Breakfast with Santa 2010

Here are some pictures from our 5th annual Breakfast with Santa at Macy's...


This year we had our new cousin Lukas and our dear friends Amelia and Amaya join us! We didn't have any tears this year! Here's a link to our Christmas past: http://schwartzcircus.blogspot.com/2009/12/breakfast-with-santa.html

A "Beary" Nice Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving wasn't quite the same this year with out Dad. Besides missing his company, we felt his absence as our turkey carver, gravy tester and expert pumpkin pie eater. (Not to mention that we could've also used his help when our garbage disposal got jammed with potato peelings!)

We were however, thankful for a visit from our family's newest little Turkey, Lukas! He made his first trip to MN (through one of our famous Thanksgiving Day snow storms I might add) to celebrate the holiday! It was a true blessing to have him here to squeeze!

We got early Christmas presents this year... Mom gave us all memory bears in remembrance of Dad. They are soft, sweet little teddy bears made out of some of Dad's favorite things... his fleece jacket, flannel shirts, hunting vest, fishing T's and loungy pants. The kids were excited to have a new stuffed animal to love and we were teary-eyed with the thoughtful memento!

We worked off our stuffing with a good ole' fashion game of bowling! It was hilarious watching Merek play his first "real" game of bowling. Although he holds the high score on the Ipad version, he was a bit green with the real thing. Thank goodness for the bumpers and bowling alley assistant who could retrieve his stranded balls!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Merek's "Free"!

That is... Merek turned THREE today!

He wanted to celebrate with an "orange airplane birfday party wif sill-wee hats"... so that's what he got!

The birthday menu contained everything ORANGE:

Mac-n-Cheese

Cheetos

Orange Slices

Carrots Sticks

Mandarin Orange Jello Salad

Orange Party Punch

Orange Airplane Birthday Cake

& Orange Sherbet!

Don't look too closely at this pathetic homemade airplane cake... I had envisioned a "Cake Boss" type creation and it ended up looking more like a preschool frosting fight. My regular cake decorator is no longer making cakes as part of her catering business, so I was left to make it on my own. Needless to say I am either going to take a cake decorating class or I find myself a new cake lady!Gifts...Gifts...

and more gifts! Merek's very own airplane!

Fly safe buddy!!!!!!

More Pictures of Little Luke

"Here I am world!"

Test driving the new lungs

Ahhh.... finally sleeping

Merek's Gives Mom a Day Away

Here's Merek doing his very own first day of school pose. He started his Mom's Day Away program this week and loved it!

Merek's favorite thing about MDA - PAINTING!

Mom's favorite thing about MDA - PEDICURES!

Welcome Lukas!

We're so excited to welcome

Lukas James Olson

to the family!

He arrived before the sun this morning around 2 am.

We can't wait to meet the little nugget!

Kindergarten and First Grade Here We Come!

It was a cold and rainy start to the new school year, but Brielle and Kylyn were all smiles! Ms. B is proud to represent her big sister's Alma Mater in the Kindergarten "Brainy Bird" classroom and Kylyn is charting new territory as a "Traveler" in the First Grade.

All dressed and ready to go in our school unies...

I wish they were this excited to get dressed all year long!





Brielle's first of of Kindergarten... no jitters here!





Enough pictures already... it's cold out here!





Good Luck girls! We love you!

Happy Birthday Kylyn!

We celebrated Kylyn's 7th birthday with a party at the park! It was a beautiful day for an outdoor party! We had a scavenger hunt, tie-dyed Tshirts, had face painting, a pinata and of course cupcakes!

As prepared as we were for the party, I forgot to charge the battery on my camera. Thanks to my friend Jessica, we have some pictures to remember the day!

Big Enough to Keep

God grant that I

may live to fish

until my dying day.

And when it comes

to my last cast,

I then must humbly pray,

when in the Lord's

safe landing net

I'm peacefully asleep,

that in His mercy I be judged

as big enough to keep.

James Arthur Olson

September 3, 1947 ~ July 24, 2010

Just tears...

My Dad passed away a few days ago. Way too young. Way too soon. He was only 62.

I will cherish each and every memory I have of him. I just wish we could make more. I love you Dad!

You will be missed Dad... more than words can say.