New Book

Thank you Mark and Linda for the book in the mail! I don't know how you read that and recorded it without crying. Riley said "This book is so loving that it makes me want to cry." And then she talked into the microphone part each time one of you was speaking and said "I love you Grandma Linda" or "I love you Grandpa Mark" after each page. She has really grown up and I can't believe how much she understands missing you. She misses you both too! And she wants to have a sleepover party when you get back! Hope you're enjoying the sun!

Happy Happy Birthday!!!!

Happy Happy Birthday to the Best Mom EVER! We love you and hope you have an amazing day! Riley can't wait to wear her party dress this weekend! Thanks for being awesome in so many ways:)

Riley's Random Places

Riley has taken to watching TV or snuggling with Daddy in some weird places.

National Haircut day

 Yesterday was not only Doodle's first haircut, but also seemed to me the day to get everyone's haircut. Meg brought Adie to get hers cut with Riley and Rowan, Katie took Zacky and Kiley to a different hair place to get theirs cut, Meg even had Macy's haircut yesterday.

She lied....

 It's not the end of Doodle week. He got his first official haircut today. Mo had to borrow my camera (meaning Meg, still have access to her blog so I can hi-jack when I want to) because her's was not working. Here's Doodle during (before pics were on Mo's camera)

 And here's Doodle after. Handsome little man:)

The Last of Doodle Week

Lily and the Boys

These are pics of where Lily hung out during the chaos of a 1-year-old birthday party with 6 kids in attendance.

Doodle's Stats at 1 Year

Ok, just got back from Doodle's 1 year doctor appointment. He weighs in at 22.2 lbs. and he got to stand on the big person scale all by himself! He is 30.5 inches tall. That puts him in the 50% in weight and 75% in height. He's all grown up:(

Doodle and the Puppies

Rowan has a stuffed dog that is his buddy. Each of the 6 grandkids got one of these dogs from my parents in a similar tradition to what my siblings and cousins had when we were little. We called our dogs the "polish puppies" back then. I refer to the kids stuffed dogs as "Hubert Puppies" after the place we started the summer vacation tradition with my family. Anyway, Doodle not only likes to play with his Hubert Puppy, but Riley's too. He had to climb into her tent to find his sister's dog. It was hiding! He had to show them to me...and then he had to show them to his REAL puppy too:)

Happy Birthday Dear Rowan Doodle!

Here are just a few more of Rowan this week. I know I am overloading on Rowan, I promise I will catch Riley upafter I post pictures from the party and his 1 year doctor stats this week:) Happy Birthday Little Man!

TIGF

I am thankful one day early, for my little Rowan Doodle who turns one tomorrow. I would be even more thankful for a night of sleep uninterrupted by the little Monster, but I will gladly give up sleep knowing he is healthy and a happy big boy:) We love you Rowan. Happy Birthday tomorrow.

Animal Walk

It's time once again for the Animal Humane Society Walk for Animals Drive. As always that means a lot of begging from me:) This year, I have a rather lofty goal of $2000 in honor of our new dog Lily. I am also competing against a friend to see who can be the first to $500 raised, so if you will probably donate at some point, now is the time to think Spring! The Animal Walk is on April 30th this year. I would also appreciate any and all prayers that this snow melts soon and the weather is nice. It's an early walk which sometimes means a cold one. Here's hoping!

Here's the Link or you can go to the AHS site and search the walk fundraising page for "Molly Schuster" and my page should be there. Let me know if you have any problems. It's early in the game and I might have to work out some bugs.

If You Give a Moose a Muffin

I think I have mentioned my love for Stages Theater in Hopkins before, but here's another reason why. We took the older kids to see "If You Give a Moose a Muffin" this weekend with my mom and dad. The kids LOVED it! Riley thanked me for taking her before the play and after...now that's good! Here's Zack and Adie- Riley didn't want her picture taken. We already have our tickets to see "Pinkalicious" in May with Emme and Izze who introduced up to that book series!

Mountain Climber

Daddy and Riley do Yoga

Josh has started the p90X craziness. Riley enjoys doing the yoga section with Daddy:)

In other news, Riley has declared now three career goals: Veginarian (ie. veterinarian like Auntie Jess), Chiropractor (so she can fix Mommy) and now Fitographer (spelled the way she says it).

Doodle's Milestones

As of now, we have a climber, a walker, a teether and a non-sleeper. He takes as many as about 5 steps at a time. He can climb and dismount the couch successfully and climb stairs like a champ. He is always VERY proud of himself and often claps for himself:) He says things that sound a lot like "hi" "mama" and "dada" and "dodah..." (Doodle) he says Baba for bottle and also signs when he wants "milk" or "more"...We aren't teaching him a lot of sign, just those and maybe water if he gets it...but he loves using "more" and then pointing to his tray like "more and you can put it right here please!"

Doodle turns one a week from today. He has his one year appointment at the doc. on the 15ht so his stats will follow that:)

Progress