Brielle's 5th Birthday - Round Two: "Family Party"

It's official... Brielle is 5!


We had a blast celebrating her "real birthday" at the Water Park of America! Our original plan was to go to Grand Forks with both sets of grandparents, however much like our attempt in October, the plans had to be cancelled. Thankfully this time it was only because of a snow storm, not three sick kids.


Anyways, the WPOA was fun alternative! We swam and stuffed ourselves with pizza on Friday, stayed the night in a bunk bed suite, and then swam again on Saturday morning. The girls got extremely brave going on the water slides by themselves and the five of us piled into a raft on the family slide! Merek squealed with delight on that one, but I on the other hand got a little green in the face.

The kids waiting for the elevator, pre-water slides.



Merek tearing around the corner in the hotel hallways. Note that this is the last picture of Merek that night... he was such a maniac in the water that neither Bob nor I had a free hand take any pictures. It wasn't until we pawned him off on Makee and Paca on Saturday morning, that we actually got to take any pictures.





It looks like Brielle was the winner this time!






They actually get their heads wet now... maybe swimming lessons are finally paying off!

Brielle got her first iPod, just like her big sister did this year!

Brielle and Mommy at the Rainforest Cafe. Brielle is eating a birthday bucket full of dirt and worms!

Daddy and Kylyn enjoying Brielle's brownie volcano sundae! There were a few people at the table who were happy that Brielle doesn't eat ice cream!

Brielle's 5th Birthday - Round One: "Friends Party"

We celebrated Brielle's 5th birthday a few days early today with a "Disco Dance Party"! Brielle invited some of her favorite preschool and neighborhood friends over to dance and have cake. We decorated the downstairs like dance club complete with spinning lights, lava lamps and an interactive TV screen.

Disco cake with edible glowing disco ball!

Brielle gave all her friends her debut dance mix CD as a party favor... complete with her autograph! The CD is an eclectic collection of music from the Alvin and the Chipmunk/Chipettes singing "We Are Family" to Taylor Swift and "You Belong with Me"!

Stayed tuned for Round Two: "Family Party" on the 23rd!

Airplane Giggles

Merek got a new toy airplane for Christmas and he can't get enough of it! Check out how much he likes it!

Thanks Uncle Andrew & Auntie Heather for all the fun and giggles!

Christmas 2009 at Lake Six

We had such an awesome Christmas this year! We were lucky enough to be able to spend it with both sets of grandparents up at my family's lake home. It was pretty close to perfect! We enjoyed the foot of fresh snow by sledding, making snow angels, building forts and snowmen. We played games, made a birthday cake for Jesus, and ate way too many Swedish Meatballs! Of course the celebration wasn't complete without gifts galore, over-loaded stockings, and an ever-anticipated visit from Santa! We felt so blessed!

There were too many cute pictures, so I uploaded a ton. Be sure to check out the video clip of Merek singing "Jingle Bells".

Makee and Paca are behind the cameras on this shot.

Here they are with the kids before church.

Putting on long-johns... the first of many layers under the snow suits. No wonder it takes so much time getting 3 kids ready to go outside!

Daddy out on the rink with his girls!

Grandma, our personal Zamboni!

Gearing up Merek for his first attempt at skating. At first he's all smiles...

... then a change of heart! Doesn't this look like the face a future Fighting Sioux defense man?!

Present Time!


Dinosaurs, trucks, Barbie & Three Musketeers, Zhu - Zhu Pets, Webkinz, swords... you name it and it was under the tree!



Belle joined us out in the snow too!




The 2009 Sledding Awards:

"The Most Times Down the Hill" goes to: Brielle





"The Best Air" goes to: Kylyn






"The Biggest Face Plant" goes to: Grandma



(Yes, that's really Pat!)



"The Biggest Showboater" goes to: Bob


"The Biggest Jump Destroyer" goes to: Grandpa





Yummy snow! Watch out for the yellow stuff buddy!

What would Christmas be without a birthday cake for Jesus?!

Merek singing Jingle Bells

Breakfast with Santa

A few days before Christmas, Makee, the kids and I went to Macy's in Minneapolis and had breakfast with Santa himself! It's one of our favorite holiday traditions! The good little boys and girls get a yummy breakfast while Santa visits each table and talks with the kids about what they want for Christmas. Ms. Claus does face painting and the elves make balloon antlers. Afterwards we go down to the 8th floor of Macy's to their Christmas display- this year it was "A Day in the Life of an Elf". The kids love walking through the life-size storybook! (Makee and I love keeping track of 3 crazy kids on a Santa-high, while maneuvering between crowds of other families getting into the Christmas spirit!)

Kylyn opted for the glittery snowflake face paint this year, instead of the red Rudolph nose. Good choice honey!

After receiving her honorary antlers, Brielle declared that she was "Ruby", Santa's lead GIRL reindeer - taking the place of Rudolph this year!

What is on my head?!

Santa finally arrives at our table. (Not quite as convincing as last year... those frosted eyebrows look mighty suspicious?! Since when is Santa an olive-skinned brunette in his early 30's?)

We're missing one... Merek wasn't doing the whole sit-on-Santa's-knee thing this year! He had flashbacks of last year and decided to watch reluctantly from Makee's knee. It felt much safer there.

2008 flashback!

Schwartz Snow Day

We declared it a "Snow Day" at the Schwartz house today! Even though the district didn't officially close the school, we decided that the mini-blizzard we work up to was reason enough to stay home. The 22 mile trek we make in each direction would have been a long, stressful and potentially dangerous one with the high winds and big snow drifts we were sure to encounter along the way. Instead we played outside, played games and of course enjoyed some hot chocolate!

It's never too snowy to play outside!

I don't know what's better - the hot chocolate or the marshmallows?!

When I caught Brielle wiping her cheeks with a napkin, I asked her what she was doing and she told me she was trying to "wipe off her rosy cheeks"! Too cute!!