Summer and Forrest

David and I spent Saturday morning helping Summer with her science project for school. Her teacher gave a list of arctic animals to choose from. She has to draw and write on a poster about one animal with some of her favorite facts. After reviewing the list and quick surfing on the Internet, Summer decided to study puffins.

She said, "They are the cutest thing."

David forgot to set my camera's settings before taking this picture then it was too late. My camera is set on the manual mode. The picture is way over exposed but I am thankful David at least got something. I love this picture. Both Forrest and Summer still in their jammies (i know Christmas is over but I could not resist packing these away). You can see Summer explaining to Forrest with her hands the exact way puffins are like. Summer was just as descriptive as she could be with feathers in her hands (she even put feathers in her hair clip) while Forrest admiring his big sister.

These two are the cutest things in my life. I ♥ you, Summer and Forrest.

Schultz Holiday Card

I managed to get our Christmas cards out this year before Christmas. No small feat in such a busy month. It is a lot of work but I started the tradition when David and I were first married. I have a special book I put just one of our Christmas photo cards in each year. It makes me get my act together each year so that I won't have any empty pages in our book over the years. I also love that it will be a record of family pictures all in one place.

I love my little family more than I ever imagined possible. We are not a perfect family but we are perfect for each other.

Happy New Year!

We had a super fun night. David and I woke up Forrest and Summer just before midnight. We went downstairs and sat on the sofa in the living room with the TV on. The kids were really excited when we watched the ball drop in times square. Here's to 2011!

Jingle Bells

Summer loves to dance to the song Jingle Bells. According to Summer no dance is complete without a spin. I turned on the music on the computer and grabbed my camera. She spun as fast as she could then flopped on the floor. Too cute.

My Christmas Angels

These two little ones have brought me nothing but happiness this past year. I think they had a very Merry Christmas. They were given matching Christmas pajamas this year. If that's not cute I don't know what is.

Christmas Morning

We had a really fun Christmas Day. I am still sorting through all of our photos. The first picture was taken right as David and I were heading upstairs to bed.  It was way past midnight Christmas morning. Summer came running into our room in the morning yelling, "It's Christmas, it's Christmas!" Forrest was no where in sight. We tiptoed into his room and Summer was so sweet waiting for him to open his eyes. The minute we said "It's Christmas!" He jumped out of his bed in less than a second. We made them wait at the top of the stairs for the traditional Christmas picture. They then ran downstairs and headed straight for their toys. Summer wanted the "Just Like Me" American Girl doll and Forrest wanted Madge the truck (from Thomas the Train) and the talking Woody doll from Toy Story 3. I think the morning was a success. It was so much fun to watch their excitement.

A Miracle

Here are Summer and Forrest standing by the window watching the snowflakes on the day after Christmas.

A Christmas miracle.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we went to our church for the traditional Christmas Eve Pageant. We sang a few Christmas songs. A favorite is the Jingle Bells. We got home, put the kids in their christmas pajamas and hopped onto the desk chair. David turned on the computer so we could track where Santa was. It showed a live feed of Santa and his sleigh being pulled by reindeer through the sky. The kids were in complete awe. As we were tucking them into the bed the tracking system showed that Santa was coming our way flying west across the Atlantic Ocean. We told them he was almost to North Carolina and that they better hurry and get to sleep so he didn't have to pass our house (he can only stop if they're asleep). I wish I could use this tactic every night. They were in bed and fast asleep in minutes.

Home

I had a party at our home last night. I turned on the Christmas tree lights. It looked so pretty that tonight after dinner Summer asked if I would turn them on because it made it feel more like Christmas. I want to capture the home that my kids will always think of as theirs. I took these pictures on a whim tonight just as I was about to unplug the lights because it looked so pretty and I wanted to capture it for me. I want to remember that when I took these pictures I had my 2 little kids upstairs fast asleep in their beds.  This is the home we are raising our children in and the home they will always remember. That to me makes it special.

Just 2 more sleeps!

Countdown

It is official. Just 3 days until Christmas. My kids ask me every day how many more days until christmas. I found this cute advent calendar that I hang in my kitchen window. Each morning we turn over a card and they can see exactly how many more days until the big day. I gave the kids a chocolate advent calendar but on december 2nd I came downstairs to find Summer and Forrest with all 24 doors open on their calendars and all of the chocolates gone. No self control. And you know who they blamed? Collie. You can't eat these cards so i think we're safe.