The Schramm Fam

Jerilyn's Grave

2011-10-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

Jeff and I went to Vegas a couple weeks ago, and while we there visited Jerilyn's grave. It was the first time I've been there since the funeral. It was pretty emotional and difficult, but I'm glad I finally went. Her gravestone is beautiful.

Amazing Jakes

2011-10-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

We visited Amazing Jake's in Mesa this weekend. It's basically Chucky Cheese on steroids. There were games, rides, miniature golf, bowling, and an all-you-can-eat buffet. Lexi was in heaven!

This was the first time the kids have golfed. Lexi was a natural! Jackson just liked swinging his club around.

Jack's face on the teacups says it all.

The Petting Zoo

2011-10-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

In our quest to find something to do this Friday, we stumbled upon a petting zoo complete with a camel and a zebra. Lexi thoroughly enjoyed it, but Jackson was pretty hesitant. He finally warmed up a little around the goats.

Gotta love the sunglasses and rain boots!

My return to blogging

2011-10-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to make a blogging comeback. I finally have the background updated, now let's see if I can get some pictures posted. Stay tuned...

Hilarious!!!

2010-11-11T22:38:00.001-08:00

I just got this email from my sister-in-law, and it's so funny that I almost pee'd my pants (not hard to do after having 2 kids). It is a list of 31 adult truths. I can honestly say that I relate to every single one. Here's the list (I added a few comments of my own):

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet? - I've resorted to just rolling them up.

6. Was learning cursive really necessary? - I don't remember the last time I wrote in cursive. I can barely even read it anymore.

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died. - So true.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired. - I thought that was just me.

10. Bad decisions make good stories. - My husband can vouch for this one. He tells the BEST stories. Love you babe!

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day. - That's why Solitaire was invented.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again. - I just finished transferring all my VHS tapes to DVDs.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever. - I don't purchase items that say that on the label.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste. - That is why I never get ready anymore! My husband works late, so the only people I see all day are my kids, and they could care less if I'm still in my PJs.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call. - I also assign them the most obnoxious ring tone to make doubly sure I don't answer it.

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well. - I agree. Try finding ice cream at 2 AM.

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

20. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text. - And why is it that when you're trying to finish a text you only hit green lights?

24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?

29. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate bicyclists.

30. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

31. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my yewt everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-30T22:06:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while, but I finally have some pictures to post. This year for Halloween Lexi and Jack were pumpkins. As usual I forced Jeff into a costume that coincided with mine. He was a particularly good sport this year because I forced him to wear a beard and wig. He was Zeus and I was Athena. I thought it was pretty creative especially since I already had all the required clothing items.

Lexi had a parade and trunk-or-treat at her preschool. There was a small performance where the children say Halloween songs, but Lexi had another bout of stage-fright and came crying off the stage. I guess she doesn't have a future in theater.

Tonight was the ward trunk-or-treat that we all got dressed up for. It was fun, but I'm glad to have the stress of Halloween over.

Back to School

2010-08-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

Lexi started preschool this week. I can't believe she'll be going to Kindergarten in a couple years. I wish there was a drug that you could give kids to keep them from growing up so fast. Maybe I should put my chemistry degree to good use and start working on something for that. Somehow I think the FDA wouldn't approve it though. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to savor every moment of these adorable years.

The Ultimate Death Match

2010-08-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

If you've ever wondered who would win in a fight, a scorpion or a spider, read on to find the answer. First, a little background...

We've been living in Arizona for a few months now and absolutely love everything about it. We love the weather, the landscape, and the people. The only thing we HATE about living here are the scorpions. Because of the copious amounts of rain this summer, we have found multiple scorpions inside the home (one was climbing up my arm). Yesterday we found yet another scorpion in the house, but instead of our usual response (a swift smash with a shoe) Jeff decided to catch it and then feed it a bug. In my quest to find a yummy meal for our new pet, I found a LARGE spider. So, being the immature and curious adults we are, Jeff and I decided to put the two together and see which disgusting insect would win in a battle to the death.

Now, before I continue, I feel like I must explain something. I absolutely hate spiders. They're creepy and crawly and they freak me out. The only things I hate worse than spiders are scorpions. So, call me masochistic, but I have no qualms about putting a spider and scorpion together for a death match.

So, place your bets. Scorpion or Spider?

Our 2 contestants. An average sized scorpion and a large spider (probably a wolf spider)
At first, I was convinced that the scorpion had the upper hand. He was very aggressive and had the spider's legs in his pincers several times, while the spider seemed only concerned with escape. But, in the end the scorpion couldn't compete with the spider's large fangs and lost the battle. After about 6 hours together all that remained was a few bits and pieces of scorpion carcass and a very happy (and full) spider.
Here's what's left of the scorpion. Poor guy never had a chance.
Now, after the battle was over we were left with the conundrum of what to do with our winner. To me, the only good spider is a dead spider, but we decided that our spider friend was the lesser of 2 evils, and that if he could help decrease the number of scorpions in the yard he was worth something. So, we let the spider go free with the hopes that he'll devour any scorpion that crosses his path.

The End (at least for the scorpion).

PRIVATE

2010-07-20T18:21:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know, I am making my blog private this week. Hopefully I got everyone on the list. I hope you all continue to view my blog and check up on my family.

Yum Yum!

2010-07-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

Jackson had his first taste of baby food this past Sunday. We decided to start with squash in the hopes that he will become a vegi-lover like his sister. He did pretty good for his first time, although the bulk of the food ended up on his bib and up his nose. He's getting better every day and his diapers are getting stinkier. It's fun to start feeding your baby solids, but man does it make the dirty diapers worse! Oh well, whatcha gonna do?

Here are some random pics of the kids that I've been meaning to post...

Andrew came to visit and he and Lexi decided to swap clothes. I'll spare you the picture of Andrew wearing Lexi's clothes, but I'm sure you can imagine a 16-year-old wearing a 3-year-old's clothes. Luckily he wore his boxers underneath.

Getting ice cream as a family. What's up with kids always wanting sprinkles? Seriously yuck! We were actually surprised because on this trip she went for mini m&m's. Maybe her tastes are maturing.

Jackson and his cousin Olivia. It is so nice living close to family so we can get together and hang out.

As many babies do, Jack started sporting a mullet as his baby hair began to fall out. I have a strict no-mullet policy and so had to pull out the clippers and take care of the problem immediately.

WITH MULLET

WITHOUT MULLET

Much better!!!

Lexi is always happy to pose for the camera. She's defintely our little actress.

My Last Will and Testament

2010-07-06T18:32:00.000-07:00

In my attempt to lose the last 30 pounds of post-pregnancy weight I've decided to do the P90X workout program. It's basically 90 days of sheer torture. I started yesterday and am already sore to the max. So, if I die from a heart attack or my body is rendered useless from the pain, please tell my family that I love them. On the other hand, if I make it through the 90 days I should be one buff chick!

Mission Beach

2010-07-05T20:35:00.000-07:00

I am recommitting to blogging and since I am so behind with my posts, my next several entries are going to be a little out of order.

First of all, I should give an update on how our family is doing here in Arizona. We are still living with my parents and will probably for a while. Jeff got a job at a local chiropractor's office that he hasn't been too enthusiastic about, but again our family has been blessed and he got an offer to work in a clinic that focuses specifically on his field of chiropractics. This new job will provide him with amazing opportunities to learn and grow before we open our own clinic. He starts working there next week and is ecstatic.

So, on to the actual topic of this post. Last week my parents rented a beach house at Mission Beach in San Diego for a Nielsen family reunion. The house was literally right on the beach about 75 yards from the ocean. The entire family was there including my sister Jerilyn's 3 boys. It was great to get everyone together and exciting to take Lexi to the beach for the first time. She loved playing in the sand and had no fear of the ocean.

This is a picture of us on the trip down. We had the car packed so full we were busting at the seams. It was a little crazy for the first few days because both Jeff and my brother Eric had to work and so didn't come until later in the week. It was definitely rough being a single parent for those 5 days. (Notice Jackson and Savannah in the very back seat).

Jack loved hanging out in his pop-up tent. He even napped in it. Of course the second I would get him to sleep, Lexi would decide that she wanted to go back to the house.

Lexi flying the very popular $3.00 Spongebob kite.

On the second day Lexi woke up with a sore ankle and refused to walk at all. Instead, she spent the whole day crawling everywhere. It was pretty funny. The next morning she was fine. Weird. Maybe she just wanted the attention.
London was our little sand princess. She spent more time on the beach than anyone else. She never wanted to come in. She was happy to play in the sand all day.

Matthew smiling (or growling) for the camera
My dad is the king of sand castles and this is the one he created this year (will the help of the grandkids of course).
Lexi was one of the few kids (or adults) who actually got in the water. She's a fishy like her mommy.
Lexi and London really enjoyed playing together. They are only a couple months apart in age so it was great to get them together to bond.

At the aquarium. Notice that I'm missing from the picture. That's because I stayed home and slept all morning.

Privacy Time

2010-06-15T12:13:00.000-07:00

I've decided to make our blog private for a variety of reasons. There are just too many creeps out there that I'd rather not have looking at my beautiful babies and reading my most personal thoughts. If you would like to continue to view my blog all you need to do is give me your email address and I will add you to the list of people who can view my blog. Either leave a comment with your email address or send me an email. Sorry for the inconvenience but you just can't be too careful these days!

We're Still Here

2010-06-15T11:36:00.001-07:00

Things have finally settled down enough that I have time to post an update about what's going on with the Schramms. We are now living very comfortably in my parents home in Scottsdale, AZ. Alexis and Jackson are definitely getting spoiled from all the attention and love the grandparents are giving them, and I'm certainly not complaining about having some extra hands around to help with the kids. Jeff is working in a chiropractic office in the area while he makes plans to open his own practice most likely in the Mesa area. We have our good and bad days, but on the whole life is treating us pretty okay. We are just so grateful for the support and help from family and friends. I've got lot's of pictures to post so check back soon.

Mother's Day Thoughts

2010-05-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

This mother's day has given way to much thought and reflection. A mere 3 weeks ago, Jeff graduated from chiropractic school and we relocated our family to Colorado to pursue a very prestigious internship. We had just settled into our beautiful new home and Jeff had begun working when we got some awful news. Jeff did not pass his part III board exam and as a result is unable to get a chiropractic license in Colorado. This forced us to make the difficult decision to pack up our family AGAIN and move in with my parents in Arizona. We had eventually planned on moving in with my parents and settling in Arizona but have had to bump up our timetable. We have therefore spent the last 4 days packing up our beautiful new townhome (thankfully rented) and are planning on making the drive to Arizona this week. We are hopeful that Jeff can get a job in Arizona since the licensing laws are slightly different there and that we'll be able to get back on our feet soon.

Although this has been one of the worst weeks of my life, I must reflect on all the wonderful blessings that I have in my life. I have two healthy and beautiful children that are too young to be affected by any of this drama. I have a husband who has been my rock and provided endless hugs through my near constant crying. I have parents who have a home that we can live in while we get on our feet. And we have countless other relatives and friends that have provided financial and emotional support. I know the Lord has a plan for my family and that we will get through this difficult time.

Blogging Hiatus

2010-04-21T19:30:00.000-07:00

Since we are moving to Colorado this week and will be without internet for a while I am taking a break from blogging. I promise to return as soon as we get settled and I can find an internet connection somewhere. Until then, farewell and wish us luck!

How much can you pack into a week?

2010-04-20T21:07:00.000-07:00

So this weekend Jeff graduated from Parker Chiropractic College. It's official, my husband is a doctor! It was so wonderful because we had lot's of family come in town for the festivities including Jeff's mom, aunt Donna, aunt Trish, his sister Joni and her husband Josh, plus my parents. Since we had so much family in town we decided to bless Jackson at church on Sunday so that everyone could be there to witness. Jeff did a wonderful job and gave Jack a beautiful blessing. Now, all our guests have left and we are in the process of packing up our apartment. We pick up our moving truck tomorrow and head for Colorado on Friday. My apartment is a mess and my stress level is to the max, but hopefully if I can get our family moved to Colorado things will calm down.

Here are some pictures from graduation and Jack's blessing.

Jeff looked so handsome in his cap and gown.The hood representing Jeff's doctorate degree in Chiropractics.Lexi ready for church in her adorable dress from auntie Jenn. Jackson in his blessing outfit. My brother and nephew were both blessed in the same outfit. Jeff wasn't very comfortable putting our son in tights, but hopefully Jackson's masculinity wasn't too affected by the girly apparel. I think that it's a physical impossibility to get a picture with both your children smiling, so this will have to do.

Colorado Here We Come

2010-03-23T20:00:00.001-07:00

It's official, we are moving to Colorado! Jeff interviewed this week with a chiropractor in Windsor, Colorado and was offered the job as an intern. This will be an amazing learning experience for us and will give us the knowledge to open our own practice in Arizona in a couple years. Now I've got 4 weeks to find a place to live, pack up our apartment, and move my family to a place I've never been. Can you say "Stress"? But seriously, we are so grateful for this opportunity and feel very blessed. Check out the official website of Windsor, Colorado where the Schramm fam will be relocating to. http://www.ci.windsor.co.us/

Baby Jackson

2010-02-20T17:38:00.000-08:00

Jackson Jeffrey Schramm was born on Monday, February 15th at 2:36 pm. He weighed 9 lbs even and was 21.5" long. I went in at 7 am to be induced and things progressed very quickly. The delivery went pretty well except that it took a while to get my pain managed so I was seriously uncomfortable (I admire all the women that can do childbirth naturally because it's freakin' painful). We left the hospital about 24 hours after he was born and have been adjusting to life at home. Unfortunately I've been suffering from postpartum depression, but seem to be pulling out of it thanks to the support of my husband, mom, and a wonderful psychiatrist. I'm so grateful to have a healthy beautiful boy and can't wait to watch his personality develop. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers on my behalf. I'll try to keep the pictures coming.

Snow in Dallas

2010-02-12T16:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning we woke up to several inches of snow, a rarity in Dallas. Lexi and Jeff wasted no time getting outside and building a snowman. It's probably only the third time Lexi has ever seen snow so it was fun that she was able to get some play time in. I was convinced that I was going to go into labor because everything was closed and the roads were a mess, but apparently record snowfall won't persuade this kid to come out. I'm actually going in on Monday to be induced so check back in a few days for pictures of our little boy.

Happy Birthday Lexi

2010-01-31T15:29:00.000-08:00

Today is Lexi's 3rd birthday. We celebrated yesterday with a big birthday bash. Our friend's Wayne and D'Lonna were kind enough to let us use their house for the party because there is no way that we could have fit everyone into our tiny apartment. Lexi has been looking forward to her birthday for months and since this is the last year she will be an only child we wanted to make it really fun for her. The funniest moment during the party was when Lexi was opening her presents. She had probably opened 4 presents and then decided she was done and walked into the other room. She was sitting on the floor, surrounded by everyone, and just got up and walked away. I tried to get her to come back and open the rest but she wouldn't, so I let all the other kids open her presents. She was really excited this morning when she woke up to play with all the toys she didn't even know she had gotten. What a silly kid. Thanks to all our friends for coming and for all the wonderful presents (hopefully no one got offended by Lexi's lack of enthusiasm).

Lexi taking her turn hitting the pinata.

All the kids waiting patiently to take a swing at the pinata
Jeff was brave enough to hold the pinata on a broom while 10 preschoolers swung a bat in his direction.

Lexi was so excited to blow out the candles on her cake.
Lexi opening her first present.
This is about the point that she lost interest in her presents. You can tell from her face that she is pretty worn out.

This is all the other children opening her presents for her.

Baby Shower

2010-01-20T16:34:00.001-08:00

Last week my friends hosted a baby shower for me. It was so much fun and so great to see everyone. I got some really cute clothes and other essentials for the baby. I now feel like I'm fully prepared to have this kiddo (I just need to convince him to come out a little early).

I actually have a lot more pictures from the shower, but I'm in all of them and I don't want to scare anyone with my large size. I've got some serious exercising to do after this baby comes.

Update

2010-01-03T18:41:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've given a baby update so I thought I would let you all know how things are going. I'm still on bedrest, although my blood pressure is staying down so I am able to do a few things around the house. Jeff has been out of school for the last 2 weeks so it's been nice to have someone to cook and clean for me. He is an extremely capable man and can handle just about all of the housework (even if it's not done to my perfectionist standards). Lexi has been getting a little stir-crazy in the house and has taken to jumping on the furniture to get rid of her excess energy. All-in-all I'm hanging in there although it seems like this pregnancy will never end! Oh, and on another note...I had a sonogram and the baby weighs around 5 pounds (average weight for this stage is 2.5 - 3.5 pounds), which means I will probably be delivering a 12 pound baby. What a nice thought. I'm just praying this baby finishes cooking quickly and I go into labor a few weeks early. Here are some random pictures of Lexi that I've taken over the last several months.

Merry Christmas

2010-01-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

I realize I'm a little late on the Christmas post, but better late than never. This year we had planned on going to Arizona for the holidays but because of my bedrest we had to stay home. Although we missed seeing family, it was nice to have a quiet Christmas with just the 3 of us. This is the first year that Lexi got into Christmas and was so excited about Santa coming and bringing her a toy robot. Originally we planned on only getting her a couple presents, but between grandparents and aunts and uncles she ended up with quite a few presents. It was a fun day and we really enjoyed our last Christmas in Texas.

The Layout on Christmas morning

I think her favorite toy was the dollhouse which stands about a foot taller than her. She was so surprised and excited when she saw it that she didn't want to open the other presents. Notice the robot at the bottom of the picture. For some reason Lexi got it in her head that she wanted Santa to bring her a robot. Thankfully my mother found one that fit Lexi's description and made her pretty happy.
Lexi got several dolls and doll accessories. I'm expecting her to get really into her dolls once the baby arrives.

Jeff thought he'd brush up on his parenting skills with one of Lexi's dolls.

Lexi reached a point where she was so overwhelmed with toys that she had to take a break from opening presents and survey all the new loot.

Jeff really wanted to get Lexi a tent for inside the house, but the store was sold out of the kid-sized tents so we ended up buying a really inexpensive dome tent. The only problem is that it is 7' x 7' and takes up our entire living room. She does love to play in it though.

Worn out after a long day of present opening and playing with new toys.

Bedrest for Me

2009-12-04T15:13:00.000-08:00

So, this week has been pretty bad for me. To sum up the news, I am showing early signs of preeclampsia in the form of high blood pressure and edema (I'm so swollen that I look like the stay puff marshmallow man). As a result, my doctor has put me on bedrest as well as a low dose blood pressure medication. Fortunately, I am not showing any of the other symptoms like protein in my urine, so the plan is to keep my blood pressure down and let this baby cook as long as possible. It seems likely that I will have to be delivered early though. I'm just praying I don't have another NICU baby. Please all pray that I can deliver a healthy baby boy and also pray that I don't lose my marbles being on bedrest.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-29T12:01:00.001-08:00

For Thanksgiving this year we had our friends Amy, Jared, and Gavin over and ate ourselves into a coma. I made the turkey and it turned out pretty good. We also had the traditional mashed potatoes, yams, green beans, rolls, stuffing, and pecan pie. It was a great day.

On Friday morning, we packed up the car and headed to San Antonio to go to Sea World. Our passes from earlier in the year are still valid, so we figured we'd use them one more time before we move. Lexi was so excited to see Shamu, but I was definitely a little hesitant to haul my swollen body around a theme park. I was sure to pack a pillow and blanket in case I needed a rest. It was a quick 4 hour drive to San Antonio and then straight into Sea World to see the Sesame Street show and Shamu. We headed back to our hotel and tested out the swimming pool which was freezing. I managed to squeeze myself into a maternity swimsuit, but I'll spare you the photos. The next morning we checked out of the hotel and headed back to Sea World to visit the rest of the animals. Once Lexi had had enough, we loaded back into the car and headed for home. It was a great 2 days and Lexi had a lot of fun. It was also nice to spend some time with Jeff since he's been so busy lately. Enjoy the pictures.

The first thing we had to get in Sea World was cotton candy. I was having a serious craving.

We fed the lorikeets, but they were a little aggressive and bit my hand really hard. I was bleeding all over. My mom thinks they didn't like all the pregnancy hormones I'm emitting.

They loved Jeff so much that they pooped all over him.
Feeding the dolphins was definitely the highlight of the trip, although they kept trying to eat our camera because they thought it was a fish.

Lexi was all tuckered out by late afternoon, so we decided it was time to pack it up and head home.

Here is a video of Lexi watching the Shamu show. Every time he jumps out the water her face lights up. It is adorable.

Here is Lexi feeding the dolphins. It was definitely her favorite part of the day.

Lexi feeding the Lorikeets. She was a little hesitant at first but quickly got the hang of it.

The Butterfly Circus

2009-11-25T14:41:00.000-08:00

If you've got 20 minutes and want a little inspiration, follow the link below and watch "The Butterfly Circus"
http://www.thedoorpost.com/hope/film/?film=4dd298f102c77b625cf37a9e7744ac68

Survey

2009-11-07T17:24:00.000-08:00

I've collected pictures of Jeff, Lexi, and myself all at similar ages and am conducting a survey. I want to know who you think Lexi looks more like: Jeff or Me (try to look past the blonde hair and blue eyes which she obviously got from Jeff). You can be honest, but I must warn you that I'm sick of people telling me how much Lexi looks like her Dad. I mean he's handsome and all, but I carried her in my womb for 9 months and think I deserve a little genetic input. So, let's hear what you think.

Happy Halloween

2009-11-02T17:16:00.001-08:00

Lexi in her Flamingo costume. She defintly got good use out of that thing. Thanks Lala!

Jeff and me in our costumes for the ward party. This is one of the few pictures you will see of me during my pregnancy so savor it.

Lexi and her friend Elliot, aka Elf. His costume was definitly our favorite. The most amazing part was that his parents made the entire thing!

Lexi giving a hug to her friend Thad.

The Star Wars clan, complete with a baby Chewbacha and working lightsabers.

Tinkerbell, Captain Hook, and Peter Pan. We definitly have some creative friends.

Lexi with all of her best buds.

Bobbing for doughnuts. Try explaining the concept that you can't use your hands to a group of toddlers.

Lexi and her friends ready for Trick-or-Treating.

She ran for about the first 45 minutes and then got a little tired, bored, and scared.

All tuckered out after lot's of trick-or-treating.

Riding home with the loot.

Halloween this year at the Schramm home was quite a production. I had Lexi in and out of her costume so many times that I was excited to pack it away yesterday. I feel like this was really her first true Halloween because she was able to grasp the concept of going to people's door and saying "Trick or Treat". The Halloween hoopla actually began earlier in the week when Lexi wore her flamingo costume to the Halloween party at her preschool. Our next event was our ward Harvest Carnival followed by a trunk-or-treat on the 30th. Jeff and I decided to dress up, and since I'm 6 months pregnant we thought we would incorparate my large belly into our costumes. Consequently, Jeff was the devil and I was a pregnant nun with a sign taped to my belly reading "The Devil Made Me Do It". Lexi loved playing with all of her friends and participating in the various games.

On Halloween day, the festivities started around 4 o'clock with a party at our friend's apartment. They had games for the kids and lot's of festive treats. The funniest was watching Lexi bob for doughnuts. She was actually pretty good at it. After the party, we met up with another group of friends for the official trick-or-treating. Since this was Lexi's first year we weren't quite sure what to expect, but she definitly caught on pretty quickly following the older kid's lead. She did great until we visited some scary homes at which point she decided that Daddy needed to carry her the rest of the way. From that point on, instead of saying "Trick-or-Treat" at the door, she would simply say "I'm scared". I guess she was going for sympathy candy. We also underestimated the distance Lexi would have to walk. She definitly got tuckered out pretty quick and had to ride in the wagon our friends pulled along. I think next year we'll use the stroller. All-in-all it was a fun Halloween filled with lot's of great memories.

When Auntie Jenn Came to Town

2009-10-19T16:31:00.000-07:00

My sister Jennifer came in town this weekend for a quick visit. Since this was her first trip to Texas we felt like we really needed to pack in as much as possible. This included a trip to Jeff's school, the Texas state fair, our annual Pumpkin Dash, a trip to Sam Moon for some shopping, eating at Babe's Chicken, a visit to the Pumpkin Patch, and scouting out a couple consignment stores. Needless to say, our feet were pretty sore so we topped the trip off with pedicures at Hawaiian Nail Bar. It was so fun having Jenn here, although I definitely think we wore her out. I know I need a couple days of rest to recover. Here are the pics from our fun-filled weekend.

The Texas State Fair
This is definitely the fair to beat all fairs complete with a petting zoo, 2 car shows, a million carnival rides and games, a fireworks show, and all the fried food you can eat. Lexi loved the rides and I loved the fried Snickers bar. Unfortunately my camera died and so I didn't get many pictures.

The Third Annual Pumpkin Dash
Every October since we've lived here we have run the Pumpkin Dash which is a 5K race in our neighborhood. It's always great fun getting Lexi dressed up and enjoying the nice weather. Since I didn't want to come in dead last, I watched from the sidelines while Jennifer and Jeff ran the entire race. They both did great and we all had a lot of fun (although we were all a little weighed down from all the fried food the night before).

The Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch
On Jennifer's last day here I decided to take her to the Pumpkin Patch. It's a great place for kids to play, plus there are tons of photo opportunities. Unfortunately, the weather was windy, Lexi was grouchy, and there were about a million other kids so I didn't get any amazing pictures. Oh well, we still had fun.

It's A Boy!

2009-10-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

We had an ultrasound today that confirmed we are having a boy. Everything looked great in the ultrasound and we'll be expecting his arrival in late February. When we told Lexi that she was going to have a little brother she replied, "No, I want a little sister!" Hopefully her attitude will change over the next few months or the baby may be met with some hostility when Lexi realizes he's not a girl.

Lexi's 1st Day of Preschool

2009-09-08T14:48:00.001-07:00

Today Lexi started preschool. Normally I wouldn't have enrolled her in school yet, but my good friend, who taught preschool for years, decided to teach a small group of children out of her home. Lexi goes twice a week for 2 1/2 hours which gives her some much needed playtime, plus I get to run some errands minus a toddler. It's amazing how much more you can do when you're not trying to drag a 2-year-old with you. I can tell that she is going to love it because when I picked her up today she gave me this look of disappointment that said, "Oh mom, can't you come back later. I'm having so much fun."

Now of course, on the 1st day of school I had to take multiple pictures. She was so adorable holding her little bag all ready to go. I got a couple shots in our apartment and then decided to venture out and get some nature shots. Not such a good idea...I got one picture and then Lexi screamed bloody murder, and I new instantly that she had been bitten by a fire ant. Our fun and exciting morning quickly took a turn for the worst as I ran her into the apartment and pinned her to the floor so I could put some Calamine on the bite. Instantly the pain abated and we made it to school. Below are the pictures I got before the traumatic biting incident.

In other news, I finally got Lexi potty trained. I tried to train her about 4 months ago and gave up after 1 day because she didn't seem ready. This time was significantly easier. She seemed to grasp the concept a lot better this time, and I honestly had her trained in about a day. It took another couple of weeks to work out the fine details like wiping, hand washing, and pooping, but she is pretty much done. Hallelujah! I'm so glad I waited until she was a little older. Here are some random pictures of my big girl.

Jeff started school again this week. His class load is significantly lighter and most of his time will be spent in the clinic working on patients. I can't believe he'll be graduating in April. The time has flown by. I am so proud of him for sticking with it and continuing to work hard.

Lastly, I am still pregnant. I'm almost 16 weeks and fortunately am feeling a lot better. The morning sickness still lingers a little, especially if I forget to eat, but it is definitely nothing like it was with Lexi. I'm so glad to be over the worst of it. The baby is healthy and everything looks normal. The doctor is pretty certain the sex of the baby, but I won't be posting that announcement until we have another sonogram in a few weeks and are positive. Although I hate to have my picture taken while I'm gestating I decided to post 1 for posterity's sake. I will only be accepting comments such as "Man you look great" or "You look so little for 16weeks". I will not be accepting comments such as "Are you pregnant with twins?" or "Man, you're huge!" Thanks for your understanding.

Bye Bye Baby Ticker

2009-07-06T14:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, I can't stand watching that dang baby ticker every day, so I'm removing it from the blog. Don't worry, I'm still pregnant, but I'd prefer not to dwell on the fact that I have over 200 days to go.

Bring on the Bucket!

2009-07-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

It's official, the morning sickness has arrived. I must warn you that the next several posts will contain lot's of negativity and complaining. I just really hate being pregnant. It's not enough that I have to gain 30+ pounds accompanied by lovely stretch marks, but I also have to endure months of constant nausea. Thankfully, through intense meditation and concentration, no actual vomiting has occurred yet, but there have definitely been some close calls. For those of you who have wonderful pregnancies with no morning sickness, I officially HATE you! How am I going to get through the next 8 months?

A Day to Remember

2009-06-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

Today marks the year anniversary of my sister Jerilyn's passing. I don't know what to say except that I still miss her every day. She was a wonderful person, and the world is truly at a loss without her. But I know that she is watching over us on the other side. I love you Jerilyn and still can't believe you're gone.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

This year for father's day I decided to give Jeff a very special gift...another baby. It's true, I'm pregnant again. I realize it's unorthodox to announce a pregnancy this early, but I'm going to need a lot of help and support in the coming weeks and months. Some of you may remember my first pregnancy and how difficult it was, definitely the most challenging 9 months of my life. I suffered from horrible morning sickness, plus depression and anxiety. I literally barely made it through. But I'm convinced that this pregnancy is going to be better. I have a great support system here in Texas and an active toddler to keep me busy. I would still appreciate your phone calls end emails (just to make sure I haven't fallen asleep with my head in the toilet). Oh man, what have I gotten myself into? Just kidding. Jeff and I truly are thrilled to add another member to our family. Bring on the morning sickness, cravings, emotions, and back pain!

My Big Girl

2009-06-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

This week Lexi made the transition to her big-girl bed. A few months ago we converted her crib to a toddler bed, but she is so tall that she was getting a little cramped in that, so I decided it was time to move her to the adult bed. Since our extra bed is a double she now has oodles of space. She loves being able to spread out with all of her books and stuffed animals. I was also excited because I was able to dissasemble her gigantic crib and store it. It is so nice to have the extra room in her bedroom. Check out the pictures of her cute new room. My next challenge will be potty training, but I think I'll give it a couple months before I try and tackle that.

Trip to Arizona

2009-05-10T16:45:00.000-07:00

To finish out Jeff's break from school we decided to endure the 18-hour drive and make a trip to see my parents in Scottsdale. On the trip down we stopped in Albuquerque and stayed the night with our friends Avery and Anna. Lexi had a ball playing with their 2-year-old Parker and was very sad to leave. As we continued the trek, we noticed our car was leaking radiator fluid. We talked to a mechanic who told us the problem would cost around $1000 to fix. Instead of throwing money into a car that wasn't worth much to begin with, we decided to trade our baby in for a newer model. So, our first few days in Phoenix were spent car shopping. We decided we wanted a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe and literally looked at every one for sale in the near vicinity. We finally settled on a white model with 17,000 miles and a factory warranty. It was probably a little more than we could afford, but we sure love it and it was great driving it home.

The rest of our time at my parents was wonderful and very relaxing. I was a little dissapointed that my sister-in-law didn't go into labor while I was there, but you can't rush mother nature. The only downside to the trip was the looooong drive. I definitly won't be doing that again until we move there in a year.

Lexi playing with her friend Parker in Albuquerque.

Lexi's first kiss. Jeff decided not to play the protective father on this one since they're only 2, but he made it clear that she is not allowed to kiss anymore boys until she's 30.

Our beautiful new car!

Lexi loved playing with her cousins Livy and London.

When Grandma (and Kaylee) Came to Town

2009-05-10T16:17:00.001-07:00

Over Jeff's 2-week break from school, Grandma Schramm and Jeff's 8-year-old niece Kaylee came and visited us here in Dallas. We only had a few days together so we had to pack in as much as possible during the short time. This included a trip to the Dallas Aquarium, lunch at The Spaghetti Warehouse, a day at the zoo, dinner at Babe's restaurant, turtle catching, playing at Going Bonkers, and shopping at Sam Moon. We wanted to make sure that they both experienced Dallas to the full extent before returning home. Here are a few of the pictures from our adventures.

Easter Pics

2009-04-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

I realize it's a little late, but I'm finally getting around to posting our Easter pictures. The holiday started on Saturday with an awesome Easter egg hunt at our friend's house. It was so cute watching all the kids hunt for eggs. On Sunday, Lexi found a small Easter basket that had been left by the Easter Bunny, a.k.a. Mom and Dad. Church was wonderful, except that I counted 5 other girls wearing the exact same Easter dress Lexi was wearing (everyone shops at Costco). After church we had a yummy dinner with a few friends where we ate a carrot cake which I made from scratch (not something that happens very often). It was a great holiday although very emotional as my thoughts were continually drawn to Jerilyn and the atonement. We are so blessed to have the gospel in our lives and the opportunity to see our loved ones again. Happy belated Easter!

Thoughts of Jerilyn

2009-04-05T21:45:00.000-07:00

Today has been a truly wonderful day. I was blessed to listen to conference in the comfort of my own home with my daughter and husband nearby. As I listened to the speakers and contemplated on the upcoming Easter holiday, I was reminded of last Easter. I realized, for the first time today, that it was during the week surrounding Easter 2008 that I enjoyed my sister Jerilyn's company for the last time before her passing in June. Lexi and I flew to Arizona and there met up with Jerilyn and her children, Jennifer, and the rest of the family. Nothing profound happened during those few days spent together, in fact, I can't remember much of what we did, but if I had known it would be the last time I would see my sister I certainly would have cherished every moment with her. It is from this year on that Easter will hold a special place in my heart. I feel so blessed that our savior died for us so that we can be forgiven of our sins and once again be re-united with our loved ones. As you head into this the "passion week" remember to draw near to those you love and cherish every precious moment with them.

New Family Member

2009-04-05T18:41:00.000-07:00

Please welcome the newest member of our family...

Jeff and I finally buckled under the stress of sharing a car and decided that a scooter was the way to go. We found a great deal on this 150cc beauty and bought it yesterday. It get's great gas mileage and has enough storage space to get Jeff and his stuff to school. Hopefully this will help take some of the stress out of our lives. Plus, it's an awesome chick magnet if Jeff ever decides to trade me in. Ha ha ha.

Random Photos

2009-03-27T19:41:00.001-07:00

I have all these cute, random photos of Lexi that I thought I would post. Sometimes we catch her doing the craziest things.

I was so sick of Lexi jumping on the beds and couches that I broke down and bought her an exercise trampoline. It has indeed satisfied her need to bounce and is helping to prolong the life of my furniture. She hasn't even broken an arm yet (knock on wood).

We aren't potty training Lexi yet, but she does enjoy a little light reading while on the toilet (just like her daddy).

Lexi fingerpainting, which turned out to be a bigger mess than I anticipated, but atleast she enjoyed it.

Our little cowgirl.

Sometimes you're so tired, you can't even expend the energy to put the book down before falling asleep.

San Antonio

2009-03-23T20:37:00.001-07:00

This weekend Jeff, Lexi, and I made the drive to San Antonio to take a break from the stress of school and work. My parents met us there and together we visited Sea World, The Alamo, the Riverwalk, and the San Antonio Temple. We had a great time on our first real family vacation. Enjoy our pictures.

2009-03-23T20:36:00.001-07:00

Lexi's 2nd Birthday

2009-02-07T14:15:00.001-08:00

So, I'm only a week behind posting pictures from Lexi's 2nd birthday. We wanted to keep things simple and so only had a few people over and just ordered some pizza's and had cupcakes for dessert. The big highlight was giving Lexi her first Radio Flyer tricyle. She was so excited when she saw it. It's great for me because, until she learns to drive it, I can control it with the adult handle. Unfortunately, Lexi has been really sick this week and so we haven't had much time to use it. Hopefully this week we'll get some riding in.

This is a picture of poor sick Lexi this week. Doesn't she look miserable?

Christmas #1

2009-01-01T19:56:00.000-08:00

This holiday season Jeff and I spent a lot of time traveling. We had so much family to see that we ended up celebrating 4 separate Christmas's all on different days. We spent the first Christmas at our apartment in Dallas because we didn't want to drag all our Christmas gifts on the plane. Jeff and I set everything up the night before and Lexi was so excited when she came out of her room and saw her presents. My parents bought her a play kitchen and her jaw dropped when she saw it. She has always loved playing with kitchens and we decided that it was time she had one of her own. She also got a children's mp3 player and some accessories for her kitchen. Jeff got me many wonderful surprises including a jewelry box, a running jacket, a watch, and oh a diamond ring (for our anniversary). My gifts for him didn't even compare. What a great guy he is. One Christmas down, only 3 more to go.

Christmas #2

2009-01-01T19:44:00.000-08:00

Christmas #2 was celebrated on Jeff's birthday, December 20th in Boise. We flew in on the 19th to celebrate with Jeff's sisters Courtney and Kris because they had to work over the holidays and were unable to leave for Christmas. The trip was lot's of fun, but the funniest part was watching Lexi interact with all the dogs. There were 3 dogs for her to play with and she had so much fun. We are definitly going to have to get our own dog one of these days. I was also very excited because I got to see my friend Amber who moved from Texas about 4 months ago. After her husband graduated from chiropractic school here in Dallas, they moved to Boise to open a practice there. Lucky for us, they were only about a 30 minute drive and so we got to spend an evening with Amber, her husband, and their 2 cute kids. It was such a great trip and although we were sad that Kris and Courtney couldn't make the trip to Utah with us, we felt lucky that we could celebrate a "mock" Christmas with them a few days early. Now, on to Utah for another Christmas celebration.

Christmas #3

2009-01-01T19:21:00.001-08:00

Christmas #3 was celebrated on Christmas day at Jeff's sister Joni's house. We spent about 5 very busy days in Roy, Utah with Jeff's family. During those five days we not only celebrated Christmas but we also celebrated Jeff's niece Kaylee's birthday, my birthday, and Kaylee's baptism. It was definitly a very snowy and full five days. Jeff enjoyed watching many movies and playing video games with his brother-in-law Josh, and Lexi had a ball with all of her cousins. Her and Breanna became partners in crime playing on the bunk beds and having tea party's together. Thanks to the Jones family for such a fun Christmas. Only 1 more Christmas celebration to go.

Christmas #4

2009-01-01T18:46:00.000-08:00

Our 4th and final Christmas was celebrated on December 26th with my family at my sister Jennifer's house in Herriman, Utah. We were lucky enough to get the entire family together for one day and enjoy some Cafe Rio, Hires, and a lot of laughs. It was great to see Jerilyn's husband Aaron and their boys. It was difficult not having Jerilyn with us this year for Christmas, but it was fun to recall past Christmas memories of her. She was always the one to have the wrapping paper in the trash bag before you had even finished unwrapping your present. She would also have the living room vacuumed and back in order in record time after present opening was over. It was such a great day with the family and a wonderful end to our plethora of Christmas's (of course I forgot to take any pictures).

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T19:44:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving. Our family had one of the funnest Thanksgivings that I ever remember having. We started the day off by running in the Dallas Annual Turkey Trot. With over 35,000 participants, the race is the biggest Turkey Trot in the nation. They have both a 3 mile and 8 mile jog. Jeff and I ran the 8 mile race while pushing Lexi in the jogging stroller. It was great to be surrounded by such a fun group of people. Plus, it feels good to burn some calories before consuming your weight in holiday food! After the race, we hosted a Thanksgiving potluck at our apartment with some of our friends. We cooked our first turkey this year which, thanks to about 50 calls to my dad, turned out pretty well. The day came to a close with a little "Christmas Vacation" and perusing the holiday ads. What a wonderful day it was.

Getting ready to start the race. We had to let Lexi get the wiggles out before strapping her into the stroller for 1 and 1/2 hours.

Check out this crowd of people. It took us about 10 minutes to cross the starting line.
Our friends Mauri and Rick pushed their two children in the race with us. It was fun to have some company.

The race was in the heart of downtown Dallas. It was a beautiful setting.

Jeff and me during the race. We took turns pushing Lexi.

Lexi was absolutely perfect during the race. She kept busy watching all of the people and eating her snacks.

Jeff was obviously the photographer

Mauri and me chatting while pushing the kiddos.

What a view. It was perfect weather too!

At the finish line.

We did it. Now let's eat some turkey!

Our pride and joy! The turkey's ready to carve.

All of the yummy food.

Lexi's Big Girl Bed

2008-11-10T19:30:00.000-08:00

Lexi has been very into climbing lately and unfortunately discovered that she could escape from her crib. To avoid a broken arm, I reluctantly converted her crib into a toddler bed. Things have been a little difficult since the transition, but we're slowly adjusting. Lexi's biggest challenge is trying to figure out how not to roll out of the bed. Poor kid.

Lexi loves bathtime, although the bathroom is always soaked after she's done.

Getting ready for the rainy season here in Texas.

Pay it Forward

2008-11-05T19:48:00.000-08:00

I have bad news to report. Due to a VERY dissapointing response to my "Pay it Forward" blog, I've decided to postpone my efforts to send free gifts to my friends for a few months. I have to say that I thought more women would be excited to receive a free gift in the mail. For those of you who did want to participate, keep checking my blog, and I'll try to Pay it Forward again in a few months.

Reflections of Christ

2008-11-02T09:27:00.001-08:00

A friend sent me the link to this video and it is amazing. It highlights the life of Christ. Please take the time to watch it.

http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/2008/03/reflections-sli.html

Pay it Forward

2008-10-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

For all you bloggers out there, a new craze has hit the blogging world. It's called Pay it Forward, and it goes like this. Leave a comment on this post that you would like to be included in a drawing for a free prize. Next week, I will pick 3 winners and send them something special and fun in the mail. Then, the winners continue the cycle and create a Pay it Forward post on their blog. We all know how fun it is to get a packgae in the mail, something besides bills. So, if you're willing to participate, go ahead and leave a comment. Good Luck!

The Pumpkin Dash

2008-10-18T15:47:00.000-07:00

Today we participated in the annual Pumpkin Dash here in Valley Ranch. We had so much fun running the race last year that we decided we needed to make it a tradition. Jeff, Lexi, and I all ran the 5K then stuck around for some games and activities afterwards. We put Lexi in her Halloween costume and Jeff pushed her in the stroller which allowed me the freedom to run the race a little faster. My goal was to beat last year's time, which I did by a narrow 2 seconds. My finish time was 26.12 minutes. Yay for me! It was a fun fall morning for the Schramm fam.

The above 2 pictures aren't from the race, but I thought they were funny. I had to get the bassinet out for a friend this week. Lexi had a great time climbing in and pretending to be a baby. I can't believe our girl used to be small enough to sleep in that thing.

How manly is your man?

2008-10-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

So, for the past 15 days Jeff has been attempting to grow a beard. Why, you ask. At first the answer was unclear, but after much thought I have come to this conclusion. Every man, at some point in his life, must embark on a certain rite of passage. This initiation of sorts involves growing a beard. Now, in a man's mind there is a correlation between masculinity and the beard. It seems that the thickness of a man's beard is directly proportional to his masculinity. Meaning, that the fuller your beard, the more manly you are. This is unfotunate news for my brother Eric, whose every attempt at growing a beard results in a myriad of dark patches rather than the desired full beard (sorry Eric). Men will test this masculinity several times during their lives by letting their facial hair grow. I know your man has done it, and mine has done it atleast 3 times since we've been married. So how did Jeff fare on this attempt? The beard was a little thin, but definitly better than some others I've seen. I guess my husband is a real man!

Now of course when Jeff shaved the beard last night, he had to have a little fun. Instead of shaving the entire thing, he gave himself a lovely handlebar mustache (I use the term "lovely" loosely). He actually likes the mustache so much that he is keeping it until Monday so that his classmates can see it. Uggggghhhh, I have to live with this mustache for 2 whole days.

Bad Blogger

2008-10-08T16:19:00.000-07:00

I think I must be the world's worst blogger. I haven't updated this thing in over a month, but honestly, not much has happened. Life is pretty ordinary around here. I'm teaching aerobics 4 times a week plus applying for medical transcription jobs, Jeff is studying hard as usual, and Lexi is making an early entrance into her terrible two's. I sure love that kid, but she is definitely a full-time job. She gets into everything and whines incessantly. Needless to say, by the time Jeff gets home from school I'm pretty worn out. We did get her a new toy last weekend that has been keeping her pretty busy. We wanted something that Lexi could play with on our porch and get some exercise, so I drove an hour north and bought a plastic play cube I found on Craig's List for super cheap. It was definitely a great investment.

Well, that's pretty much life around here. See, I told you it was boring. Here are some pictures from the last few weeks of Lexi. I also included a picture of my new haircut, for my sister Jennifer's benefit. It's just too hot in Texas to have long hair.

Mmmm Corn!
Into shoes, just like Mommy
Getting an adjustment from Daddy
We call this the Oompa Loompa hairstyle.
Playing on her new toy we got on Craig's List

My new haircut

Eating noodles for dinner

Aerobics Instructor

2008-08-20T19:39:00.001-07:00

Well bust out the spandex and leg warmers, I got a job teaching aerobics at LA Fitness. I've actually wanted to teach aerobics for years but have never had the courage to go for it. I guess the time has come for me to conquer my fears. Hopefully I don't throw up before my first class. Everyone wish me luck!

I've been tagged (Thanks Lyndsey)

2008-07-24T22:01:00.001-07:00

*Random Facts*
1. I am missing a toenail that fell off as a result of the 15K I ran last week.
2. I've watched all 10 seasons of Friends about 50 times. It's therapeutic for me.
3. I like to cross-stitch in my spare time.
*Current Obsessions*
1. Getting a puppy. Jeff's ready to kill me, but I know I can get him to fold.
2. Yoga. I don't know if I'm obsessed, but I'm definitly getting into it.
*Goals*
1. Train for and run another half marathon in September.
2. Be better about making dinners for my hungry husband.
3. Get a job as a medical transcriptionist.
4. Get certified and start teaching aerobics.
*My Fears*
1. Texas bugs, specifically cockroaches. Yuck!
2. Going through pregnancy again. My last one was a little challenging.
3. Graduating from chiropractic school and entering the working world.
4. That I won't do a good job raising my daughter.
*My Joys*
1. My sweet Alexis.
2. My handsome husband.
3. Running
4. Reading
5. My mom, dad, sister, brother and all their kids.
6. My friends

I now have tagged Jenye, Aja, Sonna, Amy Nielsen, Katie Folsom, & Sarah Rutter

Seems Harmless...

2008-07-22T21:29:00.001-07:00

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

I Can't Help But Laugh

2008-07-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

So, today I was having a nice phone conversation with my friend Amber when I became aware of the lack of noise coming from my sweet toddler. For those of you with children, you know that silence usually signals catastrophe. Sure enough, I looked down to see Lexi elbow deep in Vaseline. She was such a mess that the only thing I could think of to do was grab my camera and have a good laugh. By the way, these pictures don't do justice to the amount of jelly she had spread on herself, her dress, the couch, and the carpet. Honestly, I didn't even attempt to wash her dress. I just made my peace and threw that one away (Sorry Lala).

Memorium

2008-07-01T22:58:00.000-07:00

In Loving Memory of Jerilyn Nielsen Shipley
May 20, 1973 ~ June 26, 2008

My dear sister Jerilyn passed away last Thursday, the 26th of June. She was a beautiful person inside and out and will be missed greatly. May we all strive to be more Christlike, just as she was. I know that would make her happy. Thank you for your prayers, phone calls, and emails, my family has really appreciated them.

Lexi's Busy Day

2008-05-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

Lexi had a very busy day today.

Needless to say, we have now installed toilet-seat locks.

Our Trip to Boise

2008-05-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

During Jeff's two week break from school we were lucky enough to travel to Boise and see his family. Joni, Josh, and their 4 kids drove up from Utah to spend the week with us, so we had the entire clan together in one city. It was so much fun. Lexi got to play with her cousins and I got some much-needed rest and relaxation. It was so nice that Grandma Schramm had a big backyard because the weather was beautiful and Lexi couldn't get enough of playing on the slide. At bedtime every night she was so exhausted that she would take a flying leap for her bed and be asleep in seconds. It was such a wonderful week filled with movies, desserts, hiking, jogging, trips to Baskin-Robbins, gun-shooting, and lot's of eating (I managed to bring back 5 extra pounds). Thanks to the Schramm family for the memories, but not for the extra weight.

Aunt Kris and Spencer.

Baby Jacob and me.

Lexi playing on the slide. Notice she's in her church clothes, Uggggghhhh.

We fed the ducks one day, but Lexi was more interested in feeding herself than the ducks.

Joni, Josh, Jeff, and I hiked to Stack Rock near Bogus Basin while Grandma and Courtney watched the kids.

Jeff and I went shooting one day. The shotgun nearly knocked me over. My shoulder was sore for days.

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T18:27:00.000-07:00

Happy mother's day to all you moms out there. What a wonderful day it has been. Jeff surprised me this morning with breakfast in bed, complimented by the beautiful roses he got me last night. I slept in until 10:00 and then enjoyed a relaxing morning while Jeff took care of Alexis. The Relief Society handed out candy bars to all the women in the ward at church and that was really nice, although I had to steal an extra one for Jeff. Then, this evening we went to a friends house and had a nice dinner and played some games. Thanks honey for making this day so great for me. And to my own mom, I love you more than I can express. Thanks for teaching me almost everything I know and for raising me in the gospel. And to Jeff's mom, thanks for giving me your son. He ROCKS!

Take Cover

2008-04-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

Should I be concerned that the tornado sirens are going off down the street? Dallas weather freaks me out! Hopefully we make it through the night.

Looking for Volunteers

2008-04-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

So last weekend I went rappelling with my young women. I decided to let loose and eat as much junk food as I could find. This included Cheetos, M&M's, Milky Way, licorice, fruit snacks, and Mountain Dew, oh yeah, throw some Tater Tots in there as well. Disguisting I know. It's not surprising that around midnight my body went into shock and I started throwing up. I pretty much spent the whole night making phone calls on the porcelain telephone, if ya know what I mean. It was during this time that I started remembering the horrors of pregnancy. Those of you who think that pregnancy is a beautiful and magical time clearly have not spent enough time with your head in a toilet. It's such a dilemma for me because I want more children, but I just don't want to have to grow them in my uterus for nine months. Which is why I'm looking for a volunteer to be my surrogate. Doesn't that just seem like a perfect solution to my problem? I get Jeff and my genes, but none of the drama of pregnancy. Too bad I don't have 50 grand. Hey, a girl can dream right? Maybe Jeff will become a millionaire chiropractor and then I can pay some cute, baby-factory of a girl to bear my children. Well, until then, I better suck it up and get used to the idea of being pregnant again (if I do indeed decide to have more children).

Due to Popular Demand...

2008-03-31T20:05:00.001-07:00

Since I have had so many people ask to see pictures of Jeff with long hair, I decided to post some online (Sorry honey). Keep in mind these pictures are from about 12 years ago, long before I knew him. Are you ready for this?

Our Attempt at a Family Photo

2008-03-31T20:01:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Jeff and I attempted to get a good family photo. We realized that we have very few pictures with the three of us. Unfortunately, Lexi wasn't having the best morning so we couldn't get a lot of smiles out of her. Oh well.

Our trip to Arizona

2008-03-31T19:40:00.000-07:00

Last week Lexi and I got home from our week-long vacation in Arizona. We decided to ditch Jeff and the yucky Dallas weather and head for the sunny skies of Scottsdale. The trip got off to a shaky start because our original flight was cancelled due to bad weather. Luckily Southwest got us on a flight going out the next day and we made it safely to our destination.

It was so wonderful because both of my sisters were able to come and spend a few days. It’s been a while since all the Nielsen women have gotten together and it was a blast. Plus, it was great to get Lexi together with all of her cousins. Jerilyn’s kids are so hilarious!

We did so many fun things while we were there including a trip to the zoo, dinner at the train park, and a few late-night trips to Target. Oh wait, let’s not forget driving all over Scottsdale looking for the new People magazine for Jerilyn. One of the highlights was definitely the day we saw the wildlife menagerie. My parents have a friend who is an avid hunter and has on display all of the animals he has killed and stuffed. I was a little skeptical before going, but it turned out to be so cool. This man has an entire warehouse filled with stuffed animals including a full-grown elephant, several lions, hippos, bears, a cheetah, etc, etc. It was so fun for the kids to get up close to these amazing animals. We also got to see his wide variety of exotic cars including 2 Vipers, 2 Shelbys, and a Lamborghini. Jeff was pretty jealous he wasn’t there.

The one downside to the trip was that my mom got DEATHLY ill while we were there. I honestly have never seen her that miserable. She basically had to stay in bed all day. Then, to make things worse, during one of her late-night eating frenzies, she tagged her head on a door and ended up with a giant goose egg. Talk about adding insult to injury. Poor Lala. Thankfully she is on the mend, although I told her that if either Lexi or I caught what she had, she would have to fly to Dallas and nurse us back to health.

All in all, it was a wonderful trip. My favorite part was having long talks with my sisters. They truly are some of my best friends. I can’t wait to get together with everyone again.

The Lounge Chair

2008-03-08T11:40:00.000-08:00

Well, Jeff and I finally folded and bought Lexi her own lounge chair. After reading my sister-in-law's blog, we decided that her development might be stunted if she didn't have her own chair. I'm glad we side-stepped that catastrophe. So, does she like the chair? I think the pictures say it all.

Better Late Than Never

2008-02-19T13:44:00.001-08:00

I realized today that I forgot to post the pictures from Lexi's 1st birthday party. Although she had no idea that the day held any significance, we had over a bunch of friends and partied it up. Lexi was a big fan of the pizza and loved eating her cupcake. Thanks everyone for the presents and the good time.

I'm Addicted

2008-02-13T19:59:00.001-08:00

I thought I should let everyone know that I've joined the vampire craze. I'm officially addicted to the Stephanie Meyer books. If you haven't heard of them, you must be living under a rock! There are three books (the fourth is on its way) that chronicle the romance between an ordinary girl and a vampire. My friend Amber and I have had discussions on why these books are so dang addicting, but can't come to any definite consensus. I mean it's a romance for heaven's sake. And what's more...it's a romance between a human and a vampire. Then, you add in some werewolves and you've got a full-fledged mythical, cheesy, love-story. Maybe the pages in the book have been coated with some addictive substance that makes it impossible for you to stop turning them. Maybe now that I've finished the last book I can get something productive done around the house!

For those of you who haven't read them, get busy! And for you weirdo's who read them and didn't like them...Well, we're not friends anymore!

The Texas Half

2008-02-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

Yippie, I finished the Texas Half Marathon today in 2 hours and 1 minute! I ran the race with two girlfriends and we had a lot of fun. The weather was beautiful and the adrenaline was pumping, but the best part was seeing Jeff and Lexi waiting at the finish line. Yay for me. And for those of you who are wondering, I will NOT be training for another marathon any time soon.

Happy Birthday Lexi

2008-01-31T06:01:00.003-08:00

My Big Girl

2008-01-29T08:45:00.001-08:00

I figured it was time to update our blog since Lexi is now walking. She got her courage a couple of weeks ago and took off. She does this cute little zombie walk with her arms out in front of her. She is definitly turning into a toddler, complete with temper tantrums and adult sized poops. I thought everyone would like to see a few videos (not of her poops). My favorite is the one of her dancing. Anytime music comes on she starts bouncing up and down. It cracks me up. I can't believe that she will be a year old this week. Time flies when you're having fun (and not pregnant).

Lexi Dancing

2008-01-29T08:44:00.001-08:00

Lexi Walking

2008-01-29T08:43:00.001-08:00

Lexi Giggling

2008-01-29T08:40:00.001-08:00

Honey, this one's for you

2008-01-17T18:09:00.000-08:00

Jeff has been begging me to post these pictures of him and Lou Ferrigno (aka The Incredible Hulk). He came to Jeff's school and gave a lecture. I don't think I've seen Jeff so excited since Lexi was born. He made sure to sit front and center so that he had a bird's eye view. He was like a kid in a candy store! Enjoy the pictures and be sure to congratulate Jeff on his brief encounter with the Incredible Hulk.

Christmas 2007

2008-01-05T23:39:00.000-08:00

Well, Christmas has come and gone. Our 2nd anniversary has come and gone. Jeff and my birthdays have come and gone (Could we pack a little more into a two week period?). This year we spent Christmas with my parents in Scottsdale and it was lot's of fun. We did get off to a little bit of a rough start though. A few days before we left, Lexi came down with a stomach bug which was unfortunately accompanied by lovely diarrhea. The poor little thing was pooping through her clothes several times a day (by poor thing I mean me since I had to clean it up, although D'lonna did one too. Thanks D'lonna). So, our travel day comes and Lexi is still sick. So what are we going to do? Say some serious prayers and hope she doesn't explode on the plane. Luckily we made the trip and sweet Lexi waited until we got to my parents to poop through her clothes again (I apologize to everyone who doesn't have kids for the candid use of the word "poop". When you have children you'll understand). So our first few days at my parents involved feeding Lexi lots of crackers and bananas until she got better.

Next, Christmas eve rolls around and Lexi is finally getting back to her normal self. Well, Santa had other plans. While playing with Jeff, Lexi does a faceplate into my parents stone floor and chips her two front teeth. It went something like this...Lexi screaming, me crying, Lala and me looking for the tooth, me crying, Lala calling any dentists she knows, me crying, and finally a little more crying. It was definitly more traumatic for me. So now Lexi has a cute little snaggle tooth grin. Thank goodness baby teeth fall out. Oh, and did I mention that through this crazy first week, Lexi was getting her first molar.

After all that happened during that first week I was getting worried that Christmas was going to be a fiasco, but things made a turn for the better and we had a wonderful time. Christmas morning was very quiet with just the five of us, but was very nice. Of course, Lexi preferred playing with the wrapping paper and boxes more than any of her presents. We had a great Christmas dinner followed by a movie on Dad's 100 something inch screen in the theater. Who could ask for more?

On the 28th, we decided to take a road trip to Las Vegas to see Jerilyn's family. We only stayed one night, but got to enjoy William's birthday and play with the Jeep that Lala and Maude got him and Matthew for Christmas. It was so nice to see Jerilyn, Aaron, and the three boys.

We drove home from Las Vegas just a short 23 hours later and picked up a stow away. Actually, it was just Andrew who came along to spend some time at Lala and Maude's. It was great hanging out with him, except that he manages to bring the 14 year old out in my husband (not hard to do). Jeff and him had so much fun.

When we got back to Scottsdale, we were able to spend some time with Amy and Eric who had been in Utah for Christmas. Their kids are adorable and it was fun to get the two babies together, although Lexi was a bit of a chicken around London. I think it's because Lexi's an only child and the only crying she usually hears is her own.

So, basically that was our holiday. Pretty hectic I know. Thanks mom and dad for a great Christmas (and the 5 pounds that Jeff and I put on).

Santa Came to Town

2007-12-12T16:39:00.000-08:00

Well, Santa came a little early this year. Last night he made a stop by our apartment and delivered my Christmas present. A digital piano!!! It was actually from my sweet husband and I think it's the best present I've ever gotten (although the year I got my truck was pretty awesome too). It has a full keyboard with weighted keys, and so it plays just like a real piano. I have to say I'm a little embarassed because I'm pretty rusty. I've got some serious practicing to do. Thanks Jeff. I've also included a few funny pictures of Lexi. The last one cracks me up.

Better Late Then Never

2007-12-09T19:08:00.000-08:00

Ok, Ok I'm finally getting around to posting my Thanksgiving pictures. This year we went to Roy, Utah and stayed with Jeff's sister Joni. Jeff's mom and two sisters came down from Boise and so we had the entire Schramm Fam together. We had soooooo much fun. It was wonderful because Lexi got to meet her aunt Courtney and Kris, plus we all got to see Joni's two new twin boys Jacob and Spencer. One of the highlights of the trip was that we were able to go to the temple and do Jeff's dads temple work. Jeff was so excited to get to baptize his dad. He had been waiting for that day since he came home from his mission. The spirit was very strong and we all felt uplifted. We were also able to seal the family together. Temple work is an amazing thing.

Another highlight of the trip was that Aunt Jenn came down from Herriman to see us. I was able to spend some quality time with her and she also got to play with Lexi. It was funny because when we came home I think Lexi got a little bored because she wasn't getting near the same amount of attention as she was in Utah. All the aunts and cousins were so great with her and I was able to get a break from mothering. We also got to have an early Christmas. Lexi was able to open her first Christmas presents from Grandma and Aunt Courtney and Kris. She got some fun toys, cute clothes, and some books.

Thanks so much Schramm Family for such a great Thanksgiving and all the memories.

Happy Halloween

2007-11-04T17:25:00.001-08:00

I'm finally getting around to sharing our Halloween pictures. This year Jeff and I went to a Halloween party hosted by our friends Brittany and Josh Redd. Lala came in town and so she offered to stay home with Alexis (she just wanted to get out of wearing a costume). The night was really fun, and the costumes were quite original!

I finally persuaded Jeff to let me do his makeup and dress him up as death. I went for a more heavenly costume and came as a fairy godmother, complete with silver eyelashes.

Tim Rutter came as Jack Sparrow with his little pirate son Lewis. Sarah was Dorothy complete with a matching Toto.

Lyndsey Swindlehurst came as the most beautiful witch I've ever seen, while her husband Jeremy rode in on a bull.

The winner of the costume contest was our host Josh Redd (although I came in a close 2nd). It's pretty hard to beat an adult male wearing a diaper. Don't scroll down if you're easily offended.

Josh's wife Brittany is pregnant and decided to practice the art of mothering on her husband. Brittany, I hope your baby boy is a little cuter (no offense Josh).

What a scary group we are.

Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

Today Lexi and I went with a couple of my girlfriends and their children to a pumpkin patch. It was basically a giant field with pumpkins all over. There were tons of photo ops, and I got some very cute pictures of Lexi. The only downfall was that it was super windy today, as evidenced by my crazy hair in a few of the pictures.

Ode to Diet Coke

2007-10-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

I would just like to take a minute to sing praises to Diet Coke. I don't think I could get through a day without the shot of caffeine that comes with consuming a can. Thank you to the makers of this wonderful product.

Lexi's 1st 5K

2007-10-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

Lexi completed her first 5K yesterday (oh yeah, Jeff and I finished it too). We all three ran in the annual Pumpkin Dash. It was so much fun. We put Lexi in her bumble bee costume and pushed her in the jogging stroller. Jeff, being the nice guy that he is, offered to push Lexi so that I could run faster, and I ended up placing 2nd in my age category. After the race there was a fall festival and a costume contest. It was such a fun day. We are definitly going to make it an annual event.
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My award for placing 2nd in the 20-24 age group.

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Sundays are for Sleeping

2007-10-13T10:34:00.001-07:00

Could someone please remind me why we go to church on Sundays? I basically spend the whole time in the hallway chasing after the crawling kiddo. Then Jeff has to wrestle her for the next couple hours because she is so absolutely exhausted from not having a nap. Today we decided to give in and go home after sacrament meeting. How many months until she gets to go into nursery?

Texas State Fair Here We Come!

2007-10-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

So yesterday Jeff, Lexi, and I went to the Dallas State Fair, and let me say...No one does a state fair like Texas! We went with our friends Lane, Amber, and Easton and had a blast.

We started our trek around 4:00 pm and proceded to navigate our way through downtown Dallas to find the fairgrounds. I was a little skeptical about the area when I read the directions that said "if you get lost, don't attempt to find your way. Just turn around. The fairgrounds are in a very bad area of town." Ok, so a little scary. Were we supposed to pack heat? I guess I could've brought my mace.

Ok, so after an hour of driving in rush hour traffic we finally made it, and pay a whopping $10.00 to park, and then another $25.00 to get in. Freak, are we in Disneyland? Oh yeah, then you have to immediately by "coupons" once you get inside because everything is purchased via little orange tickets. It's totally a conspiracy! They make you buy coupons in packs of ten, but everything costs some odd, random amount of coupons, so at the end of the night you're left with like 3 coupons. And, common, what can you buy with 3 coupons? A stick of gum? Not even that. And of course you can't use these little orange things in the real world so you basically have to throw away $2.00. It's highway robbery. I mean when you're poor little college students, $2.00 is a lot of money. That can buy us dinner at Costco.

Ok, ok, ok, so we have our coupons and we're inside the fair. The next opstacle is trying to navigate the stroller through the 5 million black teenagers. I just about got in a fight when I ran over some 16 year-old black chicks toe. And, of course it always seems like you're going against the flow of traffic. I'm thinking of installing an air horn on the stroller.

Now, since we have an infant and don't want to waste $50.00 playing carnival games, what do we do at the fair? The answer is...Eat as much fried food as you can. I started with a giant corny dog and a jumbo Diet Dr. Pepper, then proceeded to eat a fried snickers bar, oh yes, a fried snickers bar. Then, I finished the evening with fried cookie dough (my favorite). The fair has a contest every year on the most original and tasty fried good. This year's winner was the fried Coke (which I didn't try). I'm pretty sure I consumed about 5,000 calories, evidenced by the fact that Jeff had to roll me out the front gates. Man, but it was good.

So after consuming the fried food, we visited the petting zoo. Lexi wasn't quite sure about all the furry creatures trying to lick her face (neither was I). They did have quite an asortment of wild animals including an ostrich. An ostrich in a petting zoo. Doesn't that seem weird? Aren't ostrich mean? Needless to say, I kept my distance.

Well, as the night was winding down, we decided to go to the food court and consume more fried food including fried chicken fingers. So, we're sitting enjoying our food when all of a sudden we hear this yelling and hollering. In stomps a group of black guys flashing gang signs. "Oh great, we're going to get caught in the middle of a gang fight at the fair. I hope my underwear is clean for the hospital." Those were the exact thoughts going through my head as about 100 cops come flying in the door to break up the commotion. Luckily, no guns were fired and we made it out alive.

After the gang incident we decided to wrap up the evening (but not before consuming a little more fried food). Luckily we made it home safely with only a few extra pounds around our midsections. So ends our first excursion to the Dallas State Fair. Yee Haw.

Chowing down on one of the fair's famous corny dogs.

Fried snickers bar. Pretty yummy.

Next time I try breastfeeding and want to complain I'll look at this picture and think that it could be worse.

This camel was trying to give me a kiss. No, thanks, I'm good.

Wow, this pig has huge, umm........spots.

Lane and Easton feeding the goats

Do we really need a sign that says this?

Trying to stay a safe distance away from the mean ostrich

Lexi and her friend Easton

My friend Amber Cable and Me. She used to be my running buddy until she went and got herself pregnant. Grrrrrr.

Look-Alike Meter

2007-10-11T06:24:00.001-07:00

Crazy Crawling Baby

2007-10-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official...Lexi's crawling. She finally figured it out a few weeks ago and now she's unstoppable! Long gone are the days of plopping her in the middle of the family room while I take a shower. Her favorite things to get into are the VCR (which she got her finger stuck in the other day), Jeff's school papers, and the bedroom pillows. It's actually been kind of hard on me because she keeps wacking her head on things and then cries, which makes me feel awful. I hate seeing my little one in pain. She got a bloody lip the other day and I about lost it. How am I going to handle it when a guy breaks her heart, or she has to get stitches? That's it, she's never leaving the house. This parenting business is tough. Enjoy the pictures

Lexi took her first shower with Daddy. At first she wasn't a big fan of the running water, but when she got used to it she really liked it. The only problem is that she get's really slippery when she's all soapy and wet. I think we'll stick to the bathtub for a while.

As many of you probably know, Jeff MAKES me cut his hair. He likes to keep it really short and doesn't want to pay to get it cut every couple of weeks. Anyways, I got a little carried away this time and ended up giving him a buzz. Ok, it was on purpose. I was curious what he'd look like with the shorter do. He doesn't look too shabby, although I think I prefer him with hair. We decided that while he still has hair on the top of his head he should keep it longer, so this will be the last buzz for a while.

We're trying a new parenting technique at our house. We've started giving Lexi a beer before bed to help her wind down. What do you think? Just kidding, it's only root beer. What is it that makes drinking root beer out of a bottle so much fun?

Here's a picture of the nasty spider that set-up shop outside our front door. My silly husband likes to feed it caterpillars that he catches on our porch. It's actually kind of interesting to watch the spider spin a web around the bugs and eat them. The maintenance man asked me if I wanted to get rid of him and I said that as long as the spider stays outside it's fine.

La Cucaracha

2007-09-15T14:10:00.003-07:00

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!

Laughing at Jeff

2007-09-08T21:19:00.001-07:00

Lexi and Ruthy Laughing at Lala

2007-09-08T21:06:00.001-07:00

Pee-ka-boo

2007-09-08T20:51:00.001-07:00

Vacation Time

2007-09-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

Jeff, Lexi, and I went to visit Lala and Maude in Arizona last week. Jeff has two weeks off of school and so we decided to ditch the heat and humidity and head somewhere that was, well, hot and dry. We had lot's of fun playing with the grandparents, plus my cousin Sonna was there with her husband and 6 month old daughter Ruthy. We were sad to go but are looking forward to moving there in a few years.

Lexi got to play with her second cousin Ruthy. They're about a month apart, but Lexi is about twice Ruthy's size.

Taking a bath in Lala's gigantic sink. She was a little messy after the beater incident shown below.

Lala thought it would be funny to give Lexi a beater to suck on. She was definitly a fan. Lala also gave Lexi her first taste of steak. I gotta keep an eye on those two.

Catching some rays in Lala and Maude's pool.

Baby Ruth and me. She is such a cuddler.

My cute cousin Sonna

Livy and Lala cooking in the kitchen

London wanted to join in the fun too.

Look at this huge frog I caught. I think the land I found it on must have radioactive waste on it because that frog was like a mutant. Jeff wasn't a fan and Lexi was asleep when I brought it home so i just let it go in the backyard.

Summer Photos

2007-09-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

I have all these random pictures of Lexi and the family that I wanted to share. She's getting so big! I'm thinking that she should be crawling by the end of this week. She's really good at going backward, but hasn't gotten the forward moving down yet. I'm going to be spending this week baby-proofing the apartment, which reminds me...WE MOVED! I don't have to climb four flights of stairs anymore! We got an apartment in the same complex but on the bottom floor and it's wonderful. It's also great because we don't have to worry as much about lightning and tornados. Enjoy the pictures!

Playing Pee-ka-boo with Maude

Congratulations Josh and Joni!!!

2007-09-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

Jeff's sister Joni gave birth to twins Jacob and Spencer last week. If anyone can handle raising twins it's Joni. Congratulations to the happy family (don't ask me which one is which).

Update Time!

2007-07-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

So I've been getting some flack lately (mostly from Jennifer) that I need to update my blog, so here are the most recent pictures. Grandma Schramm came in town last week and got so many cute pictures of Alexis. It was so fun having someone in town to talk to. Jeff is usually at school from 6:30 am - 6:00 pm so it's nice to have another adult to talk to.

Lexi is getting very good at rolling over and holding her head up. She is such a crack up! She is also discovering the variety of noises she can make (always during church). I wake up in the morning to the noise of Alexis singing to herself in her crib.

She is still an unusually happy baby which I think leads some people to believe she's retarded (ok, not really), but she is really happy. I guess the Lord is just making up for my horrible pregnancy. Enjoy the pictures.

Oh yeah, in case you are wondering...we haven't floated away hear in Dallas with all the recent flooding. Thankfully we're on the top floor of our apartment building that is built on one of the few hills in Texas. Good thing, because I don't think I could handle the stress of being struck by lightning plus getting flooded.

Lexi is definitly a daddy's girl. Jeff loves it when I put her in this onezie. He likes to declare their relationship to the world.

Alexis has discovered her toes lately. She sure thinks they're fun to play with.

Lexi loves her bouncer (thank you Jerilyn). She is always trying to stand-up. I think she's gonna be an early walker (crap!)

Jeff is playing on his school's intramural softball team. He's actually pretty good. He can make contact with the ball, which is way more than I can do. Unfortunately the weather has been so rainy that most of his games have been cancelled.

We got this cute little stuffed animal from a friend (we're not sure if it's a dog or a bear), and Lexi has started sleeping with it. She espescially likes chewing on his ear.

Lexi is really into eating solid foods now. Her favorites are carrots, green beans, and prunes (weirdo!). The prunes get a little messy as you can see below.