Nuttin' For Christmas

So here is our annual Christmas installment of the Schultzoo. This is the fabulous post where I alter some Christmas song or story to fit our lives. This year I have selected the song "Nuttin' For Christmas". Enjoy!!!

I camped at Yuba during June;
Somebody snitched on me.
Took the monkeys to the zoo;
Somebody snitched on me.
Swimming lessons were such fun;
Madi stitches--her first one;
Mommy teaches Kindergarten;
Somebody snitched on me.







Oh, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy forbad.
I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
'Cause ain't nuttin' that we haven't had.

Damon's playing--in first chair;
Somebody snitched on me.
Madi always playing fair;
Somebody snitched on me.
Damon's badges to advance;
Zombie scars and torn up pants;
Vampiress in scary stance;
Somebody snitched on me.
















Oh, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy forbad.
I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
'Cause ain't nuttin' that we haven't had.

I went to see old Santa Claus;
Somebody snitched on me.
The choir sang of the Christmas buzz;
Somebody snitched on me.
Madi's Hula dance was great;
"Dueling Jingle Strings", can't wait;
Next year I'll be good, just wait;
Somebody snitched on me.









































So you better be good whatever you do
'Cause if you've "had", I'm warning you,
You'll get nuttin' for Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family! Sending hugs and kisses, love you!

Parading Around

Well, we have spent the last two weekends at parades for Damon and Madison. Last weekend was the Eagle Mountain Pony Express Days parade. Madison was in the parade for Hula and Damon was in the parade for Football. They both had a great time and looked fabulous. This weekend was the Saratoga Springs Splash celebration. Madison was in the parade for Soccer camp and Damon was in it for football. Mike and I have spent the last couple of weekends working on our tans (at least in the morning) and shuttling the kids to parade routes.

Madison spent the week at soccer camp with the high school. The girls soccer team put on a youth soccer camp that was wonderful. The players from the team were teaching the girls, and Madison loved it!! We just wanted to post some pics of soccer and parades. Enjoy!!

Getting Ready For Summer

The calendar says June and the weather says April (if we are lucky) but either way, we will take three months off of school. We just wanted to post some fun pics that we have taken over the last couple of months. So here is a quick rundown of everything going on. Chris and Alicia announced that they are pregnant and due in November. Madison is absolutely ecstatic she is hoping for a girl so, "I can show it my ways." The rest of us are just excited for Chris and Alicia and their first baby. We knew that we wouldn't see them again before the baby was born so we had a shower for them while they were here in town.

Mike's parents and Tim and Beverly were able to come out and visit at the beginning of May. We had a great time. We spent a day at Boondocks, a day swimming/snorkeling at the crater in Midway, and an evening playing games at his brother Ryan's house. Rilee and Makayla were able to stay with us that weekend so they could see their dad and grandma and grandpa. The cousins had a great time together; poor Damon was the only boy but he held his own. We were sad to see them go but glad they were able to come out and visit.

The kids had a great Easter. They enjoyed coloring eggs and then hunting for eggs and candy. We had an egg hunt with our friends the Thuesons and all of the kids ended up with more candy than they needed. The next morning, the kids had more eggs to find because the Easter Bunny left them an egg hunt. Again, they had more candy than they needed but they also received a new hat.

Madison had her end of year dance recital. She took hip hop this year and loved it. She did an excellent job in her performance and is going to continue hip hop this next year. She also wants to take ballet/jazz. She likes all of the different styles and wants to improve her skills. She thinks that she may want to do competition team next year. The girls looked so cute in their costumes.
Mike and I went to the U2 concert with Chris, Alicia, and a group of friends. We had a great time. We decided to try general admission this time and with the help of friends who stood in line for us, before we could make it to the concert, we were able to get into the "inner circle". This means that we were right up by the stage and had a great view. We are glad we were able to go and were able to go with friends.

Two days after the concert, Madison had her tonsils out. She was excited and nervous all at the same time. She was excited because she wouldn't be sick all of the time and she would get to eat lots of ice cream, but was nervous about the surgery. She had it done at the Primary Children's portion of the Riverton Hospital. They were wonderful with her. She played video games and colored while she waited for surgery. She was only back there about 20 minutes and then she was in recovery. She has been amazing. She has hardly complained at all and really wants to go out and play because she feels so good. We are thankful that she is doing well and glad that she won't have to deal with being sick all of the time.

As for all of us, tomorrow is the last day of school for Damon and Madison; my last day was last Wednesday. We are all ready for summer and look forward to some swimming, camping, and relaxing (as soon as the weather cooperates).

Love y'all!
Michelle

(Pictures: Damon and Madison on Easter, Madison and Clifford sleeping with their sleep masks on, Madi's dance group--she is the one on the left with her arm raised, Madi at her performance, Madi doing a stall--they had to do this in their dance, Madi and Alicia at the baby shower, Mike and Michelle at Boondocks, Cathy and Bill and the Grandkids at the crater, Madi snorkeling, Damon at Boondocks)

Saying Goodbye to a Special Family Member

Yesterday was one of the hardest days that we have had in a while. We had to put our dog Bailey to sleep. Damon and Madison cannot remember a time without her. She was 12 years old (which is very old for a large dog) and finally developed arthritis so badly that she could hardly walk, and it was causing some other issues with the nerves that run along her spine. Unfortunately, all of these things don't make it easier to let go. So, as my way to deal with it and to help Damon and Madison cope, I have decided to post a few pics and some goofy things that she would do.

Bailey was like having a bear skin rug on the floor. You could almost step on her and she would just lie there.
She was so mellow, the kids could do just about anything with her and she would just smile and wag her tail. This included dressing her up, using her as a pillow, having her pull them in the wagon, and trying to get her to play house with them.
She loved to go out and play in the snow.
She sat near (took care of) Great Grandpa Larson when he lived with us and let him pet her and talk to her. I think it was good for both of them.
One year she downed two Easter baskets worth of candy that the kids left sitting on the floor when we went to church. (including the chocolate rabbits and the bubble gum)
She would wrestle with our other dog and then take off running out the door so that he had to chase her down or she would wait until the other dog set the dog toy down (because he was waiting for her to play) and she would grab it and take off.
She liked to swim in everything from the lake to the kids wading pool.
Last, but not least, she loved to be around the kids, including all of the neighbor kids. She was content to just be around them and watch them play and laugh.

Not that I think that dogs can use the internet in heaven, but just wanted to say:
We love and miss you Bailey

Finally, a free moment!

Okay, I think that the roller coaster, that we call life, has slowed down enough for me to hop off for a minute or two. I am not even going to try to catch everyone up to speed. Just know that things have been crazy as usual with jobs, school, jr high school, Mike's schedule change, and everything else in between. However, we have been very blessed this year and would like to share some of the latest events with you.

The kids and I are currently on spring break. We decided not to go anywhere too far because we have a lot of things that we need to get done, and we need to slow down for a day or two (hasn't worked yet but we try). We took the kids to baby animal days at the Jensen Farm in Logan. Even though it snowed like crazy for the day or two beforehand, we still went up to see the animals (Madi would never have let us live it down if she missed the babies). At least they had moved the animals inside the barns. (Pics: The kids holding bunnies, One of the baby bears being rocked to sleep, The kids petting one of the wagon horses that was tied to one of the trees, and The kids petting the pigs)

This last picture is for Grandpa Larson. (Not one pink flamingo but an entire flock) I am not sure what flamingos have to do with the farm on a nice day, but they looked very funny standing there in the snow! I think we may have to call the number and have a flock delivered to Grandpa.

Mike promoted to Lieutenant in December and we were able to go to the promotion ceremony on Tuesday. It was neat to have an actual ceremony. It was worth the wait. He loves his new job and is now experienced. He has almost four months under his belt. (That makes him an expert right?!) We are so excited for and proud of him!


Today we took the kids snorkeling at the Homestead resort in Midway, UT. You snorkel inside of the crater. We all had a wonderful time and really didn't want to get out of the warm water. It stays around 90 degrees which is a big jump from the 40 something degrees that we had today. I didn't take any pictures of the kids snorkeling because we have not had luck with digital cameras and water; we decided it would be safer to keep it at home where it was dry. (I don't feel like replacing another camera. Ha ha)

We are doing well, busy as ever. The kids are gearing up for summer and already planning the activities that they want to do. Mom is counting down the days until she actually can get more than 4 hours of sleep and doesn't have to fall asleep with red pen and papers to grade. Mike is looking forward to getting home earlier because he doesn't have to drop the carpool off before he goes to work.

For now, Damon is finishing up his 7th grade year and loves it. He has done well in his classes and really likes the variety that he gets to take. He is taking orchestra and enjoys the chance to play his violin with other kids, they went to a orchestra festival a couple of weeks ago and had a great time. He is taking algebra which is unusual for 7th grade but he and some of his friends were ready. He really likes the class and I like that it challenges him.

Madison is finishing up her 3rd grade year. She was sad to see her teacher leave for health reasons a couple of months ago but likes her new teacher, even if he is a boy teacher. She is doing very well in all of her classes and has beautiful cursive handwriting. (She could teach Damon and Mike a few lessons). She is still dancing but taking hip hop this year instead of ballet/jazz. She likes the attitude that hip hop has (I know you are all surprised by that). She is also still taking violin lessons and really likes her teacher. She has even passed off her last set of "Twinkles" and is excited to move on to other things.

We send all of our love to all of our family and friends. We wish we could see all of you all the time!

Love ya,
Michelle