Christmas 2008

We had a great morning opening presents and playing with Olivia and Josh. Liv had a blast tearing open the gifts. She seemed to enjoy the paper and opening things better than the actual presents. But she soon figured out the the toys were better after all. Josh was pretty entertained by the all the wrappings as well.

My family came over in the afternoon. Olivia got more presents. At this point she was a pro and new exactly what to do with them. Ripped them all right open. We had the traditional turkey dinner with all the sides. Super yummy. Schwartz Christmas tradition dictates we watch the movies we got for Christmas. So I put in my 'new' Christmas movie "The Muppet's Christmas Carol", only to discover that my family decided they wanted to watch it the night before and couldn't find their movie. So Mom opened my gift and opened my movie and they watched it! Thanks! :)

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas too!

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Olivia's new bike

ZÎG

Winter Wonderland

We have had quite the winter here. Matt and I took Olivia out to play in the snow last week, before the temperature dipped to single digits with wind chill. Yikes! That's cold!

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Great Uncle Jim

My Great Uncle Jimmy came to visit last week. It was so good to see him. He is so full of life and slightly off his rocker! :) It is a great combination. I haven't seen him in a few years and he was really excited to be able to meet the kids. Olivia wasn't quite sure of him at first, but she really liked his watch, so it worked out in the end. Josh, on the other hand, loved being with Uncle Jim. He was a content little bugger while Jimmy held him.

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New Bed

This past week we converted Olivia's crib to a toddler bed. I can't believe that she is already in toddler bed! Yikes. She is growing way to fast. She does pretty well in it. Although, nap time is a little rougher. "Olivia, we stay in our bed during nap." If only she could get back IN her bed after getting out. I guess that will come later.

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Chris' Birthday

My wonderful husband hit a milestone...30!!! Three decades of life! I am so lucky to be able to spend my life with him. Chris is an amazing man and father and I am truly blessed! I love you babe! Happy Birthday!

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Thanksgiving

What a wonderful Thanksgiving. We loaded up the car (with about enough stuff for a week!) and headed up to Mt. Pleasant, where we spent Thanksgiving at my Grandpa's with the Schwartz Family. Almost everyone made (we were sans Aunt Di and Rose:(. It was such a great time to visit with everyone, plus lots of yummy food. Olivia enjoyed playing with her cousins and Aunts and Uncles. I would post pictures of the wonderful occasion, but the smarty-pants that I am forgot the camera. Shoot! Come on peeps, with all the other crap I had to remember I am glad I only forgot one thing! Traveling with kids, is traveling with a circus.

The weekend after Thanksgiving we went and cut down a Christmas tree for my parents. As soon as we got there, it started snowing pretty heavy. Olivia had a blast and gave her approval on the tree I picked out.

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The Cave Troll Carries the Tree

Snow, Snow, Snow!

Gigi and Cousin Heather Come to Town

Chris' cousin Heather and his Mom came for a visit last weekend. It was great having them here. We had a blast playing with the kids and some mad Yahtzee games. We went to a local cider mill, Olivia played in the big wooden train they had. Heather desperatly wanted it to snow and it did, too bad it was the day after she left! Sorry, Heather! It was so helpful to have extra hands around. Thanks for coming, we miss you both!

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Finger Painting

The other day I was feeling quit adventurous, so we finger painted! Olivia wasn't so sure what to do with it, but she figured it out in the end. Although she did eat more than she painted with!!

Our Morning

Scrub-a-dub dub, two babies in a tub!

Waiting for Big Sis to finish up.

All Clean!

Clean and Warm Babies!!

Halloween Weekend

Chris' Dad came to visit for the weekend. It was great having him here. We spent Halloween at my parent's. Olivia got to trick or treat. Although she didn't really get the whole trick or treat idea. She was pretty content to play with her bag rather than ask for candy. She did however like her costume and had a great time running around in it after trick or treating.

Saturday the Gators played Georgia and to our family's delight (and weekend happiness) the Gators crushed the Bulldogs! Go Gators!! My Dad and brothers came over and Chris made pork carnitas (super yummy, thanks to the Hochstettlers for that!!) and we hung out all day, played lots of games and had an all around good time.

Sunday I got to rest a little while Chris and Tony took Olivia to the Henry Ford Museum. She got to play in the trains and check out all the cool airplanes and what not. It was a great weekend. Thanks for visiting Grandpa Tony!

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Playing with the trains at the Henry Ford.

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday we went to a pumpkin patch. An actual real life patch! It was a go into the field and pick your own pumpkin kind of patch. The past few years we have gotten our pumpkins from the front lawn of a church in West Palm, so the patch was extra exciting. It was great to see Olivia get so excited too. Last year we had to prop her up on a pumpkin to get a picture. This year she took off through the patch to get her pumpkin. Tons of fun! She also had a great time riding in the wagon and as we went over bumps she would "oooh" and "aaaah"! It was her own little roller coaster.

Next on the agenda, carving and baking pumpkin pie. (We'll see how that goes, the baking that is.)

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Ready for Winter

For Aunt Rachel

Olivia brought me my apron and wanted to wear it. She traipsed around the house in it for about an hour.

Vegetables

Unlike my friend Alexis, who has to hide broccoli in a PB&J to get her son eat it. I have no problem getting my child to eat her vegetables. Yesterday for dinner one of the lovely Moms from playgroup brought us soup and salad for dinner. One of those really good salads that had tons of good veggies and a really great veggie to lettuce ratio. Since Olivia hasn't really graduated to using the spoon with soup, we started her off on some salad while I made her a PB&J. She wolfed down the salad! WOLFED! Tomatoes, cucumbers, red and green peppers, cauliflower, all of it. She ate it all, even some lettuce. She basically ignored her PB&J and ate only the salad. At the end of dinner she ate maybe half her sandwich and a salad big enough to feed a small army! She is her father's daughter.

Settling In

This past couple weeks seem to be a blur. It is funny with the second how you seem to jump right back into life so much easier that with the first. Maybe because you have a 15 month old running around that forces you too. Everything is going well. Josh is on a pretty good schedule, even sleeping about 5 hours at night. (Praise God!!) Olivia is adjusting well, and doesn't seemed to be fazed by his presence. Really only when food is being delayed because of Josh, does she seem to notice or care and then is pretty annoyed.

I am doing well and so grateful to be back in my old clothes, man I missed them! Yes, my old clothes. You can hate me if you want, I don't care. I missed my clothes terribly and I am glad to have them back. I mean honestly, I have been pregnant or breast feeding for the past 2 years! TWO YEARS, people!!

It has been great having Chris around. I will miss the extra hands when he goes back to work next week. I will miss him too. It is nice having him around, even though he has been sick. He is getting better, thank goodness!

Check out what we have been up too!

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Mom's Little Helper

More Pictures

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Olivia meets Joshua

Welcome Joshua

Joshua Christopher was born October 8, 2008
7 lbs 13 oz 22 inches

We are happy to welcome our new little one. We are all doing well. Thankfully labor and delivery was quick and relatively easy. (Although I am not sure that "easy" should ever be used to describe having a baby, esp. without drugs!) Hopefully we will be heading home tomorrrow and settling into life at home with 2 kids! Chris has the next two weeks off which will be great to have him around. I am looking forward to being home back in some sort of normal routine. Besides there is really only so much time you can spend in one room without going crazy. Thanks for all your prayers,
Kayte & Chris

Sharing

While I was busy doing laundry Olivia was practicing her sharing. She ate a piece of dog food and then gave a piece to Lulu. Ate another piece and gave another piece to Lulu. Luckily I was able to get to her before she swallowed any of the dog food. But of course dog food makes you thirsty, so Olivia picked up Lulu's water bowl and dumped it all over her in attempts to take a drink. I am just glad that she wasn't selfish with the dog food.

Birthday Weekend

Well, it is official. I am in my late 20's! Honestly, I have been looking forward to 27 for quite some time now. Just seems that it is a good number and good time in life. Although I don't think that I ever expected to be 27 married, have a 14 month old, be expecting our 2nd in a few weeks and have my own home-based business. But it is all true and I couldn't be enjoying life more. It all fits so well, I couldn't imagine it any other way.

What a wonderful birthday weekend (even though both Olivia and I were sick, and still are.) Autumn officially has begun! Hip Hip Hooray!! Fall is my favorite time of year and I am so excited to actually get to have a fall. So for my birthday we did Fall-ish things! Saturday we went to Parshallville Cider Mill. My parents and my brothers met us there. We had a picnic lunch by the creek and then wandered around the mill, played in a fire truck and got fresh apple cider, doughnuts, and Carmel apples! Yummy!! Of course we did have to fight off the bees to enjoy the cider and doughnuts, but it was worth it. I had forgotten how many stinking yellow jackets there were! Luckily no one got stung, although a couple bees didn’t make it out alive. After the Cider Mill we went back to my parents and hung out for a bit. We watched the Gators destroy Tennessee! Had a great dinner and cupcakes!! Olivia seemed to enjoy herself at the cider mill, but things went down hill from there. After her nap she woke up with a fever. Thanks to some Tylenol and a nice bath it quickly lowered. She still was just not feeling good the rest of the day and we kind of had to rush though dinner. All in all it was still a great day.

Sunday my brothers came over and we went on a little treasure hunt. So much fun!! Then we went out to lunch at Deadwood Bar and Grill. It is the type of place you are just not sure what to make of it from the outside. Man their food it amazing! They have a lot of wild game on the menu so it is very interesting, but stinking delicious. Olivia also learned to say ‘moose’ as we spent out time there staring at a gigantic moose head mounted above the fireplace. (No, it was not the only mounted animal. Yes, some of the furniture is made from antlers. We live in Michigan now, people! What do you expect!?!)

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband who made my birthday weekend so great! And who got me all my favorite things for my birthday!!! What a great guy!!

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Chasing Lulu

Olivia and Lulu spent the morning playing together. Olivia would take Lulu's toy and run around the house with it. Lulu would get it back, mainly by jumping on Liv and knocking her over. Olivia thought it was one of the funniest things. Then Lulu would tear around the house a couple times and bring the toy back to Olivia and it started all over again. I got to sit and relax while my 2 girls tired each other out. What a wonderful morning!

Wedding Weekend

This past weekend my dear friend Rachel Clary got married. I had the privilege of standing next to her as she and Jeff exchanged vows and now get to start their life as Mr. and Mrs. Palmer. I was even more privileged when she asked me to be her Matron of Honor and I was able to refuse on the basis that I may be married, but I am certainly not matronly! Therefore I became her Prime Lady Attendant (PLA as it later became). I love that I have such a wonderful friend who understands and supports my extreme detest for the word matron. Although it does describe the Batty Old Librarian well or the Lady with too many cats. Rachel and Jeff got married in Mt. Pleasant, MI and that meant a weekend trip to Papa’s for the Bontempos. We stayed with my Grandpa and enjoyed some delicious ribs and grilled corn on the cob and the boys all got to go golfing. Although it was a busy weekend it was tons of fun. Take a gander...

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*Side Note: Some of the pictures aren't that great and no pictures turned out with Olivia and Papa Chuck because our camera is on the fritz. We are working on getting a replacement.

Labor Day Weekend

For Labor Day Weekend my Dad, Olivia and I went to our family's cabin in Northern MI. It was a great trip. Olivia had a wonderful time traipsing up and down the deck and getting into all sorts of things. Chris was in FL for the weekend. He had to go to Tampa for training with work and then he headed over to Gainesville for the first UF game. He had a great time celebrating Aaron's birthday and visiting friends, but we missed him. Next cabin visit he will be there, although we probably won't be able to go up for quite some time. Rumor has it we are going to be pretty busy in the next couple months. :)

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August Pictures

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Thanks for stopping by...now LEAVE!

Well, folks it happened. The first official tantrum. Not just crying because upset, no a full blown temper tantrum. Olivia and I were playing in her room and I needed to put something in her closet. She followed me in and saw her old bouncy seat. She climbed in it while I was taking care of things and then it was time to be done in the closet. So I picked her up and we left. (I know, she has a HUGE closet!) So the tears started. I set her down, she wanted nothing to do with me and then it happened. The crying exploded into wailing. She hurled herself onto the ground, rolled around. Looked back at me as it to make sure that I was seeing what a fuss she was making and then proceeded to roll around more and wail louder. Luckily this first appeared at home and not in the grocery store, but I am sure that will come in time. It was short lived as well. Honestly it made me laugh. We are transition from baby to toddler! What a way to transition.

Date Night Take 2

Well Chris and I made another attempt at out date night. And it was successful!!!! Hip Hip Hooray!! Saturday my brother, Matt stepped up as babysitter extraordinaire and we headed back out to Dearborn to the IMAX. We had purchased our tickets online and it was a good thing. This time we decided to go to a 2:00 showing instead of a later one and it was packed! The ticket line was almost out the door. We marched right up to will call got our tickets and then headed through a maze just to get into the theater. It was half cattle drive half movie line. It was great though. The Dark Knight was amazing! (Although I wanted to cry and leave in the middle, because I was so creeped out by the joker. Not a good movie for someone who doesn't like clowns!) I am glad that Chris and I finally made it to the movies. It was a great afternoon.

Date Night

It is not often that Chris and I can get away for a date night. Needless to say both of us were really looking forward to our date night tonight. (Which we planned a week ago!) My brothers came over to babysit and we headed on our way. Leaving was our first mistake.

We had headed to Dearborn, about 25 miles away, to go to the "best and biggest IMAX in the State" to see The Dark Knight-The IMAX Experience. I have yet to see the Dark Knight and Chris has seen it 2 times, but not in IMAX. So to the best IMAX we went. On the way to dinner we stopped by the theater. I ran inside to buy our tickets and to my dismay it was sold out!! SOLD OUT! We have been planning this for a week and our plan was falling apart! I headed back to the car, shaking my head. Chris was crushed. At this point we should have called it a night. We decided just to go to dinner and decide later if we wanted to try and go to the late showing.

We got to dinner (a restaurant that is also 5 miles from our house) and had a terrible dinning experience. Our service was terrible, when we got it. And Chris wasn't even happy with his food! After that we were both done. We headed home and instead of a date night we had game night with my brothers. At least the second half of the evening wasn't a total bust.

July Pictures

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Precious

Tickle Monster

This went on for 15 minutes or so. Sometimes you
couldn't tell who was laughing harder, Paul or Olivia!

Leftovers

There is nothing better than day old balloons!

She is on the move!

Birthday Girl

Well Olivia is ONE!! Hard to believe. We had a great time on Sunday celebrating. Take a look.

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Moved

Well we have officially moved out of temporary housing and into a condo that we a renting! It was great last night to sleep on our own bed! Man that thing is comfy! Now it is the giant task of unpacking and figuring out where in the heck everything goes. My dad commented the other day while helping "For not being married very long, you guys sure do have a lot of stuff." Thanks Dad.

Hanging Out?

So my brothers decided to come over and hang out. This is their idea of hanging out.

Apparently this one doesn't like flashes.

This one doesn't mind so much.

Up, Down and Across

In the Toy Box

Hot or Cold?

Olivia has always preferred her bottles warm. Not luke warm, but warm slightly hot warm. She has been known on more than one occasion to refuse a bottle because it wasn't at the right temperature. For some time now I have been trying to get her to drink colder formula. Mind you she love ice water, cold juice and ice. One wouldn't think that this would be a problem. I just tried to give Olivia a sippy cup of cold formula. After one sip she immediately spat it out with a "blahhh" threw the cup on the ground and left the room. (Not a drama queen at all!) After I heated it up and gave it to her again, she took many long drinks and began to dance while drinking. Apparently the warmer the better. I am not so sure how she is going to do with cold milk!

Detroit Zoo

We headed off to see the animals! My dad, brothers Paul and Matt, Paul's girlfriend Lori, my best friend Rachel and her fiance, Jeff were all brave enough to venture to the Detroit Zoo with us on Saturday. We had a great time. They have made many improvements from my childhood. One of the them is procuring a male lion from a crack house in Detroit. Only in Detroit! They also updated the Artic exhibits and they now have "The Artic Ring of Life." Basically after a winding trail you end up in an underground tunnel with seals and polar bears swimming around you. It is really neat. At one point the polar bear was sitting on the tunnel! Chris and I missed that but Matt, Paul and Lori got a nice view!!

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Kensington Farm

Since it is not 100 degrees in Michigan we have been able to take advantage of doing things outdoors. The other day Paul, Lori, Matt and I took Olivia to Kensington Farm. We had a great time visiting with all the animals. Olivia really liked the sheep. She pet a goat and pretty much stared at every thing else. We watched a calf get bottled fed and then stood around in disbelief and disgust as the farm worker shoved her fingers in the calf's mouth after he was done eating to let him suckle on her fingers. It was one of the most disgusting sounds and sights I have witnessed. The 8 pounds of drool didn't help either.

Memorial Day and Blogging

Well, I decided that it was time to join the blogging world. I figured this way if you really care what is going on in our lives then you can check it out as opposed to me bombarding your inbox with an email that is way to long to keep your attention and doesn't include half the things that I would like. So here we are.

Today was a great Memorial Day. We spent the day with at Lori's (Paul's girlfriend) house with her family for a BBQ. Lots of good food always makes for a good time in my book. Although that just may be the pregnancy talking!