Last couple of months

In October we went to Iowa for my Grandparents 60Th wedding anniversary and AJ got to do something very special. His Great Uncle Jim took him to his work site and he got to sit in a Front End Loader and they even turned it on and he got to move the bucket up and down. He was in HEAVEN! Then Uncle took him on the train they use to move things around at the job and he got to be the engineer. Here is a short video.







We have had some fun activities going on the past month or two. Halloween was a lot of fun this year. AJ really got into it and even picked out his own costume (after telling him he could NOT be Bobba Fett like daddy told him). He decided he wanted to be a turtle. We went Trunk or Treating at church this year and it was a blast. Everyone decorated their car trunks and handed out candy. And inside they had games and dinner. It was fun. Then after we got home we went to about 5 houses on our block so AJ could actually experience trick or treating. He did great, even remembered to say trick or treat (with some help). He couldn't eat much of the candy, but the grandparents stocked him up with treats he could have, so he didn't even know the difference. We also had a Halloween party the weekend before and all of the pictures are posted on your picture site. We had a small turn out but a lot of fun. We had some great costumes show up and my favorite were Dan and Katie as two characters from The Breakfast Club. Here AJ is in his costume.

Then in November we continued our annual tradition of the 8Th Floor Auditorium Show at Macy's. This year it was the Nutcracker Suite and the boys had a good time. It was the first year they really enjoyed seeing the display. We even tried to visit Santa this year, no crying but the boys had to sit on Dad's lap in order to see Santa.

We have spent some much needed time with Mike, Jessica and Benjamin the last few weekends. The boys have such a good time together. We even watched Benjamin for a night so Jessica and Mike could go out for her birthday. Here is a picture of the boys having a picnic and drinking coffee together.

We had AJ's first school conferences this week. It went well. She said he is a easy child to have in class. She said his vocabulary is amazing and the only thing he needs to work on is sharing (go figure a child with no siblings having problems sharing). But that it's common at this age. In the spring we will have his main conference were they will test his knowledge of shapes, colors, numbers and letters as well as a few other things, so I am looking forward to seeing how is doing.

We are spending Thanksgiving with the Schmitt's at Katie's parents house (Danny's fiance). Joe has been asked to bring a dessert, otherwise no cooking! It should be a wonderful time. And then Christmas will be here before we know it! I can't believe it is a little over a month a way. The year has gone so fast! Before we know it, AJ will be 3 and the new baby will be here. I guess I better get cracking on AJ's new room! Well, we hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and have much to be thankful for, we know we do!!

Have you heard the news?

I think by now most everyone has heard the news, but if not here it is...we are expecting again! That's right, we will be a adding a new Schmitt member to the family around May 29, 2008. AJ is very excited to be a big brother and changes his mind daily as to whether he wants a sister or a brother. We haven't decided whether we are going to find out or not, but we have some time until we have to decide for sure. I have my first appointment next week, but as of right now, I am 9 weeks along. Things have been going fairly well, I am trying not to complain too much. This pregnancy is totally different then the last. I am nauseous all the time and very tired. But maybe that has to do with the fact that I am chasing a 2 1/2 year old around all day. But we are so blessed to be pregnant, I am going to enjoy every minute of it! Other then that, I don't have much else to report. I will post later this week after Halloween!

Where did summer go?

Boy, the summer has sure flown by, but we had fun with our family and friends. Went to a cabin in Hayward, WI with Joe's parents and had a blast despite rainy weather. Have been on a lot of play dates with friends this summer and Joe enjoyed a canoeing and camping trip. Spent some time at the pool and just had fun being outside!

AJ has started school! We have a preschool at our church, Lake Area Discovery Center (http://www.ladcfamilies.org/), that AJ is attending. We went last year to Families First at LADC, a parent/child class, but this year he started Terrific Two's. Every Thursday for 2 1/2 hours I drop him off and he attends school- BY HIMSELF! It wasn't hard to leave him, but when I got home, I was a little sad. He had his first school pictures taken and they turned out great. He participated in his first Bike-A-Thon to raise money for LADC and he even asked for pledges on his own (well, maybe with a little help from mom). He did a wonderful job riding, although he doesn't quite get the peddling part, he just pushes off with his feet. He even went on a pony ride at the event as well! We also are continuing our music class and swimming lessons at the YMCA on Fridays, so we will be busier now! He is just getting too big.

Speaking of big, my nephew Gage is growing like a weed and getting more adorable by the day. He is now 4 months old and I am a very proud Godmother! And since my last post, I found out I am going to be an Auntie again. My brother John and his wife are expecting in January 08. We are very excited to meet our new little niece!

More exciting news for us, Joe is no longer an employee at IBM. He accepted a job at US Bank leading the network configuration team. It is a big step for him, he has been with IBM for 8 years, but it's a great opportunity for him and it means I can quit my morning hours at the YMCA! It is an office job, so no more working from home, but now AJ and I can visit him at work and take him out for lunch! It will be hard not having him here to "bail" me out when I need it, but we are so excited and PROUD of him!

And still more exciting news, we are so proud to officially welcome Katie into our ever growing family! Joe's brother Dan proposed last weekend and they are planning a Fall 08 wedding! We couldn't be happier, Katie is a wonderful person and AJ loves her bunches and is already calling her Auntie Katie.

Joe also rode in his first Century Ride (100 miles to clarify) on the 22ND of September (our 6 year anniversary) from Park Rapids to Itasca State Park and back. He has been training for a while and and it paid off, he finished in 7 hours and 40 minutes (even after a little detour, he is a little directionally challenged)! I think he is enjoying this even more then he did running and it's definitely easier on his body.

I am really enjoying not getting up at 3:30 am anymore. I have had more energy and we have been doing a lot more fun stuff! We meet the Jankowski/Taufen side out at the apple orchard for some fun and are meeting them again in a few weeks for pumpkin picking. We are heading this weekend to Iowa for my grandparents 60Th wedding anniversary. My Aunt and her kids are flying in from CA and everyone else should be there too. It should be a lot of fun seeing everyone!

Well, that is probably enough for now, I will try and be a better blogger now that I have more free time in front of the computer!

What's up with the Schmitt's?

It has been awhile since my last post and we have had quite a bit going on.

In May we had my Dad's surprise 60th Birthday party and boy was he surprised. We had a great turn out and he had a wonderful time catching up with everyone. I was finally able to take a picture that I have been trying to get for the last 2 years- AJ with all 6 of his grandparents! It turned out great!


Then I threw Jess' baby shower towards the end of May and that was a wonderful time. We had it at the restaurant she used to work at, Confluence, and the food was AMAZING! Mark (the owner and chef) did a wonderful job and Jess was very happy. Baby Brunkhorst received many wonderful gifts. About 10 days after the shower, HE decided to make his appearance a little earlier then planned. About 5 1/2 weeks early to be exact. Gage Jankowski Brunkhorst arrived on May 30 weighing 5lbs 3oz and 18 1/4 inches long. He was early but he was a tough little guy, he only spent a week in the hospital and is now home with Mom, Dad and Izzy. He is doing amazing- gaining weight like a champ- and he is SO beautiful, I mean handsome. Jess and Jake asked Mandy (Jake's sister) and I to be Godmothers and of course we gladly accepted. My little peanut has kept me busy and his cousin AJ loves giving him kisses and telling him, "Baby Gage, I love you!" I am totally in love with this little man, really makes me want another one of my own...


Joe just got back from his annual canoe trip with his buddy Scott, so AJ and I spent the weekend with my Mom and Dan and Joe's parents. We are VERY thankful to have our family so close and that they are willing to take us in!! We went to Sommerfest at the German house on Summit Ave with the Schmitt clan - minus Joe. Sat in the grass, listened to some German music, watched German dancers, ate German food and spent time with family. A perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon if you ask me! We then took Mom and Dad out for dinner for their 35th Wedding Anniversary. AJ and Benjamin had a blast playing and dancing at the German festival together. They are so fun to watch and always have a great time together.

We have a pretty busy summer planned. A few camping trips (will be AJ's first time), and stay at a cabin with Grammy and Grandpa Schmitt in August. Joe and I are getting away for the weekend to do a night of camping and then a stay at a B&B courtesy of Mom and Dad Schmitt. We will be spending at least one weekend up north at Mom and Dan's cabin on Duck Lake and heading up to Grandpa and Grandma Jankowski's cabin in Grantsburg and down to Des Moines to stay with Great Auntie and Great Uncle. I am planning a trip to CA with my Mom in September for 5 days with no little one in sight!! I need a vacation and Joe thinks so too. I am sure more things will come up as the summer gets going! We hope you all have a wonderful summer and we hope to see as many of you as possible!!



My Godson

Bad, bad, blogger!

I have been TERRIBLE about updating this blog! We have had a lot going on since my last post.

Our first bit of news was amazing! We found out that we are going to be an Aunt and Uncle again in July of 07! Jess (Jen's sister) and her husband Jake are expecting their first bundle of joy! I could not be more excited, this little peanut (as I am calling him/her) is such a blessing! AJ is VERY excited about meeting his new cousin!

Christmas came and went faster then we would have liked. AJ had a great time opening presents this year and even is starting to understand the concept of Santa Claus. He is also really starting to grasp the concept of God and loved seeing the Baby Jesus in the manager statue at Church. He is now 22 months old. I can't believe in less then 2 months he is going to be 2!! Where has the time gone. We are amazed every day at how smart he is. He learns more and more each day, he is just a sponge. His favorite things right now are cars and trucks, his books and as always his DIGGERS. He doesn't ever get tired of those and Grandpa and Grandma Jankowski gave him a "working" digger for Christmas and he hasn't put it down (although Mom had to hide it for a while because he WOULDN'T put it down). Here is a recent picture of him, he is such a little man!

Joe and I just got back from a much needed vacation. We spent 4 wonderful days in Freeport, Bahamas! It was just wonderful to get away from it all and have a little adult alone time, not to mention some warm, sunny weather! We didn't do a whole lot, just mainly relaxed. Joe was able to go sailing twice on a small catamaran. What an experience for him, sailing on the ocean all by himself. We also spent one afternoon in town shopping and had an amazing lunch at a local restaurant (the food at the resort was only OK). I had steamed conch (a local favorite) and Joe had jerk chicken. We had both been craving these since our last trip to Nassau, Bahamas for our honeymoon 5 years ago and they didn't disappoint. Joe also tried something new, driving on the opposite side of the road! He did great and no problems, but he had a great co-pilot. After this trip, we may have to make a winter vacation to a sunny destination a yearly activity!



AJ spent those 4 days while we were gone playing with his cousin Benjamin and he had a blast! Mike (Joe's brother) and his wife Jessica were kind enough to take AJ in so that Joe and I could go. I knew he was going to be in good hands and from the sound of it, he didn't even miss us! And his Auntie Jessica did me a huge favor in breaking him of his pacifier habit. By the time we got back, no more pacifier.

Otherwise, we have just spent most of our time with family and friends and just enjoying life. I have updated our picture website and am in the process of updating our videos, so check those out soon.