Family Fun Fridays

We need to have some fun in this family. Here's a guessing game, to see how much we know. Try to figure out who the person, place or thing is that each summary is describing. The first person to answer them correctly is off the hook for posting the next week's tickler. All other members will be put in a drawing to post photos & fun facts about family the following Friday. If picked you're off the hook until the next month. Some answers are found in the pictures, but not all.

1. Just before Jory’s fifth birthday we celebrated Easter on the road, visiting Capitol Reef Monument in our Holiday Rambler. Hiking the trails, forest ranger talks & waking up to gifts from the Bunny was fun. Mr. Rabbit brought bow & arrows for the girls and a stuffed animal to Jory? What name was given to this furry friend we still have and why?

2. What fun to see the birth of a baby especially when it’s an animal that you love and dream of having, one day! Most children never get this chance because these big beautiful creatures need lots of room, work & patience to own one. Who fell off of this four legged fellow when visiting the Crane’s? Who got to ride them for their birthday @the Wilde’s & who else loves horses today?

3. Early mornings the phone rings in this household, the party calling wants to speak to Grandma. Usually while sitting in the closet this person talks about all the things going on & who did what the day before. Any ideas who may be the caller and who they call?

Hey Hunter, Happy Birthday

It’s Hunter’s 7th birthday today. So much has happened this past year. He started first grade, has gone hunting w/Mom & Dad, lost four teeth, plays Jr. Jazz and a very busy guy.

We watched his basketball game last week as he sped down the court, guarded his man like a detective and handled the ball with energy. Hunter dribbled like a real player and has a great future as a point guard. Good luck on your next game.

Although small, this young man has lots of potential, as he challenges Brayle with creative ‘I’ll get you back’ antics. His big appetite will benefit him as we see him begin to grow, grow, grow. Have a great day today. LOve, Grams & Gramps

Valentine Cards for Customers

Purple & Beige w/heart accents, Size is 6x6
Brown & Pink, You & Me Card, Size 5x7
Black & Beige w/Love Tag, Size 5x7

I love the look of handmade cards. Since Allan's income has dropped to barely there, I am making an assortment of Valentine cards to sell. If you know anyone that may be interested in buying a card, invite them to see our blog or my own blog.


TheCrankyCrane.blogspot.com. Order via my email @skip50schmidt@gmail.com. You can forward my email or take cards to show/sell friends & family @work. I will reward you for your efforts.

The cards are $2.50 each or 2/$4.50. Add $.50 postage for each card, they want mailed to them or loved one. Whoever responds to this or my other blog posting will be put in a drawing for a free card. 1 card drawn for every 10 comments.

For $1 per card attend my classes on Jan 31st from 11-1 pm or Feb 4th, 3-5 & 7-9 pm come & make your own. email me to reserve your spot.

As you know, I sell scrapbooking supplies, teach classes & such for Close to My Heart. Their website is closetomyheart.com

Acknowledging Alicia's Birthday? Call Her

Ask Alicia what she wants for her birthday & you get an answer, in fact many options to choose from. This makes it super easy to come up with a gift for her. She is a gal that knows what she wants & goes after it. She's even teaching the kids to help her in the battle for finding peace, a good deal and the American way. You go, girl!

Thanks Alicia for helping us to get started with blogging & keeping yours current for us to enjoy many of the fun, crazy & unbelievable things going on in New Jersey. How nice of you to let us come hang out for a spell & treat us to good food, sites and especially the children. Although life gets mundane & boring, you are able to create interesting things to help one keep busy. Sarah & Zach are a handful but beautiful treasures that make your life more fulfilled. Keep it up, kids!

Have a super birthday today & know that we all love you.

Breann on Her Birthday(Beside Brayle)

I guess you could say Breann is under
'thirty something'. She is that blissful age alot of oldies use as their permanent answer, 'twenty nine and holding'.

The local folk met for a steak and twice baked potato dinner to celebrate her day. Jory made marvelous homemade strawberry ice cream. Mauri gave him the recipe. Before it 'disappeared without a trace', Breann took pictures for posterity. She also gave advice on Hunter's two front teeth that are about to take a trip to the tooth fairy, if he will allow it.

A few minutes was spent on Family Home Evening talking about angels (seen & not seen) that help us in times of need. Elder Jeffrey Holland's talk, Ministry of Angels, (Nov Esn 08 pg 29) told a story of Clyn Barrus as a boy, getting lost & being found, reminding us God never leaves us. It is a must read and very touching.

Working on several projects such as 72 hour kits, food storage, and a family recipe book, Breann is keeping busy. She is in the testing, tasting and photography stage of our food journal. Mother's Day is the goal for the finished work, so keep those recipes coming. Preparations are also in full swing buying necessary items for her kits in case of emergencies or if a disaster hits. She is thinking of starting work on a few more items of business that need attention, as well, such as a new dining set (we checked out the ones @Gardner Village) and updating her life history. May you have success and keep the focus as you forge forward into the future. We hope you had a wonderful birthday, too

Baldy on the Bank

I’ve decided that a bird on the bank is better than one in the book. Wednesday when walking on the new trail north from the SJ river walkway that goes behind Chavez, I spotted a large bird in a Cottonwood tree on the east side of the river. It looked like it had a little white ball on the top of it. No, it couldn’t be a bald eagle. It’s probably my eyesight playing tricks on me. More likely a piece of black plastic stuck in the branches.

After going the length which ends at the homes on 4B Lane, as I headed back I looked for the same black outline and found it. I had to see what it really was. Hurrying to the car I searched for my binoculars, thankfully finding them. Jogging to the spot and finding the shape in my site, it really was a bald eagle! I only remember seeing them in the tops of pines on the island banks, as we cruised the Inside Passage of Alaska. On the west side of Utah Lake in the 1970’s, I remember seeing one in flight, but never in our own back yard. When I got home, I insisted Dad to go immediately there to see the breathtaking bird. He also spotted an owl and many Golden-eyes. We went the next day also, saw quite of few Golden-eyes, but no eagle.

Pre-Mom life vs Mom life

Here is the last column I wrote about my pre-Mom life. I know it's the length of a novel compaired to blog-length - sorry I have to write that much.

In my pre-mom life I was a different person. I was organized, a list maker and dabbled in a little bit of everything – a renaissance woman of sorts. My Mom life consists of moments of organization, until my boys enter the room. I rarely make lists since they make me feel like I accomplish nothing and I try to do a multitude of things but really only do one or two well.

I once was organized, before I became a mom. Everything had a place and a place for everything. All of the dishes had neat little piles and were sorted according to color and design. My bedroom closet was the same way. In the bathroom everything was orderly and sorted on shelves. My dishes are now in the dishwasher when clean. I know it’s time to do another load of dishes when the dishwasher is empty. There is no color coordination – especially in the cabinets or closets. Clothes are lucky to be put away. Often they are put away from the week before so I can do the current week’s laundry. Does laundry ever end? The bathroom now has a basket that everything just gets thrown into – no more neat little shelves and organization.

I used to make lists, lots of them. I had lists for shopping, to do, people to call, things to think about when I had the time, new things to try and all sorts of things. I even had a master list of all my lists in my head. I would refer to these lists all the time and constantly revise, update, and cross things off my lists. I would even stay up at night to finish my to do list – not able to sleep until my list was all completed, crossed off, accomplished. I would even write something down that I had already done just so I could cross it off – that gratifying feeling of putting a line through something achieved.

I rarely make lists now. The list just grows and grows; rarely does anything have a line through it. It is easier to not make the list and just occasionally get something done instead of being on the list for over a month then having to make a new list so I do not have to be reminded that I did not accomplish anything yet.

In my pre-mom life, I would read all the time. I could read volumes of books, anything under 300 or 400 pages was considered small. I would read at home, on the bus, while commuting with books on tape, just about everywhere. I always had a back up book on hand just in case I had to wait somewhere. Now, I have a hard time reading a chapter of anything. I do occasionally start a short book (100 pages or less) but read the first 20 pages, fall asleep, and never make it back to the book and give up a month later. I still have not read book seven of Harry Potter – what a travesty.

I was an explorer, always trying new things and traveling to new places – a gypsy of sorts. Now I may try a new dish at a restaurant, a new route to work, other non-thrilling things. My adventures include watching Dora the Explorer, Globe Trekker - a travel show on PBS, or visiting my parents twice a year in Utah. But these are adventures that fit my life now. I still dream of future travel when we are empty nesters.

I have resigned myself to scrapbooking and occasional quilting as my “new things.” I did go sledding with my boys the last few snowstorms – that was big for me. New adventures of a different sort – teaching my boys things I have already done, explored, tried – both loved and unloved since they may love them. I want them to be free-spirits, the kind I was before I had them.

My life is different now and I am a different person, a new person, a mom.

Man in the Million Dollar Mansion

In the elevator.
Baby grand in the bay window
No kitchen clautrophobia here

You've heard Jory’s current digs are neighbors to Steven R Covey & the NuSkin folks. The Crosman's & Schmidt’s went to Hillside Drive in Provo for FHE in November. We weren’t prepared for the spacious 10,000 foot mansion with the 200 foot diagonally inclined driveway. A fellow Rain Tree dweller, invited Jory to stay at his place. Brandon's family moved to England & poor him, alone in their 25 room house.

With a twisting of the arm, free rent and a bedroom of his own, Jory attacked like a cougar on the prowl, moving in lock, stock & from trunk of his car before midnight that day. They wisely hire college coed’s to prepare Sunday meals, cleanup & such.

After taking an ‘eat your heart out’ tour of the 10x14 ft screen theatre, 4 fireplaces & stairways, 20 person dining room table, sunroom, pool and a kitchen to die for, Mauri, nearly walked away with the 4x6 Greg Olson art pieces.

While there Jory gave the FHE lesson, telling of the blessings and joy that come from daily scripture reading. He talked of the powerful example, Dad, has been to him over the years reading daily. We were challenged to start or continue studying the scriptures.

He reminded us of Pres Hinkley’s promise: ‘There will come into you homes & lives an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.’ We will share our monthly lessons to help us all ‘Come Unto Christ’ more fully & hope to hold them whevever you are here.

The Goal Post

The purpose in soccer or football is to make a goal. Every field has a goal post with all players working together to make a score. When that happens there is cheering & high fives. In life it is the same. We all want to succeed, but need help & a team effort to get there. I'm here to challenge you to be on the Schmidt family team.

Many of us set goals every year. Some refuse to, but along the way decide to change something & there you have it, a goal achieved. They say if you write a goal down for others to see, you are more likely to succeed at them.

Why not ‘Do it!’ Just choose a few to work on. Don’t make it a big deal. You never know what can be accomplished. For instance, last year Aaron beat caffeine, Mauri changed jobs, Alicia got Sarah into a preschool, Jory became an intern, Allan learned taxidermy & so on. It is better to move forward in life than to stand still.

For 2009 I will: Work on writing my life history & organize my cupboards. There I did it. Is that so hard? What 2 or more things do you want to change, see happen or just attempt???? I'm taking a goal poll & all those that respond with a goal post gets a treat.

Crosman top 10

1. No longer having to commute all the way to Sandy! I got a new job colser to home.(Aaron's dream job)

2. We finally went back to the temple after 13 years.

3. The yard is green and beautiful once we laid sod.

4. The kids started 4th and 1st grades.

5. Taxidermy School happened to Aaron.

6. Aaron has been caffine free for 9 weeks now!

7. No medical bills for this family(hee hee hee)(knock on wood)

8. The chickens are finally laying eggs.

9. We are expecting another child.(JUST KIDDING)

10. We were called to be wolf scout leaders.(We don't like it very much)

Bartschi Top Ten of 2008

10. Breann's New York Adventure

9. Jed's purchase of a new car (Well, new to us - luxury - 1998 Nissan Maxima)

8. We were released from Primary! (Jed, now in young men's "misses primary. . . It wasn't so bad"

7. With blood, sweat, and tears (maybe more dirt than tears) we installed a sprinkling system AND put in grass.

6. New furniture! Couch and love seat, bedroom set, TV & stand (I swear, a table is on the horizon)

5. Went waterskiing for the first time in years - attempted wake boarding (I attempted it, Jed actually can do it!)

4. Medical insurance pays off - once again

3. Jed discovered World of Warcraft

2. Breann lost weight (but still has a chubby face - for the time being. What can I say? I've been on prednisone three times in 2008!)

1. Discovered Jalisco's Mexican restaurant - Jed likes Mexican, can you believe it?