Eastgate Lanes

Pictures from Ben's Birthday

Marrah didn't want to miss the party and had her dad drive back early from a family bowling tournament.
Jacob just got a strike!

Ben & Colt

Papa and Jakob

(Ben's adopted grandpa)!

Clayton, Jacob and Christopher

(Apple-A-Day Buddies)

Jacob making a "fashion statement"!
Ben, Dad and Jake!

Thankful that Luke is with us to celebrate!

Auntie Al and Luke

Thank you for helping us Alison! You are a very special and patient aunt.

Our lives are truly blessed to have to you "McVay's" in it!

(P.S. We have 3 more Lego sets that need to be built when you have a spare minute!)

I just LOVED this picture of Luke S! I had no idea they made bowling shoes a size 4!

Too Cute!

My mom and step dad missed the "friend birthday" because they had to paint. They came by later for some hamburgers and left over cake!

The bowling alley was very fun. Thank you Barb for the bowling pin and letting us use the facility for the party.

I must also thank Julie S. and Ellen M. for staying back to help with the younger kids.

Apple Blossom Festival

Not only was today Ben's birthday but the annual Apple Blossom Festival at Presbyterian Manor. The children from the preschool sing a few songs and then go play on the inflatable slides, etc. Jacob is in the front row with spike in his hair!

Jacob and his friend Clayton!

Horse Races!

Jacob on "The Wall"

(no relation to the Pink Floyd)

Jacob coming down with a little help.

Ben climbed to the top of the wall and got his picture in the paper too!

We ran into Avery at the festival.

My camera wasn't fast enough to catch the hug she gave Jacob.

Avery and Jacob go to the same daycare!

This calf got out of the "petting zoo." This poor man got a good work out trying to catch him.

Below is a picture of Jacob petting the same calf!

Ben's Birthday

I am so thankful that God blessed us with our children. Today was Ben's special day. This is the first year I wasn't working and was able to make "home made" treats. Ben really wanted Walmart cupcakes but I really wanted to make them. I kept thinking of all the years that I longed to do this for Logan. I know it was Ben's birthday but mom did get her wish and made them anyway. Regardless, Ben was happy when his birthday treats arrived at school!

He really wanted blue frosting but I only had green or pink. I told him I chose green to go with his "sport" cupcake tins.....He liked it....Thanks Megan for the recipe and encouragement!

This isn't the best picture but the only one I have of the cupcakes.

This is Ben's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Kirtley. She gave him the choice of 6 "high five's" or 6 hugs and what do you think he chose????

He was so embarrassed up in front of the class. Mrs. Kirtley gave him a "hug" to grow but I promised Mrs. Kirtley I would not put that picture on the blog! "Baby Kirtley" and Ben walking away was about all I got in the picture!

Ben eating his cupcakes with his "hot water" as he told his dad.

There will be more to come after his "friend" birthday!

Calling it a Day!

I know I haven't blogged in awhile. We had issues with cameras, time, etc, etc!

I decided to write something as it was better than nothing. I have decided to call it a day for the following reasons:

1. Ben asked me today if there was a baby in my tummy (referring to the extra weight I'm supporting),

2. I decided to play with the boys and jump on the trampoline (selfishly looking at burning some extra calories too). Well, I didn't think I had to use the restroom but I guess my body didn't like all that bouncing...I did manage to get inside without the boys noticing I "wet" my pants.

There you go, TMI, but that is what is going on at the Schmidt household!

I will try to get better things on-line this week. :)

Forgot the Camera!

The boys and I had the day off for Good Friday. We were going to go to McDonald's and eat at the park and play. Once we got to McDonald's the line was soooooo long we couldn't even pull into the parking lot. I decided at that point I really wanted a good cup of coffee. I drove to Hesston to the Lincoln Perk and got a Cafe Mocha, skim milk and no whip.....ahhhhhh......it was an indulgence I really enjoyed due to the excessive bickering between the boys this morning. By this point moms patience was seriously lacking.

On our way to Hesston for coffee we noticed a park with a huge hill. The boys decided they could eat Sonic and then we could play at this "new" park. The park was great and had a ton of picnic tables and an open "restroom" which they don't have at the park we visit in Newton. The boys ran to play on the train equipment, etc. Ben went down a slide and let out a scream of surprise. He got off the slide and was SOAKED! All I could do was start laughing which in turn made Ben laugh. He wanted to change but because this little trip really wasn't planned I didn't have any extra clothes. I looked at both boys and said "go for it." They looked at me as if I lost my mind (which I probably had) and said you are soaked you might as well run through every puddle you can find and have fun....The boys ran like mad for about 10 minutes and then Ben had enough. He was very cold. Jake went to the other other park and ran around the "merry-go-round" while I took care of Ben.

I had two blankets in the car and put one in each carseat. Ben was so embarrassed but he was naked as jay bird from the waist down. I wrapped him in the blanket and put the seatbelt around him.....Jake thought it was great getting naked in Hesston in broad daylight. He will be my nudist I am sure of it! I wrapped him up and headed to Newton. The boys started laughing so hard on the way home. It was quite distracting but music to my ears after a morning of arguing, hitting each other with chairs, crying, etc.

Jake was so tired tonight he passed out before 8 PM and his dad joined him. Ben and I are still awake which is odd because we usually we are the first to fall asleep in the Schmidt household!

Luke worked his first big storm this last week since his surgery. It was a rough storm with a lot of ice and heavy snow. He worked 18 hour days Saturday-Thursday. Further, he was up almost two days straight from Thursday to Saturday at 11:00 PM. These are VERY LONG hours and it is very hard on your body.
As a result me and the boys spent a lot of time together over the weekend and mom was a little crabby by Sunday. On the way to church we were listening to a "rockin song" as Jake calls it and Ben asked me to turn the radio down. He said "Mom, if you see Pastor Steve can you ask him if he will pray for daddy and all of the other Westar guys to stay safe? I said I could but I would like him to tell Pastor Steve if he saw him. We did make it into church seconds before worship started and Ben asked Pastor Steve to pray. Pastor Steve did pray and told the congregation that a little boy came up to him before service asking him to pray for his dad and all of his coworkers during the storm. How awesome was that!?!
Words can't describe how proud I was of him. Amazed that he is 5 and he "gets it". He "gets it" you can go to God when something is heavy on your heart and pray about it. He always thanks God every night for something.............school, warm bed, food, safe house, etc. and always remembers to pray for those less fortunate.
There are more days than not that I don't think I am doing a good enough job with the boys. However, this day made me realize that the boys are listening and Luke and I must be doing something right.

March 22, 2009

These are random pictures from my baptism. I am so far behind on posts these will have to do!

Below is my mom, step-dad, me, Jake and Ben

My Aunt Leslie drove from Oklahoma for my baptism. She and the boys were having fun!

Baptism

On March 22, 2009 I was baptised by Pastor Steve after 2nd service. Luke and I found a wonderful church and have been attending since 2007. Luke and I attended Judgement House and rededicated our lives to serving God. Further, we took a Perspectives Course in 2008 where we studied missions work and how it related to Jesus/God/Bible. I began a women's bible study in the fall but haven't been able to attend much this spring. All of these experiences led me to realize that God wanted me to be baptised as an adult. I finally started asking around and decided this was something I needed to complete even though I was baptised as a young child.

I went to a baptism preparation class and this is what I learned....

• Baptism is a step of obedience for every believer, commanded by Christ Himself.

"Then Jesus came and said to them 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 28:19, 20)

• Baptism is a way to show others our faith in Jesus Christ and allows us to follow Christ's example.


• Every person who has decided to trust Christ as his/her Savior should be baptised.


• Jesus was baptized by being immersed in water "As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water..." (Matthew 3:16)

The word baptize means to DIP (in liquid)! Being immersed is the best way to picture a death and a resurrection. So here goes.......

Thank you Pastor Steve, friends, and family to help me get to this point! Also, a special thanks to Megan who happened to have her camera. Mine was in the dressing room in my purse (you know because it did a lot of good there)!