Well, I know it goes without saying that this last year has been busy.  Thus the lack of posts between December and now.  We have had fun and some pain but managed to survive. First, the bad news:  Mike has decided that he no longer wants to be married and would like to pursue his life with someone else.  This has caused some almost unbearable heartache and pain, but if this makes him happy then it is what he must do.  Now, for all of you freaking out and reaching for the phone...the kids and I  are okay and just taking things one step at a time.
Second, the good news:  We have had a great year and look forward to more of the same.  We went to Washington DC as a family (Mike was still with us at this time) and saw one of my best friends, Britney, in New York and met Mike's mom in Washington for a few days.  The road trip across the country was crazy but fun.  We saw so many neat things that we may never get the chance to see again.  We saw everything from the world's largest Jackalope to the Washington Monument.  Our route took us from Utah to Mount Rushmore to Wall drug in Wall, South Dakota and then the Jolly Green Giant Statue.  Next was Madison, Wisconsin so Madison could say she had been to Madison and on to Chicago.  Breakfast at the American Girl store in Chicago and a visit to the Willis tower and it's sky deck, a stop in Kirtland, OH church history sites, and then we were off toward New York.  We stayed a couple of days in New York and saw as much as we possibly could including the 911 memorial and the Empire State building.  Here we visited with Britney and Matthew and had a fabulous time.  Thanks for entertaining us!  Were off again to Hershey, Pennsylvania and the Hershey factory and then to Washington DC where we spent a lot of time in the Smithsonian, saw some of the monuments, and the National archives.  We couldn't get tickets to the White House but walked my it and took some pictures.  We headed south west on the way home and stopped at the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky and then headed off to the St Louis Arch in St Louis, Missouri.  Unfortunately the line for the Arch was several hours long and so the kids and Mike were unable to go up in it but we did walk around it and go into the museum there.  From there we headed up to I-80 and back home.  Crazy couple of weeks but definitely worth it.

(Pictures from top to  bottom:  Wall Drug (Wall, SD), Madison, Wisconsin, Fiberglass molds from a factory in Wisconsin, breakfast at the American Girl store in Chicago, the kids on the sky deck of the Willis Tower in Chicago, New York skyline from the Empire State building, Video of the kids dancing at the Hard Rock Cafe in Washington D.C., Grandma and the kids in front of the White House, Damon eating the Washington Monument, the kids hanging out at the national zoo, and the museum at the St. Louis Arch.)

However, our fun has not stopped there.  Madison had soccer camp and then played soccer for the city rec team.  Her favorite position is still Goalie.  They are both doing well in school.  Damon is at the high school this year (9th grade is high school out by us) and is doing very well in all of his classes.  Madison is now attending the school where I teach and she is loving it.  She has made a lot of friends and likes the fact that she gets to play her violin at school in orchestra class, and not just at home.  She had a great time dressing up for red ribbon week and I included a picture of her in her rockstar outfit.    

We kicked the Halloween season off with a trip  to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins. The kids had a blast on Halloween.  Damon skipped trick or treating this year and sat in the coffin on the porch and scared kids.  He loved it.  He dressed as Vladmir Tod, a vampire from the book series Vladmir Tod.  Madison and her best friend dressed up as zombie hip hop dancers and went out in search of trick or treat candy.  They came home with a pillowcase full of candy.  

(Pictured below: Madison playing as Goalie in her soccer game, the kids at the pumpkin patch (yes, that is a sock monkey hat that Madison is wearing, Madison and two friends dressed for Rockstar day at school, Damon and Madison making Halloween cookies, carved pumpkins (mine is on top, damon's is in the middle with the A for aggies, and Madison's cat in the pumpkin is on the bottom), Damon and Madi ready for school (yes, Damon's eyes are red), Madi and Naomi just before trick or treating, Madison all zombified, Damon hanging out in the coffin and with his friend the talking skeleton (Yes, grandpa was up to it again this year.  The skeleton talked to the kids and Damon gave out candy.)

Well, it has been kind of a long episode so I will bring it to a close.  Hopefully we can stay current and then it won't take quite so long.  Love you all!

Michelle

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)