I'm not going to play any games. This post is long and yes, I know, it's been a long time since I've posted. What else is new? The story is still the same, school, work and family. I have to admit, this last semester almost did me in. It was very challenging. Most days I was okay, but some days I was ready to give in, go back to what I was doing and say forget it. Somehow, that never happened. I would stop studying, because that's literally all I did, and start searching the Internet for jobs. Before I knew it, I was back to studying.
Thanksgiving was at our house this year. We celebrated with the Shultz side and my dad. This is Joe, Jessica's new man. He is very nice and is in the Navy as well. We enjoyed meeting him and getting to know him. I think he fits in very well. It was his 21st birthday, on Thanksgiving. Yes, it was a late night!
This is Ann, you don't see much of Ann on my blog because it is very difficult to get a picture of her. This is Victor, Ann's new man and we adore him. He is very good to Ann and she is very happy. It shows. Her son, Will. He's a teenager, what can I say? I guess the in thing these days is growing a fro.
Joe! Imagine that sounding just like "Norm" on Cheers. That's our Joe!
The photos are not in chronological order, sorry.
Of course, there was always some time for family. Any time I get this little guy to myself, well, that's just it, I never get him to myself. I have plenty of help! I did get him one day all to myself, but he wasn't feeling well.
Alex and Sam have some kind of bond. Any time Sam comes over, Alex totally takes over. Alex wants to take care of Sam and he does. Sam loves Alex. I left the room for one minute the last time we had him and both Alex and Addie decided he needed his diaper changed. That was funny and of course I had to redo the diaper! Today, we had to go and see Sam because it had been a whole week since Alex had seen him. So we went to his house. When we walk in the door Sam was in his crib fussing, fresh from a nap. Perfect. So we go in and I get him out of the crib. However, he doesn't want me. He wants Alex. He just looks at me like I'm chopped liver. Not Alex. He was all smiles for Alex and even cuddled up to him. Brat.
Alex wants a little brother. I told him he doesn't need one. He has Sam. Let's keep it at that.
Poor kid, nobody likes him. He will be turning one in just a few weeks!
I think this was Martin's birthday dinner at Kalynn's in November. Sweet Kelsey. She is growing up so fast. She is just like her mother. All sports and plays to win.
So, funny story. We were trying to get an updated pic of all of the kids. Addie had been crying because she just twisted her ankle, so she was a crank and we couldn't get Emma to cooperate and Sam, well he is a baby. Need I say more? So, all of the women are trying to get the kids to smile and Emma to look at the camera. Then, she pulls up her shirt and all of the kids are laughing. We were like Emma, put your shirt down, look at the camera, smile. Little did we know, uncle Martin was behind us doing all sorts of things and everything he did, Emma did. Nice.
Can you guess? Peek a boo! Thanks Martin.
Just being silly. Talkin' to mom on the phone.
Emma had just gotten stitches a few days before this. Busted her lip on her brother's bed. Ouch.
Little Ms. Addie gets her awards at school. Perfect attendance and good citizen I think? I'll have to look again. She is thriving in school. She loves it. Such a big difference between boys and girls when it comes to school. It's funny to see this picture because I was a giant compared to everyone else in my class as well. Oh well, everyone will catch up with her.
They had their own Thanksgiving feast at school.
Thanksgiving at our house. Doesn't Dad look good?
Laurence Bowers is good friends with Martin's niece and her husband and we have met him through them. I guess Martin saw him out a few nights before a game and Martin told him that him and Alex were going to the game. So, Laurence told Martin to stay after the game and he would get Alex some autographs. So, they did! Alex was in heaven, because as you know, Alex is determined to be a Tiger some day. I think anyone can stay after the game and get autographs, I don't think he was doing anything special, but it was special to him. Laurence is a really nice guy. He has his head on straight and is good with his fans. He is also very talented. He plays the piano and sings and it sounds good! Impressive. I see him on campus a lot as well and he is always super nice.
I know a lot of you have seen this on Facebook, but some of my family members don't use FB. So, here is Addie for her first dance recital. It was super cute and fun.
A sleepover with Sam, so fun!
A sleepover with Emma! I have a picture just like this of these two from two years ago. Too funny!
Emma stayed to help us make Christmas cookies. What a big help. She is so funny. She is at that age where you don't know what she is going to say!
Martin thought I should be in the pictures too!
Kalynn's birthday! Happy Birthday Kalynn.
I think I've mentioned my husband is an expert on the grill. This is Kalynn's birthday dinner, on the grill, on December 20th, Caribbean Jerk, so good! We grill all year long!
Hmmm... who would of thought these two would be together?
School Christmas party with Mrs. Burtowski. We love her! I thought after my pharmacology final that I would feel complete relief. I did, for about a day. Then total panic set in. It was December 15th and I hadn't started Christmas shopping. Not one gift. I still had to work and the kids had their parties at school and I had basically one weekend to get everything done. I did go to the lake the day I finished my final with friends. It was a good time and I got a good start, but still had a lot to do.
My aunt Lisa and uncle Rick wanted to take us to dinner at CC's City Broiler for Christmas. I love this place and love spending time with them. It was a really good time. We don't get to spend as much time with them as we would like, but we all have kids and work and blah, blah, blah.
They are always real good to us though. We all have fond memories with them. They are the ones that took each of us to Florida when we graduated from HS and Hawaii when we all graduated from college. Good times we won't ever forget!
I have good memories of Christmas at their house when I was younger as well. It was always the perfect Christmas!
Lisa used to take us to all of the new and "hot" kids movies that came out in theaters as well. I still remember her taking us to see the Muppet Movie. So, thanks Lisa and Rick for everything you have done and do. We do appreciate it!
So, the Christmas marathon begins. First Christmas at Dads, then on to Martin's family and home and we do get to spend Christmas day at home all day and usually go back to Martin's parents to eat and then....
(Emma and Sam really enjoyed this box at Dad's)
(I love this pic of Sam)
(Sally and Dad's kids)
(guess who got a hold of the camera? He always has to have some kind of funny photo of me. He is such a funny guy isn't he?)
...we do Christmas at my sister's house with my mom. This year was a lot of fun and will probably go down as one of the most memorable for me. Not sure why, it was just a really good day.
This could be one of the reasons why is was so good. Will cooked a crown rib roast and it was amazing. Kelly's house was decorated so cute and the cocktails were good and what's better than family? It was just a really good day.
What a perfect ending to a long post. Sam started to take his first steps that day. He isn't walking yet, but it won't be long. So, this is my last week of freedom before anoter semester ends. I've been in a really bad funk about school and work. Originally, I only had to work as a tech until this May and then I would be in nursing school and it would all be over in 15 months. However, as you know, there was a miscommunication and I didn't get to apply to start this May. Last week is when people started to find out if they got accepted or not. A girl I know and work with got accepted. I'm happy for her, it's just really hard. I get to work as a tech for the whole year and I'll still be taking classes, but won't get to start nursing until next year. It's just hard. I hardly get paid anything and the work is hard and I'm sick of living on hardly anything. It was going to be okay for just a short time, but now I've added a whole year to that. I know it is happening this way for a reason, but it's still hard to swallow. I'm trying to get over it and embrace it and stop whinning, but, well, I'm really not doing a very good job of that.
So, off to another great year and new semester. I'm really not sure what this year will bring me and how I'm going to deal with it, but with my faith, family and friends I'm sure it will all be fantastic! Happy New Year everyone!
