Shelby's World

Are you ready? It's the year of the Schnoodle.

 

 

Some of you have already known about the secret Eric and I have been keeping for many months.

Thankfully Christmas is over and I can now shout to the world that we're getting a puppy!

The kids are very excited.

Eric is mildly excited.

I am off the hook crazy excited!

Thanks to the generosity of my BELOVED FAMILY,

the Friesens will bring home a Schnoodle in about 4 weeks.

*Disclaimer- please don't make fun of me or judge me for not rescusing a really sad pit bull-lab mix from the Humane Society.  Here's my reasoning: I couldn't buy the genetics of my children, so the least I can do is purchase some good genes in a dog.  Hopefully it will obey us better than our children:)  Plus I really wanted a puppy.  I need something to mother.  Again.

Let's talk about my schnoodle obsession for a moment... 

it can't be healthy.

But seriously, if one of these was about to move in with you, wouldn't you be a little crazy too?

Couple of quick answers to your possible questions~ 

Yes, it will be a male or female.  (still undecided)

Yes, it will be black w/ possibly a touch of white.

Name?  Well... that gets tricky.  Eric is pulling rank and says we have to name it Buster.

Won't work for a female.  Busty?  I don't think so.

We pick up our pup on Jan. 31st.

We got it here.  They have been amazing especially considering I email like 10 questions a day.

Yes, almost all blog posts and Facebook Status Updates will be about my schnoodle starting February 1st.  Just hide me now.

 

Here's why I'm osm at Christmas.

My kitchen looks like this when I bake.

Then the cookies suck.

I did however buy stocking stuffers at Walgreens while all three children waited in the car.

Ho.  Ho.  Ho.

Probably the greatest costume ever.

Pigs in a blanket.

Source: realsimple.com via Taylor on Pinterest

Mother's Day for a 40 year old female.

Osm.

Mother's day is just around the corner!

This would be lovely.

Just sayin.

Flock and Awe.

She passed away three years ago.

My Grandma Mimi.

Christmas with her was dreamy.

Its been my desire to recreate her tree for awhile now.

This is the year.

I think she would have liked it.

Silver.

Blue.

Flocked.

Osm.
 

A Norman Rockwell moment for the Friesens. Or not.

I had big hopes for our trip to the tree farm.

Laughter, hot cocoa, family picture.

Denied.

Instead I got whining and complaining.

A photo?  As if.

Doesn't Sam look thrilled?

She's mad because we're not buying anything from the gift shop.

Piper wanted a different tree...

And Eli?  Well, he's upset because he couldn't get his own tree.  

He's not pictured because he's off chopping down saplings.

Meanwhile our Christmas Card may just look like this:

 

Home

Oh my stars it's been a month already!  Okay, so you know we went to Malibu, which was over the top Osm; so much so that I can't even begin to describe it.  I will though.  Eventually.  Meanwhile, let's talk about coming home.

Checklist~

1. Leave your keys with various neighbors and relatives so that when you arrive home you're locked out of your own house.- check.

2. Pry open window and send your son through it to open the front door.- check

3.  Discover that the friends and family you've entrusted your home to have pulled a prank and "redecorated" your bedroom circa 1975.  - check.

Let's pause here a moment to just drink it in.  Notice the macrame plant holder hanging from the ceiling. Care to tack a note onto the cork lamp on my nightstand?  Oh, and how would you like to wake up with your brother's self portrait staring down at you?  Oh yes, it's an original 'Scott Friesen' acrylic on canvas. Watch for it on eBay.

OSM.

Now where were we?  Oh yes, back to the checklist...

4. Get a hamster.- check.

What?!  I know the timing doesn't seem ideal, but Piper has waited many months.  And when she heard, "We'll get it after we get home from Malibu", she held me to it.

FYI: upon selecting a hamster, I noticed a SIGNIFICANT difference between the males and females. Should you ever decide to get a male hamster, remember these important facts~ 

a. No, they don't 'grow into them' 

b. No, you don't have those kinds of surgeries for hamsters.

c. You just have to live with it.  I mean... them.

We opted for a female.  Here's Cotton making sure she does NOT have those male parts.

That brings us to the 4th of July!

5. Keep kids up really late playing with fire- check.

Finally...

6. Update blog- check! 

I'll be back soon and I promise it won't take me a month!  

 

Some bunny wanted to be in the picture

 

 

I stole a shirt from Old Navy and other Christmas Highlights

Seriously.  

I put it over my shoulder and forgot about it.

Went thru checkout with it and everything!

The best part was a few stores later when I noticed it. I gasped, looked and Sam and said, "I just stole this shirt!"

The look on her face was priceless.

She panicked.

She thought the mall cops were going to cuff her mommy.

Imagine her reaction when I said, "I need to go to a few more stores so let's return it on our way out."  (I was at the other end of the mall!)

She spent the next 30 minutes whimpering and looking over her shoulder.

She survived.

I got a coupon from Old Navy.

Highlights #2

My sweet, cry baby Husband opening his gift from Grandpa.

 

He gave Eric some of his first tools, mounted on a door panel from his parents door, which was built in the 1920's. 

Included is Grandpa's very first hammer.  

Are you kidding me?!

Husband wasn't the only one crying believe you me.

Highlight #3

You thought giving birth in a stable was tough; try getting this photo every year!

   

  

Good enough.

Now go have some more sugar.

Highlight #3

My sweet Josslyn dancing with her baby while Samantha fiddles a Christmas tune.

 

I REALLY wanted to throw this peanut over my shoulder and steal her. 

But then the mall cops would come after me.

Or the FBI.

And I probably wouldn't get a coupon.

Highlight #4

My brother-in-law, Steve, trying to be all Mennonite Crafty guy.  

He made a paper mache reindeer to house his gift.  

Instructions were on the tag... "Gut me."

Piper, leave the poor reindeer alone now.  

He's been through enough.

Highlight #5 

Christmas Ballet!

a. Beautiful music and dancing.

b. My Pip Squeak in her big debut.

 

c. My niece Gracie as the cutest donkey ever!

 

Highlight # 6

Seriously osm powder on Mt. Baker.

I may sound like a snowboarder, but really I'm just a sledder.

Do you have any idea how this ended?

Well I don't have a photo because I thought I should put my camera down and hold my phone instead. 

I had 911 on speed dial.

Highlight #7

Eli becomes the Cable Guy.

You know that sound of tools clanging on the belt of any sort of Utility worker?

Well Eli's got that now and I laugh every time I hear him coming. 

And I always hear him, before I see him.

Osm.

Highlight #8

Sam takes joins the ranks of Christmas Story readers.

Here's the tradition:

Everyone reads the Christmas Story in order of your entrance to the family;  by birth, or marriage.

I was skipped.

I'm still bitter about it. 

Each year I think I'll throw a fit but then I catch the Christmas spirit and say, "Oh it's alright, let the little ones read."

But Christmas is over now so I'll be bitter for 11 more months.

(Un)Highlight #9

Peanut Blossoms: The cookie that never was. (Insert sad music)

 

You know how much I love peanut butter and chocolate.

Well then it's no surprise that this is my all time favorite Christmas cookie.

(Insert tangent: Why do people only make it at Christmas?!)

I got some from my neighbor.

HOWEVER

I was raised on my Moms peanut blossoms.

I only really love hers.

She denied me and only made fudge for my sister.

Again, bitter.

Highlight #10

Osm homemade stuff!

 

 

 

Sounds cliche, but homemade gifts really are the best.

Oh, and gift cards.

All the best to you and yours in 2010!