Ben's 1st Communion....

Benjamin celebrated his 1st Communion on Sunday, April 27. We had a wonderful day and we are so proud of Ben.

Ben with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Jane...
Ben with Grandpa Bo....
Here is Ben just before recieving his 1st Communion.
Ben is holding a flag my Mom had made back in 1998 for Ali's 1st Communion. We have used it at every celebration since. I have even wrote on each of the yellow "beams" each kids' name and Communion date. I like this tradition that we started (and it was kinda a way for Granny to be with us on Ben's special day!)
All 5 kids!! Cleaned up and no "bunny ears!!!!" This is a VERY rare thing!

Abby & Mom's Great Nashville Adventure!!!

Abby and I went with the EHS Band to Nashville, TN (April 18-20). We had a great time together and we were non-stop the whole time. There are some photos of our trip. They are in no certain order in how I took them. I just kept adding more to the blog!!

Abby in her "cowgirl" hat!!
General Jackson Showboat.....
Nashville at Night on the River.....That's the building they call the "Batman Building" and the one to it's right in the R2D2 building!
The Hermatige (Home of Andrew Jackson)
Some of the gardens at the Hermatige. They were beautiful and would have loved to be there when all the flowers where in bloom.
The Band at Murry State Kentucky. They had a band clinic there. This photo is a little blurry since I could not use my flash inside.

The Parthenon....it's the same size of the one in Greece. It's beautiful and in downtown Nashville.
Just because I think it's funny (not that the man is homeless, just him with that sign).....
Abby messing around...That's the Capital of Tennessee in the background

Lunch at the Wild Horse Saloon.....The girls even got up and learned a line dance.

The Hermitage (Home of Andrew Jackson). This was my favorite place, but I like this kind of thing!!

Dinner aboard the General Jackson steamboat.....
At the Country Music Hall of Fame.....This is Elvis' Cadillac Abby with Elvis......her new boyfriend~~~
Me and Abby (bonding!!!)

2008 Bowling Awards.....

Beau and Ben had their bowling awards yesterday at Silver Dollar Lanes. Both did really well this year. Beau got two trophies.....1. Junior League High Game Handicap and 2. State BPA Plaque for High Game 189 on 3/22/08. Ben is in the Bantam League and he also got two trophies.....1. 1st Place Team - Town & Country Foodservice and 2. Bantam League 2nd Game Scratch. They both were pretty proud (and so were we!). Both boys were sponsored this year by Town & Country Foodservice. Come this fall they will get to wear Schuette Foodservice shirts!!

Gabe's Present to me......

Gabe is always bringing me things. The other day he said he loved me and that he worked all day getting me a present (it took him 3 recesses).....He reached into his pockets and pulled out about 50 dandelions!! He was so proud of himself and I loved them. Well, not really....I don't like dandelions...they are smelly, dirty, and they are weeds. I did throw them away and he was not happy with me but once I told him I could "enjoy" them longer through a photo he was happy with that!!

Happy BELATED Birthday Gabe!!!

Gabe's 6th Birthday was on Friday April 18. Because Abby and I were leaving for Nashville that morning we told Gabe that he would be celebrating his Birthday at school on Tuesday (today). He took a huge cookie and some treats to share with his class at school. When I got there he had a giant hat on that looked like a birthday cake!! It was cute and he was having a great time. While we were gone Brian did take him and the other kids to Lonestar for his Birthday dinner and took them to the park and skatepark. Can't believe our "baby" is 6!!!

I'll talk and post some photos of our Nashville trip soon!

Now Gabe's Field Trip.....

Martins....learning about produce and inside the freezer!!

At Ballard Nature Center.......

Gabe and I had a great time on his Field Trip Day. We started out at Ballard Nature Center, eat lunch there and then headed to Martins IGA. Here are a couple of photos from the day....Do you like Gabe's hair?? Last night Aunt Carmen cut it and made it into a "mohalk", well Gabe wanted to wear it like that again (much against my opinion!!). Tommorrow is Picture Day at school and it will look much tamer!!

Nothing New....Just a busy week....

Nothing really new at The Schuette Zoo this week. We have been busy with work and school stuff. Today I worked in Gabe's room in the morning and tonight is hair cut night. Wednesday is Gabe's field trip (to Ballard Nature Center and Martins IGA) and Friday is Gabe's 6th Birthday and Abby and I leave for Nashville with the EHS Band for a long weekend. Just normal family stuff!!

Have a great rest of the week......

Want To See Where Brian and I Spend Our Days???

Front Office....That's Robert to the left (he does phone sales) and my desk is on the right. Brian's office is in back with the window door and the other office is a storage room (Calvin's office)......
Here is Brian in his office (on the phone, of course!).....notice the car (Gabe plays race track when he comes to the office!)
Inside warehouse.....The "white box" is the refrig/freezer unit.
Back in the "dry storage area". See Ben on top of the shelves....he and Abby (in red) were stacking boxes to help out.
Here is the inside of the refrig unit.....that's Gabe in there helping Nate out!!! He's got his hook and was pulling milk crates around for him.
Thought you would like to see the "inside" of our office/warehouse. It's nothing fancy but it gets what jobs need to be done....done!! The day I took my camera in the kids did not have school so they were helping organize and clean the warehouse. Come by sometime and we'll give you a tour!!

Ben's Field Trip......

Ben and his friend Lucas.....
Ben's hands.....
Ben creating alot of "energy".....
In the bubble room.....
Climbing up the "wavy flag".....
I went with Ben and his 2nd grade class today on a Field Trip. We started the day at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan. We got to see High School Musical. It was really good and fun to see several high school kids from the Effingham area on stage. After the show we headed to Decatur to the Children's Museum of Illinois. We got to eat lunch inside and then had about an hour to explore the Museum. Ben and his partner Lucas had a great time exploring and I think it's fair to say they "touched" everything there was to touch! We got back to Southside just before the end of the school day.

The Schuette Zoo Grows AGAIN!!!!

Gabe with his new friend "Beta".
And.....Ben with his friend "Swimy".
Well The Schuette Zoo has two new members!! Ben and Gabe both got Beta Fish last night. The deal was that they had to clean their room (they share) and keep it clean for 3 days. Well they did it (and it's still clean). Brian says we need to rename my blog to "The Schuette Ark" since we now have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 turtles and 2 fish!!

April is Organ Donation Month

I have really enjoyed blogging and sharing our life with everyone. I also read alot of other peoples blogs. Since the beginning of the year I have been following one family's story that has really touched my heart. The short version of their story.....Last fall Tricia began getting ready for a double lung transplant (she was born with Cystic Fibrosis). While preparing for the transplant they became pregnant. Against the advice of the medical community they refused to abort. Shorty after the first of the year Tricia had to be hospitalized and she and the baby were at risk of dying. Difficult decisions were made and the baby was born at about 24 weeks. For several weeks both mom and baby struggled alot of set backs. After working really hard Tricia was placed back on the transplant list (just last month). Baby Gwyneth has been breathing on her own for some time, eating from a bottle and is weighing about 2 1/2 pounds and doing great!! Last Wednesday (4/2) Tricia got the call for her new lungs!! Tricia's husband Nate is a pastor in North Carolina. He has been very open about all things related to their story. It's full of hope and the power of prayer. If you would like to see their story here is their link www.cfhusband.blogspot.com .

This gets me to my title......April is Organ Donation Month. The gift that one family gave Tricia is incredible. With this gift she will be able to see her baby's first birthday, first steps, first day of school and all the other firsts a Mother should. Without the transplant they only gave her a few months. What a miracle organ transplants are. It truly is a gift of life.

Talk it over with your family now and let them know your thoughts. In Illinois there is a website www.lifegoeson.com that has alot of valuable information and a state registry. I am sure there are other sites with information, just goggle it. Do it Now, someone is waiting!!

Give the Gift of Life.........

Gabe's Reading!!!!

I mean we knew he was learning sight words and reading simple things but last night was the first night he "really" read us a book, by himself!! It was wonderful to see him read!! He thought he was really cool doing it all by himself for us. Can't believe our "baby" is reading to US and will be in 1st grade next fall. His birthday is on April 18th, he'll be 6 years! I hope he continues to enjoy reading, since it's one of my favorite things to do!!

Just a side note....I will probably not post for a few days. I am leaving tonight to attend the Women's DeColores weekend and won't be home until Sunday night. Then we have to go to Springfield on Monday for a check up on Brian's surgery last month. He does not have to see his cancer doctor until May. He's doing great and feeling good. Hair is also coming is great!!!

Ali's Film Festival

Our ticket stubs from the festival.......
The girls are from Los Angeles, CA. They are doing a joint project with EHS.

Here are all the film makers up on stage after the festival. Ali is about 9 from the left (blonde hair, black dress---double click on photo and it will become larger and you can see her).

We went to Ali's AHA Film Festival last night at the Rosebud Theatre. She has been involved in the Multi Media class since her sophmore year and this is the second time that she has had a film in the festival. It's a great program and the festival was the biggest yet. The Rosebud was sold out!! Her film was called "The Phone Call". Starring it was Ben, Brian, Grandpa Bob, Ali and Ali's old boyfriend Silas. It was a story about a girl whose boyfriend would show up at the house after the dad went to work. The dad (and grandpa) came up with a plan to scare them. After he left for work he called house and asked the little boy if the boyfriend was over there and the little boy said yes. He told the boy to tell them he was coming home now. Well they got all in a panic...the boyfriend fell out the window and the daughter fell down the steps!! Come to find out the dad had called the wrong number!!!! It was really funny and I know the crowd liked it!

Good Job Ali!!