A Beautiful Day at the Park...

I have a perfectly good excuse for not updating this time... we left our camera charger in CA and have zero battery left on the camera to download any pictures! So, until we get it, I borrowed some pictures off of Beth's camera just so you wouldn't have to see the May post again!

I love these pictures of my mom and step dad, and my dad and step mom. :) Our time spent with family was simply wonderful. Kelley and Tyler's wedding couldn't have been better - the few little things that didn't go quite right only added character to a perfect day. Taylor and Jackson felt proud to be part of the wedding party - Jackson was the cutest ring bearer ever, and Taylor was a beautiful bridesmaid - she looked a little too old for Chip and me, but she was beautiful. I Once we get the charger, I have so many great pictures to share..... nag me until I do this time!

Memorable Moments in May

We sure have been busy around here! I have so many posts in my mind I want to make, but with so much going on, it is too overwhelming. So, here are some pictures to show you bits and pieces of what we've been up to.

Aubrey had a great field trip to a Civil War reenactment - of course Chip went too and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Second grade animal diaramas - a sea snake and a caracle. (Had to research that one - never heard of it before!)

Chip has been visiting fifth grade classrooms and giving the students an awesome presentation about World War II, which they are all studying this year. For one part of it, he has 6 boys dress is his cammies and reenact the flag raising of Iwo-Jima. It makes quite an impact on them, and everyone watching.

Lots of fun bikerides, now that the weather is finally nice enough!

Taylor and her friends performed for a judge at the orchestra festival - they were great!

This one is at her solo festival! She sang a song in Italian - "Santa Lucia". The judge said it was rare that her voice was clear, and not breathy for a 7th grader - couldn't have been prouder!

Taylor decided to try out for volleyball! That deserves it's own post.... coming soon...

Baseball season is almost over already! Jack will never just "touch" home plate - he must slide!

Aubrey is first chair for violin in the 5th grade orchestra! She's following in her sister's footsteps - she loves it! Here she is tuning the orchestra before the concert started.

Hannah volunteered for a speaking part in her second grade music program. She memorized her part and said it with expression that only Hannah Schultz could. Simply adorable.

We took a family road trip with the Makaafi's to beautiful Cascade. That deserves it's own post too.. this is just a teaser.

Second graders get to do a wonderful unit called "Apple Valley" - they get to experience what school was like in a one room school house back in the 1800's. They get a new name, dress up, and everything. This is "Ruthy".

The Kindergartner's got to have lunch in the cafeteria to see what it will be like next year in first grade. Jack chose a hot dog, beans, salad, and applesauce. He had a great time with dad.

Time is just flying by. We are having a fantastic Memorial Day weekend that will be yet another seperate post! I'll need to find some computer time soon, I have lots to post! Only eight school days left. Unbelievable! Summer will be here before we know it.

Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun...

Please shine down on me!!



About a month or so ago, I walked outside to see this...



Beth was so excited to feel the warm sun that she plopped herself down on the driveway while all the kids followed!



The garage door was warm too...



Welcome, spring weather! (finally!!!)

Boys Will Be Boys

What do you call Jackson after spending an evening with dad,

motorcyclists performing amazing stunts,

throw in a couple of buddies,

and a brand new Motocross "awesomest" shirt ever?

Happy. You call him happy.

This has become a yearly tradition for the Schultz boys. Another reason we love March. Dad and Jack get to go have a blast being boys - and Taylor, Aubrey, Hannah, and I have a wonderful evening at home being girls. :)

Easter 2008

This year, lots of childhood Easter memories came flooding back for Beth and I! The traditional letter from the Easter Bunny telling everyone their color assignments and reminding everyone not to forget why we celebrate Easter was on the table when we got home from church.

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It was an awfully long wait for Anela to wake up before we got to read the letter and go find things that had the right colored dot sticker on them! But while we waited, it was fun preparing the big, delicious dinner we were to have after the big hunt!

The kids were thrilled that they each got to fill their bags with 19 treats with their sticker on them that were hidden in the backyard.







We ended our wonderful Easter with a nice walk together. It was easy to be reminded of Jesus after all the candy filled eggs while we enjoyed the beautiful scenery here in our neighborhood.

Welcome, Spring!

The Big One-One

Aubrey gets to celebrate her birthday with the first day of Spring. She loves it! It's perfect for her, as her personality seems to bring the sunshine anyway.

The birthday couch never disappoints - it's so much fun to lay in bed and hear the crinkling of her favorite treats being placed on the couch ever so carefully to make it such a fun surprise in the morning!


The body pillow was the "biggie" on the couch this year - it was covered with favorites like hot Cheetos, Funions, beef jerky, and dark chocolate!

Her cake couldn't cool fast enough for her to decorate herself!

Aubrey is so lucky to have three wonderful friends who all have so much fun together! The night of her birthday, they had a blast at the Round Table buffet, and ice skating. The Zamboni driver got word that it was Aubrey's birthday so he invited her to ride it with him for everyone to see! She did the "princess wave" every time she passed with a smile from ear to ear. That was the highlight of a wonderful eleventh birthday.

Aubrey keeps all of our abs strong by making us laugh all the time. She is fun and playful and a joy to be around. She is a fantastic sister and shows lots of love for her family.

We love you Aubrey!

Twelve Plus One

Thirteen. Chip refuses to say it when talking about how old Taylor is today.

So, today, Taylor is 12 + 1. Don't know if I have yet swallowed the fact that I am now the mother of a teenager. I mean, how can that be?!

Was it really 13 years ago that Chip was in Thailand on pins and needles waiting for our baby to be born (who was a week late!!) and to receive the news that he was a daddy?

Incredible how much things have changed. We had no cell phones, no e-mail. We were so far away from each other, without communication. Having to have an unexpected C-section, nobody had a chance to try and get in touch with Chip yet.

Well, not able to wait much longer, Chip finally got permission to make a phone call home to see what was happening. My step-dad, Dave answered the phone, and not knowing that Chip didn't know anything said "Hey dad!" How awesome that was. He told Chip I was in the hospital holding our little Taylor.

Six weeks later, Chip held his first child for the first time. It was unforgettable.


This picture speaks a thousand words.

Friday night, Chip and I, and Beth and Fo'ou took Taylor and her three favorite friends out for her birthday. Taylor's favorite food in the world is steak - so we took her to our favorite steakhouse - Texas Roadhouse! The girls got their own table - which they loved. The best thing about this restaurant is the fact that the floor is covered with peanut shells. People are encouraged to eat the peanuts from the buckets on the tables, and then throw the shells on the floor. It's a crack up.

After that, we surprised them with a fun time at Fast Lane - the girls had a blast racing each other!



Happy birthday Taylor. You are a joy in our lives, and the lives of others. We love you very much!

By the way.... did the leprechauns do this to anybody else's milk this morning?!?!

Rachel's Challenge

One of my New Year's resolutions was to serve others more, to touch people's lives. It is March. I haven't done much of anything.

I just got back from a presentation called "Rachel's Challenge" given by Rachel Scott's uncle. Rachel was the first person who was killed at Columbine.

She traced her hands on the back of her dresser when she was just 13 years old with these words written in them.

"These hands belong to Rachel Joy Scott and will someday touch millions of people's hearts."

She has done just that, and still is.

I have accepted Rachel's challenge. It consists of 5 things.


1. Eliminate Prejudice - by looking for the best in others.

2. Dare to Dream - set goals, keep a journal.

3. Choose your influences - Input determines output.

4. Kind words - small acts of kindness = huge difference.

5. Start a chain reaction with family and friends.

What a wonderful evening. On each side of me were two of my very best friends. I am so glad I went.

I have been inspired to re-resolve to positively influence others.

Rachel was an amazing girl. See for yourself!

Rachel's Challenge