Family Pictures - Take 1!

We had planned to have family pictures done a few weeks ago, but ran into some technical difficulties. First Bob got stuck in a meeting at work and wasn't able to make it, then halfway into the shoot, it started pouring rain! So much for our happy family pic.

Oh well, in the end it will turn out for the best... our photographer offered to redo the shoot, which will allow for Bob to be there.

Check out a few of the cute shots we got just before the rain started.

(I hope it's okay that I am using the pictures on our blog. Just in case, I will give props to the photographer Siri Benrud of http://www.siribenrudphotograpy.com/. She did a great job!)

Babysit?

Josh and Fergie stopped by the other night to say hi to the fam while in town for a promotional concert. The girls fell in love with them and were wondering if they might be able to babysit?

John Deer Envy

The little neighbor boy drove over his prized John Deer tractor this evening to show the kids. Merek jumped right in and made himself at home. He quickly perfected the "vroom vroom" sound effects to go along with the wild steering wheel actions. Doesn't he look like a natural?!

Maybe someday buddy...

Hockey starts early in MN!

The Schwartz Girls started yet another sport... this time it's daddy's favorite... HOCKEY!

Bob insisted Kylyn and Brielle try skating this summer, so we signed them up for a week long "Learn to Skate" camp. After getting them all decked out in hockey gear, including pink hockey sticks, the girls hit the ice. Bob's extremely pleased to report that they LOVE it and they actually demonstrate a wee bit of talent.

Here's Brielle using the old standard bucket-method to help her balance on the ice. After a few minutes she was able to let go and take a few cautious strides on her own!

Kylyn's getting brave... she ditched the bucket a ways back!

Watch closely... their speed and agility on the ice makes them hard to follow! (ha, ha!) We'll keep working on it!

Their favorite part of skating is when they get to hit the Easter eggs into the net. It's definitely a much safer and more colorful alternative to hockey pucks!

SHE SHOOTS - SHE SCORES!

Corn on the Cob Monster

Merek has found a new favorite food - corn on the cob! For those of you who have ever tried to feed this boy, you know that finding something he likes is an exciting accomplishment! He's a pretty picky eater, but now we have something new to add to his menu. Yipee! I just wish fresh corn would be available year round!

Singing in the Rain

The kids were so cute playing in the rain this afternoon! It was one of those perfect splashing rains - warm weather, no wind and NO LIGHTENING! They had fun collecting worms and sending them on the ride of their lives down the rushing waters on the street. They followed the poor, helpless creatures until they gushed down the rain gutters to join their fishy friends - an event they fondly named "The Wormy Water Slide"! Whee......

Did we mention it was Kylyn's birthday?

Kylyn's birthday resembled Hanukkah again this year with several days of celebrations! When her odometer rolled over to 6 on Wednesday, she was awakened to her favorite breakfast of rainbow pancakes and bacon. She then celebrated again in the evening over tacos and a huge bowl of raspberries picked just for her by Paca! She topped off the festivities with one last bash at the water park with her preschool friends on Thursday! Needless to say she partied like a rock-star!

"Birthday Girl"!

Her first iPod!

New lunch boxes for school!

(Brielle got a few little sister presents again this year -

both grandmas were good at remembering those!)

Party at the water park!

Merek on balloon patrol.

(Check out the flip-flops... even he can't resist bling!

Merek shares Brielle's love for shoes... they often fight over these bejeweled beauties!)

Trip to Chicago

Kylyn, Brielle & Mom just returned from our "Girls Trip" to Chicago where we visited Uncle Andrew and Auntie Heather! Makee and Paca also joined us for the fun-filled weekend! (We felt a little bad about leaving the boys at home, but we are pretty sure Daddy and Merek kept themselves busy... after all there was a new PS3 at home when we returned!)

Here we are outside of the Shedd Aquarium enjoying the beautiful day! Even though the line to get in was long, we had fun watching the big boats in the bay and chasing the gutsy seagulls who were begging for food from the tourists!

Here we are visiting "The Bean"! It's one of the crazy sculptures in Millennium Park. Brielle and Kylyn thought if they tried hard enough, they might be able to lift it!

Kylyn, Brielle and Makee were waiting at the finish line to cheer on Auntie Heather on as she ran Chicago's Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon! Heather ran an awesome race and had her personal best! Way to go Heather!

Brielle and Kylyn put on their candy hats and "made" Daddy some chocolate at the Hershey's factory! Daddy says they are the best peanut butter cups he has ever tasted!

Lucky little Kylyn had another early birthday celebration! The pink lady bug cupcakes were delicious!

A trip to Chicago wouldn't be complete without a trip to one of the original "American Girl" stores! Anna and Kelly got their ears pierced... if only Brielle and Kylyn were as brave!

All smiles despite the rain thanks to a covered horse & buggy tour around the city!

Our final stop before flying back to Minneapolis was at Navy Pier! The girls were wild about the fun house mirrors and the carousel!

When asked what the highlight of the trip was the girls couldn't decide if was riding in the taxi or seeing Missy and Isabelle (Andrew and Heather's dog and cat)! The rest of us decided that Kylyn and Brielle could probably have fun in a paper bag!