Where to begin?

OK, I have failed miserably in keeping my blog up.  And I am sad about that.  I know not very many people read it, and I am totally fine with that, because I don't blog for that reason.  I blog so my kids can enjoy looking at it and reading their mother's point of view on everyday life. I blog so I can have a record of big things and little things that go on in my family's life.  I am not good at writing in my journal.  I did write in it as a teenager and then I went back in my mid-twenties and reread them and threw them away or ripped out and destroyed most of the pages.  (Obviously, I wasn't proud of all the things I had chosen to write about)  But, now that I am 39, I feel I have a better grasp on reality than I did when I was 17, and can express myself much better...I love that about getting older. 

 

 

Anyway, where to begin?????  Well, we got a missionary out in the field!!!

This is Elder Schramm.  Cute, huh?

The family at his farewell.  Red eyes, but happy eyes.

 

 



 

Look what we got last week! A picture!! We were so excited to see that face!  He says everyone says he is so tan, and now I can see why.  He is loving it and is working hard.

 

 

In other news, Bridgete had a field trip to Rhoad's School.  It was great.  It is one of my favorite field trips to chaperone.  I love seeing all the kids dressed up in their 1890's outfits.  Bridgete looked like she would fit perfect in that era. 

 

 

Bridgete and her best friend Briella were chosen to do the flag salute.  They were adorable and took their roles very seriously. 

Here is Bridgete playing with hoops.  She LOVED it.  Can you tell?  Once she got the hang of it, no one could catch her.

 

And here we are together.  I love this girl!

 

 

One job, what's that?

A huge change for this handsome devil today.

  He is no longer Doctor Schramm, just Deputy Schramm.

We are celebrating tonight. It's been a long six years of him doing both jobs.

  We have missed him.  I know his patients will miss him.  He is a fantastic, honest talented chiropractor and let's be real...he is easy on the eyes.  I think that may be why most of his patients were women.  Sorry ladies, you had him for 23 years.  He is all ours now!!!!

He now will be around a lot more to do more of this^.

 And you don't even want to know the visions I have had of my honey-do lists getting done and not feeling bad for asking!.  (Pace yourself Caryn, all in due time.)

I love him.  He is such a hardworking man who takes great pride in providing for our family so I can stay home.  I am so blessed. 

 

School Starts!

I am trying really hard to catch up on my blog.  Obviously, it isn't working so well.  I am a terrible journal keeper, so this is it for me.  And so, it is for my posterity that I am playing catch up. 

 

August 16, 2012

First Day of School

 Filippo just couldn't wait to have his picture taken.  Yeah right!

  He is now a sophomore at Elk Grove High School.

 

 

My sweet Spencer.  He is now in 5th grade at Feickert Elementary. 

 

 

My beautiful Bridgete is now a 3rd grader at Feickert as well. 

 

 

And who do we have here?  Little Miss Sophie.  She has been counting down the days all summer long to start preschool.  She goes to FBC preschool twice a week.  They were so excited to have her since they had Spencer and Bridgete there, too.  They remembered when she was so sick as a baby and they would pray on her behalf.  Such a great little preschool!

 

Jenny is working six days a week at Chick-fil-A and saving up some good $$$.  Evan is going to the local junior college, Consumnes River College.  His biggest pet peeve is all the driving back and forth.  He HATES spending money!!! especially on gas.  He and Filippo still have their lawn mowing business going strong. 

 

And that is the news around here!

 



Donner Lake Camping

Over Father's Day weekend, we went up to Donner Lake and camped for four days.  We had never camped there before.  We loved it!  Loved the history (even though it is tragic history), the museum, the lake, the store that was close by, and the hot showers and toilets.  The hot showers and toilets that flush are a MUST. 

Tucker LOVED Donner lake.  So did a lot of other Labs.  They were all in heaven.

Spencer, Bridgete and Sophie having fun in the tent trailer.  Sophie found a way to dress up even when camping (the head band made her feel a little more fancy:).

Hubby and me.  The only time we ever have our picture taken together is when I have no makeup on.  Oh well.  And hubby still had the scab on his lip in this picture from a skin cancer he had removed.  It was hard not to kiss him for a few weeks, but alas, the skin cancer was completely removed and his lip looks like nothing ever happened to it and we could all kiss on him again.

Bridgete, Hubby, and Spencer on the wave runner.  They LOVED it, especially Spencer!

The troop going on one of many hikes.  Sophie kept up the best she could (probably didn't help that she picked up sticks nonstop).

Spencer, Hubby and Evan hanging out at camp.

Spencer, Bridgete, and Filippo walking towards the huge monument dedicated to the fateful Donner party.  The monument was constructed at this height to show how high the snow was the tragic winter of 1846-47.  I could not even fathom their suffering. 

It made me so grateful for all those who came before us and all the hard work and sacrifices they made.  We are so blessed. 

Beach Trip 2012

This year we went to Seal Beach for the (annual) Bishop Beach Vacation. 

 The weather was great. 

 A little cool at times, but it didn't stop anyone from spending all day, every day, at the beach. 

 Evan and Filippo surfed, Spencer, Bridgete and hubby boogie boarded,

and Sophie played in the sand. 

 It was great.

  The place we rented was right on the beach.  It was literally a 30 second walk to the sand.  

We loved it.  The kids are already counting down to next year.

Here are just a few photos I snapped of the constant action.

Evan-The High School Graduate!

On May 16, 2012, Evan graduated from Elk Grove High School. 

 We are so proud of him and his accomplishments. 

 He is such a great kid. 

 His brothers and sisters adore him.  Everyone adores this kid. 

Congratulations, Evan Tyler Schramm!

(Yeah...that's right, Sophie has no shoes on.  Taking a three year old to a graduation might not have been the best idea.  By the time I took the picture, I wasn't about to fight the shoes after what we had already endured:)

Look at these handsome boys!  They look up to their older brother (even though Filippo is taller:)

Happy Easter

Happy Easter from our family to yours. 
I love the hope
that Easter brings.
I love the happiness
that Easter brings.
I love the miracle
that Easter brings.

All day I have been singing one of my favorite hymns
(my family is sick of it, but oh well)
"Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Alleluia!"

I love this picture.  Bridgete looks so much like her Grandma.  So cute.

And yes, I did brush Sophie's hair... just for the record.