!

What the Morning Brings

Rise and "shine"!

Tree Huggers Beware!

Today was a teacher duty day so students did not have school. The staff kids run all around and play together. Well, Noah was getting chased by a 4th grade girl and ran smack into a tree. What you see below is the result!

6:30 Update: The swelling has increased significantly since the above photo was taken.

Morning Fun

How much can fit on one couch? Well, at least six kids and one 110 lb dog!
Do they look tired? Well they should! They decided to get up at 5:30 this morning and play in the dark! Who does that??? This is after staying up late last night. 7:00 bedtime tonight. (PS- I think Hanzie was happy to be camouflaged since he isn't actually allowed to be on the couch.)

Chris' Favorite Couple

Tonight while I was out on my bike ride I ran into Chris' favorite couple. These sandhill cranes keep Chris entertained whenever he sees them. This "couple" has been living around our house for the last 18 months or so. They are absolutely enormous and make the loudest, strangest call imaginable. Their wingspan is between 6 and 7 feet. Between their size and odd call the boys are sure they are some sort of dinosaur!

Beach Blunder!

I guess I shouldn't have let the kids play with this guy at the beach today.

New Year's Day

Yesterday was a bit chilly and windy here in Florida. We went to the city fields to ride bikes, Ripsticks, scooters, etc.
Sophia was flying high above the fields!

Ethan

Noah

Will

Emma taking a shot.

The kids gearing up to play. The excitement didn't last long and they started dropping like flies.

Self portrait time!

Last night we had perfect weather for the spa! Abby has trust issues with the boys and couldn't decide if she wanted to stay inside, jump into the pool, or hang out by the spa. Once I got in, she hung out with us.

The boys toasting everyone and everything for the New Year.

The boys in the spa. Ethan and Will had big plans to go jump in the pool. They stepped onto the first step and it all ended there! It was way too cold!

MOAS & Long Doggers

Yesterday we went back to the MOAS with my parents and Chris. The boys did not want to leave the children's museum section, but I convinced them to branch out and look at a few things that we missed the last time we were there. Will and Noah especially enjoyed the trains. Ethan had seen them on a school field trip and was able to tell us what he learned during his tour. We arrived to the museum a bit early to secure tickets for the planetarium, so we worked in a trip to Long Doggers between for lunch.

I believe this picture shows their killer instincts!
How funny is toothless Noah?? I can't help but laugh every time he smiles.

While we waited for our food the boys arm wrestled. Noah had no problem, NO JOKE, taking both his brothers down! I have all along called him my little t-rex! He is small and fierce, pure muscle on that one!

Will nearly getting attacked at lunch!

Noah and Pop-Pop.

Grandma and Will.

The Schrader boys at the museum.

There was some serious Night of the Museum action going on here. That giant land sloth came right after Melissa and me!

In case you didn't know, building with blocks at the museum is far more exciting than building with blocks at home! Yesterday was Paige's birthday. She is now six! It was also Aunt Kate's birthday, but she was too far away to go to the museum with us...lame!

Sugar Mill Gardens

We experienced mostly warm, well, very warm for December, temperatures while my parents were visiting. We were able to work in trips to the beach, gardens, etc.

On one of the warmer days, we went to Sugar Mill Gardens. The boys were not at all excited about going, but once they got there they had a good time. Ethan is turning into a teenager and must listen to his iPod everywhere we go! I suppose I should accept the fact and move on, but he is only 9!

This is my favorite spot at the gardens. This bridge was built by the local Eagle Scouts and just to the left of it is a giant land sloth statue.
Here is a picture of the old sugar mill ruins. The plantation was destroyed by the Seminoles and never rebuilt.

Live oaks. Okay, while most people comment about how beautiful the live oaks are, I still cannot agree!

Will standing with some sort of sugar milling device!

At one point, the plantation was an amusement park. All that is left of the amusement are the dinosaurs. The boys like searching for them throughout the gardens.

Doesn't Noah looked thrilled to be here??

More dinosaur action.

And another.

Pop-Pop's Birthday

Today Pop-Pop turned one year older. The boys were eager to celebrate with champagne, or sparkling grape juice! Will got a bit carried away with the bottle.
Noah and I have been sick in the days leading up to Christmas and are still sick. Noah simply cannot stop coughing! We went to see Marley & Me yesterday and had to move to the very front row as not to disturb others with our coughing!

Ethan sips on his champagne.

The boys in their new robes. They, especially Noah, are very excited about these new robes I got them today!

Will has already learned to ride his Ripstik. He learned to ride it fairly quickly on Christmas and has been outside riding it since. Noah got a Powerwing, but it is missing a piece so he hasn't been able to ride it yet. Conveniently, Razor is closed until Monday.

Today the boys spent the morning at the beach. Wayne and I ran errands. This evening we ate dinner at Outback and then had cake at home. Tonight the boys taught Abby how to play football. She looked like she was having quite a good time out there with them!

Christmas Eve

Ethan's Birthday Part 2

Ethan got his last wish for the day which was to go to Mi Mexico. After dinner we walked over to the beach. Noah wasn't happy about how dark it was, but I convinced him to venture out to look for the constellations that the guy at the planetarium told us that we would see. The boys actually remembered a lot about what he said and found all the planets and constellations that we were told about.
Will is giving his best Grease face while Chris is giving his best ape face.

The Schrader 5

Embarrassed!

Even more embarrassing!!!

Ethan's Birthday

We let the boys plan their days on their birthdays. We have been talking about going to the recently renovated Children's Museum at MOAS and Ethan decided today was the day! The boys had an absolute blast and didn't want to leave!
Will was the only one willing to pose in the sculpture garden.

Here, you build your own car and then race it on the raceway.

The boys work together to build their own roller coaster.

This would be a giant sloth. I kid you not, a giant sloth!

The boys made me a pizza and then charged me an outrageous fortune for it! No discount for their mom!

Here Noah watches the pizza cook.

Ethan checks out the status of his finger on the cool microscope.

Will looks at a quarter that I had in my purse.

More building action.

Ethan's friend Spencer happened to be there so he got to hang out with him for a bit.

Noah drives down a city street on a Harley.

Waiting for the laser/planetarium show to begin.

Even more waiting!

Will pulls himself up on the hardest setting. All of our arms were sore when we left!

This is the real reason Ethan wanted to go. He couldn't wait to play the laser harp! He wants one of his own, if anyone missed his birthday and is looking for ideas.

Before we went to the museum, Ethan requested to have lunch at McDonald's!