Brian as Tony Soprano

Create your own FACEinHOLE

Isn't this funny!!!! Just found this site and had to try it out. Brian is a HUGE Sopranos fan so I thought this would be fun!! Try it out.....go to www.faceinhole.com

Bath Time for Hugo!!!

Here some photos of Ben giving Hugo a bath. Hugo actually likes getting baths, unlike Shakes who tries to jump out at any time!! This was the first time Ben had given him a bath on his own and he did a great job. He kept telling Hugo he was "Bap tis sizing" him!!!

Brian Talking to Shakes About His Weekend Plans...

Brian just left for a DeColores Men's weekend. He will be gone until Sunday night. He really looks forward to these weekends (I get to go on the Women's weekend next week). It's just not the same here without him (I miss him already). My dad is going to help me out and take Beau all day Saturday and night. Ali is working all weekend, so it's just me, Abby, Ben and Gabe. Hopefully the weather will dry out and warm up so we can do things outside.

Do you notice something in the photo??? Hair.....Brian is really starting to get his hair back. First it was only the gray and now it's getting darker. He may even need a hair cut soon!

Meet Jane Schuette.......

The cat that is!!! This is Jane our cat....she's about 4-5 years old and thinks she is a princess. She lays around the house all day and does nothing but "MEOW". Just thought I would introduce another member of our Zoo to you!! And for those wondering.......yes she was named after Brian's Mom (as a joke because her old name was "Shoezie" and Brian thought "Jane Shoezie"!!!).........Sorry Mom!

Abby and Ben's Finger!!

BY REQUEST...........

Abby is always talking photos of herself...either with her camera, my camera or her phone. She thinks it's funny to include others in the photo. Well....Ben seems to be a favorite of hers, however Ben is not always willing to have his photo taken by her. So during one of her "photo shoots" she was trying to get Ben in the photos and he was getting upset with her and this is one of the photos to express his opinion on getting his photo taken..........

BTW.......we don't approve of this action, however it's really kinda funny to see and sometime you just have to laugh.

Happy Easter (Part #2).....

Gabe with his eggs (that's James behind him).
Ben with his eggs. Notice the winter coat....it's not even 40 degrees!
Getting ready for the hunt.....I am so proud of my bucket head boys....
The Schuette Grandkids......Ali is the only one gone. Maybe we can "photo shop" her in. The boys and their "Car Themed" Easter baskets.....We can have our own NASCAR races now.

Easter morning started out very early for the Schuette's since we had to go to 7:30 AM Mass! We are used to sleeping in on Sundays and going at 11:00 AM so this was hard on us. After Mass we went to Mom & Dad's and had a huge breakfast. Everything was really good. We then had an egg hunt in the backyard for the littler kids. Since we were together we did get all the grandkids (except for Ali....she was working) to sit down for a photo. There are 12 grandkids and it's fun to see them sitting on the steps together.

As for the boys' Easter baskets....yes we got the "pre made" ones. I never thought I would be one of "those" moms that get those kind of baskets (not that there is anything wrong with them I just always enjoyed putting together the baskets), however we got them one last year and they loved them......they are so easy! This will be Beau's last year for a basket (he told us this when we gave it to him). We did not forget the girls....they got gift cards to get a new outfit.

Hope everyone had a great day.......I am off to take a nap.

PS....as we speak Aunt Carmen is out with Abby helping her learn to drive (To me Carmen is a Saint!!)

Happy Easter (Part #1)......

"The Annual Grandma & Grandpa Schuette Egg Coloring Event" happened on Good Friday. They started having some of the grandkids over on Good Friday every year to color egg and I for one could not be happier. Coloring Easter eggs is one of my least favorite things to do so it's great to take the kids over to their house and let them do it there......(thanks Mom & Dad!!!). It really getting better since all the kids are getting older and they did a great job this year! Now...we just have 2 dozen eggs to eat!!!

Trash The Dress......Ali Style......

Ali was having tooooo much fun getting Abby ready for her photo shoot......

This was my favorite one that I took........
Ali took this one and did some photo shop to it.....This is the one she submitted for her project.
She also took this one.......

Ali needed to do a project for her Art internship for school so she picked "Trash the Dress". It's a very popular photo shoot concept. Usually brides do it with their wedding dresses and we have seen photos in rivers, ponds, mud, at fairs, and almost anywhere. The idea is just to have a great time with your photos (and not worry about your dress getting dirty...that's the whole point). Ali choose Abby to help her with this project. Abby loves to be one of Ali's "subjects". The girls and I went to an area that the local kids spray paint under some underpass. This "WAS" Ali's prom dress from last year!!! Yes....it diffently got trashed! They had a great time doing this and Ali got some great shots. I think all the red on Abby's chest looks like blood and so I called her "Carrie" for the day (remember that movie???). We should give a compliment to Aunt Carmen.....at the last minute she did up Abby's hair for the "professional" look!!! Ali would like to do some more of these so if you want to give it a try.....give her a call.

In Memory of My Mom......

It's been 2 years ago today that my Mom passed away. Time sure goes by fast and I still miss her very much. I don't have any photos of my Mom on my computer (one of "those things" I never got around to doing with her) but I did find this one that I thought was special. It was taken on top of Bogus Mountain near Boise, Idaho (Mom passed away in Boise while visiting Ronda). I think it's very peaceful looking and I know that Mom is also at peace.

I love you Mom........

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!!

Finally able to Post!!!

I have been having problems posting all week. Finally we cut the power and that's all it took!! I thought I had something major wrong with my computer. Anyways.....

It's been a busy week. I have been Brian's "driver" all week due to his surgery. We have been going into work together and I had to drive him around everywhere he wanted to go!!! I finally told him today (Saturday) that I think it's ok for him to drive now. I personally think he liked to tell me where to go!!!!!

We got the biopsy report back on Tuesday and they were all NEGATIVE. YEAH!!! So we don't have to see his cancer doctor until May. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers (We believe they worked!!).

It's getting to be spring and our own "snowbirds" (aka Bob & Jane) are home!! We went out to eat with them on Friday and it sure is nice to have them around again. Welcome Home Mom & Dad!!!

The kids got there 3rd quarter report cards and I have to say they are the best yet this year. They are all working hard and I can't believe that school will be out in about 2 months. We are already thinking about summer activites and signing everyone up for those.

I have more to post but I will wait for another time, I am just glad I can post again......

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

Want to know what I think about turning 40???

Guess Who's Driving?????

ABBY!!!!! She got her's driver's permit about 1 1/2 weeks ago. Brian and I have been taking her out to let her practice (I was not brave enough to take her on the road so in these photos we were driving around Central School!!!).....since the new law the beginning of the year she has to have her permit for 9 months before her license is issued. At this rate she will have to wait at least 11 days after her 16th birthday in November. Yes.....we have already heard it all!!!!


And yes.....an update on Brian!!! He had his surgery Wednesday and came home Thursday. Everything went great but he is in alot of pain (Thank God for pain meds). We will get the report from the doctor sometime early next week. The doctor did not think there was any cancer. There was a cyst growing so that may be what was causing the gland to enlarge.

ANOTHER Brian Update.......

We went to Springfield yesterday (Monday) and Brian is set for surgery tommorrow (Wednesday) AM (between 10-11am). They are only going to do another biospy of the area and not take out the whole gland. This is the same procedure he had in September so he know what to anticipate (which I don't know if that's good or bad!!! LOL)

Please pray for him tommorrow that all goes well for him. If it does he will be able to come home on Thursday afternoon.

Ben's Space Program......

Last Thursday (2/28) Ben's 2nd grade class had a great program about the solar system....They called the program "Spaced Out!!" They sang several songs about the planets and solor system. I think it was one of the best (and cutest) programs we had gone too (and with 5 kids we go to alot of programs). Ben got to be a "space rapper". He did a great job and he had a fun time. Here are a few photos from the night......In these photos Ben is in the first row in a black shirt, sun glasses and necklaces (far right).

Another Update on Brian....

It's Sunday late and I realized I had not updated from Brian's last doctor's appointment on Thursday.

Well the good news is that his PET scan came back pet-negative (no cancer)....

the bad news is they still don't know why his thymus gland is enlarging.

Like his doctor says if his cancer had been anywhere eles then the thymus gland it would not be cause for much concern but since it is where it was we need to take another look at the gland.

Sooooo.....tommorrow (Monday) we are going to go to Springfield, back to the doctor who did his first biopsy in September and Brian will more then likely have to have the entire thymus gland removed so they and biospy the whole thing!!! We really dont' know why they whole thing was not taken out the first time (you don't need it after a certain age) but we need to have all the peace of mind we can so we will have it done.

So if you could say a prayer for Brian (and me) that it's not a bad surgery that would be great. We don't know when it will be, might even be on Tuesday. There is another band of snow coming through starting tommorrow afternoon so I hope we don't get stuck up there. We really want to be able to spend the night with the kids.